(Story took place on Friday - this is posted Saturday)It hasn’t taken long for my (mis)adventures to begin here in Idaho. I decided to take Hannah to Boise the longer, scenic route through the mountains. It’s a lovely day, sunny and relatively warm. Having left Jerome about 10:30am, we made it through Sun Valley (about 80 miles north), and another hour or so beyond. The roads were all clear and totally dry, but had loose rocks. Rather decent sized rocks.
About 3 miles out of Smiley Creek, I saw two in the road. An attempt to veer away from them both fell short and my front passenger side tire took the beating. Busted a hole in the sidewall of the tire. I quickly pulled over, laughed and dug out the jack from my trunk, along with my spare donut wheel. Hannah and I successfully jacked up the car, but our female strength was no match for the lug nuts. Several cars and trucks had already bypassed us in the past 20 minutes, but now we really needed help. When I next heard a vehicle approaching, I stood up from beside my tire and stood in front of my car, wrench in hand, trying to look like I needed help. The huge construction truck stopped. Out jumped Cory and Pat, who, with great ease, loosened the lug nuts and placed my donut.
“Your donut’s low. You’re not going anywhere on this thing.”
Ha ha!! Of course!
Cory offered to drive us back the way we came (the direction he was headed) into Hailey to get my tire to a tire place, with full confidence that there is no fixing such a tire, only getting a new one. We climbed in the massive truck, Hannah on my lap, Pat in the middle and Cory driving. It was rather reminiscent of World Race travel, and I couldn’t help but laugh. What else is there to do but laugh, I guess. Oh, boy.
I know only a few people in the nearby area, namely Twin Falls/Jerome area, so I contacted them. I didn’t get a response from Sarah and Adam, but did from a friend that I had met at the wedding and recently hung out with. He is graciously driving the hour from Twin Falls to Hailey to pick us up, then drive us the hour to our car, and help me replace the tire so we can get on our way into Boise.
As I type this, I am presently sitting at a Subway across from the tire place waiting for Andrew. And laughing.
I have to say, I love my life. My thoughts are again in blogging mode..... ‘oh, this is a fun blog-able moment!’ I am glad to share my adventures with Hannah. It’s good to have such adventures. I am so thankful that it was sunny and not snowy and cold, with stunning beauty all around. And God sent good people to get us to where we are. I have learned to not allow things to be such a big deal...what happens, happens, and you do what you have to do to keep on moving. I realize now yet another thing the World Race taught me!!
I fully intended to keep a blog from the time I got home from the World Race last November, but I didn’t follow through very well. I suppose I felt like life didn’t offer much that was worthy of sharing so publicly, or maybe it’s because blogging was no longer required. At any rate, I believe I only posted about 5 blogs over the course of the last year.
But, life has changed again for me, and now that I am away from home, I will perhaps have more to share since I my family and close friends are not a part of my adventure here.
I moved to Idaho, and will be working at Sun Valley Ski Resort for the ski season, waiting tables and possibly bartending. I moved without a job or a definite place to live, trusting that I would be able to find both when I got here. I applied for two jobs online, one with Sun Valley and one with Tamarack, another ski resort further north. The ideal situation in my mind was to work for a resort, live in the employee dorms and ski for free. The secondary option would be to get a job or two at various restaurants in town and find a cheap place to live. I e-mailed several churches in the area to see if anyone in their congregations would be interested in housing a young Christian lady while she works. I got word back from one church that said he would ask around.
After plenty of second thoughts and finally just following through with my decision, I left the morning of November 10th, for the two day journey with my sister Hannah. It was a nice and uneventful drive through Nebraska and southern Wyoming, then through Utah, and into Idaho. We arrived in Jerome, ID around 6pm on the 11th, and are now staying with Sarah, one of my World Race teammates.
About two hours prior to our arrival in Jerome, I received a call from Sun Valley Resort company and we scheduled an interview for the following day (Wednesday). It was the shortest, funniest interview I have had. He asked if I was full time, and if I had experience, and then asked if I had questions. I asked a few, then he said he really liked me and would work with me to see which of the 13 venues I would fit best in. He told me to couldn’t tell me 100% that I had the job till next week, but that he would reserve a dorm room for me. I can move in the day he calls. He also mentioned that I could look for another job, but that in reality, once I start working, I probably won’t want both, and that there will as much work as I want or as little as I want. Much is what I’m looking for.
