...I read that on a sign once and loved it so I use that phrase as much as possible. welp I have been having a fabulous time enjoying SUN!!! I've been running in the mornings, kayaking after supper, playing volleyball before bed, and eating candy because I'm in constant hunger!!! It's been beautiful this past week with sun and warmth and the snow is leaving and it's great. This week has been staff Olympics and I ran and played volleyball, even with the awesome skills we are only in second...to last!!! But it's been fun! This past weekend it was my turn to speak at the worship services. I spoke over Song of Solomon 2:10-11 and Hebrews 12:1-3 talking about getting over that winter slump and start getting in shape for the summer spiritually. It was a fun one to put together AND my fabulous, gorgeous gals came to visit (Krista, Tina, Emily, and Jessica). It was so great to see their faces and to kinda show them around this beautiful awesomeness. I couldn't really hang out with them but I did eat SMORES and go on the sunrise morning hike to the Signal Mountain Summit with them and that was awesome to share. I'm starting to miss those Kansas faces. Mostly this week I have been really dwelling on the "walk a mile in my shoes" statement. I know to really know someone, you can't. Differences of personalities, life experiences, education, interests, etc will always leave us biased to others but the walking in someone's shoes has now become more of a generalization to me. Such as a group of women have those inside jokes about our bodies, emotions, and such and I'm apart of that group and understand those jokes. Runners have those commonalities that only they share such as running is a natural laxative, I didn't truly grasp that until I started running more. Now I have the similar understandings of teachers and standards and lesson planning under my belt. Right now I'm learning the groove of the housekeeper and really bonding with my group. We have an understanding of each other even though we come from different places and have different interests we have a bond that not many can comprehend. When we talk about rooms we clean with others they just say "ooo...that's gross how can you do that?" but another housekeeper can come back with another story and make you feel better because they have the same mess to go through. This past week I've cleaned up so many gross things from hairy rooms to dirty dishes to flem in the showers (and when you wipe it up it just spreads!!!!) to puke on the outside of a flemy tub. I thought for sure without my HIV spray I would've gotten a disease! With experiences like those and the ones like walking into a nice and tidy room that leaves a $2 tip for each of us I have become more sympathetic towards housekeepers in motels, lodges, and college maintenance men that second as housekeepers. That understanding leaves me guilty when I dirty a mirror, throw my sheets and blankets on the floor, or leave my things in the middle of the floor those make their jobs a little more difficult and I know they appreciate a kind word and a clean sink more then the "oh the housekeeper can do it" thought. I love the fact that I have the opportunity to become insightful to another group of people, the cleaner upers!!!! It's like after waitressing you know how hard it is so you like to tip a little extra and leave an encouraging comment! Like the body of Christ we have the understanding of the love, peace, joy, hope etc we have through Jesus. Let us not forget the days before the understanding so that we will not take it all for granted and let us try a little harder to share it with others so that they can empathize/understand/and share in the inside jokes we all have. Christ's love and be encouraged because you're all really pretty...HUGS!!!! :)
PICTURED-We went horseback riding on our days off (the roomies and I). It was super fun...we even crossed a creek...
27 June 2009
the weather is here, I wish you were beautiful...
