Adventure Shoes and PowerPoint Oops.

Holy cow. It has been so crazy since really settling into my time in Lewiston. I have been going going going. It has been wonderful and crazy all at the same time. Thankfully, I have had my Chacos (my adventures shoes). I think there has only been a couple days that I haven't worn them. They have taken me all over town, and I love them!! This last week, they have taken my a ton of places. Sunday we had a barbecue fundraiser for the youth group that I kind of was in charge of. It was great to just be able to jump in and do things. There has been the NAIA World Series all day every day since last Friday. I have watched more baseball this week than I have in my entire life. It's been really fun. Tonight is the championship and LCSC (Lewis Clark State College) is playing! This is the state college here in Lewiston so everyone and their dog is going to be at the game tonight. I have an LCSC shirt to wear and everything! It's going to be great! Because of baseball going late, and all the things I have been doing and learning, I am a little tired. Thankfully, though, I have Fridays and Saturdays off so this morning I got to sleep till 10:00!! It was so great to wake up and not have to do anything. Being an adult is rough...:) Wednesday was my second night in youth group. I almost have all of our regular kids' names down so I am feeling pretty accomplished. It's been fun to get to know a new set of students since I have known everyone at home my whole life. It has been a new experience. We did a scavenger hunt around town where we gave the kids pictures of just a part of a sign and the kids had to find it and take a picture with their group by the sign. We went all over the LC Valley. It was a blast and gave me a chance to not only get to know some students better but also to get to know where I am living better.
Here is my funny story for the week...
Yesterday I was putting together a slideshow for church on Sunday that had pictures of our graduating seniors on it. Because of all of the pictures, it ended up being a 60 slide slideshow. It was so long. Well my PowerPoint software crashed TWICE after I was basically done with the slideshow. By the time I had put the slideshow together for the third time I was pretty frustrated. I was tired of doing the same thing over and over and it was taking forever. So I finally finished it the third time and was getting ready to add music to it, except that Aaron kept talking to me. So I finally looked at him and said, "I just have to finish this stupid slideshow and then I can talk to you." Well...apparently as I was adding the music, it was recording my voice. When I went to watch the final product, instead of music I heard, "I just have to finish this stupid PowerPoint.  I just have to finish this stupid PowerPoint.  I just have to finish this stupid PowerPoint. " OVER AND OVER AND OVER again. At this point, Aaron is laughing and I am panicking because I can't give this church a slideshow with me saying that over and over again! As much as I miss everyone back home, I am not ready to get sent home yet!:) Anyways, after a bit of a struggle to figure out how to erase that little blessing, I finally finished the slideshow, but you can be sure that I will watch it one more time before Sunday morning to make sure it's gone.
I miss everyone at home. Especially my parents and brothers and David. It is hard to not see them everyday, but thankfully we have things like FaceTime and group messages to keep it from being super super hard being away from them.
This week Aaron and I are getting ready to take 30 students to Salt Lake City for a mission trip! It's going to be great, and I will update on that trip too:)
I love and miss everyone back home!!

This was my group at one of our stops for the scavenger hunt!

LCSC playing last night in the semifinals. Championship here we come!

This is how David feels about me being gone. I love him:)

My adventure shoes at the games earlier this week! Yay for baseball and chacos!

Settling In....Kind of.

I moved to Lewiston and within 48 hours I was already on the road again. This time I was headed BACK to Coeur d'Alene for a Northwest District Leadership retreat. After living on the same district my whole life, it was weird to be at a district even where I knew no one. We were at a campground that backed up to a river. It was beautiful. We spent the week (Monday through Wednesday that is) in groups doing case studies. In those case studies we would look at pastors/churches and an issue that went with them. The point of the exercise was to determine what should have happened, or what should happen moving forward with the church we read about. It was very interesting to listen to the pastors at my table give different opinions on the different case studies. It was also interesting to see the difference between the Northwest District and the Tennessee (Well I guess we are Midsouth now..) District. The culture is so much different here and it is exciting to learn about that.
Another thing I am having to adjust to here is the weather. Believe it or not there is a place in this world that does not have humidity. That place is called the Pacific Northwest....also known as heaven. Having grown up in the south, I am used to very hot and humid weather in the summer, and I know it is time to start using sun screen because it gets warm right when it is time to start using it again. However the lack of humidity really makes a difference! I have yet to feel really warm yet (except for our three our trip back to Lewiston in a church van with broken A/C). Because of the fact that I haven't really felt hot yet, I forget that it is actually summer and I can still get a sunburn! I got my first one (and hopefully my only one) of the summer on Monday while I was sitting on the dock by the river. It was just a joy to get in a hot shower the next morning and feel like my skin was literally on fire because I had forgotten about my burn.
Yesterday was my first time in youth group. Aaron had my share my testimony with the students. I have never shared that before, and it was really exciting to get to share it with them! I was told I did a good job, so I will have to take their word for that. I love the kids already and can't wait to build deeper relationships with them. Every day that I am out here, my calling into ministry is confirmed, and I have Aaron, Cliff, and Bill (the guys I get to work with at First Naz) to thank for that.
Tomorrow is the start of the NAIA World Series. This is held in Lewiston every year (random place I know). Before Trevecca went to the NCAA, we used to come up here and play in the World Series! This is a huge deal in the valley, and tons of people come down to watch the games. This is also extra exciting for me because I grew up hearing mom tell stories of singing the national anthem for the opening game when she lived here, and now I get to experience the games for myself! I have my sunscreen already ready, and can't wait for a week of baseball and all sorts of fun!

