Countdown

Well...

It has been a while and I have not kept up with this blog the way I had hoped. There has been so much going on and I have not taken the time to sit down and tell of all the amazing things that have been going on here in Alaska. 

The time is coming to an end and I will head back home in just 11 days. Where did the time go? In feels like I just arrived yesterday but at the same time if feels like I have been here forever. A part of me cannot wait to leave but then another part of me would love to stay. I will definitely be sad saying goodbye to everyone I have met here but it will not be so much a goodbye as a see you later. I will definitely be coming back to visit them!

I have spent most of my time with the teens (obviously) and I have grown so close with each of them. I have learned so much from them and I have enjoyed every minute spent with them! 

I have spent some time with some pretty amazing adults as well. Adults who have made me feel welcome and who have loved and encouraged me. Adults who have taken time to talk with me and to help me in anyway. I will never forget the love and encouragement they graciously gave me. 

I have also connected with a few youngsters as well. Mainly Isaac, my little 4 year old buddy. (I know what some of you are thinking... Of course a boy under the age of 7 falls in love with Amber... Yeah, yeah, yeah. Happens everywhere I go...) Isaac and his family have been great to me. I have spent several hours of my time here with that family and I appreciate all they have done. I will never forget the talks Isaac and I had, the many dinners he sat next to me, and the way he would tell everyone I was his Amber and we were going to get married. Precious moments that I will always remember!

This Summer in Alaska has been one of the greatest adventures. I have loved every minute of being here (even being homesick). I have learned a lot being so far away from home and I have definitely grown. I have learned so much about ministry and about myself. God has definitely stretched me in many ways. I have grown so much as a person and as a servant of Christ. I thank God for the opportunity He gave me to come and be apart of the ministry team at Chapel of the Cross. I am also grateful that Chapel of the Cross gave me a chance and have walked along side of me during this Summer. 

Although I have had a wonderful time, I am definitely in countdown mode. I am sad about leaving but also very excited. I miss my dog, my family, and my friends. I cannot wait to see them all again very, very soon! I cannot wait to play with my dog and to cuddle with her (if she will) and I cannot wait to squeeze my nieces! I am definitely excited to see everyone soon! 11 more days!

Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust Him, and He will help you. 
Psalm 37:4

A Spoonful of Sugar!

What a great night it has been! I got to experience my first live musical production and it was...

I had such a fun time! It was such an AMAZING show and I am glad that I was invited to go. I hope to see many, many, MANY more in the future. I think that I might have enjoyed Mary Poppins more than any concert I've ever been to! I can't even hold in the excitement that I have right now! I had to share what an amazing show it was to see. If you have not thought about seeing this show, you should reconsider. You will have a lot of fun! You will be laughing and singing along!




All of the actors did a wonderful job especially Mary Poppins! I have always loved Mary Poppins the movie and I never thought anyone would play the character of Mary Poppins as well as Julie Andrews. I was mistaken because the actress who played Mary Poppins tonight was outstanding! She was spot on! I loved every minute of it and there were plenty of minutes!


Seeing all of the fun they were having made me want to be on broadway! If I could dance and sing then I might have a chance but for now I will stick to singing (loudly) in my car and dancing (ridiculously) in my room.


I am already making a list of musical productions I have to see! I would love to visit New York and see some of the Broadway shows there as well.



The set was absolutely incredible as well! The way that everything folded and unfolded, slid across stage, and floated in the air. I must say Wow! The two words that I would use to describe this show would be wow and incredible but even those do not seem like perfect words to describe just how great it was. I guess the only word I can truly use is...

SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!

A few quotes from Mary Poppins:

"Winds in that East, there's a mist coming in--like something is brewing and 'bout to begin..."

"Anything can happen if you let it."

"Practically perfect and I hope it remains so."

First Adventures!

Well...

My adventures in Alaska have gone great so far! I have been learning more about driving a stick shift, taking in the sights, eating A LOT, gone to a couple movies, had a little bit of hang out time with some of the youth group, a pretty good bit of sleeping, and I have been praying to prepare myself for the work that is ahead of me. So far I have enjoyed myself and once I build relationships with the teens and get in the swing of things I am sure I will enjoy the work as well.

