Weeks 2-3: Scriptures & Relationships

First off, I now have pictures on my computer so here are some of the pictures from the past few weeks.

This is our team at a theme rally night.  I made the girls flower pens as a welcome present and we all had them to record the insights of Jerry Bridges speaking on the word during week 2.  He spoke on how we can trust scripture and also how the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelations points to Jesus.  It was wonderful to hear from such a wise man.  This week we also got to do the skit.  It was called "So you Think You Can Quote Scripture!"  It was hilarious....Laura Tyler has pig tails because she was a little girl, she is really 22. 

This picture was from our first group date.  Friday we went our second group date.  We went to the beach and ate some fresh fruit, which is such a blessing having something rather than apples.  We had strawberries, fresh pineapple, watermelon, cantelope, and grapes.  Wonderful!  Then we played three games of sand volleyball which is quickly becoming one of my favorite pastimes! 

It was a great way to finish up Relationships week. We got to hear from both Beth and Jim Luebe and Kim and Mike Havenstein.  Both were very good and brought up a lot of conversation among our teams.  We were also very blessed to have Kyle and Katie Nelson and boys around for the week.  My team got to babysit Toby and Parker Thursday night during bible study.  They are such great boys!

This picture is actually from a week ago Friday we had a aqua olympic party.  One of the games was water polo via tubes.  This is a picture of the action.  We also did a sychronized swimming competition.  Here is a video of the Epic Romance:

This Saturday we did our fourth week of Beach evangelism.  We tried something new by going out in Co-Ed pairs.  I went with a team member Kyle and we got to talk to two couples.  One of the couples names was Jennifer and Mike.  Mike said he was believer and Jennifer said she had never heard of Jesus before.  It was really eye opening to meet someone who hadn't heard the name of Jesus before.  It was an exciting experience and we are really praying that Jennifer accepts Chirst. It has been so encouraging to hear stories each week of people accepting Christ on the beach and those are only the ones we know.  Please be praying that seeds we plant will be watered!

I Corinthians 3:6-9 Paul says "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.  So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.  The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.  For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

This week will be talking about our identity in Christ.  Hopefully I will have time and internet to update you soon!

Week 1: Abiding in Christ

This is the first official week of the program.  We have a theme every week and this week's is Abiding in Christ.  We are studying John 15:1-17 which talks about how Christ is the vine and we are the branches.  It has been wonderful to begin a routine. 

I have officially started my job at Adventure Landing.  We have been getting up before the sun, which is between 5:30 and 6.  It is beginning to wear and it's only the beginning of week two.  Pray for time to rest! My job is really funny...I am maintenance/Welcome girl!  That's right...welcome girl! :)  For the first three hours I clean.  I get to run the bathroom machine, that's right a machine made for cleaning bathrooms, in the mornings.  I also vacuum for hours.  My vacuum is very special....it's a backpack vacuum which makes me kind of look like a ghostbuster.  It has earned me some nicknames including: sandsucker and ghostbuster.  My boss George just likes to call me and the other Nav girl that works with me George's Angels.

Being Welcome girl is my favorite part.  Mostly because I get to talk to people and not just listen to the vacuum.  One day last week a little girl was walking in on a hot day with her dad and was saying "I love waterparks, I love waterparks, I love waterparks!"  SO ADORABLE!  I told her, "Hun, your are going to have an amazing day!" :)  Then today I had just said my "Welcome to Adventure landing." and this little boy began waving at me and said, "Excuse me, excuse me, Welcome to Adventure Landing to you too!"  So cute!  Then he turned to his mom and said, "Mom, I welcomed her to Adventure Landing!"  HAHA!  Love being welcomed at work.

The other really fun occurrence was our first group date!  We were asked on a group date by team "<" (that's team less than).  They also are in our church group so it was really fun to get to know them.  We had supper together at the Osprey Diner, which is the dining hall :) and then went to the mall for a scavenger hunt.  It was so fun...hopefully I will have pictures soon!  We then went to a chocolate shop that also had ice cream.  We got ice cream and a free piece of chocolate and took a walk in the town center parking lot.  It's a great group of guys and we all had a great time!

