Dear Family,
God is amazing! The past couple of days have been nothing short of His glory when I see the mountains from above and from the ground. The drive to my host family's house for the night to the drive up to the resort - I'm just in awe. Arriving to the resort has been like clockwork. Filling out paperwork and talking with the housekeeping manager. Apparently there were suppose to have been a lot more people here for housekeeping, including the other porter (which is my job), so everything is delayed and hectic.
I've met a lot of great people from all over the world and when asked why I came here, I would tell them about the ministry. Every single person is pretty supportive and some are already interested in attending or checking it out. I talked with one guy that starting asking a lot of questions about the ministry and told me that he's Catholic and used to do prison ministry. Then we started talking about the apostle's creed (don't know how we got there) but he said it was in the Bible. I told him that it was not but that each statement can be supported in the Bible. He didn't agree and told me that it was in Matthew somewhere. I told him that we should meet and look it up. Thank goodness that our 20-somethings group went over the apostle's creed. At least I have notes from the discussions we've had.
Already God has been using me and has been surprising me with boldness only He could fill in me. And this is just in two days! But really, it shouldn't be a surprise to us when we ask God to use us this way. It is an answer to prayers! So thank you family for your prayers because I could see God working. Even though I can see God's glory in these mountains everyday, His glory is much greater in the people I get to interact with everyday.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Less Than A Week!
I have less than a week to Alaska and I'll be doing so much. Cleaning the house I've been living in today. Last day of work for both jobs Wednesday. Leave for SoCal Thursday. Old roommate's wedding Friday. Drive back from SoCal Saturday. Be at the church all day Sunday. Leave for Alaska from Sacramento at 1pm on Monday. Of course, whenever I have time in between, that is when I will be packing (or stuffing the suitcase). BUT I can't wait to go!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
A Christian Ministry in the National Parks --- The Details/FAQs
How'd you hear about this opportunity?
I first heard of A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (ACMNP), 2 years ago while at a large group meeting with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, a Christian club on my college campus. I talked to the recruiter and got a few materials from him. It sounded like something that I would really enjoy to be a part of but a lot to handle while in college (but many college and seminary students do do it over their summer breaks). Anyway, I completely forgot about it after that school year. Fast forward (ok not FAST forward) to January 2011, while I was cleaning my glove compartment, I came across the sticker that I got from the recruiter 2 years ago. I looked them up, read everything on their website and applied. A couple weeks later, ACMNP offered me a placement to my first choice of park, Denali. After a couple of days praying and determining whether this was what God wanted me to do, I accepted the call. Then I just had to apply for a job with ARAMARK, the concessionaire that owns resorts and tours on and off the park.
Where are you going?
To Denali National Park in Alaska. It's located 4 hours north of Anchorage and about 2 hours southwest of Fairbanks.
How long you gonna be there?
4 1/2 months
What will you be doing with this ministry?
Telling people about Jesus by helping plan and lead a multi-denominational worship service(s) IN Denali National Park! The purpose of ACMNP is to provide worship opportunities for park visitors, seasonal employees and National Park Service employees. The mission is to bear witness the love of Jesus Christ for all people and God's care for creation. (acmnp.com). The only difference from doing ministry there versus here is the location. THAT IS IT. God uses us where we're at and we are called to share the good news of Jesus with whomever and wherever he has placed us. I am thankful to be able to go to Alaska though.
What is this job you'll be working?
I'll be working a full-time job as a Houseperson/Porter at McKinley Chalet Resort (right outside the park). There were three different places that I could have applied to and my first two choices were jobs inside the park. Housekeeping was my third choice and the only one open when I had my interview. I was told that I won't be cleaning 12 rooms a day but rather have a lot of guest interaction delivering things to rooms, restocking all the housekeeping closets at each building and driving an ATV around. I wanted a job that would allow me to be with guests anyway, that's why my first choice was Baggage Claim Attendant. I know, huh? I picked housekeeping as my third choice because I didn't want retail, but thank God for answering my prayers by giving me a job that will still let me be able to interact with a lot of guests. I guess room attendants (or maids) can have good guest interactions too, but then again, you have to clean many rooms your whole shift so that'll be a lot of work and not a lot of time to talk.
So really...
I'll be volunteering with ACMNP while getting paid by ARAMARK. ACMNP and ARAMARK are not affiliated with each other, but ACMNP were our good references so that we could have a paying job while doing ministry.
When do you leave?
Monday, May 16th :( but :)
So the sun will be out all night?
Kinda. It won't be dark dark but will be dusk for about 4 hours then the sun will rise again. It differs depending where you are in Alaska.
Those are just a few FAQs. More will probably pop up when I'm not staying up late typing this, but there you have the details for now.
I first heard of A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (ACMNP), 2 years ago while at a large group meeting with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, a Christian club on my college campus. I talked to the recruiter and got a few materials from him. It sounded like something that I would really enjoy to be a part of but a lot to handle while in college (but many college and seminary students do do it over their summer breaks). Anyway, I completely forgot about it after that school year. Fast forward (ok not FAST forward) to January 2011, while I was cleaning my glove compartment, I came across the sticker that I got from the recruiter 2 years ago. I looked them up, read everything on their website and applied. A couple weeks later, ACMNP offered me a placement to my first choice of park, Denali. After a couple of days praying and determining whether this was what God wanted me to do, I accepted the call. Then I just had to apply for a job with ARAMARK, the concessionaire that owns resorts and tours on and off the park.
Where are you going?
To Denali National Park in Alaska. It's located 4 hours north of Anchorage and about 2 hours southwest of Fairbanks.
How long you gonna be there?
4 1/2 months
What will you be doing with this ministry?
Telling people about Jesus by helping plan and lead a multi-denominational worship service(s) IN Denali National Park! The purpose of ACMNP is to provide worship opportunities for park visitors, seasonal employees and National Park Service employees. The mission is to bear witness the love of Jesus Christ for all people and God's care for creation. (acmnp.com). The only difference from doing ministry there versus here is the location. THAT IS IT. God uses us where we're at and we are called to share the good news of Jesus with whomever and wherever he has placed us. I am thankful to be able to go to Alaska though.
What is this job you'll be working?
I'll be working a full-time job as a Houseperson/Porter at McKinley Chalet Resort (right outside the park). There were three different places that I could have applied to and my first two choices were jobs inside the park. Housekeeping was my third choice and the only one open when I had my interview. I was told that I won't be cleaning 12 rooms a day but rather have a lot of guest interaction delivering things to rooms, restocking all the housekeeping closets at each building and driving an ATV around. I wanted a job that would allow me to be with guests anyway, that's why my first choice was Baggage Claim Attendant. I know, huh? I picked housekeeping as my third choice because I didn't want retail, but thank God for answering my prayers by giving me a job that will still let me be able to interact with a lot of guests. I guess room attendants (or maids) can have good guest interactions too, but then again, you have to clean many rooms your whole shift so that'll be a lot of work and not a lot of time to talk.
So really...
I'll be volunteering with ACMNP while getting paid by ARAMARK. ACMNP and ARAMARK are not affiliated with each other, but ACMNP were our good references so that we could have a paying job while doing ministry.
When do you leave?
Monday, May 16th :( but :)
So the sun will be out all night?
Kinda. It won't be dark dark but will be dusk for about 4 hours then the sun will rise again. It differs depending where you are in Alaska.
Those are just a few FAQs. More will probably pop up when I'm not staying up late typing this, but there you have the details for now.
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