So, it looks like my ideal scenario is playing out. Working for Sun Valley, living in really cheap dorm rooms (with 3 other girls and community bathrooms), and skiing for free in my off time. I’m pretty excited for this change of pace. I am looking forward to learning a new job, facing new challenges, meeting new people, and learning to ski, as well as perhaps some other fun winter sports.
Sun Valley is an upscale resort, frequented by celebrities and millionaires, so it will be a totally new experience for me to say the least.
Flight from London to South Africa, May 4th and 5th 2007, depending on which time zone I count.
It's very late and I am quite sure that everyone else on the plane is sleeping, but I am wide awake. Missing home, missing my family, particularly my 2 day old nephew, Aidan. I am feeling totally unprepared spiritually and emotionally for Mozambique in a matter of days. I have a cold and I haven't had any significant sleep in 2 days, and won't for nearly another day. Travel days are hard. I am fighting a stuffy head cold, so all these things combined are making each thing seem more dramatic than it is actually. I am aware that this is true, but my emotions are still so tangible right now.
I'm glad for the plane engine noise that covers the sound that my seemingly unstoppable tears bring, and for sleeping people who are unaware of my personal struggle. To be honest there is a part of me that wishes someone would awaken and see my tears, but for what? My own sympathy. But I know my tears are to be seen and carried by my heavenly Father alone.
How have I allowed myself to become so complacent in my time with Jesus, in honest seeking relationship with him? I don't know what will happen in Mozambique - what things I will be exposed to, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I will make it through, no doubt; the question is, will I be as God has called me to be within it all? Can I be the woman he wants me to be there and then, when I didn't prepare myself enough ahead of time?
I look out of the window into the midnight sky, but see only clouds. I know we are flying over north Africa, and I am suddenly overwhelmed with love for the people in that land. I begin to pray for the countries, for their people, for salvation and the knowledge of Jesus to penetrate the hearts, for missionaries to set foot there and prosper, for God's grace and truth to be known.
'Lord, I know it's dark, and I wouldn't be able to see much, but can you move the clouds so I can try to see the land?'
I continue to pour our my heart to Jesus, perhaps more accuarately, he pours His heart into me for these people for this brief time, and I embrace it, and the tears that come from that as well. Clouds still in place, I close the window, and my prayers go back to my previous thoughts.
What should I have done to be more prepared? A lot of things - more prayer, memorization of scripture, more time with Jesus, more time worshipping, etc... But I know I can't go backwards, only forward from here. How Quickly I am distracted, by things even such as ministry and other valuable relationships.
'Forgive me Father, and receive my worship. Forgive me for not being obedient in everything along the way.'
My heart hears him whisper,
"It doesn't matter, Alissa. You are forgiven and my mercies and grace are new and abundant everyday. Grab them and go forward with me."
A few more tears of appreciation and worship, and my heart finally rests. I am ready to sleep now. I grab my pillow and rearrange my seating in order to get comfy for a couple hours of rest. I utter another prayer of thankfullness as I settle into my window seat and empty middle seat - that is indeed a blessing. Sleep can finally come now.
"Open the window and see the land Alissa."
'What God?! - you're kidding right? I just got comfortable.'
"Not kidding. Just check."
I know I can't argue with my loving Father too much, and besides, I am curious now. I get up and my pillows fall from position; I turn and open the window, and again the tears begin to flow. The clouds have completely dissolved, and from the light of the moon and that stars that shine in great abundance above, I can see the land. I can see the desert below. Not in detail, but I can see it.
This is how much my Father loves me - that he allowed me to see this sight, the beauty of his creation. But even more, the simple reminder that he hears my prayers. I am overcome knowing that if He hears a prayer to move the clouds so I can see the land, I can count on Him hearing all the other prayers that left my heart and mind. And He will be faithful to answer them. All of them... My prayers for Aidan, Julianna, the rest of my family; team ZEO and the rest of the racers; North Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland; prayers from my aching heart, my confessions, my praise, and my adoration of Him.
The emotions have been altered now, from sadness and feelings of overwhelmingness, to those of gratitude and joy, and I know that I can rest now.
The clouds are back now. But that's okay. I have see what I needed to see tonight. I have seen God.
'I have seen YOU, Lord. Thank You. I love you. Good night.'
I close the window and drift to sleep.