...I read that on a sign once and loved it so I use that phrase as much as possible. welp I have been having a fabulous time enjoying SUN!!! I've been running in the mornings, kayaking after supper, playing volleyball before bed, and eating candy because I'm in constant hunger!!! It's been beautiful this past week with sun and warmth and the snow is leaving and it's great. This week has been staff Olympics and I ran and played volleyball, even with the awesome skills we are only in second...to last!!! But it's been fun! This past weekend it was my turn to speak at the worship services. I spoke over Song of Solomon 2:10-11 and Hebrews 12:1-3 talking about getting over that winter slump and start getting in shape for the summer spiritually. It was a fun one to put together AND my fabulous, gorgeous gals came to visit (Krista, Tina, Emily, and Jessica). It was so great to see their faces and to kinda show them around this beautiful awesomeness. I couldn't really hang out with them but I did eat SMORES and go on the sunrise morning hike to the Signal Mountain Summit with them and that was awesome to share. I'm starting to miss those Kansas faces. Mostly this week I have been really dwelling on the "walk a mile in my shoes" statement. I know to really know someone, you can't. Differences of personalities, life experiences, education, interests, etc will always leave us biased to others but the walking in someone's shoes has now become more of a generalization to me. Such as a group of women have those inside jokes about our bodies, emotions, and such and I'm apart of that group and understand those jokes. Runners have those commonalities that only they share such as running is a natural laxative, I didn't truly grasp that until I started running more. Now I have the similar understandings of teachers and standards and lesson planning under my belt. Right now I'm learning the groove of the housekeeper and really bonding with my group. We have an understanding of each other even though we come from different places and have different interests we have a bond that not many can comprehend. When we talk about rooms we clean with others they just say "ooo...that's gross how can you do that?" but another housekeeper can come back with another story and make you feel better because they have the same mess to go through. This past week I've cleaned up so many gross things from hairy rooms to dirty dishes to flem in the showers (and when you wipe it up it just spreads!!!!) to puke on the outside of a flemy tub. I thought for sure without my HIV spray I would've gotten a disease! With experiences like those and the ones like walking into a nice and tidy room that leaves a $2 tip for each of us I have become more sympathetic towards housekeepers in motels, lodges, and college maintenance men that second as housekeepers. That understanding leaves me guilty when I dirty a mirror, throw my sheets and blankets on the floor, or leave my things in the middle of the floor those make their jobs a little more difficult and I know they appreciate a kind word and a clean sink more then the "oh the housekeeper can do it" thought. I love the fact that I have the opportunity to become insightful to another group of people, the cleaner upers!!!! It's like after waitressing you know how hard it is so you like to tip a little extra and leave an encouraging comment! Like the body of Christ we have the understanding of the love, peace, joy, hope etc we have through Jesus. Let us not forget the days before the understanding so that we will not take it all for granted and let us try a little harder to share it with others so that they can empathize/understand/and share in the inside jokes we all have. Christ's love and be encouraged because you're all really pretty...HUGS!!!! :)
PICTURED-We went horseback riding on our days off (the roomies and I). It was super fun...we even crossed a creek...
05 June 2009
So another week has gone by and more wisdom has been added to the vault (or bouncy house sometimes I don't know...) . A lot has been brought to my attention. First off I was inspired to memorize verses with one of my roomie because when you’re cleaning rooms all day there is a lot of stop and think time, I needed some focus. I brought that idea up to her and she told me to just open the Bible and find a verse. I told her to say stop and I landed in Jeremiah as I was searching the two pages in front of me I came across the heading "Jeremiah Weeps for Sinful Judah" chapter 8 verses 18-22. Katelyn and I automatically made that our prayer for this summer, to gain the ability to empathize and meet the needs of the people here. The huge hitter was verse 20, since this is a summer job it just made the need for Jesus more imperative. Psalm 14:3 is also banging me over the head. The main thought that I have grasped from my surroundings is that you have to be a good person and do good things and that’s what life is. Alas it’s so much more than being good…we can’t be good…God is good…we are sinful…another prayer for the people here that God will use me to bring some truth. Actually I have been questioning my whole purpose for being here this summer (in fact I really didn’t start with a purpose, just to fulfill responsibilities). Am I here for fun, to meet people, to be a hardcore missionary, to find true love (hahaha). I’m praying for guidance so that I can make full the time I have here doing what God has brought me to do.
Now on to awesome things. Katelyn and I did our first Signal Mountain Lodge service on Sunday and it went well we thought. 12 people came to the three services so it was nice to have that. Katelyn talked about how a pebble on the beach was made of the same stuff a mountain is made of and that we are loved, given grace, and made of the same stuff Mother Teresa and Ghandi were made of, using 1 Corinthians 1:27, to show how God uses everything. It was a pretty great time.
The roomies and I have gone on a scenic float trip down the Snake River and saw beavers that was pretty cool. Lately the mountains have been covered by clouds to where you can’t even see them and it’s been super rainy, it’s hard to be an outdoors housekeeper with rain so we improvise and use tarps to cover our carts.
Also my car window is broken and won’t roll up so the rain is making it hard on my beach towel. On my next day off I’m hoping to head into Jackson to get it fixed.
Welp that’s a quick update. Each day I’m more thankful for the great roomies I have and for being in such an amazing, adventurous place. Prayers for the roomies that we can stay solid with each other physically, mentally, and spiritually and prayers for what God is doing at Signal and with me.
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