The Fantastic Family Feast!

Most of the CCSP whanau with Loren and Mary Ruth Wilkinson after our family feast

God and Nature has come to a close. To sum up all they have learned these past two weeks, students completed various projects. The students were split into groups and completed a BioBlitz, art project or family meal. For the BioBlitz, students had to identify and learn about as many plants in our yard as possible, then take us on an educational tour. Melissa (Westmont) shared a little about her involvement with the project:

"As I was doing the research for the project, I was definitely interested in the plants. I like learning things; I enjoy it. Even so, though, that was all I really had: knowledge. I had developed a liking toward the plants, but there was nothing in my being really tying me to them. It was only after spending hours outside with them, touching them, seeing them, still armed with my knowledge, that my liking grew into love."

-Melissa, Westmont

The art group was encouraged to look at nature in a new way by presenting it artistically. 

Top Left: Sylvia (Calvin) shows a photo slideshow. Bottom Left: Sylvia (Calvin) talks about her pieces made from willow branches. Right: Courtnay (Staff), Jacob (Messiah), Daniel (Staff), and Mieke (Calvin) looking at Sarah's (Biola) project

"I really appreciated the comprehensive and holistic nature of the class. As we studied how the Bible talks about the entire creation and then looked at ways to live out a biblical perspective on creation care, I felt like what we learned was directly applicational. Because of that, the class was actually inspiring. For the final project where I made an art piece, I was able to tie in themes of not only this class but the last couple of classes we’ve had. My goal was to symbolize the importance of us humans delighting in the creation around us, for its functionality, beauty, and most importantly intrinsic value of it attributed by God."

-Sarah, Biola

The group making the family meal had to get as many local ingredients as possible, plan the meal, and prepare the food for all 25 of us. Matt went spear fishing throughout the week, we got some wild boar meat from Pastor Brent, lots of local veggies, and lavender honey-flavored ice cream, thanks to our garden.

Left: Jacob (Messiah) making ice cream for dessert. Middle: Matt (Messiah) preparing the fish he caught for dinner. Right: Mieke making wild boar meatballs. Yum!

"Through the process of this project, I really learned respect for the people who not only grow my food, but all of the people it takes to get that food from the seedling in the ground and onto my plate so that I can eat it. I had a really great time prepping for the meal, especially stopping at the Stoney Creek Fruit and Vege stand and talking with the owner. It was really great to be able to have a conversation with someone who had actually grown my food and be able to learn more about how that food was grown. Although the actual preparation of the meal got really stressful at times, I had a lot of fun planning and actually cooking the food with my team members. Overall, I felt that the God and Nature course really helped me gain appreciation and thankfulness, not only for the food that I eat, but also for all aspects of God’s Creation."

- Mieke Dykhouse

Our meal was complete with fancy place cards, menus, a presentation about where our food came from, and new napkin rings from Loren Wilkinson!

Everyone did a great job. Thanks to all the students for sharing your hard work with us!