The Farmer in the Dells: Day 2

Yesterday we traveled from Nashotah House, Wisconsin, northwest to Minneapolis, Minnesota to visit the Mall of America, and then southwest back to I-90 to our campground.  We stayed at Flying Goose Campground in Fairmont, Minnesota.  Along the way, we learned the definition of a dell, witnessed how picturesque the state of Wisconsin is, and came to understand (though Wikipedia) how important it is to America (Cheese!).  Our day went from a peaceful monastery setting to an expression of exorbitant consumerism to a placid campground on a lake.

Our day began at Nashotah House.  Thanks to Nathaniel and Sarah Kidd for allowing us to stay in their home while they were gone.  We enjoyed a short drive around the campus, which is very peaceful.  Mandy also liked all of the trees.

An important stop in Wisconsin: CHEESE!!  We stopped at the Mousehouse Cheesehaus and got a block of their award-winning Muenster cheese.  For lunch we made Muenster and chicken breast sandwiches on the road.  Yummy!

Throughout our day we were privileged to have landscapes like this outside our window.  We went through dells, bogs, grasslands, wetlands, and parking lots.  We were surprised to learn that Wisconsin has the third most amount of water in it than any other state.

Minnesota, state #6 on our cross country trip.  The script that they used for the sign made the 'M' of Minnesota look like a 'W', which really confused Brian.

The Mall of America: four gigantic stories of commercialism mania with a theme park in the middle.  At one point we thought it housed a casino, but then we found out that they were just offering free shuttle rides.  On the bright side, we got Chipotle, Jamba Juice, and Mandy got to walk through an enormous scrapbooking store.  Go America.

Flying Goose Campground is a beautiful camp located right next to a lake.  After we set up our tent we had the opportunity to walk around and see the sunset and then enjoy some time sitting on a dock that went out onto the lake.  There had been a thunderstorm forecast, however, all we got was some high winds.  Our little tent held up well and we woke up to birds chirping without a spot of water in the tent.  Praise God!

As we reflected yesterday on how God was revealing himself to us, the Old Testament reading from Morning Prayer came to mind.  It was from Numbers 11, when the Israelites complain against God for not being able to provide meat in the wilderness.  In response God does provide them with meat, however, they continue to crave more despite his provision, which rouses God's anger and many of them are killed.  As we talked about it, we recognized that in some sense, like the Israelites, we were on a wilderness journey (although Trinity certainly could not be compared with slavery in Egypt!).  However, we are journeying from one place God had called us to the next.  After reading that passage, we are called to trust God, that he will provide for us, however, the emphasis is to trust God for who he is, rather than for what he can give us.  Our minds were then drawn to John 6, in which Jesus speaks of God providing manna in the wilderness for the Israelites, but now Jesus has come to provide his own flesh for us.  Rather than God just giving us food (which will pass away) in order to survive, he now gives us his own life in the body and blood of his son, which is eternal.  Praise God!

Today we head to the Badlands National Park in South Dakota.  Stay tuned for some pictures of a corn palace :) ...