Hey y'all! I know it's been way too long, but I've been pretty busy.
Yesterday we did Front Porch, which is like a mini VBS for kids in the neighborhood. I got to help with the worship! The kids are so sweet! I felt like I was back in Costa Rica :)
This morning we went to a church to pray and set up for a worship service called RESET, that we go to every Thursday night. After praying for a while one of the church leaders said he felt like we needed to pray for someones left foot. There were two girls in our group who were having pain in their left feet. We all prayed for them, then they ran around the sanctuary without any pain! It was amazing!!! Another amazing thing is, that as we were leaving a friend of mine told me that while we were praying she started praying words she didn't know! She got her prayer language! The funny thing is, it happened in a Presbyterian church... Ha ha :) God is good!
We have the afternoon off today, then we'll be going to RESET tonight.
Last night two other girls and I had a little prayer meeting in the attic, which was amazing!
This week our speaker is talking about how much God loves us, and relationships. She is an amazing speaker!

I'm going to INDIA!!!! We found out on Friday that all of us are going to India for our outreach, but we will be splitting up into several different groups. We are still praying about which country we'll be going to. India is exactly where I wanted to go! We watched Slum-dog Millionaire the other day because Chris said they do a good job of showing what the real India looks like. It was super sad, but it makes me so excited to go there!
We played soccer for a couple hours last night and then played card games :) I love the weekend! We went to a huge church this morning, now everyone is trying to finish up homework so we can celebrate Tiffany's birthday tonight.
I'm going to go play guitar now, then do some laundry....
Have a great day :)

Hey everyone! Sorry its been so long, I don't have my own computer and had to wait to go to the library...anyways YWAM has been so incredible so far! It's been less than a week and I've already been learning so much! I know more and more everyday that this is where God wants me to be.
There are 19 of us girl students and 3 boys haha :) The leaders are super amazing!!! I don't have much time now, because I have to get back for dinner, but I will try to give more details later. Thank you for your prayers!!!
-Amber

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!!!