Noro Virus Hits Northstar

This is me the day before I got sick. 3/4 of the camp staff got sick with the Noro Virus. We had to cancel our Christmas Party outreach and cancel come of the camp days. Us guys were quarantined to the dorms for a few days. Now we are at the lodge but can't go into the dining room and have to be super cautious till the 30th. Pray for us that we can all recover and get back into the ministries at hand. Kids are coming December 27th.

Here is a news article about the virus in Japan:


Japan hit by record outbreak of stomach virus
Tokyo, Dec 19: Japan has been hit by an outbreak of a common stomach virus, prompting the Prime Minister to call for steps to deal with infections that have reached a record high this winter. Over 65,600 people throughout the country are thought to have been infected by norovirus between November 27 and December 3, the highest since data was first collected in 1989, according to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. Four people living at nursing homes, three in their 90s, died due to the infection which causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, the Asahi newspaper reported yesterday, saying all but two of Japan's 47 prefectures have issued warnings of a potential epidemic. ''Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe has given instructions to the relevant ministries to prevent the spread of the infection,'' Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki told a news conference. The Health Ministry says there are no vaccines against the virus and advises people to wash their hands carefully before eating and after using the toilet. Shares in companies that make products to protect against norovirus have shot up on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with hand wash and gargle maker Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd jumping 11.5 per cent in the past week. Other beneficiaries include clinical reagents maker Eiken Chemical Co, whose have risen 14.8 per cent in a week. The ministry said shellfish including oysters should be thoroughly cooked to destroy the virus, as it is often found in such seafood. Norovirus has caused mass infections in other countries, including the United States, where hundreds of passengers on a cruise ship fell ill to it in two separate incidents in early December and in November.

Bureau Report

December 18th - Winter Staff

Pictures of the Winter Season staff. This last one is me and Gabe my roomate. This whole week we have been training in snowboard instruction and preparing the lodge for the coming guests. The next few weeks will be some of the busiest for us.

December 12 - Leaving Canada

(These are pictures of Tokyo) Arrived at the Vancouver airport at 1:30 a.m. Started check in for my flight at 4:30 am. Then my 7:30 flight to San Fransisco was delayed till 9:00. United ended up giving me a direct flight to Narita with Air Canada at leaving at 12 pm. So after 10.5 hours in the Vancouver airport I was finally on my way.
I arrived in Narita Airport at 3:30 pm (12:00 am my time). After the 9 hour flight I had a 6 hour van ride three of which was just getting out of Tokyo. I arrived in the Japan alps got a quick tour of Northstar and headed straight for bed. One of the longest days of my life for sure.

Last stop before Japan. Spent a few days in Abbotsford visiting friends before the big flight. These are pictures from Mt. Baker in Washington. Nice day except for the soaking rain, but it was nice to get out for the first time this season.