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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2019)
COMMUNITY MyEagleNews.com Wednesday, August 7, 2019 A7 Foster girls saddle up for Calvary Horse Camp Katie Johnson runs horse camp ministry for second year By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Twelve girls attending Katie Johnson’s July 22-26 Calvary Horse Camp at the Grant County Fairgrounds in John Day saddled up on horses including appaloosas, quarter horses, a pony and a Kiger mustang. This is the second year Johnson, a 16-year-old Mt. Vernon resident, has held the camp for girls who are in foster care as a way to help them gain confidence as they learn to ride and care for the horses. Learning from the Bible, singing and fostering friend- ship is also a part of the program. The girls come from Lakeview, Baker, Salem and other Oregon cities, includ- ing one youth from the local area. On the first day of camp, the girls, ranging in age from 10-13, were paired with one of 15 horses. “They come down, pick a ribbon from a helmet — there are 15 colors of rib- bon,” Johnson, a home- schooled high school junior, said. “Their horse has the same color in their mane, horse tack and pen.” Most of the girls are given nicknames. A girl nicknamed Choc- olate was paired with Hou- dini, Ginger rode a horse named April and Jellybean was paired with Georgia, aka “Georg-eous.” Saralyn rode Kiger, a 25-year-old Kiger mustang, which is a wild horse that has been domesticated. Kiger was gentle, as were all the horses at the camp. “She likes to eat carrots and anything I hold out for The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Calvary Horse Camp organizer Katie Johnson leads Ginger whose horse is named April on July 25 at the Grant County Fairgrounds in John Day. The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Saralyn enjoys riding her horse Kiger at the Calvary Horse Camp in John Day. The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Volunteer Julie Bowling of Canyon City, right, gives instructions for a pole bending game to the girls at the Calvary Horse Camp. her,” Saralyn said. Ginger said pole bending went well with her horse, April. “She listened this time,” Ginger said. She and others said they’ve enjoyed the camp. “You get to do more activities than just riding a horse,” Ginger said, noting she especially enjoyed the slip ‘n’ slide at the park and swimming. “I like that they actually care about you,” Chocolate said of the camp leaders. Johnson was impressed with how the returning girls have grown, including Kiera who warmed up to her horse quickly and was trotting on it the first day. “She’s just blossomed,” Johnson said. Julie Bowling of Canyon City taught the girls to ride, along with Johnson, and was among at least 35 volun- teers helping throughout the week. There were also oth- ers who provided food and loaned their horses to the group. “It’s nice to see the girls come back and see how quickly they become com- fortable again,” Bowling said. “They’re supportive of the newer girls — they’re a good group.” When Johnson was younger she wanted to serve a mission in Mexico and later realized a great need close to home, she said. Operated through her family’s nonprofit called Double J Ministries, the camp is supported by fundraisers. When campers are not at the fairgrounds arena, swim- ming or playing games at the park, the group gathers at Cornerstone Christian Fel- lowship where they sing and have worship time. A camp with horses was a natural move for Johnson — she said she loves horses and kids. “When I was little, I was obsessed with horses,” she said. “Horses are just a mag- net for girls.” Johnson said the horses are an example of trust. She said the horse trusts the rider, just as people can trust in God. “The horses trust, even when they’re terrified,” she said. She said horses can also teach about relationships, as shown in horses’ atti- tudes when they are treated well versus when they are mistreated. Johnson said having a group of girls who are in similar circumstances helps them relate to each other. “It’s easier to minis- ter when you’re with peo- ple who understand you,” she said. “God understands what these girls are going through — that’s key for them, that God really does understand.” Grant Union students represent as Oregon Ambassadors of Music Group of 387 high schoolers tour six European countries By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Three Grant Union music students joined a group of 387 other high school musi- cians as Oregon Ambassa- dors of Music for a 16-day tour of Europe. It was the trip of a life- time for the trio, which included Samantha Floyd, who plays trombone and will be a senior this school year; Carle Wright, who plays bass clarinet, gradu- ated in June and will start classes at Central Oregon Community College in Bend this fall; and Jacob Smith, a junior who plays oboe and moved to New Hampshire with his family last month. Former Grant Union music director Lori Hart recommended the three stu- dents for the trip. Levana James started as the new music director last fall. The students held fund- raisers leading up to the Contributed photos The Oregon Ambassadors of Music traveled to a total of six countries during their 16-day tour. Pictured from left are Carle Wright and Samantha Floyd near the River Thames with the London Eye in the background; Jacob Smith in front of the Tower Bridge in London; and Jacob Smith at the top of the Eiffel Tower in France. July 3-18 trip as the cost was $6,245 each, not including food and other expenses. The ambassadors per- formed in six countries — England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Germany — and half were in band with half in choir. Some of the students were “doublers,” such as Floyd. She played the trom- bone in the band and sang with the altos in choir. Floyd said the concerts were memorable. “The choir performed in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice where the acoustics were amazing,” she said. “Every note we sang held on forever.” She said they sang three “reverent” baroque selec- tions, while tourists gath- ered in the basilica. Floyd said that in several places many of the locals didn’t speak English. “It was nice to be able to offer something to them, since we weren’t able to communicate with them,” she said. “Everyone under- stands the language of music.” A completely differ- ent tone was taken in Crans-Montana, Switzer- land, at the town square, where the band played, along with other selections, a jazzy piece, “Shoutin’ Liza,” which featured 16 trombone players, including Floyd. “They were fun-loving and relaxed, and they just had a good time with it,” she said of the audience. Smith said it was his favorite concert. “The people there were so enthusiastic and ready to listen,” he said. All three said it was the best, and most beautiful, stop on the trip. “Switzerland was by far the best,” said Wright, who plays bass clarinet. “It’s so beautiful there. It’s not what you’d expect.” She is pursuing a degree in elementary music and plans to join an orchestra in Bend. Wright said the best part of the trip was all the friends she met, and she plans to keep up with everyone. “I feel like I’ve known them my whole life,” she said. “I’ll never forget them.” Monday - Thursday 7am- 6pm Friday 8am - 5pm Mendy Sharpe FNP Apppointments available Open campus is here to assist you with your educational access and needs. Give a call and schedule a time or drop by the office. Didgette McCracken P: 541-575-1911 116 NW Bridge St. Suite 1 John Day, OR 97845 133923 133909 A MAN WAKES UP in the morning after sleeping on... an advertised bed, in advertised pajamas. He will bathe in an ADVERTISED TUB, shave with an ADVERTISED RAZOR, have a breakfast of ADVERTISED JUICE, cereal and toast, toasted in an ADVERTISED TOASTER, put on ADVERTISED CLOTHES and glance at his ADVERTISED WATCH. He’ll ride to work in his ADVERTISED CAR, sit at an ADVERTISED DESK and write with an ADVERTISED PEN. Yet this person hesitates to advertise, saying that advertising doesn’t pay. 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