FCF

2011 Trappers Territorial Rendezvous

We took off Monday afternoon for the territorial Rendezvous. A little apprehensive on what to expect, never have been to one before. People had started showing up on Sunday afternoon. Me (Blue Dog), Daniel (Cave Bear) and Matthew (Mogli) arrived Monday evening. There was an overwhelming sense of excitement and anticipation in the camp with men busily going about their work. We get camp set up as it gets dark on us. In the center of camp there is a big camp fire burning with men and young bucks all gathered around with music being played, the mood is jolly with talk and sharing going around.

The wilderness vigil starts at noon on Tuesday and I am one of the ten candidates Tuesday morning I am busy getting my gear together for the vigil. By a quarter to twelve I am standing under the big dinning fly with all my gear along with the other 10 candidates. A little after twelve and we are all spreading out our gear for inspection to make sure we have what we are suppose to have and to take out any gear that we are not to have. We get all are gear back together and we begin the testing of our skills this takes several hours and at the end we grab our gear and are led to our campsite were we are to spend the night. We need to set up a shelter and get a fire going to cook diner along with setting up our snares. We are going to be checked on in a couple of hours to see how we are doing. Wilderness members come and check on us and make sure our diner is cooked.. You eat your dinner and gather fire wood for the night to keep your fire going. Later more wilderness members comes and informs you of when you need to blow your horn, with ten of us it is about every five minutes. After midnight you start blowing your horn, the night is clear and the big dipper looks so close on the top of this mountain that you could reach out grab it. The blowing cycle goes a couple of time and then there is a gap in the cycle. The night goes on and you are feeling fatigue set in you look at your watch and it is 2:30 in the morning and you have 3 ½ hours yet to go and you wonder am I going to make it. Hurray it is 6 o’clock and you have made it! Wilderness Members come and get you and you get together with the rest of the candidates and we learn that the 2 young bucks didn’t make it they had fallen asleep it sadden your heart. With the group gathered we share what God has lay on your heart during the vigil. We go back to camp were they have breakfast for you and you are ready for bed. As you get ready for bed you reflect on the following day and what a great experience it was one that will not be forgotten.

Wednesday afternoon Rendezvous officially begins, there are 50 Old timers and Young bucks signed in and gets there packets, patches and medallions.

Wednesday evening serves is called to order by Randy (Straight Nailer) Wright and we start out with some worship songs with Jeff (Double Eagle) King playing guitar, Don ( Little Crow) Coplin playing horn, Ford Parker playing Sax and Willie (Three Fires) Estill.. After worship Straight Nailer welcomes everybody to the Rendezvous and introduced are two guest speakers Richard Mariott (Razorback) and Jim Rounsville ( Silver wolf) . I apologize my note are a little incomplete on this night, might be that I only had 3 hours of sleep. Razorback called all the young bucks up front and to sit in the middle of the group and Razorback gave them all a bag with beads in it to start a necklace he tells them that they can trade them if they want to get different beads.

Thursday July 28 a beautiful sunny morning, Devotional with Jim Rounsville (Silver wolf) National F.C.F. President. Opening with Straight Nailer introducing Austin (Little Bear) Franklin and Jonathan (Snow Wolf)Brown are the 2 young bucks up for national scout. One will be voted in as national scout and the other as regional scout. Little Crow hands out certificate, a pouch with new testament and wilderness pins to the new wilderness members and then hands out trekking patches to members that complied the trek. Straight Nailer explains the trail walk and the knife and hawk course. Other announcements that there is a black powder course after devotions and there will be a leather craft class after lunch see Willie (Three Fires).

Silver Wolf starts of his devotion with a story about having a problem with faro cats so he sets a live trap to catch them and ends up catching a pole cat, one of thoughts that have the nice little white stripe down the back and he told the story of how he handled it. The bible verse for this devotion is 2Timothy 1:7 for God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline. We do not have to have fear and there is only two things of value the word of God and testimony of faith. Have faith and not to be fearful when God put something on your plate just do it. Silver Wolf was vice president of the national F.C.F. and liked being behind the scene but was asked by Fred Deaver and Richard Mariott to be president so he took the job knowing God would Help him with this job. Don’t be fearful I have given you power over it. Razorback come to the front and calls Straight Nailer to the front and give him a necklace with big chevron beads and a territorial medallion on it, Razorback made a comment about it that it is kind of like wearing knotty. Young buck if you have question about knotty ask an old timer about knotty. After that Razorback had the twelve young buck come to the front and ask how they were coming on there necklaces and gave them a starter bead and then ask if they wanted to trade for this other bead the other bead was a big amber bead.

