Well, my summer with Discovery Outfitters is over....but I'm about to begin a whole new adventure at YWAM!!! I leave in 19 days.

Yesterday I shared at church about what I'm going to be doing with YWAM. I had many people tell me they are praying for me and I also received about $1,500.!!! Thank you so much to everyone who committed to pray for me and those of you who gave financially! I was very blessed by all of you :)

I'll try to keep this blog updated with prayer requests and praise reports so you guys can know what's going on in my life, and be apart of this amazing journey I'm on! Thanks for your support!

Well, I must say I have the most incredible job ever! It has been so much fun and I've been challenged in many ways I didn't expect to be challenged.

This past week I went and scouted a kayak route on the Clackamas river, took a youth group rafting on the lower Deschutes, led a low ropes course, and in my spare time I hung out with friends and jumped off a 35 ft. waterfall!

Here are a few things I've learned so far this summer:

1) not to depend on other people to fill me up, but to be filled by God.

2) sometimes you just have to do things you don't want to do (thanks Matt for teaching me that)

3) not to worry about anything.....Philippians 4:6-7

4) I have a lot of pride.

5) I've grown up in a very sheltered home (which isn't a bad thing :)

6) I don't have much confidence in myself.

7) I'm a sensitive person (I'm not the only who learned that, and he learned it the hard way....)

8) I LOVE going on adventures!

9) good communication is always important.

10) being stretched out of my comfort zone isn't easy, but it's always worth it.

11) I never want to stop learning and growing.

12) words of affirmation is my love language.

13) I have so much more to learn and experience.

14) I'm a selfish person.

15) I'm scared of lots of things.

16) sleeping under the stars is one of my favorite things in the world.

17) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

18) Oregon is the most beautiful place I've ever been.

19) working hard makes me feel good.

20) laughter is is of my favorite things.

21) a cheerful heart is good medicine.

It's so good to be home for the weekend and see my family, but I miss the rest of my team a lot! They are amazing people and they are fun to work with.

Thanks so much to everyone who has been praying for me, it really means a lot to me!

Wow, it's been a long time! I leave for Discovery Outfitters in the morning!!!! I'll be there until the end of August. I do get to come home for 2 days to graduate though =)
This past Thursday I was accepted at the YWAM base in Charlotte, North Carolina!!! It starts in September. I'm so excited about YWAM and Discovery Outfitters! This is going to be an amazing year!
I'll try to get on here and update it this Summer, but I'm not sure how much time I'll have.....

I've been home for about a week now. It's been crazy!
I sang in the choir and played bass on Easter, then I went with my Mom to drive my brother back to college. The car broke down 4 times on the way back home! Some very nice people stopped and helped us though. They worked on our car for about an hour in the snow. But we didn't have any trouble after that.
The rest on the week I've had lots going on...the most exciting things are: I got to see my baby cousin Gracie, and I got hired to be an Adventure Guide for Discovery Outfitters!!!!
I also wanted to fill you in on the end of my time in Costa Rica since I didn't do much writing the last couple days.
Friday- we went to Los Guido in the morning to hand out invitations to the concert, we had lunch at the school, then went down town.
Saturday- we were in Los Guido all day. In the morning and afternoon we had a V.B.S. type of thing for kids, that was my favorite part out of the whole time the team was there. I love those kids so much. It was sad having to say goodbye. That evening ER did a concert, and we did our skit. There weren't as many people as we expected, and it was really challenging for the band, but it turned out good. After the concert, all the people who where helping came to Chris and Diana's house for dinner.
Sunday- we went to pastor Chino's church. We slit up in the afternoon, some of us went downtown to do a treasure hunt, and some went to Los Guido to give some quilts to kids. That evening we went to Score International to lead worship.
Monday- we headed to the Caribbean. On the way there we stopped at an active volcano and got to hike up next to it! It was so beautiful. We drove on a road that had signs that said: "do not enter" "Caution, road closed".....haha. That area is where there was a huge earthquake, so there isn't much of a road. We drove through two rivers and had to get out once because the van was too heavy. It was the most exciting and beautiful drive I've ever been on! It was around 11:00 when we got to the beach. Our group ended up staying in two different hotels. The group I was with decided we wanted to walk around town a little, so we did. On the way back to the hotel, right in front of the gate to out hotel, two young men came up behind us and one threw his bike in front of Linda while the other one grabbed her purse! She wouldn't let go, they dragged her several feet, they finally let go, because Russ was chasing them and throwing rocks at them. Linda was scraped up pretty bad, but not seriously hurt. We didn't feel very safe though, so we ended up switching hotels with some people that night. The next two days we spent relaxing on the beach and doing some ministry in the town.
Thursday- we headed back to the house and got all packed up and had our last team meeting with Jairo and Chris and Diana. =(
Friday- we woke up at 2:30 a.m. and drove to the airport. We arrived in Portland, OR around 6 p.m. and started the long drive home....
It was so hard to leave. I think that's because I felt so needed, like there was so much I could do to help. Especially in Los Guido, with Jairo. He told me (through a translator) that there are three girls that I am very important to. He was talking about Stephani, Hermania, and Paula. They are 7, 9 and 11 years old. I was with them all day on Saturday when we were doing the activities and I was also with them when we were doing Clud De Ninos on the earlier Saturdays that I was there. They are very sweet little girls. Hermania would just want me to hold her. They are so hungry for love, it breaks my heart.
I just found out that the YWAM school I want to go to in San Jose has a DTS school starting in September!!! So, it looks like I'll be going back soon!!!

