Through SMRM, we act as "Hosts" at Ober. We assist the staff and guests by helping direct the flow of traffic and answering questions about the resort, skiing, gear, whatever!! (As well as random things like helping lost children find their parents!) Also, on Sundays, we provide breakfast for the staff and give them a devotional. Sometimes the conversations are very spiritual and sometimes they aren't. SMRM opperates on an "earn the right to be heard" philosophy which is a cry of my heart when it comes to ministry. The idea is that Christianity is relational-- so, we opperate relationally. It's all about getting to really know people and what they are about, serving all... and then once your actions provoke questions, sharing with them the love we know and our story. So, Saturday was spent doing all of the above-- hanging out with the staff in my area when it was slow, helping guests with gear/directing traffic/answering questions when we were busy. (Which, truly was most of the day considering something like 2300 pairs of skiis -- not including snowboards -- were rented! That doesn't include the people that had their own gear, either, so maybe 3000 people went through Ober on Saturday!!)
Sunday we started a little earlier and took breakfast around the resort to the employees before they opened up. I got to hang out with a couple of guys from Brazil-- such fun talking to them! Then it was to the slopes to ski, play in the snow, and tell people about our church service at the top of Cub and Castle runs. Yeah, that's right. We did "church" on the mountain side. And, it snowed. Talk about a worshipful atmosphere! Shortly after church, I left the resort and headed back to Scott and Jenn's (where I was staying this weekend). I showered, loaded up my car, and was just about ready to leave... when I asked Jenn to hang out and have a cup of coffee before I left. It turned into a 2 hour conversation (and 2 cups of coffee haha). But, it was a conversation that no doubt God had His hand in. He's had His hands in my life all week! He prepared me for my trip to Gatlinburg, and blessed me while I was there. Through and through.
Gatlinburg and especially the Smokies have always held a special place in my heart. And it continues to! There is just something about those mountains... God really speaks to me there.
This picture was taken with my cell phone, through the tram window, on my way off the mountain on Sunday... The big peak on the right is Mt. LeConte.
God says, "Be alert, be present.
I'm about to do something brand-new.
It's bursting out! Don't you see it?
There it is! I'm making a road through the desert,
rivers in the badlands.
I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out--
plans to take care of you, not abandon you,
plans to give you the future you hope for..."
Isaiah 43:19, Jeremiah 29:11
1 comment:
I'm so glad that your weekend went well...I've been praying for you!
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