Thursday July 28th evening service It has been a great day of fun and furfural with great weather and great fellowship. The evening service started off with a love blanket there where many gifts exchanged some of the more memorable was Yeller Dog received a long fire poker for the most years as Ranger leader 38 years. The other was Double Eagle giving Straight Nailer a skin stretched on a frame his son’s Josh’s totem and signed by about a hundred friends with there totem and telling Straight Nailer that they were all praying for him and his family it was an emotional moment and Straight Nailer expressed his heart felt thanks. Little Bear lights the council fire and worship begins and you can feel the spirit of the Lord fall upon this gathering of men and boys. Straight Nailer comes to the front and introduces Razorback and he calls the young bucks to the front and looks at there necklaces and gives them a medallion and ask how many boys got out there and traded beads, several boys raised there hands. He said that this is a way for the boys to get top know one another. The name of Razorback message this evening was Doing life together. Razorback tells a story about a Ranger leader that was going to take his daughter to collage but ends up having to be out of town so his daughter and her friend take off together and make it about half way there and there car breaks down. They call home and tell mom what happened, mom calls an A.G. church nearest to where they have broke down and the tow truck driver that goes to church there and is a ranger leader. He tow there car into his shop and takes a look at the car and says it is going to take a couple of day to fix and they take the girls to the collage. The engine in there car was blown up and the congregation of the church take an offering and repairs the car and take it to her. Ray Johnson preaches one of the most important things is to groom our young men and women to develop them for life. You need to take the time and nurture the development of the young men in your charge. Razorback calls for the ranger leaders to pray with the boys and to keep working with them. Razorback goes around and lays hands on the boys asking the Lord to touch them and then ask in there is any special needs. None of the young bucks respond. Then he ask if there is any special need amongst the men and there are several hands go up. Men and boys come together and start praying for the needs of each others. Jesus you are a mighty God moving among your people. Straight Nailer’s closing thought this evening are hope is that we will see are loved one again when we are all in the presents of God. We get busy and we loose track. Straight Nailer shares that he misses his son, but he knows he is with

God having a ball. This was a wake up call that you need to be ready. Josh joined the cross country team, it was a great summer they had hit all the camp-outs. Josh was getting ready for the mid night run. Last time Randy saw Josh was on the soccer field with the paramedic trying to revive him. Straight Nailer ask if any one had a fear of dying we would pray with them. He asked everyone to bow there head and ask if anyone had a fear of dying raise there hand. He ask the Lord to give the old timers strength and to help us be the leader you want us to be. The Lord is moving on this mountain thank you Jesus Amen

Friday July 29th morning devotions Straight Nailer opens with having the 2 scouts candidates stand and come to the front. He ask Austin (Little Bear) why he wants to be national scout? He answers that he wanted to reach people at a national level. He thought the other night with everyone pray with each other was great and that he wants to make everyone feel more welcome. It a lot of hard work but it is all about Jesus.

Straight Nailer ask the same question to Jonathan (Snow Wolf) and he answered that he wanted to help develop the young bucks to have a servant heart through God and there Commanders.

John LaDuke (Wrestles with Canvas) and Allen Way (Lodestone) talk about the new trade guild wanted to know how to get interest in it and how you can get involved and take part in it by uploading stuff and to post your trade info on there.

Straight Nailer tell everyone that the auction is tonight and then introduce Razorback and he in turn has all the young bucks come forward and form a half circle. He looks at all the necklace and tells the young bucks that they all did a good job and hands them all a necklace that he has made. He then tells them that they need to make a necklace for some one coming into F .C .F..

Sliver Wolf tells a story of when he was young he was taught chivalry and there was 2 young girls that he liked, well one day this big guy came along and pushed them down in a flash he ran to there rescue and end up getting punched in the face. Ephesians 6:12 we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. It is all about you and the devil it is a battle and the battle is in your mind there are traps laid out for you and the people you hang out with they can build you up or bring you down. Ephesians 2:10 for we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. God has already created you for a purpose you should keep a journal to keep track of how good God is. God is in the middle of our worst moment. God will be there, the devil is looking how to destroy you. We need not fear God is with us we need to trust him. Galatians 5:22-23 the fruit of the spirit. Joy in all circumstances, Peace surrender and giving control to God. Patience praise God in all circumstances, he needs to know that you are strong.
Evening July 29th It has been another beautiful day on the mountain. Voting for territorial scout is taking place by putting your knife in a block. The auction with the donated items from wilderness candidates and other items donated begins. The bidding begins kind of slow and then there are some items that have quite a bidding war like the pouch that Silver Wolf donated that goes for $225.00 then there was a necklace made by Razorback that was red chevron and had the territorial medallion number 1 that goes for $325.00 and then there was a patch collection of all this years territorial rendezvous made by Ken Gray that goes form $350.00. It was as spirited and fun auction to say the leased there was $1500.00 raised. Part of the money will go to missions and the other part will go to F.C.F. the vote is counted and Austin (Little Bear) is voted National Scout and Jonathan (Snow Wolf) is voted Territorial Scout. The new scout are given a blow horn from Straight Nailer. Next the love blanket there are lots of gifts given some of them I will mention here Yeller Dog gives Lille Crow the old man poker saying he had more years in then him. Bob the beaver went to wilderness and Little Crow made him a necklace. Mogli calls Blue Dog up and give him a necklace that he made for him. The Young Bucks call Razorback and Silver Wolf up front and give them both a necklace that they all made for them and then gave them a group hug. Three Fires is given an amber from his son and he gives his son a bow. Straight Nailer gives Josh a Knife. It was a pretty emotional time I had one Dad tell me that his son told him he loves him and he say he doesn’t here that often enough. Which made me think I don’t say that to my sons often enough either. Giving the score for the aggregate was the next thing that was done, they started with the young buck they got to pick off the blanket first and then the old timers went and there was a enough prize for the young bucks to go again.