Wow, there's a lot to catch up on....
On Monday I got to teach 4th grade all morning! That was really fun =) I love those kids.
The team got here Monday night! It's so nice to have friends and family here.
Jessica and I went to school with Diana Tuesday morning and helped with a couple classes. Then we went home and prepared stuff for V.B.S. and went on a nice "little hike" up the road. We found fossils and took some good pics.
Yesterday we did V.B.S. with the kids in the morning, then we did chapel with the youth after lunch. I really enjoyed doing both of those. The little kids have started calling me Ambersita, which is like a term of endearment =) They are so sweet!
We had an ER concert last night at the school!!! All my friends from the school really like the concert and they liked my brothers and friends =)there was even some moshing....haha. We had pizza and played games and talked a lot after the concert. It was a really good and sad time cause it was my last time hanging out with my new friends =( I'm going to miss them so much! More than I even know how to say. It's a whole group of friends who are all so close to each other, they're like all brothers and sisters. Even if I come back next year more than half of my friends won't be here. They'll be in Chile or Peru or wherever their family is heading.
This morning we did a worship service for the adults. Then some of us went to an orphanage! It was a really good experience. I did some face painting and got to just hold the little babies.
Now we're heading back to the school to have a chapel thing for the teachers.

I had to have a five year old translate for me yesterday...that was interesting. I also got to experience driving in Costa Rica last night! It was a lot different than driving in Prineville.
Today was a half day of school and my last time playing with the middle school band. Monday will be my last day here at the school =( I'm going to miss the people so much. They inspire me, they make me want to try harder and live life to the fullest. They've taught me so much. I came to teach but really I'm learning so much more than I'm teaching. I love these people so much! I don't even want to think about saying goodbye.

I've been really busy helping at the school this week. My favorite things I help with are; having Kindergardners read to me (they are so ADORABLE!), helping with 1st grade and practicing with the high school band! But I also help with like five other classes. It's so cool, it's like a whole school of Missionary kids and pastor kids! =)
Russ, Greg and Mike came back from Nicaragua on Thursday. It sounds like they had a pretty amazing time there.
Today we went to Camp Brittney to help a team from South Carolina with a day camp for kids from Los Guido. It was so hot, and I got a pretty bad sunburn. We helped the kids dye eggs and played soccer and had lots of other activities. I love being there but sometimes I feel so helpless because I can't really comunicate with the kids much =( It can be frustrating.
I went to youth group tonight with some friends from the school. It was fun, and we got free pizza!
It's starting to feel more and more like home here. But I do miss Prineville and all you guys!
Wow, there was an earthquake just now! At least I think that's what is was...it wasn't as big as last time and everyone else is asleep, cause it's like 11:30 here, so I'm not sure.
Well, it's really late and I'm tired so goodbye!
Buenos Noches =)