Biscuits and gravy

Okay so a lot has happens in the past couple of weeks. I have had sun stroke, pneumonia, free chick-fil-a, been to the desert, and finally today, after three months of living here I have eaten my first biscuits and gravy. Its been a really challenging time and God has taught me a lot about myself and himself during it. I don't want to dwell on my sickness since I had enough  time to do that on my own when I was sick but it was also my first time in ER. Excellent!

This weekend has been pretty up there in terms of fun, interest and cheer amazement. On Friday evening Sydney cooked her first ever Jambalaya! It was superb and then (because it was a Jambalaya and Puzzle Party) we completed a 1000 piece jig-saw puzzle. It was of pikes peak and certainly an epic achievement for one evening!

So we left Colorado Springs at 6AM the next day for the "dunes" which were three hours away. Not knowing much about them and after Carl had seemed to be impressed by himself after saying they were 40ft tall I was more than skeptical. The early morning turned out to be fairly amusing with Clare having decided the previous night we would take a dog with us. So three guys, two girls and a dog headed for a three hour drive to middle of nowhere (via free chick-fil-a breakfast) sand dunes. They turned out to be epic. Just like the Sahara (which was also the name of the dog)! They came out of nowhere and just grew and grew. We conquered them good after having plenty of fun jump of off them. And then we came home and babysat for Brad for 6 hours which involved a lot of wrestling (and song writing).

Today was another road trip to an 86 year old hydro plant in the mountains. It was at least two hours drive from Manitou Springs but also only three or four miles hike. We had a few team members for this weeks upcoming design intensive (more on that later) and a guy Chris who works for Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU). Craigs car overheated not long after we started off together and so Chris suggested he take us if we get back to his house. He drives a Swiss Army people carrier from 1973.

It was an epic journey in this vehicle driving through dirt mountain roads for a few hours through forest and getting higher up the mountain (we went from 6-7 to 10 thousand feet). The place was amazing. He told us all the history of the hydro plant and we got taught about the turbine, the control equipment (it was the world first automated hydro plant) and how they could control it in Colorado Springs with the use of 6 starting motors only to start the turbine and generator and inflow of water. It also had a generator that started induction but synchronised itself after start up! The things they could do in 1920's boggles the mind. It was a Pelton wheel (1kW or so) and 14 pole generator. It was beautiful in one of the most beautiful places on the earth, reight under pikes peak.

After we got back Chris showed us his replicas of turbines he makes for utility companies (he also has a paying job) and so have a look. They are working replicas!

Please pray for:
- Strength (i have not stopped doing things - i love that though).
- Our design intensive on the wedge. This is a first for EMI in product development. We have engineers from all over USA and Canada coming this week and I am on the project too. This is developing a pico-hydro unit with  the ultimate purpose of providing energy for those in developing countries. This is a real challenge for four days intensive work. Ultimately, pray God is glorified through volunteers this week and through the beginnings of the future of this product.
- All us interns all over the world y'all so it is.
- All my other plans while I'm in Merica!
- Americans. They have this thing called "biscuits and gravy" but its actually scones covered in pepper sauce. "Who does that anyway?"

Pray, it works!