The council fire is opened by the 2 scout blowing there newly acquired horns and then they start the council fire with flint and steel, the territorial scout tends the fire as it starts burning into the next layer. The light is beginning to fade as the council fire starts to take off, there is silence around the fire all you here is the crackle of the fire and the birds sing there evening song as it slowly gets dark. All of a sudden the guitar and horns start to play nothing but the blood of Jesus, worship continues worthy is the lamb and how great thou art. Straight Nailer introduces Razorback and everyone sit down, we are going to have communion and they are going to anoint the young bucks with oil. Razorback announces that the next rendezvous will be in Fort Bridger, Wy and it we be the Trappers and Mountain man regions together.
Razorback tells a story that was told to him by Fred Deaver. Fred was on a plane with a man and they were talking and the conversation led to the Lord and the man said that when you die it like turning out the over head light and reaches up to turn out the light and it doesn’t go out he hit the light again and it still doesn’t t go out. The Lord work in mysterious way. After this everyone stands and makes there way around to receive the elements for communion, Razorback ask everyone to take a few moments and check there hearts. Silver Wolf prays over the bread and every one take the bread. Commander Mike from Sierra Grizzly chapter prays over the cup. It is another clear night and the stars are starting to come out. Razorback ask the young bucks what was the first night about, www the empty vessel and last night lets do life together. In proverbs it say as water reflects your face as the heart will reflect the man. Razorback tells of another adventure about him and his brother that is 18 months younger then him and he it the exact opposite. They were setting off fireworks and set a field on firer and the fire department showed up and put out the fire. The Fire Chief comes over and what to see them at the Fire Hall the next day. They go over and he offers them a job and it pays 25 cents and hour. After 4 or 5 weeks there check are doubled . It was a test and they were honest and told the Chief , it was the right thing to do and the right choice. You need to predetermine what you are going to do. The challenges will get tougher as you get older. You need to set up bookmarks, when he was in the military there was nude pictures in the barracks and he didn’t want to be around it and they found him a place where he didn’t have to be there. Check points will save you from a lot of things, Razorback would take his daughter and there boyfriend and sit them down and make them take out a piece of paper and write down things like what are there dreams and how many kids do you want and where are you going to go to church. It was not always pleasant but it help them to see each other.

Razorback ask the young bucks how many want to be anointed with oils and they all stand , Silver Wolf and Razorback anoint the boys and Silver Wolf prays for them to have courage and for them to walk in the spirit, you young men that are 14 and 15 you are to be example to the younger boys. Next are the old timers and they stand and walk to line up for special prayer almost three quarters of the men go forward the Lords present is strongly felt again this evening the Lord is good thank you Jesus for loving us and coming to meet us at this place. There are two line one side with Razorback and Silver Wolf and the other with Straight Nailer. Straight Nailer was a real inspiration at this camp with all his hardships that he went though, he brought a sense of why we all need to be ready. It is totally dark now with the council fire and a few lanterns lighting the area it is a time of peace and the warmth around the area with God moving among the men and young bucks you can really feel his presents. May God be with each and everyone and may his blessings be poured out among these men and boys as he touches them.

Razorback thanks everyone for there hospitality and Straight Nailer ask to pray for them and then ask if anyone would come forward to pray and the whole place empty to the front to pray. Afterwards Straight Nailer ask every one to get up early in the morning at 5:30 to take a group picture because some have a long way to travel and then worship begins in praising our King.

Saturday morning and every one gets up early to have there picture taken and them begins to break camp. Slowly the people begin to leave, some have along drive in front of them.

          I want to give special thanks to Buck (Iron Bear) Hart, Allen (Lodestone) Way and Bob ( Squeaky Goat) Spencer and all who helped in the big task that they took on and cooked for the entire camp Thank you gentlemen!
We are the last to leave and as I look out over this meadow where this has been home for the last week and see all the imprints of where all the tents where I think just how though imprint that are there on the ground how this camp has left a big imprint on my heart and the feeling of loss not wanting to leave the brothers that had be come so close in such a short amount of time. Driving down the mountain I was thinking how funny a little over a week ago I had boys that didn’t want to go and now listening to them all excited about the next camp in two years and asking can we go to the next camp in two years and about how they had really enjoyed this one. The chatter continues down the mountain until we hit the highway and then they fall a sleep and as I am driving in the quiet I thank the Lord for the renewing of the Spirit and ask him just to use me in what every he wants.
                                        Blue Dog

Historian Little Big Horn Chapter