We also had our first bible study this week.  And our first rounds of one on ones!  I feel like I am really connecting with my girls and I love them all dearly!  I can't wait to grow with them as the summer goes on.  One of the things you could be praying for is scripture memory.  It's something that, as a team, we have been struggling with.  Even though they know why it's important to hide scripture in your heart it has been a challenge.

Beach evanglism was great this week.  I went with Laura Tyler and we both got to share once but both groups were believers.  If you could be praying for non-believers who are ready and searching to come into our paths that would be really encouraging.  Jerry Bridges this week and talking about the WORD!

Earth Wind and FIRE!

I have been in JAX now for over a week!  It seems like it has gone by so fast and I just can't believe what God has already been teaching me and the ways He has been challenging me and shaping me to be more Christ like!

First I think I should share about what an amazing provider He has been!  Before school got out I was reading in Exodus 16 how after God brought the Israelites out of Egypt He fed them with Mana.  Each person was provided with just the right amount to meet their needs.  It was sweet how God didn't give them too little or too much.  I began praying that for my fundraising this summer and praying that I would be fully funded by the time I got to JAX.  Well our God is a faithful God who meets all of our needs according to his glorious riches in Christ!  It took us two days to get down here and on our first stop I got a phone call and I AM FULLY FUNDED!  Which is such a blessing!  I feel like I can now just focus on the work set out for me here and put all of my energy there!

There were also many aspects of my character that I was praying over God to break this summer and again he has been faithful.  One of these is my pride.  I would say that it's something that is always there, especially in a leadership position.  I was talking to Heather today, I girl that was in my bible study at UNI, about how God has really began to break me down in this area.  At UNI I feel like the NAV staff knows me pretty well and will give me many chances to lead and take things over which is one of the sources of my pride.  Here the staff doesn't know me as well and so they will pair me with another team leader that has been here before.  My first instinct is to defend my competence but I know that it is just my pride.  It's been amazing how God had been teaching me humility through these little things.

Another characteristic is when I get into large groups of people I tend to have a dominate personality...sometimes I call it "competitive talking."  I have really begun to desire being a more peaceful and quiet person, not meaning I don't talk but that I don't have to rule the conversation.  I have also seen God work in this way too.  I don't feel the need to command attention to myself which has been a new experience.

The most exciting thing is my my team! We are team EARTH WIND AND FIRE.  I didn't know about this whole team name thing but it's kind of a big deal to pick a sweet team name.  So mine is based off of Isaiah 43:1-2 and it's about how not matter what we go through God is our creator and he is with us.  I was so nervous to meet the women on my team but I couldn't me more excited to have these three wonderful ladies in my group.  Liz and Laura Tyler go to the University of Iowa and then Erica goes to Northwest Missouri State.   They are wonderful and It has been a joy to get to know them and their hearts for the Lord.  

Yesterday (Saturday) we got to do some evangelism.  I got to go out with Erica and we talked to three people.  They all said their were believers, but the most exciting thing is Erica got to share the bridge (illustration of the gospel) for the first time!!!!!  It was so exciting to see.  One of the things you could be praying for is just boldness and opportunities for us to share the gospel.

We have also had a bunch of team time this week.  One night we got gelato and just walked on the beach, we also all went swimming in the ocean and another night we spend an hour looking for a cookie place that I guess had now closed...so sad but it was the journey that was fun :)  Last night we went to an area downtown to eat that is right next to the harbor and we got to see almost twenty dolphins!!! It was AMAZING!  If you would be praying for just further unity and vulnerability for our team that would be wonderful!

I also had orientation for my job at Adventure Landing...which I start tomorrow.  We spent most of orientation playing lazer tag and driving go-carts so it was pretty fun.  I start at 7am tomorrow and I'm told we are doing odd jobs since we work at 7 but the park doesn't open until 10.  I'm really excited and think this job should be pretty fun and interesting.  They told me I might just be welcoming people to the park.  I like welcoming people so I'm totally fine with that! :)

I know this was kind of scattered but I hope it gave you a little update on what I'm learning and areas where you can be praying.  It is so encouraging to know there is a group of people prayerfully supporting me! Oh and my computer isn't working so I don't have any pictures so sorry...I'm sure there will be some on facebook soon!