Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Home
So I was actually home as of Monday, Septemerb 26th. September has gone by so fast. So much has happened and so much needed to get done. I realized that I rarely took any pictures in September. But my experience working at a hotel, experiencing the park, being part of the ministry all had its ups and downs. Would I do it again? Yes, of course. I would definitely be doing a lot of things differently, but I cannot regret what I have done. If it were not for the ministry, I would have never gone to Alaska in the first place and the ministry is really a blessing. People have told Bekky and I that it was nice that we were there offering worship services because it was convenient and refreshing. Some even noticed that there was no team last year, so that is saying something about this ministry is getting noticed.
Overall, my experience with the ministry has been a good one. There have been times where I did not feel like planning a service, but it was very rewarding and a blessing to do it. We are not ordained ministers, but you really don't have to make an elaborate sermon to talk about Jesus. Besides, like any (or all ministries) this ministry is mostly all relational. There are things that I wished I could have done differently but like I said earlier, no regrets. At least I know now for next time if I decide to go back or to another park. We did have service every week with the exception of 2. One week, we were both very tired and the other, there was a job fair in the building that we held our services. Anyway, it was nice to worship with others especially when times were low.
Working at the hotel was not bad. I worked full-time as a houseperson/porter in housekeeping. During September, many of my fellow employees and I had to work a lot harder because people were leaving so we were becoming short staffed quickly. I stripped the rooms of all linens and towels so they could go to laundry right away and cleaned and covered public area furniture for next year's season. It was weird seeing people leave and our employee community was becoming a ghost town. One day, there were a wave of people that left all at once and that's what made it very weird to still be there without those people there, but it was nice and quiet. Also, my last working day was a very lonely day. The day before, I worked with 3 friends cleaning furniture, but because for one it was her last day, she wasn't with me on mine. So I cleaned the lobby and picked up dirty linens all by myself that day. It was kinda sad, but it was not so bad. I remember on my last day my boss saying she wanted to vacuum the dall sheep in the main lobby and asked me to get sheets/covers for them so they don't get dusty over the winter. It was funny and weird to see covers over them because these stuffed dall sheep sit on top of a big rock in the lobby so she had to climb the rock to put the covers on. That lobby was so empty and the doors were boarded up that it felt like a ghost could pop up any minute.
I rarely got to go in the park during September but I could definitely see the colores change or plants wither as winter was approaching. I was told while there that it may snow and rain the day I was going to leave for Anchorage. It never did. But two days later it did. And I was jealous. I did take the train down to Anchorage from Denali National Park. That was the most beautiful ride I have ever been on. Seeing the colors and landscape was incredible. I can only imagine if I took the train earlier when the plants really started changing. Seeing the colors change in Alaska is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Now I know why people from New York or New Jersey make that drive to see the colors change. Watching that change is amazing.
Experiencing Alaska is something I will never forget and I have no doubt that I will go back but I just do not know when. But when I do, hopefully someone will be able to come with me because there is so much beauty in the vastness that we didn't even know was there. It's like experiencing God. You don't know beauty or love until you go there, until you experience Him. And because you've experienced it, you want to share it with others because it is just that amazing!
Overall, my experience with the ministry has been a good one. There have been times where I did not feel like planning a service, but it was very rewarding and a blessing to do it. We are not ordained ministers, but you really don't have to make an elaborate sermon to talk about Jesus. Besides, like any (or all ministries) this ministry is mostly all relational. There are things that I wished I could have done differently but like I said earlier, no regrets. At least I know now for next time if I decide to go back or to another park. We did have service every week with the exception of 2. One week, we were both very tired and the other, there was a job fair in the building that we held our services. Anyway, it was nice to worship with others especially when times were low.
Working at the hotel was not bad. I worked full-time as a houseperson/porter in housekeeping. During September, many of my fellow employees and I had to work a lot harder because people were leaving so we were becoming short staffed quickly. I stripped the rooms of all linens and towels so they could go to laundry right away and cleaned and covered public area furniture for next year's season. It was weird seeing people leave and our employee community was becoming a ghost town. One day, there were a wave of people that left all at once and that's what made it very weird to still be there without those people there, but it was nice and quiet. Also, my last working day was a very lonely day. The day before, I worked with 3 friends cleaning furniture, but because for one it was her last day, she wasn't with me on mine. So I cleaned the lobby and picked up dirty linens all by myself that day. It was kinda sad, but it was not so bad. I remember on my last day my boss saying she wanted to vacuum the dall sheep in the main lobby and asked me to get sheets/covers for them so they don't get dusty over the winter. It was funny and weird to see covers over them because these stuffed dall sheep sit on top of a big rock in the lobby so she had to climb the rock to put the covers on. That lobby was so empty and the doors were boarded up that it felt like a ghost could pop up any minute.
I rarely got to go in the park during September but I could definitely see the colores change or plants wither as winter was approaching. I was told while there that it may snow and rain the day I was going to leave for Anchorage. It never did. But two days later it did. And I was jealous. I did take the train down to Anchorage from Denali National Park. That was the most beautiful ride I have ever been on. Seeing the colors and landscape was incredible. I can only imagine if I took the train earlier when the plants really started changing. Seeing the colors change in Alaska is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Now I know why people from New York or New Jersey make that drive to see the colors change. Watching that change is amazing.
Experiencing Alaska is something I will never forget and I have no doubt that I will go back but I just do not know when. But when I do, hopefully someone will be able to come with me because there is so much beauty in the vastness that we didn't even know was there. It's like experiencing God. You don't know beauty or love until you go there, until you experience Him. And because you've experienced it, you want to share it with others because it is just that amazing!
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