HALF OVER?!?!?!

My time in Lewiston is already half over! It doesn't seem like I have been gone for 7 weeks, but I have. I have come to love this little town, and the people in it. I am in a place where the people want to help me grow and learn. Everyone is so eager to help me, and even though I am just a college student, I am treated as an equal to the adult leaders in the youth group who have been there for years. It's been so awesome.
I got a surprise from David this week, he sent money to Ken and Christine (who I am living with) for them to get me flowers from him. He is the sweetest, and has been so supportive while I have been gone. I sure love him. :)
This week I got to see my mom!!!!! While the people here have become like family, it was so relieving to see a familiar face from home. Especially since it was mom. She surprised me at youth group last Wednesday, and from there we had three days of visiting people, getting pedicures, and exploring the surrounding areas that I hadn't explored yet. One day we just decided to drive for a long time just to see where it took us and what kinds of things we would see. Friday night we went up on the hill and took pictures of the LC Valley at night, so that was really cool. It was so nice to just have her to talk to and be with. There is nothing like having your mom around, and it's even better when she is your best friend. After church on Sunday, we drove back to Coeur d'Alene (about 2 hours) to Grandma and Grandpa's house. It has been so fun to live within driving distance of them! Monday morning we woke up and grandpa took us to brunch. As I was looking at my menu, I found a cinnamon roll that looked amazing. It was a small little cinnamon roll with a little icing drizzled on top. Nothing to write home about. HOWEVER, about 20 minutes later the waiter comes back with mom and grandpa's food, and the BIGGEST CINNAMON ROLL I HAD EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. It was literally the size of my face. It was about 3 inches thick with dough, and about an inch thick of icing. It was incredible. You can see it in the picture below. After brunch, I had to say my goodbyes not only to grandma and grandpa, but also to mom. I am so so glad she came, but it was hard to say goodbye again.
Tonight we had river night. We went tubing on the river. For those of you back home, this is basically lake day but in a river. It was awesome and I didn't fall off the tube. It was almost as good as riding Chuck Mashburn's boat, although I don't think anyone will ever reach Chuck's level:)
The most amazing thing (besides mom being here) of this last week was seeing the Northern Lights! Now I know it wasn't like the ones in Alaska or anywhere farther up north, but I think no matter where you see them, they are beautiful. To suddenly see beautiful lights dance through the sky is something you don't forget. It was really exciting.
It is very bitter sweet knowing my time is half over. I love it here, but I love home too. Ugh. Growing up is hard.
Until next time!
Hannah

Me and mom in downtown Lewiston

My BEAUTIFUL flowers from my sweet David

Our pedicures! We even got little jewels on our toes!

Out taking sunset pictures in the Palouse.

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS! AHHHHH!!!!

Learning to Breathe

What a crazy couple weeks it has been! I have been to Salt Lake City and back which was awesome. We stopped in Nampa, ID over night on our way down to SLC and on our way back. On the way back I got to see some of my Christianson cousins which was so fun! It's been exciting to see family two years in a row! While we were in Salt Lake we stayed at Salt Lake City Central Church of the Nazarene. They were really great hosts. We spent two days working around the church doing yard work and painting some room. One afternoon we spent some time handing out care kits to the homeless in the community. It made me miss my Emmaus friends. The third day we were there we went to a pregnancy resource center to do some work. This was especially interesting because it was located right next to a Planned Parenthood building. That was pretty shocking. The whole week though was really great for me as it gave me the opportunity to get to know my students better and in a way I wouldn't have had we not had the trip.
The one hard part of the week was knowing I wasn't at Camp Garner Creek. This was the first time in 10 years that I wasn't at camp, and that made me pretty homesick. Up until that point I had been doing pretty good in terms of homesickness, but knowing my district was all together and I wasn't there was a little sad. Thankfully though, Matt thought to FaceTime me during their youth group time and I was able to see everyone's beautiful faces for a few minutes!! That was definitely a highlight for me, and helped ease my homesickness.
With all the stuff going on, I have been BUSY. I have LOVED being in Lewiston and don't think I have stopped yet. I have so much I have learned and still need to learn in a place that is so unlike home. I haven't felt stressed at all since I've been here and it's been wonderful. However, thanks to Cliff and Aaron, I am learning that there is negative stress and positive stress, and while I haven't felt negative stress, that doesn't mean I haven't been stressed. The last few days I have been fighting sickness and exhaustion. I have just done so much and not realized the toll it was taking because I have been loving what I have been doing. So the last few days I have been learning to take deep breaths and slow down a little, so that I can be my very best for my students and the people around me. It's a learning curve, but I will get it. MINISTRY IS HARD! Youth ministry is not just ski trips and camps and TNT. Ministry is being on 24/7 for people that need you. Ministry is phone calls and paper work and emails and going going going. Ministry is the constant and complete reliance on the Holy Spirit to give you the words to say, and know the right things to do. I have been called to do the hardest job on the planet, but the LORD will provide what I need, and I will learn to slow down a little and take a deep breath.
Thankfully, the LORD knows I need to see a familiar face from home, and this evening I get to pick up my mom to spend a few days with me which she is out here in the Pacific Northwest. I am so excited to have someone who really truly knows me here in town for a few days. It will do me a lot of good. YAY!!!
I miss everyone back home lots, but I am surrounded here by people who love me while I am a long ways from home.
Hannah

Me, Pastor Cliff, and Rich Kennedy (Team Cook)

Me and some of my high school girl students at the Great Salt Lake

This is my new friend Kelsey Kennedy, I think we were sisters separated at birth.:)

My students at the Salt Lake!:)

We got henna tattoos:)

 

Cousin Shay at the water park!:)

 

Salt Lake City Bound!

Today I am headed to Salt Lake City for a mission trip! This is pretty bitter sweet as this is also the week First Church is going to camp. I haven't missed camp in 10 years. Growing up is hard. It rained a TON this week in Lewiston! I know it has been raining a lot in Nashville, but since the valley is technically a desert, rain is a big deal here. Yesterday was a pretty uneventful day. Pastor Bill (who basically runs the office) has been gone this week so I was given office duty. Because of some unforeseen delays in a church van pickup, Aaron and Cliff were gone most of the day so I was in the office all alone all day. I sent my time watching Netflix and writing my name in paper clips! Not exactly the most productive of days, but they finally made it back and my friend Kelsey came and kept me company for a while.
This week I have been a little homesick. I was sad to miss the ordination service at Camp Garner Creek. I would have loved to see Sabrina and Scott get ordained! On top of that I won't be able to talk to David much if at all this next week while I am in Salt Lake City and he is at camp, and then all my friends from home will be at camp! It's just one of those weeks. Thankfully a few days after I get back from SLC Mom is coming to visit me!!! I am SOOOOOO excited! I LOVE the people here but it will be wonderful to see a familiar face from home next week.
One exciting this this week, besides getting ready for Salt Lake, was the fact that David bought a plane ticket this week to come see me!! He will be coming my last week out here, and then we will fly back to Nashville together!
I can't wait to show David around my town and take him to some of the places I have come to enjoy.
I will post again when I get back from Salt Lake City!
Love you all!
Hannah

Thought this fire truck was pretty cute. A man and his son were driving it!

Get to see this view every day on my way home from work. I love it!

A rainbow after one of our many storms this week!

Walked along the rive last night. I love the views here!