It’s raining here, not quite the thunderstorm I was hoping for, but a good solid spring rain. I’m so happy to be experiencing my spring a couple weeks early. Spring rains are meant to wash away the winter remains, and I love them!
I was talking with Catherine and Spencer last night, about my trip, and realized I haven’t really talked about it much lately, as is expected. I had to ‘get in the zone’ to remember things...people groups, where I was, what I did, when I was there, etc... It sure was good to look back again. I found that some of the issues I thought were a big deal as they occurred and then even when I first came back, are now not. It makes me laugh now. ... ‘Oh, so and so was so annoying then, but now I can’t even remember why’, or ‘I was so upset and offended during that time, but now I can’t remember why or at whom.’ It’s nice to realize that life moves on and perspective changes as time passes. I hope to one day live with a clearer present perspective, less offended and more graceful.
I love being with friends, talking about life, about my trip, about knowing Jesus, finding passion, living with purpose and raising kids to do the same. (Not that I have them, but now many of my friends do, and I have great influence on my niece and nephew even now).
Being with friends here again makes me all the more motivated to do what it takes to make and find good friends in Des Moines. I have wandered around in loneliness too much at home, mostly in years past, but the temptation is there now again. I know they are out there, and I have been too caught up in my own selfishness and self pity to find them, hoping that people would come out of nowhere to be my best friend. I am reminded that I do have great friends all over the country even if I don’t talk to them all the time, and certainly never really see them.
I love Catherine and Spencer because our relationship during the 7 weeks I lived with them showed me that I was able (and even really enjoyed) relating to married couples, and that it’s normal for married couples to relate well with singles. I have to put in a word for them, and say that they are amazing people, and I don’t think they are normal (in a good way:-) ), but they instilled hope in me to have friendship with other marrieds.
I’m sitting in Catherine and Spencer’s living room in Dahlonaga, GA, just north of Gainesville. I arrived in Atlanta late Wednesday night, and Danielle picked me up from the airport. I spent the night, the following day and night with her in Lawrenceville. We had a really refreshing time of talking, along with some great food from the restaurant at which she works.
After some debating and attempting to arrange to see all my scattered Georgia friends, I opted for renting a little car, a Kia Rio to be exact. It’s about the size of a jelly bean, and gold, but good enough for me. So this morning, I jumped in my little ‘gold nugget’ and headed up to Gainesville, stopping at REI outdoor sports store, and Panera on my way. I dropped by my original Starbucks store, and said hello to the one person working that I knew from nearly a year and a half ago. Then on to Catherine and Spencer’s, where
I plan on spending the whole weekend, with visits into Gainesville here and there. I am excited to simply be in a beautiful, warm place, enjoying friends, sharing stories of our respective years, and doing a lot of nothing.
My hope is that now since I have my own computer and a little bit of time on my hands, maybe now I can get some of my million World Race pictures sorted out. ...Hopefully....
I love it here in Georgia. Signs of spring are much more abundant than at home (certainly to be expected), and I’m soaking in every bit of it. Some trees are green, but the most lovely are those that are blossoming with pinkish white flower blossoms before the leaves show up. They remind me of the “White Way of Delight” of which Anne of Green Gables so fondly spoke. I’m surrounded by hills and never ending woods and forests. I had forgotten how pretty it is here, and how much I actually enjoyed living here last year...er...the year before....2006.
It felt good to travel again too; to be at an airport, flying, waiting for luggage...the whole bit. I was alone this time, not with 20-50 other people, but it was still fun. I have always loved the being in airports, and flying, whether alone or with company. Admittedly, I would prefer to travel with someone, (though maybe not 50 someones), but there are certain adventures one can only enjoy alone. I love people watching, and then having brief conversations with strangers, opportunities I am not so eager to take with a familiar face right next to me. I was able to make the decision to walk the half mile to the next terminal instead of taking the train without consulting anyone, and as I did, so did the flight crew from my flight, so I chatted with them as we walked. (The train didn’t seem to be coming and the computerized timer kept counting down from 3 minutes, over and over....obviously there was a problem, and I didn’t feel like standing around with frustrated people.) Oh, the simplicity of traveling alone. I loved the last year when I didn’t have to make all the decisions, and be responsible for all the gang, but this week, I am really appreciating the freedom of making decisions for myself, since it only affects me. :-)
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