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