Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Last day of work

Hey y'all!


Today was my last day of my summer job at Concordia University- Irvine in the Judicial Affairs-Student Conduct office. Bitter-sweet... I am really going to miss who I worked for. Knowledgeable, generous, caring people- they all taught me so much and like I said on one of my facebook statuses, I love feeling like the people that I work with are making me a better person.

Shout out to Karen & Laurie!! I loved getting to know you two better :) love ya!!


It was also really cool to bump into my dad from time to time at work....I don't think I fully understood all that he did at CUI, but now I can say I at least have a glimpse. Yesterday, it was funny, I walked into one of the executive board meetings in Grimm to give my dad his iPad charger and I felt like I was walking into a meeting with the Commander-in-Chief and top military personnel- it was really cool...so legit haha! Lots of smiles and hellos... but still kind of intimidating! :) (If you're ever in Grimm try to take a look in the Board Room... 3rd floor next to the executive suites and you'll see what I mean).


Concordia University Irvine

The sweet part of my summer job being over is that it is just about time for our family cruise!! T-minus 2 days till we fly to Orlando!!!!!! Should be a great trip :) All 6 of us are going and then our friends, Tom, Sheri & Scott are cruising along with us too. We are sure in for a good time.
We'll try to post pictures whenever we can, but it is looking like no cell service & that wi-fi is going to cost money... so we'll see if we get any internet time.

This is how I am feeling right now: I am okay if these couple days leading up to the cruise take forever.... because I know when we get off the ship on August 4th I have to say goodbye to my sister, Jen. <sigh>. <tear>.
Anna and I are hoping to road trip up to her place in Michigan sometime during the school year.... can't wait to see her place in person :)


And yes, I am definitely looking forward to seeing all my Nebraska peeps :) Three weeks, right?


Well that's it for now....I'm off to go work on my tan! ;)


Lots of love,
Amy

Friday, July 6, 2012

How to sum up a mission trip?

I can't even begin to describe how great the Alaska Mission trip was!
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the trip we went on, it was a 9 day mission trip with our church through Alaska Mission for Christ http://www.alaskamissionforchrist.org/. Our mission team had 28 people and we went to 2 different sites: Pt. Mackenzie and Big Lake. We taught Vacation Bible School to a total of 46 kids and created some great relationships with the families up there. Lots of our friends who have gone many years in a row look forward to this trip just to see their kiddos every year. This was Anna and my second time going with the Alaska team, but it is Bethany's 9th year sending up missionaries... very cool :)

Here are a few sweet moments from the trip that come to mind...

  • Teaching Aiden & Lukis "Jesus Loves Me" and hearing them pray for everyone they knew.
  • Last team meeting... talking about & sharing our ultimate highs, ultimate lows, something we learned about someone we already knew, something we learned about someone we didn't know, and what we learned about ourselves ;'(
  • Hearing how much the Bethany team means to the Lytle family
  • Seeing Andrew be a big brother to Connor
  • Watching the Ropper girls not want to leave VBS on Friday
  • Watching the Big Lake guys with the Campbell kids
  • Dominick letting Hayden tag him in Island tag
  • Seeing a CUNE buddy, Colin Christensen at St. John's-Palmer
  • A tearful goodbye with the Big Lakers & the Campbell family.

Our itinerary from the trip: 
Mission Alaska Pt. Mackenzie & Big Lake   
               





Saturday June 23rd
11 AM - Meet at Bethany
Plan lunches for VBS week, practice skits, plan lessons and devotions, divide up jobs, plan sightseeing adventures, make supply lists, practice songs, select Mystery Moose!  Make Moose Bags, create snack list, & plan games. 

Flight Itinerary
Jet Blue- Flight # 500
LGB-ANC
7:19PM- 11:36PM
Land in ANC, pick up rental SUVs, travel to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Chugiak (40 min drive)





Sunday, June 24
Breakfast at Our Redeemer
Pick up boxes of supplies that were sent to Our Redeemer
Travel to St. John Lutheran in Palmer (30 minutes)
11 AM- Worship at St. John Lutheran, Palmer
Lunch TBD
Pick up Supplies at Lamb of God Lutheran in Wasilla
Organize and divide Supplies from storage @ Lamb of God
Work at Big Lake and Pt. Mac to set up for the week
Shop for Vacation Bible School Supplies 
Sight see the surrounding areas- Pt Mackenzie prison farm
Dinner at Pt. Mac General Store
Softball!!
Devotions and highs and lows of the day






Monday, June 25
Morning- Vacation Bible School
Afternoon Softball!
Evening
Down time—take a nap, read a book, go for a run/walk, prepare for your lessons, write some postcards, etc.
Dinner TBD
Devotions and highs and lows of the day







Tuesday, June 26
Morning- Vacation Bible School
Afternoon & Evening-
Shop- Musk Ox Farm
Dinner TBD
Devotions and highs and lows of the day







Wednesday, June 27
Morning- Vacation Bible School (Pastor Seth to do Laundry)
Afternoon- take a look at Sarah Palin's house & then down time
Evening- Picnic at Hatcher Pass
Devotions and highs and lows of the day











Thursday, June 28
Morning- Vacation Bible School
Afternoon- At sites, pick up last minute items for Family night.
Exlpore surrounding areas of Pt. Mackenzie- the Lytle farm & then nap time
Evening-
Vacation Bible School Family night!
Devotions and highs and lows of the day



Friday, June 29
Morning- Vacation Bible School
Afternoon-Clean up sites & go to Iditacup Espresso
Lunch at Sarah Palin’s favorite lounge
Evening-
Dinner at Pastor Rocky's house
Pack supplies in bins
Highs and Lows of the Week








Saturday, June 30
Morning/Afternoon-Sleep in
Return Bins to Lamb of God
Hike the Butte
Grocery shopping
Evening-
Dinner- at the Campbell's home 





Sunday, July 1
Morning- Worship @ St. John, Palmer
Pack and Clean St. John
Afternoon- Portage Glacier Cruise
Evening- Dinner at the Sourdough Mining Company in Anchorage
10:30 PM- Return rental vehicles and check in at airport









Monday, July 2
Flight Itinerary
Jet Blue Flight # 501
ANC-LGB
1:05 AM- 7:20 AM
Head home

Alaska 
by Anna McDaniel

The last frontier, land of the midnight sun
God’s creation, indescribable
Glaciers and mountains
Green and more green
Sun and rain, clouds and sky
A couple cabins and a church
Children- tummies full, hearts hungry
Truth revealed, faith instilled
Rules and guidelines
Hugs and piggyback rides
Teaching and learning
Old friends, new friends
Visitors and smiling faces
Fun and games
Hikes and runs
#Hashtags and cameras
Christians and Romans
Softball and Fred Meyer
Food and drinks
Salmon and more salmon
Moose and bear
Air mattresses and sleeping bags
Devotions and alone time
Adults and teenagers
Under 18 & 21 and over
Country music and southern voices
Shopping and spending
Laughs and looks
Planes and SUVs
Tears of joy and pain, memories sure to gain
Friendships- grew stronger
Love and sadness
Thank yous and goodbyes