News
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2008 “Spring Fling” Backpacking Thing
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The staff and students of OHA attempted a new recreational activity this spring. Having packed their food, belongings, and camping gear into as many backpacks as they could muster up, they hoisted them onto their backs and hiked four miles into the wilderness for a weekend of fun, adventure, and spiritual refreshment. Neither recent rain nor high-water could dampen their enthusiasm nor deter their determination to experience the wilderness as God created it. Over the weekend of April 4-6, 12 students and 12 staff headed out into the remote Caney Creek Wilderness area. Recent storms made the many river crossings adventurous, but all successfully navigated the crossings with without a mishap. Predicted cooler weather made the campfire all the more enjoyable, and worships spent around its warmth also warmed the hearts of all. Sabbath was unbelievably beautiful and a hike to the top of the Following lunch, each backpacker had the opportunity to sit quietly for an hour and absorb the sights, sounds, and sunshine of the mountain top. All were to compose their own parables from something they saw and present it for the evening’s worship back at camp. After another night’s rest and more adventures along the way, the troop packed out to enjoy a picnic lunch on the Many of the students had the opportunity to have a new life experience as they had never been backpacking before. For the first time they experienced the thrill of getting away from it all and living without it all. They learned how to feel more comfortable out in the wilderness even though they may not have always been comfortable on the hard ground. They learned the self-respect and confidence that comes from facing difficult and often daunting circumstances and surmounting them. Most of all, everyone learned the value of conversation around a campfire, the camaraderie and companionship of spending time together in God’s green cathedral, and had their natural yearning for adventure fulfilled in true recreation. Renewed and invigorated they returned to their school work after such a refreshing excursion. |
| Hot Springs Excursions | |
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Ouachita Hills Academy recently organized fieldtrips to local educational sites for the school days of May 9 and 12. Thirteen of the students enjoyed a change of pace and environment as they spent Friday and Monday morning out of the classroom gaining exposure to community services in the area and local history. Abilities Unlimited in Hot Springs, Arkansas, is a program which provides work opportunities for individuals with disabilities. During their tour of the facility on Friday, the students observed the organization’s clients working with needs-adapted equipment to produce and assemble parts for garden maintenance tools. At the Sentinel–Record, the students watched the creation of the local newspaper – from the collecting of advertisements and news articles, to producing and proofing template films, to printing and stuffing the finished newspaper. On Monday, the students visited the Hot Springs Airport where they explored a hanger, got up-close to various functioning aircraft, toured a fire truck and attempted to man its high-powered hose, and learned about the history and current functions of the airport. The day ended with a walk through Bath House Row, an area of Hot Springs which had been famed in the early 1900s for its bath houses fed by the numerous springs found in the vicinity. The restored store-fronts contained hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, massage, and steam rooms. The morning’s excursions ended with a picnic and hike to an overlook above the town. “I had never been so close to all the controls of a real plane. I even got to sit in the cockpit!” stated Nathan Arthur, a freshman at OHA, “I wouldn’t mind going on field trips more often.” As the normal class schedule resumed on Tuesday, I think many of the students had similar sentiments. |
| Senior Trip 2008 - Bulgaria | |
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Every year the students of the Senior class culminate their educational experience with an opportunity to put into useful practice the knowledge, instruction, and skills they have learned throughout their time at Ouachita Hills Academy. The annual, 5-week Senior mission trip has traveled to various countries such as Ghana, Ukraine, Philippines, India, and most recently, Bulgaria. A highly anticipated and much prayed about event, the students return with a taste of missionary service overseas; experience in public evangelism; stories of faith, trust, and God’s intervention; and, of course, priceless memories. This year, March 4 – April 7, the Senior Class of 2008 traveled to the city of Varna on the east coast of Bulgaria. The fifteen students were divided into four groups which conducted separate meetings at sites within a forty mile radius of the city. Programs included children’s talks and crafts, health presentations, and adult evangelistic meetings. Although the country is predominantly Orthodox, approximately 75 adults and 150 children attended the four sites collectively each evening, with a large proportion being from the Romanian and Hungarian Gypsy communities. One-hundred DVD players were also distributed during a ASI training session held in Varna for the lay workers and pastors of the conference. Upon completion of the four weeks of evangelistic meetings in Bulgaria, the Seniors spent their last week in Italy, tracing the footsteps and experiences of the Waldenses in the Alps and visiting church history sites in Rome. “After going on this trip, I would like my life to somehow be involved in mission work,” stated Bryan Chesnut, a Senior from Tennessee who is now considering overseas medical evangelism. Many of the other students expressed similar sentiments on the impact of the trip on their perspectives, priorities, and future plans. It is the prayer of Ouachita Hills that as students are enabled through their education and the power of God in “holding forth the Word of life,” that they will “shine as lights in the world” – in Bulgaria, in Arkansas, in their sphere of influence in this life, and in the life eternal. |
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Ringers of Hope
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With over 25 scheduled performances in multiple states this year, the Ringers of Hope Bell Choir has enjoyed a busy touring season. A recent highlight of this years touring season was their performance in the magnificent Anthony Chapel at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Nestled on a hillside overlooking a cove of Lake Hamilton and surrounded on all sides by the natural beauty of Arkansas’ hardwood forests, the chapel provided an ideal setting for a bell choir performance. Its unique architecture, outstanding acoustics, and glass windows on all sides enhanced the beauty and enjoyment of the concert. Over 70 guests from the Hot Springs area attended the concert and warmly appreciated the performance. |
