White Goodness.

It snowed today.

This was the first thing I did.

It was a good day.

Strengths Finder

Strengths Finder - It does exactly that.
It finds what your strengths are.
You take a test online which is a series of paired statements that you answer with which best describes you.  You only have 20 seconds to answer each question.  Then when the test is completed, it gives you your top 5 strengths.  In the book that goes with this, it describes what each strength is as well as managing those strengths in yourself and in others.

These are mine, in order:

ACHIEVER ~ I have an internal fire burning inside me.  It pushes me to do more, to achieve more.  It brings me the energy I need to work long hours without burning out.  It is the jolt I can always count on to get me started on new tasks, new challenges.  It is the theme that keeps me moving.


ADAPTABILITY ~ I live in the moment.  I don't see the future as a fixed destination.  Instead, I see it as a place that I create out of the choices I make right now.  I discover my future one choice at a time.  I don't resent sudden requests or unforeseen detours.  I am, at heart, a very flexible person who can stay productive when the demands of work are pulling me in many different directions.


INCLUDER ~ I want to include people and make them feel part of the group.  I want to expand the group so that as many people as possible can benefit from it's support.  I hate the sight of someone on the outside looking in.  I want to draw them in so that they can feel the warmth of the group.  I am an instinctively accepting person.  No one should be ignored.  Each of us should be included.


RESPONSIBILITY ~ My responsibility theme forces me to take psychological ownership for anything I commit to, and whether large or small, you feel emotionally bound to follow it through to completion.  If for some reason I cannot deliver, I automatically start to look for ways to make it up to the other person.  This conscientiousness, this near obsession for doing things right, and my impeccable ethics, combine to create my reputation: utterly dependable.  My willingness to volunteer may sometimes lead me to take on more than I should.


DEVELOPER ~ I see the potential in others.  Each individual is a work in progress, alive with possibilities.  And I am drawn toward people for this very reason.  I am on the lookout for the signs of growth - a new behavior learned or modified, a slight improvement in a skill, a glimpse of excellence where previously there were only halting steps.  For me these small increments - invisible to some - are clear signs of potential being realized.  Signs of growth in others are my fuel.

I'm excited to continue to grow in these...
 

Orientation

Welp, staff orientation - completed.

Next up - DTS staff training

I arrived on the base, Highfield Oval, after a long day of travel.  I was a bit out of it, considering I slept maybe an hour or 2 on the plane over.  I was awake roughly 30 hours or so.  However, it helps to do that.  Jetlag?  Not a big deal.

This last week we had Staff Orientation.  There are 10 other new staff members to Harpenden, 5 of which were from my own DTS, so we had a good time of getting to know one another (again) and getting to know everyone else on base and a whole lot of other things about YWAM, about YWAM Harpenden and so much more.  Lots and lots of information.  We talked all about the history of this place, the values of this place, how things work here, and we caught glimpses of what life here will be like as staff.

So what other things did we do?  Well, one day, there was a bit of a scavenger hunt in the wonderful town that is Harpenden:

We won.

We played a game about getting to know all the staff on base, attended my first staff meetings, took staff pictures, had an excellent morning workout, had a great time of prayer and worship, a great breakfast together and so much more.  Overall, it was a great week.

Speaking of which, it is definitely an adjustment transitioning from student to staff.  Last time I was here, I was a student.  This time, it's totally different.  There are plenty of familiar faces but the number of new faces far out weigh that.  But it's good.  It's been fun meeting all those faces.  But as staff, my role here is definitely different, and with that comes more responsibilities and expectations.  On one hand, it's a lot to take in all at once, but on the other hand, this is how you grow.  You get put into new situations and circumstances and let God challenge you.  I'm definitely going to be challenged.

But I'm excited to be challenged alongside some amazing people.  We, as DTS staff, gathered this evening for a night of typical English tea time treats, talking about the week to come and watching the finale of the X-Factor.  Good times were had.  But as we were sitting there watching and talking and laughing together, I got so excited that I get to be a part of this incredible team that God has brought together.  Really.

It's good.

Lines and Trees

I have 2 favorite pictures.  This is one of them.

This is The Nickey Line.

This is where I go running.

This is where my shoes get muddy.

