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!