Made it to WY!

Praise Jesus! Nicole and I made it safely to Lander, Wyoming after driving 15 hours through the night. Also praise the Lord that my brother's wedding was extremely awesome! The entire week before the wedding was so fun and busy, Britt was such a kind, calm bride right up to walking the isle. Many tears of joy were shed and sleep was short, but I was so blessed to be apart of the entire celebration! (Pictures to come in the future)

I have been in WY for 3 days now. On the first day I met my classmates, discussed expectations and policies, and toured around the "NOLS campus." The next day we spread out our gear for inspection from our course instructors and purchased any gear we still needed. Then we learned how to use bear-spray and how to respond to bears. We also began in-class WFR (wilderness first responder training). The following day we had CPR training, more technical WFR training and in the evening we learned how to set up our tents. Today in our WFR training I administered my first shot (of saline solution) into a fellow-student's arm! In fact, everything we learn, we practice on each other (in pretend scenarios). Later we will get our group gear and pack our backpacks and prepare to head out to the field (the Absaroka Range and will do some hiking in Yellow Stone). There are 3 re-ration points we will have to reach along the way, and we are hiking to the furthest point from a service road in the United states!

Please pray for:
~Energy: I am still trying to catch up on my sleep from last week. I have been getting very tired every afternoon and I have just been sitting in a classroom most of the morning. I know that once we are hiking I am going to need even more energy to carry my pack.
~Health: I am so nervous about getting sick or flu-like symptoms while on the trail. Sometimes stress or over-exertion can upset my stomach and I do not want to hold the group back.
~Continued quality conversations with my peers while on the trail.
~Each student has to teach 3 classes while on the field. I would appreciate your prayers that my classes go smoothly.

Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragements!
I will update again in a month.

Love and blessings!
~Amy

At the top of the slide

The time has come! I was recently hiking with my dear friend, Jesse, and attempting to describe how this moment in my life feels. The best analogy I came up with is that it is like waiting to go down a water slide. You watch the person before you slide away and then you are being directed to sit at the top of the slide and cross your ankles and your arms over your chest like a mummy and be prepared to launch forward to the unknown winding, rushing water slide and somewhere on the other end you will shoot out into a pool of water. My anticipation and excitement are mingled with concern and questions about the unknown. Have I prepared enough for this? Am I doing the right thing? Will I be strong enough? It almost feels like I am graduating college all over again--leaving the familiar behind and hoping I have made the most of these past 4 years at Chase and Ashford. I often look back after leaving somewhere and wish I had been better at loving people (classmates, co-workers, customers, or students) and giving more of my time and resources to care for those in my sphere of influence. But now I am about to go down the slide and I must leave all I have done in God's hands an trust Him with the rest. I must practice Philippians 3:13 "forgetting those things which are behind and pressing on to what lies ahead."
In 4 days my brother, and life-long friend, is getting married! I see God's sovereignty and blessing all over this wedding and it has been such a beautiful example to me. I have been praying for my brother's "future wife" for so many years and to see the fulfillment of these prayers is better than anything I could have imagined! I am so excited for both of them and praising God that I get to be apart of the ceremony!
As soon as the reception is over and the newlyweds take off, Nicole and I are driving my car to Wyoming and (Lord willing) I will arrive in Lander by 6pm on Sunday for my NOLS orientation. I will be gone in the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains for 30 days. This is the last you will hear from me until July 11 when I visit my aunt and uncle in Colorado. I will send an update letting you know I survived.

Prayer requests:
~pray that I would have wisdom in all areas of my life
~pray that the wedding plans go smoothly and my speech goes well at the reception
~pray that Nicole and I have a safe and uneventful over-night drive to Wyoming
~pray for my physical strength, health, and adjustment to the elevation in the Rockies
~pray that I will mentally and spiritually be a loving example to my fellow backpackers (not complaining, or being lazy and always being willing to help and serve those around me with joy)


Thanks for reading! Blessings to you!