Thoughts on the Seattle Mission Trip

The first thing I have to say is that this trip was the best thing I could have done for me. I have grown so much in just the last five days that it's hard for even me to believe that I did. I've done things on this trip that I never thought I would feel comfortable doing. I've gotten to know people that I really didn't talk to all that much, and I can even say I've made a few new friends.

Even the 16 hour drive up to Seattle was more fun then I would have thought possible. That mostly had to do with the people I was sharing a van with. Ask yourself this question: How much fun do you think you can have painting a house and doing yard work? I had a blast. There were about 26 of us all working at this one house and working with these people was more exciting then you could imagine. It didn't even feel like we were working. We were laughing, playing around, and joking with each other about everything that we were doing.

That was on Friday. On Saturday we did something that I have honestly been dreading since I first found out that we were going to be doing it. It's a little something we called Prayer on the Porch. We paired up in groups of two or three and walked around the neighborhoods. Knocking on doors and asking people if there was anything we could pray for them for.

I went out on this excursion with two guys, Matt and Steele. We would switch off on who would knock on the door and talk. Me, I put off knocking until the last possible second. I was thankful that the first door I knocked on no one was home, except for the non-stop barking of the dog. I think I was so nervous that first time that I don't think I would have even been able to speak. By the time the second house came around to me, I wasn't as nervous and was able to get some words out.

This time I spent knocking on doors and talking to complete strangers was really stretching for me, and you don't realize how amazing it was. Not only did I step out of my comfort zone and do it, but I was certainly enjoying myself by the end of the day. The only down side about the area we were in was all the spiders. They were everywhere, no joke. There were spider webs at every door step, and there was even one large spider right above the doorbell to the door I was supposed to be knocking on.

One little story before I move on. It was the second house that I was to knock at, and there was this long walkway up to the door. It was probably about 15 feet. I get to the door, get ready to knock and turn to see the both of them way at the end of the walkway. Now since the first house was a no show I could see this as my first house, and I was so super nervous. So, when I saw them standing way back there, I didn't even really think about it I just said, "Seriously, you're going to stand way back there." Of course they then moved a little closer, but they thought this was the funniest thing I could have said. Then, after heading back for lunch, proceeded to tell everyone about what I had said, making everyone else laugh in the process. It was an amazing day. Despite how scared I was at the thought of doing it, I'm glad I did.

I have to say the best part of the trip for me, or I should say enlightening, was the very last night we were there. After the church service a large group of us took a ferry ride from Edmonds to Kingston and back. I sat outside and the top of the stairs, looking down at the front of the boat and the deep black of the water at night. As I sat there watching the people I had come with play around, having fun in the chilling wind, I realized that for me this was what it was about. Not the goofing off, but the relationships that had been formed.

You see these are relationships that without this mission trip I don't think I ever would have made. I honestly think that I would have seen them week after week, but they would have been nothing more then acquaintances. I spent time making friends with people that before this trip I probably hadn't said more then a sentence or two to them at one given time. It's different now. God had me go on this trip so that I could build friendships with other believers, I guess this was the only way for me to do it. That wasn't the only reason of course. We were also there to help and encourage the congregation of the Expedition Church, and I feel we did that.

Yet as I sat by myself watching everyone below me, I knew that this only happened because of God. Right there I prayed, as I looked out into the beautiful night. I thanked God for everything I had, everything He had done, everything He was going to do, and that He would help to me to see what He wants of me next. It was the perfect ending to the trip, and I still thank God that I was able to go and be a part of it.

TNT,
Words by Ali

The Kind of Bordom Only the Start of School Can Kill

Yes, I'm not ashamed to say that I am one of those people who absolutely love school. I couldn't stand it back in high school, but now that I'm in college it's a hundred times better.

I'm not sure exactly what it is but I'm a lot more focused in class. I'm also more likely to do homework, too. One of those reasons might be because I choose to keep going to school, and I'm not forced to go.

I get to take whatever classes I want to. The class I'm looking forward to the most is my Russian class. I don't know why it is, but I've always wanted to learn Russian. I think that now that I'm in college I'll have more disciple to learn a language.

Now the last couple of weeks of school and I'm ready for it to end. Not even a month into summer and I want to go back. I seem to have way too much free time when I'm out of school, and I get bored out of my mind. I get so bored that I wander from room to room in the house trying to find something to do, but with no luck.

By the time August rolled around I was so bored I wanted to beat my head against the wall. I literally count the days, hours, minutes til school starts up again. End of August, I can't wait.

TNT,
Words by Ali

A Trip From God or For God?

Next week I am going to Seattle, Washington with a large group of my friends from my church. Now we're not just going to go, we have a specific reason. We are going to help serve a small church about an hour outside of Seattle.

We're going to help some of the people in the congregation fix up their homes. Whatever that may mean. Cleaning, painting, yard work, or whatever else God has planned for us to do to help them while we are there.

We also plan to go door to door. Not to preach and beat them about our religion, because that's not what a loving Christian would do. We will be inviting them to a BBQ, that the church is hosting. We also will be asking if they have anything we could pray for them about. This isn't to shove our religion at them, but to show loving, and caring, kindness.

Now this particular part is going to be a bit hard and uncomfortable for me. As I've mentioned in an earlier post I'm very shy. I get nervous and a little sick to my stomach just thinking about it. Although, I know this is what God wants for me, so I can grow as a person. To break out of my shell, leave my comfort zone, and be who I'm meant to be. As long as I have God's strength and love, as well as my friends support, I know I can do this.

I'm so excited, I can't wait for this trip. Even though were leaving at like 5 in the morning for like an 18 hour drive. It's going to be amazing. I'll let you know how it goes when I get back.

TNT,
Words by Ali