Got to go to a cousin event (I have never gotten to since we live so far away). I got to spend time with Bethany, while we watched Noah's band concert! It was fun, as usual when we are together:)

This is my new church with the beautiful sunset in the background!

This was the river behind the campground I was at this weekend for the leadership retreat.

Cliff (Senior Pastor) and Aaron (youth pastor) relaxing...mostly because they can.

At the river!

My new LCSC (Lewis Clark State College) hat for the World Series!

Grandparents, Sweet Tea, Casinos, and Church

Well I made it to Lewiston and made it through my first Sunday at my new church! It was so great to spend time with my grandparents in Post Falls this week before I came to Lewiston. I don't get to see them much, and I have never gotten to spend time with them completely to myself so that was really special and fun. I am also back in the land of Tillamook products!!!!! For those of you that don't know, Tillamook makes the best cheese and best ice cream. Period.
I moved in with a wonderful couple, Ken and Christine King. They have spoiled me with my own bedroom, bathroom, and sitting room. Christine also stocked the fridge with sweet tea! Sweet tea does not exist up here really, so for her to do that was awesome. Sweet tea is my one southern habit.:)
For my first night in Lewiston last night I went to a casino on the reservation. Unfortunately there was no money gambled...:) There is a bug auditorium there so I was there watching a new student at her dance recital.
Today was also my first Sunday at Lewiston First which was such a great time. I got to meet my new students during Sunday School, and then during the service, the whole church came and prayed over me. I already feel apart of the church family. It was so fun to worship with a truly authentic group of people who really love the LORD, and I get to for 3 months!
I was whisked away after church to Taco Time with the Middletons (Aaron Middleton is the youth pastor I am working with) and the Johnsons (another sweet family in the church). For those of you back home that don't know what Taco Time is, I am sure you are thinking something along the lines of Taco Bell. Well stop that. Taco Time does serve the some of the same types of food as Taco Bell, but its WAAAAYYYYYYY better. Like real meat and sit down restaurant sized portions. It was so good. I then went to a girls small group and got to know some of my new girls a little better.
I am loving being out here, but it is hard to go from the only place I've ever known, to anywhere else, so I miss everyone back home a lot, but thankful I will be pretty busy here, so that will make up for missing everyone. BUT I really do love being on this adventure. It has been awesome so far, and I know I couldn't have picked a better youth pastor, or church to intern with out here.
I know some people have wanted my new address, so message me or talk to mom if you want it. I would LOVE some mail from home!
I love you all and miss you terribly, but am thankful to know I am covered with prayers from home! 
Hannah

View from the road in front of the church

My new favorite place....just kidding:)

The church praying over me this morning!

TILLAMOOK ICE CREAM!!!!!

Grandma and Grandpa time:)

 

Lewiston and Clarkston (LC Valley)

Taco Time Nachos

 

Ok Aaron (the only guy) is my youth pastor I am interning with. His daughters are Kelsey, the girl in front of me, and Sarah, the girl next to me (his wife Steph was taking the picture). Then the Johnsons are Dena, who is next to Sarah, and her daughters across from her, Amber and Ashley.

Day 1 - On My Own

My Adventure shoes and I have arrived in Post Falls, Idaho which is where I will be for a few days with my grandparents before heading to Lewiston! The goodbyes have been hard. All of them. Amanda and I had a going away party last week. It was the last time my "Tennessee Family" was all going to be together for a while. We spent time just being together, and our families prayed over us. It was so sweet. Yesterday's goodbyes were hard too. Mom, Dad, my brothers, and David all came to the airport to send me off. I headed through security and that is when it hit me. For the first time in my life, I was completely on my own. I was heading off on a plane to go on an adventure in which I would not have my immediate family, or David, or Nashville First. That was so scary. A huge part of me is so excited for this new adventure, but a tiny part of me wants to go back to being a kid.
Both of my flights were good. I got a window seat both flights! However on my flight to Denver I sat next to a very large man who took up all of his seat, and most of mine, so that was just a party.
I am so thankful to get to spend a few days with Grandma and Grandpa. It is fun to get some quality time with them. I head out Saturday morning for Lewiston! I can't wait. I am headed to a place where I already feel so loved.
Thank you all for your prayers over the last few months and especially the last couple days! It has been wonderful knowing I am covered in prayer back at home. I love you and miss you all!!

Going Away Party with the Parkers, Joneses, Christiansons and Wades.

Saying Goodbye at the Airport

Goodbye to my favorite guy

My Adventure Shoes waiting to board our first flight!!

Denver Mountains!!