I have officially been accepted as a Lodgepole Clerk in Sequoia National Park!
As exciting as that really doesn't sound, I find myself excited for the job. My job entitles just what you would expect. I must be able to use a cash register, must be able to stand for hours on end, and other various things that come with a typical clerk job. As of right now I am filling out paper work and will soon have to take a drug test. The next big thing will come April 13, (so look for a new post a little after April 13th) when I head off to Grand Rapids for ACMNP training. (Remember that is different than the clerk job)
It seems the weeks are flying by and I'm sure it will seem like tomorrow when I'm out in California working my new job. As fast as time goes by, I am thankful for having what little time I have to prepare myself mentally for what lies ahead. As much as I thought I grew with Christ over the past few years, it seems like it has all but doubled in the time I have been here on campus. I don't know exactly what it is about living on my own, but it has given me the opportunity to learn so much more about myself and my relationship with Jesus Christ. It seems as my knowledge expands, my questions become only greater in length and complexity where there never seems to be a strait and simple answer. If there is one thing I'm sure of it is that I'm not even close to fully understanding our Heavenly Father (nor will I ever) and it will definitely be in my weakness that He will be able to work through me, not only this coming summer, but for the rest of my life.
Just this week I learned a greater deal about the way God works. Reading Hosea 6:1-2 and after talking with our Chaplin, I came to a greater understanding that God is one that will often be the one that takes us down, in order that He may then bring us back up. He doesn't just allow bad things to happen to us, but He is the one that directly causes "bad" things to happen in our lives. I quote bad because it is us as humans that have tagged what it means for something to be bad, but anything God chooses to do is good. He can do no bad. So while He may bring us down, He always does good and right. While I'm sure a large paper could be written regarding this subject I hope you can understand what I mean within this small paragraph because I would hate to be the one to mislead you, so I highly encourage that you don't take my word for it, but pick up the living Word of God and find the answer for yourself!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Mission Statement
Not thirty minutes ago I finally received my first call from DNCParks & Resorts at Sequoia. It is a good feeling to know my application is finally being processed. If you don't recall from my last post, I have been accepted to A Christian Ministry in the National Parks, but I am still currently waiting for a yes or no from DNCParks & Resorts at Sequoia.
Once I am am in the park I will be working a low end job, such as a bellperson or server. I will be making minimum wage (about $8) and paying for housing and food. Housing, if I remember correctly, will be $25 a week and food will be an average of $3 per meal, really pretty good all things considered. I will be working full time, 40 hours a week, plus the additional work I do through ACMNP, which is all technically volunteer work. On the weekends I will be helping run and set up small "church services" in the park for visitors with my fellow ACMNP members.
While my mission will be greatly focused on the small church services we will be holding, the other large portion of my mission is to simply be a positive influence to my fellow workers at the resort and others around me. To put it simply my mission statement is, to be a positive, uplifting, and a good example to my fellow workers. To be a disciple to the visitors that are visiting the park, and to show the individuals I encounter faith through actions.
To give you a better idea of my work I have attached two links. (just click on the words) One that gives additional information about ACMNP and the other about the Resort I'll be working at.
Once I am am in the park I will be working a low end job, such as a bellperson or server. I will be making minimum wage (about $8) and paying for housing and food. Housing, if I remember correctly, will be $25 a week and food will be an average of $3 per meal, really pretty good all things considered. I will be working full time, 40 hours a week, plus the additional work I do through ACMNP, which is all technically volunteer work. On the weekends I will be helping run and set up small "church services" in the park for visitors with my fellow ACMNP members.
While my mission will be greatly focused on the small church services we will be holding, the other large portion of my mission is to simply be a positive influence to my fellow workers at the resort and others around me. To put it simply my mission statement is, to be a positive, uplifting, and a good example to my fellow workers. To be a disciple to the visitors that are visiting the park, and to show the individuals I encounter faith through actions.
To give you a better idea of my work I have attached two links. (just click on the words) One that gives additional information about ACMNP and the other about the Resort I'll be working at.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Start of Something Big
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.
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.
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