I never before believed I would be the blogger type, but here I am jumping on the bag wagon, and for one main reason, informing you of what is really going on in my life.
Having so many friends and family interested in the happenings of my life, I have come to realize a blog is the most efficient way to keep all of you informed on the new adventures that are weaving themselves into my life. Yes, Tori you are the inspiration. I, along with many others, anticipate each new post as you experience life in China first hand. As I read your blog, it is almost as if I were there experiencing each new adventure right there with you. It is my desire to re-create that with my own blog as I prepare myself for God's calling to the Sequoia National Park located in California. So here it is, the start of something big...
As I strolled past the DC (dinning commons) one afternoon a large booth caught my eye. Behind the table a large poster displayed an epic and breath taking picture of mother nature with the name: A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. I promptly grabbed a flyer with the indention of merely skimming through the pamphlet and maybe day dream a little about working in one of the most beautiful places on earth. As I sat myself down on our blankets sprawled out in the warm summer sun, I began to flip through the contents of the flyer.
It so happened that Casey Butler, a good friend and coworker at CLBC, was sitting next to me at the time and he knew just about everything there was to know about ACMNP (A Christian Ministry in the National Parks). He began to tell me how it has been his dream to work through ACMNP in a National Park for the past few years, but each year he had been held back by this or that. With no real intent of applying for the job and not really expecting to be snatched away with the idea of leaving my amazing job at Center Lake Bible Camp, I was taken back by the thoughts starting to stir in my mind.
By the time we sat up to head to dinner I was just about sold to the idea. I was actually thinking about applying for a job in the National Parks. Wow. Throughout the next few days the subject was continually on my mind and I often prayed about it.
I can't remember the exact moment I truly decided to apply, but one thing was for sure. I knew God was calling me to do this. I would often disregarded the idea to be outlandish and crazy, but then again, so was the idea of working at CLBC all those years back. But I had grown to love CLBC and now God was calling me away. I loved the idea of working in a National Park, but I hated the idea of leaving CLBC.
After finally giving in to the the nagging of God calling me, I submitted an application to ACMNP. Although I was told I may not even be accepted, I knew otherwise. How I knew is hard to explain, but I knew He was going to make me go through with this. And so began the long wait to see a reply back.
It seemed to be a good two months before I even heard back, but like I had suspected, I had been accepted. Joy and grief overcame my heart. Joy because I was fallowing God's calling and I was going to be working in Sequoia (my third choice), but grief because that meant no Center Lake. Which brings us to current events.
ACMNP isn't the job its self, but they hook individuals up with actual jobs in the National Park. Working for ACMNP is actually a volunteer position where we hold "church services" during the weekends for the park visitors, but ACMNP also recommends their people to the local business in the park giving them a recommendation for a low end job, such as cleaning, or serving food. Although I must apply to the job, it is an almost guaranteed acceptance, seeing as it is a low end job and I have a highly regarded recommendation.
So as of now, I wait to hear back to see if I have been accepted to the local business as either a bellperson or server. Why those positions?
My main reason of going out to California is to serve the LORD and to do so I plan on reaching out to the visitors and what better job than a bellperson? As I envision it, as I'm taking their bags up to their room (people seem to have fallen away from camping) I will be able to tell them about the small church serves we hold in the park and God knows what else (no literally I'm mostly relying on God here). To be totally honest I haven't got it all planned out, I don't even know where I will receive the money to purchase a plane ticket to get out there, but when did the Bible ever say that God was going to reveal His whole plan? So I ask you this, please pray for me as I prepare myself for the unknown. Thank you.
