Ammunition

The ropes course was a blast this year! yes there were bumps and bruises, but it was amazing and I got to try some new elements then I did last year and they were soooo cool! We started off by writing our names on duck tape, then we listened to a talk by Keith (one of the YWAM people). Then we played a couple of team games, and the YWAM people numbered us off, to get into teams. In my group there was Christen .P, Kristen .F, Micah .P, Abby .P, Sharon .R, Nick, Kami, Ben .L, Siera, and me. then we came up with a group name and a dance. Our group was named the Fuzzy Magenta Walruss’, the other two groups names were, the Delicious Rainbow Trout, and the Squiggly Aqua Baracoudas. After that the …trouts, and the…walruss’ went to the flying squirrel. they told us to pick a secret word (that didn’t remain secret for very long) and you tell it to the rest of the group, who pull you up when you shout the word. Your harness is attached to a cord that’s  attached to a tree , and a pulley. So my word was Cha Cha! after that we did the low course which (for my team) had a rope bridge (with nothing to hold onto), a cord bridge, a log crossway, three tunnels, a plank bridge, a zip line, a titerope, a spiderweb, a hamock path, and a row of stumps. If you fall, you either have to go back two elements, or two people have to go back one. Christen and Micah helped everyone across the rope bridge, and we had to get two teams across the cord bridge at the same time, and I fell at the log crossway. Two people went back for me, but I felt really bad, so when another team member fell I decided to go back for them. Daniel and Sharon were helping people get across the crossway. After we finished the low course, we had lunch. then we went to the zip line, I went first, and it was really fun, then we did the giant swing. I went third and I was really freaked out, but Sharon and Micah were up there, too, and they helped me to calm down, and I was glad that they were there.   Last wedid the high course, but we only had time for the second half (Ben and Micah did the whole thing anyways) and we did the cargo net, then the plank bridge then we had to pass the long boards and tires. That’s where I fell and I got a rope burn. We were stapped in really well, so I only fell, like, a foot, but the rope burn made my hand feel like it was on fire, and I was sitting in the air, but it’s REALLY hard to stand back up. I did but not without tears and a heck of a lot of frustration! My hand hurt so bad that it hurt to touch anything. I was really glad that Christen, Sharon, and Nick were there, and I probably would’ve stayed there if they weren’t encouraging me. Then I got ice for my hand, we ate pizza, did worship (which was great!), listened to Brendan talk and did ministry. (Cody, Kristen, and Hannah prayed for me, then Abby joined), then we left. So apart from the burn, IT ROCKED! (If you have any questions, just ask, and feel free to comment! )

We went to the beach this last week, and it was soo much fun! We got amazing weather, and it was supposed to rain both days! My sister (Brianna) and I both pitched in and bought a skim board, and that was amazingly fun! We both fell a few times, but we did good in the end. We went shopping again, and I got this amazing coat that I’m totally loving, and I’ve made it work for every outfit that I’ve worn since.   We went down on the beach three times, and two of which I made creatures instead of castles. I made a Giraffe head that I named Charley, and it was smushed an hour later, and I made a sleeping mermaid, and I don’t know what to call her, but she came out pretty good. My mom and I went for a walk at sunset both nights that we were there, and I found a few aggets, and some amazing shells, and I found a heart-shaped rock. It was amazing, and there was no way that it could be anything else! Later, I found two shark teeth!!!! They’re small, but it’s amazing. I mean you know that they’re teeth, because you can see where they’d attach, and it’s soo cool! We went to the park that the youth went to on the beach trip, and then checked in at our hotel. My grandma met a 13-year old Elvis impersonater! He came up to her and started talked with her and saying how he lost his grandmother, and that he was blind in one eye. He was nice. Later that night he came down and gave my grandma his phone number and said that if she was ever in portland to look him up. XD. And my little sister brought her friend Lindsey (who’s 12) and the Elvis dude saw her and started talking about how she had a great throwing arm for football, and later after he gave his number to my grandma, he came over to Lindsey and said, “I had a feeling that you’d want my number, too.” And I thought that that was so hilarious, and what made it even better was that she said, “No thanks.” Anyways, I’m back now, and my sisters birthday is tomorrow and we’re going to Build-A-Bear Workshop, and then going to a movie later on. Wow, this is, and has been a great weekend!

Happy Friday the Thirteenth! I have to say, even though this is the unlucky day for everyone else…it’s my luckiest day of the year! It always is! Nothing bad ever happens to me on Friday the Thirteenth! So, what’s your best or worst Friday the Thirteenth experience? B-)

The conference was so much fun! But during one worship, I realized how alone that I felt. I noticed, which is sad, that I fit in better with the Pagett family, then my own. I love my family, but it seems like I see them even less then the youth at church. I felt unwanted, and invisible. Jerry (the lead dude at that moment) said, “If any of you have felt like it’s not worth going on, I want you to raise your hand.” So I rose my hand, because I do feel like that sometimes, and then he said, “Now everyone else look around, and I want you all to go to one of these people and pray for them.” And I was thinking, ‘Oh no. I didn’t think that this would happen.’ But I was very happy that people that I knew came. Cody came over first, and began praying and then Jake (who was already standing next to me) started praying. Cody began to speak, saying, “Alyssa. God wants to tell you that you are never alone, and that you’re special to him.” And I thought that it was so amazing that I hadn’t even told Cody what was wrong, and God told him. Then Jake started saying how special I was to God, and that I was always wanted. I just listened…drinking in every word, and thought, “They’re right…I am always wanted, and not only by God, but by my family, and my friends, and you guys. Cody, and Jake left to pray for one of the other guys (Daniel, I think). I sat down and began to cry. I sobbed for about 10 minutes, and then Amy, and Anne came over. I didn’t even notice for a few minutes until Anne began to speak. I cried for another 25 minutes, before I stopped to hug everyone that I knew (at the conference) that was there (except for Daniel and Micah, because I don’t think that they really like hugs). Afterwards I felt so much better, but then I got lightheaded, and couldn’t stand for a while. I then got a major headache, and then a stomache ache, and I went home (to the Motel) right after I got them and slept for 7 hours before getting up for the next day. It was very intence, and it really helped. What was your most intence God moment?