Koinonia Christian Campus Fellowship – UC Berkeley Club

For the lucky upperclassmen who were done with their midterms (or had their midterms mysteriously “under control”), we had an awesome getaway to Sierra Lodge! Right after a combined Bible Study Friday night, we loaded up our cars and headed for the great outdoors.

You’d think the trip would have felt long, but time flew by with the great company. In our caravan, we exchanged stories and riddles and before we knew it, we pulled up on the gravelly road and beheld the greatness that is Sierra Lodge. Every time I go, I see a new addition to the grounds. Not only do we have the Sierra Lodge, but we have the barn, a playing field, a lit basketball court, plenty of outside seating around the lodge, a large campfire, and (best of all) God’s majestic creation all around us.

Now, I solidly believe that twenty-four hours of fresh air, delicious food, and great fellowship will revive any midterm-drained student-turned-zombie individual. The perfect combination of crisp night air and piping hot ramen infused life back into our weary book-laden bones. Many of us played basketball and frisbee on the court while others sang songs around the campfire.
Highlights of the night included:
- the brothers vs. sisters human knot game where the brothers (unfortunately) won
- everyone singing “Love The Lord” and “This Is My Desire” together with the fire blazing in the center
- lying on the unlit basketball court to gaze at the millions of stars you can’t see anywhere else.

The next day, everyone worked around Sierra Lodge for an hour while some sisters packed lunches. After driving on a rocky road to the hiking grounds, we unloaded, buddied up, and set off for our hike to Island Lake. When we reached our destination, I was once again amazed by the beauty and sheer magnitude of the lake. I felt the sensation of being lost in something greater and it was breathtaking.

The Sierra Lodge getaway seemed to end too soon. Once we hiked back down, we played a game of Ultimate Frisbee on the new field where the Sophomores and staff almost got owned by the upperclassmen until we had an all-or-nothing and they got a lucky break. We then ate mouthwatering kimchi stew, kalbi stew, meatballs, and Korean barbecue for dinner, cleaned the lodge, and headed back down to Berkeley. I couldn’t help but want to stay longer and I know I wasn’t the only one. Short as it was, the Sierra Lodge getaway was definitely packed with nonstop fun!