This is where I learn to push myself.

This is where I see beautiful sunrises.

This is where God talks to me and I to Him.

I have 2 favorite pictures.  This is the other one.

This is my tree.

This is where I walk through the woods to find.

This is where I get poked by branches.

This is where I learn to be still.

This is where I see the beginnings of something great.

This is where God talks to me and I just listen.

This is where it begins.

The beginning of a run.

The beginning of a new season.

This is where it begins.

   

Words For Today Pt. 2

God calls us to things that are bigger than ourselves.

Is God calling you to dream?

Oh Christmas Tree

Our own little grow your own Christmas tree.

 

Richard Simmons and Bon Iver

Air New Zealand might be my new favorite international airline. 

I write this within the first hour of this 9 hour flight from LAX to London Heathrow. Why now?  Simply put, I didn't want to forget any detail of this:

My travels started in San Francisco on a delayed United flight.  Nothing too special about this one except maybe the 25 minute nap I had on a 50 minute flight.  I landed at LAX where I connected to my next flight. So that was all good and fine. 

Then came time to board my very first Air New Zealand airplane.  Not only was I met by friendly people with awesome accents, but as I turned the corner, what should I see in the front door?  BAM - purple lights.   

I reached my window seat near the back of the plane to find the middle seat next to me empty. I love when that happens. 

Now usually, there is a somewhat boring video going through all the safety information that you don't have a choice but to watch. But let me tell you, those kiwi's sure know how to made a GOOD safety video.  THE best I've ever had the pleasure of watching. 

It started off just like any other, but then, and this is no joke, who should pop up on the screen, spandex and all, but the one and only - Richard Simmons.  YES.  That happened.  And he wasn't alone in his spandex, he had his little posse of other exercisers in the background head to toe in spandex. I wish I could go into full detail of that video but I'll just say, it was AAAAMAZING. There was Richard doing his thing of pumping us up to put on our life jackets and oxygen masks (in the event of an emergency, of course) followed by a cameo by the host of The Amazing Race showing us the proper position to brace yourself in case the plane is going down. It ended with a shot of quite the party in the plane. A party that was getting a little out of hand as there was a little old naked lady (don't worry, the important parts were blurred out) dancing down the aisle.  

I don't think any other flights safety video will EVER compare. 

After that wonderful experience, we took off. I had Bon Iver playing in my ears and the California sunset over the ocean out my window.

What a great way to begin. 

Ready

Welp, all packed and ready to go.
So it begins.

You'll Do Fine.

Monday Nail Day - YWAM SF
I gave a beautiful lady a French(ish) manicure.
That's right.
White tip and all.
There truly is a first time for everything.

I had never done that before so when she asked me to do the white tip for her, I kind of looked at her and was like - uhhh - I can try but it might not look that great.  So she kind of laughed and said, "It's ok, you'll do fine." (Ok sure...)

Well I got the white nail polish out and was getting ready to do it and I just started laughing at how ridiculous it was what I was doing at that moment.  I looked at her and told her I was nervous and didn't want to mess it up.  But she just kept smiling, encouraging me that I would do fine.  So she sat there with her shaking hand in mine as I applied the white tip to the pinky.  Not bad.  Then came the ring finger.  Ok, this isn't turning out as horribly as I thought.  Then the next couple fingers.  Hey, this actually looks somewhat decent.  After each nail I imperfectly painted, she would take a second to look at my work exclaiming, "That's so good!" then put her hand back in mine so I could finish.

It was most definitely not professional quality by any means, but I have to say, it looked good.
I was proud.
So was she.
Which made me happy.

But I think what I loved most about this time was not just the fact that I did pretty well on my first time doing something like that, but I was able to just really enjoy her company.  It felt like I was just hanging out with a friend, even though I had just met her and knew very little about what her life has been like up to this point.  We were both chatting and laughing and having a good time together.

After I put on the top coat to finish it off, I got to pray for her.  As I was praying, her grip on my hands got tighter and tighter.  God was doing something in her heart at that moment.  I pray He continues.

That is just one story from my final Monday helping out at the YWAM base in San Francisco for Nail Day.  I'll miss it.

It was a good day.

 

Words For Today

God loves us in our process,

Not our performance.