Suitcase.

I keep trying to find all the right words to write this the way I want to... But I can't seem to get the swing of it yet. Writing used to come so naturally to me... I don't even remember why I stopped. But, I think it's time I start again. Just bear with me on this one...

A little re-cap:
After completing my Second year at Masters, I had plans of packing my things and moving to Maine for the summer with Christopher and Kory. I would live with a good friend of mine, Faith, and together we would help build, re-build, breath life into, inspire, and equip the people of Zone Church. None of us really knew what that would exactly mean... we just knew God wanted us there. So we went.
Day 1: Sunday.
I can't really say I remember what Pastor Al (Faith's Dad, and ZoneChurch Pastor) preached on, but I specifically remember every hand I shook and every person that walked into that school cafeteria, searching for something without even knowing what they were searching for. I was looking into the closed eyes of some of the greatest potential I have ever dared to stare back at.

About a week had gone by, and we started getting in the swing of things. Dreaming was something we did constantly, and taking small intentional steps forward inspired us to dream bigger. It was almost instantaneous that I fell in love with the ZoneChurch body and the passion that drove them. Whether they knew what they had in them or not, it was my personal mission to encourage, inspire, and believe in that passion to pull it out, team it up with Jesus' vision of the church, and let that be the driving force for the summer. From 6am Sunday set up, yard sales, worship practice, and general fellowship... these people quickly became a family I couldn't replace.
Engage (youth ministry, Kory's primary position) was the next step. It was easy to be a normal church goer, leader, and friend. But rebuilding and in many ways starting from scratch a youth ministry, that was a whole other thing. But with some dreaming, a little inspiration, and our blood, sweat, and personal skills... We were on a mission to transform the garage into the new youth location.
Now, in the middle of all this, Christopher and myself had been looking for jobs to support us back to Masters in the fall. Payment and deposit dates growing closer, I had to make the hard decision to go where the work was. Probably one of the harder decisions to make you know? I was stuck between standing in faith and staying in Maine, where I wanted; and having great faith and wisdom to go against what I wanted, to do what I know I needed to do. Using advice and wisdom from some trusted friends and leaders, I started making phone calls to some key people... and came to this conclusion: I would pack a carry on suitcase, fly standby to Colorado, surprise my parents, spend 2 weeks in CO working at Dairy Queen, hook up with a friend from Masters who was vacationing in CO that same time (ironically her name is Faith as well), then ride back with her family to Pennsylvania to work at Do It Best hardware store for the duration of the summer. Why didn't I just stay in Colorado and work for Dairy Queen? 1. It was a blessing to work there for the 2 weeks I did. It was only temporary... I worked at DQ for 5 years prior, and Jamie had employees out of town... It was just a kiss from Jesus really. 2. I would make much better money, and have much more consistent hours in PA. 3. Living with Faith, has been one of the best things. Faith and her family have been such a huge blessing and it's been really good for me in more ways than I could even know at this point.

Colorado was probably the greatest blessing... I hadn't been home since Christmas, and there was just a lot to face, clean up, and take care of. Both personal and relational. So to see my family who I have been relentlessly praying for, and for so long, was just a really big deal. They have come so far, and my ability to take what Jesus has given me in order to relate, respond, and revive them, has grown so much in the past 6 months. The burden of my grandparents rapid decline in their health is becoming to much for my parents alone to handle. With the help of my aunt and uncle from Washington, Jesus stood between the mental gaps in my grandfathers brain, and he spoke clearly and with full understanding, that moving to Ellensburg WA, was the best option for their remaining time. They'll be taken care of properly there, and everyone will be able to breathe again. At least for a little while...
Beyond family, my friends were a huge deal. Staying up until 3 or 4 in the morning to talk to friends about Jesus, was not what I had expected. But friends that didn't even know the story of Jesus, what it means to be forgiven, or what the love of Christ is, were now keeping me up all hours of the night just to know more about Him. It was beautiful. I experienced a new church out in Lone Tree and fell in love with it. Jubilee Fellowship. My friend Hosanna (also from MCATL) invited me. Being around friends from MC is so life breathing over the summer... so thankful for the friendships I've made over the years. Worship nights, late nights, DQ, broken heart moments, homework, family, friends, lots of healing, and Jesus. Then it was time to go. Packed my suitcase, and hit the road.

So here I have been for the past 2.5 weeks. New Brighton, Pennsylvania. Working at Do It Best hardware, and living out of a carry on suitcase, with one of my best friends and taking a hit at life from a whole new perspective.

I'm sorry this post is so jumpy... still trying to break the block in my thoughts and figure out how I want this whole thing to be structured. But I'll never figure it out if I don't just give it a shot right?  We'll just see what happens next. Pictures soon.

Tonight: Paying for my ZoneChurch family, the entire Robbins family (including Christopher, Josh, Spencer, and Kory) both on a corporate and personal level, and Engage Student Ministries. I believe in you all more than I can put into words. Thank you for being irreplaceable friends and family to me, and supporting me no matter where I go. Praying for you and believing in you every step of the way. Hope to see you soon.

-Allison