I am a little lost trying to figure out where everything is in town (as people are driving me around) and also very lost while learning to drive a stick shift! All in all, I am having a wonderful time and cannot wait to get to work. I am already feeling challenged so I can imagine I will feel even more challenged as I take on more and more responsibility. But I am ready!

I have come across the homesickness since today was the first day without any family. My sister left yesterday so I have been feeling a little blue. I did miss out on the Memorial Day cook out at home today which was a little bummer... This is the only time I can remember ever missing it, so I felt a little sad today. Although it made my day to know that I was missed! I got a text from my cousin that said "Memorial Day is boring without you." Haha! What can I say? I definitely missed being there!

Although I missed my family today was not a waste... I had a lovely lunch with Pastor Gene and Marlene. Then I went out driving with Lindsay and I didn't kill it once!! Hills still freak me out a little but she said she has no worries and that I should be fine. Let's pray she is right! I had a great time with her today and also had a great time with Lindsay, Mycala, and Cheyenne at the movies last night (although the movie was really bad). These girls are really fun and I have enjoyed my time with them.

Other than I've had fun and I miss my family, there is not much else to tell you all about. I have been posting pictures to Facebook that many of you have seen and if not check them out! It is gorgeous here!  My sister and I went driving Saturday before she left and I just upload some of those photos to my laptop, so enough talking! Enjoy some pictures!

Love these!

 I thought this one was really cool!!

I love them all but these are probably my favs!!

ESPECIALLY THIS ONE!

Amos 4:13 - For the LORD is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his thoughts to mankind. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads on the heights of the earth. The LORD God of Heaven's Armies is his name!

Ready... Set... GO!

18 hours and 43 minutes from now I will be boarding my first plane! That plane will take me on the biggest adventure of my life!

I am almost packed but not quite there! I have a few more things to get packed and I will definitely double, triple, quadruple check to make sure I have everything I need. As long as there are clothes, toiletries, and potato chip cookies (thanks to Pastor Tonya!) Amber is a happy girl! 

I am pretty sure that my emotional scale is almost to the point of maxing out. The past few weeks have been filled with ups and downs, feelings of excitement and nervousness, fear and faith, but luckily no tears... At least not yet! I am so thankful for the many friends, family, and church family that have gathered around me, supported me, encouraged me, and prayed for me as I begin this journey. Without the love of all the people in my life and the encouraging words they have spoken, I would probably be a nervous wreck. Their words and actions have helped me to stay mildly calm as I jump feet first into an adventure that will surely change my life. All of those people have shown me a great deal of kindness and love. And I definitely feel loved!!

Excitement, of course, is the most dominate emotion I have been experiencing lately. I am excited that I stepped out of my comfort zone to try something really crazy (for me at least)! I am excited and humbled to have been chosen for this internship. People say "There is a first time for everything" and this is definitely an adventure filled with many firsts! I am excited to see how God will use me, shape me, and challenge me. Suffice it to say, I am EXCITED!

What I have been preparing for is less than a day away and my excitement continues to grow as well as my nerves. I have done all I can to prepare for this but sometimes you just have to have a little faith. I know that God is with me and He has been guiding and preparing me for many weeks. Sometimes it even feels like He has been preparing me for this moment my entire life. I can here it now, the lyrics of the song that have been floating through my mind,

     

          Come away with Me, Come away with Me

          It's never too late, it's not too late, it's not too late for you

          I have a plan for you, I have a plan for you

          It's gonna be wild, it's gonna be great, it's gonna be full of Me

I also get the entertainment of having the theme song of the PBS cartoon show Cat in the Hat running through my mind as well. I have been walking around singing, "Go, go, go, go on an adventure. The thingamajigger is up and away!" All of those lovely days babysitting my nieces must have inspired that little tune. I am going on what will surely be a great adventure and it's gonna be wild, great, and full of God---A promise that I hold to tightly! I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me and the people I will be serving. 

I do ask that you continue to pray for me as I embark on this journey. I ask that you would pray for safe travels, God's work that will be done, and of course ME! There are so many things that you could pray for but the most important is that I will be faithful and sensitive to God's call and leadership in my life, so that He can truly be revealed and given the glory. I will need faith to conquer the fear, worry, stress, and nerves. I do not doubt that God can do the impossible and that if I am faithful, He can do the impossible through me. 

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me." Jeremiah 29:11-13