Arriving in Lakeside, Montana

-a view of Lakeside, Montana

The beginning of the adventure!  It seems like so long ago (over a month now),
but I feel I should start here.
I left Canadian soil around 9:15am January 6th (was supposed to depart at
8:45, but there was delays due to the cabin crew not having there minimum
down time and it being very foggy).  I had a very short stopover in Minneapolis
(only about 30 mins.) and then it was off to my final destination, Glacier
International Airport in Kalispell, Montana.  This flight was a bit scary
because they wouldn't let anyone sit in the back 10 rows of seats due to a
weight restriction.  They had put extra fuel on the plane due to weather
conditions being bad in Montana and wanting enough so that we could coast
in the air until weather cleared.   Thankfully the weather cleared and we landed
without problems and my baggage made it too!

I was greeted at the airport by the entire Wilke family who are the leaders of my
DTS.  It was then a 20min. drive to the YWAM base which is in Lakeside, Montana. 

-a view from the base

There is about the same amount of snow here as there was when I left (it sounds
like you have more there now though!)  The base is located at the base of
Blacktail Mountain, which has a local ski resort on it.

Some facts about YWAM Montana:

• the base used to be a military base for a look-out that is located on Blacktail Mountain to watch Russia when nuclear missiles were a threat

• the base has its own water tower
  

• We (DTS) live on the 2nd floor of the Gladys Alyward dorm. Girls are on one side, guys on the other. My room is right beside the girls bathroom and I live with 2 other girls (Ja from Thialand and Angi from Vermont-pics of them will come later!)

• Our lecture hall is attached to the dorm and the cafeteria and the students center (library, laundry room, gym, pool table and snack bar) are each justa short walk away.

• There are 26 nations represented at this base! Incredible!
  

• Approx. 100 staff work on the base

Now some facts about Lakeside, Montana:

• population: 3,000

• there are 2 gas stations, a DAIRY QUEEN, Blacktail Grocery Store, ACE Hardware, a post office, a bank, a couple restaurants and a few other places that aren't worth mentioning

• Lakeside is located on the shore of Flathead Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in Western USA.

That's it for now!