Tropical Weather

Well, I've now been on the OBX for over a week, and I'm beginning to get my first taste of tropical weather. As it looks currently, Ernesto has been down-graded to a tropical depression and will most like go west of us by the time it gets to NC. Hooray! As exciting as tropical weather might be, I am not prepared! I have been working this week on setting up my renter's insurance (sadly, having a parsonage that's insured does not insure my property within the parsonage). However, the flood and wind insurance are separate. The wind shouldn't be a huge problem for me, but my street has already begun to hold extra water. And this is just day one of heavy-ish rains when we are expecting more for a few days. Hmm, tomorrow's my day off, but Friday, I might be going to work in a kayak! That's a heck of a commute. I'm pretty sure we don't have too much to worry about, but keep the OBX and all of the east coast in your prayers as we face possible flooding.

Other than the weather, things are beginning to feel more and more normal every day. Tomorrow night is my first parent meeting, Sunday my first time teaching the youth. I made a contact with another youth pastor in the area today, and the two of us decided that we were going to start an OBX youth ministry network. We see it as a way for youth workers up and down the OBX to support one another, resource one another, and pray for one another. It will be a few weeks before I can get around to organizing the thing, but I have a feeling it will become an important part of putting down roots here. Being in full-time ministry is teaching me to take advantage of the little moments where I can encourage or support someone else. Yesterday, it was two female college students, one from Bulgeria, one from Moldova. I can't wait to watch for where God is moving tomorrow.

OBX Week 1 - Transition!

This has been quite a week. Back in one of my undergrad psych classes, we looked at one of those stress tests. Some of the highest ranked things were moving to a new location and starting a new job. Add maintaining a long distance relationship to the list, and it's been a high stress week according to test standards. I'm learning that 8 hour days in an office can feel mighty long. Thankfully, today, I met with our volunteer youth coordinator to discuss youth ministry issues. Now, I feel like I have a clearer direction for how to spend my time in the office and how to move forward with the ministry. Libby, our pastor's wife (I hate that term, sorry Libby), drove me along the two main roads on the OBX so I could get a lay of the land. Good news folks, they've opened a new Cold Stone Creamery in Kill Devil Hills! Heck yes! We drove around by the schools and she pointed out restaurants that locals frequent. This is the last big week for tourists because of schools starting. After Labor Day, Libby says the OBX become "your own little paradise". I won't miss the traffic, but I think I might miss the people-watching on my drive to work!

So, things are going pretty well as I transition. Sunday's my big intro with the church. This is it folks. I've been training for 7 years to be in ministry full-time. Once the newness wears off, I think I might like the style of this place.

Prayer Requests:
Pray that I can begin connecting with people and seeing God's vision for the youth and young adult ministries at Duck UMC. Also, pray for me as I transition and find friends in this new place.

Hospitality

Wow, I haven't posted in forever, but I want to remain faithful to keeping up my blog now that I have moved. That's right, yesterday was the big day. My Mom, Dad, and Uncle Carl loaded up the moving truck in Raleigh. Dad and I drove 4 hours to Kitty Hawk. As I rolled down my new street, I saw a mass of cars up ahead and just knew that I was home. What a welcome! There had to be at least 25 youth and parents outside my house waiting to welcome me into their church family (big "Welcome Amy" sign and all). All my fears of moving to a new community quickly faded away as we unpacked the truck in 15 minutes! Not only did they move things out of the truck, within two hours, my entire house was set up. Teenagers and moms were all over the house putting away dishes, setting up my computer and TV, putting up shower curtains, and making beds. Their demonstration of love and hospitality was absolutely overwhelming. I can't remember many names or who brought what bouquet of flowers or bucket of cleaning supplies, but I know I have a family here that loves me even before they truly know me.

Tomorrow, I will begin my first "official" day of work at Duck United Methodist. This morning, I was there incognito for a lecture on the meditative Psalms and met a few other church members. I still can't believe that I live at the beach. I can see the Currituck Sound in the distance behind my house (for those of you not from NC, a sound is a large body of fresh water that separates the Outer Banks, basically islands, from the mainland). My house is absolutely beautiful, and I'm ready for guests any time!

All the waiting this summer has been worth it to experience the home coming in the OBX (yep, Outer Banks, get used to the slang). God is at work here. God will continue to work here. And the cool thing is, God's letting me join in and serve alongside my new church family. What a blessing!