Saturday, November 17, 2012

WPA Part 3: The Job


I started work this week. I work at the resort's food court known as Moffat Market. I'm working the pizza station, the Mexican food station, and the hotdog station. Sometimes entirely by myself. It was both the longest, and the shortest week ever. I worked everyday. They sent me home early one day because they didn't want me to go into overtime. Despite, I believe I'll still be going an hour or two into overtime. My feet hurt, its a battle to keep my body hydrated, and I live on the party floor so its a fight to get to sleep almost every night, but I still love being here. I love my job, most days. I've discovered its my passion to help people and love them that drives me to work hard, and to do my very best. It makes me come alive! Also, I have AMAZING managers and supervisors and because they value me it automatically makes me want to work my best for them. The place that I work could easily be a stressful environment. There is so many little things that make a big difference in the success of the business, and there are a lot of people working together to see that it all gets done. But even though my managers might be stressed, most of the time I cant tell. They never put the stress on you. They genuially  value you as a person, and want you to enjoy yourself and have fun. I have fun by making them smile by doing my job with excellence. Its really fun to make them smile. Today my boss said to me, " Savannah, we're lucky we found you." It makes me feel really good, knowing that I'm helping them out so much. :) Its also been really fun encouraging my coworkers; letting them know they are doing a great job and that I appreciate them and that they work with me; helping me out to help others out and bring a smile to their faces.

I'm learning a lot about working hard, and that management that is written into my DNA is coming alive. One thing I really like about working here is that the instructions you receive from your managers are really basic and undetailed. I like this because it empowers you to think for yourself, and figure it out on your own. Its teaching me how to manage myself better and make my own decisions to how I can best help the team out. I believe this is preparing me for the day when I have to manage a business one day.


The board I did in the coffee shop.
The other day I was told to "draw a picture" of the pizza table with all the pizza ingredients in it. So I took 10 mins, got my creative mind goin', and drew out all the mushrooms, and Pepporoni's, and olives,ect. It was a little bit more detail than what they needed, but I knew they'd appreciate it. 5 mins after I turned it into my supervisor, another manager approaches me asking me if I'd like to come in the next morning (my day off) to write and draw on their huge chalkboard in the coffee shop. In exchange they'd give me breakfast. I excepted. The next day I got to use my mad drawing skillz, and handwriting skills, to make the most beautiful board in Winter Park. :) Every one of my managers individually came in to look at it and was very impressed, each one saying that they'd give me something for my hard work. It ended up taking me 4.5hrs to complete the board. My boss asked me if I wanted to go over to Doc's Roadhouse (another one of his restaurants) and do their chalk boards over there. I was having so much fun, I was thrilled to say yes. So they put me on the clock for the whole day, and sent me over to Doc's saying to take as much time as I needed. I did 4 small chalk boards over there in 3.5hrs. AND two of them I was allowed to do WHATEVER I wanted as log as it had something to do with Doc's! So I got to be all creative and really impressed the manager there. She gave me a free dinner: salmon patties with lemon and capers. SO good! That ended up being a 9hr day. Now she wants me to come and do another one in exchange for another meal. I'm thinking, "am I the only creative person working here who is confident enough to go all out there, and make something amazing for our 1000's of daily guests?" 

One thing that has really stood out to me while being here is the confidence I have. Everyone here have so many insecurities. All different ages. Multiple times I'll be talking to a 26 or 27yr old and realize, "wow. This person has been in this world 6yrs longer than I have, and they still have no idea who they are or what they were made for." They have nothing to put their confidence in. But how could they? They don't know Jesus. And I know that I would never have the confidence and security that I have if I didn't know Jesus, because he is my foundation, my identity, my security, and my confidence. Without him, I would be just as insecure and selfish as they are, or most likely worse. I wouldn't be in Colorado right now, I know that much. It makes me so sad that the solution to all their problems is so simple, and I know the answer, and they are so desperate for it, yet they don't see the simple solution when its presented to them. They would never believe that Jesus is that answer unless they experience him themselves. This makes me realize how much humbling it takes a person to turn to Jesus. And oh, what a beautiful thing when that happens!

I met a Christian girl who works at the resort and lives in the same building as I do! She is amazing, and has already been a great encouragement to me. She is also my ride to church on Sunday. It has been really nice to worship God with fellow believers.

Through everything the one thing that I got to remember is that God is my team mate and I must ask him for help in everything. I can't try to do things on my own. That is when I get burned out.


As a side note: I got my board and boots in the mail yesterday. Hope to hit the slopes on Monday! :D


Thursday, November 8, 2012

WPA Part 2: The Mission


Its my second day in Colorado. The shock of my brand new life here in Colorado is gone. By the grace of God, this shabby shared hotel room 3,000ft above sea-level in the Rocky Mountains, surrounded and filled with people who are living for that moment they can strap their ski's or board to their feet, already feels like home to me. A peace that paces my understanding ignites a fire of passion and excitement in me as I realize God has strategically placed me in this sphere of influence. I am filled with excitement as I realize, this is my first real missions trip!

Five o' clock comes around and everyone on my floor start congregating in the hall with beers in their hands.A giant speaker gets pulled out into the hall and soon music is blaring so that you cant escape it. Everyone is talking, and laughing, and every other word is a cuss word. People are going outside to smoke every so often. Its a party.
I stand out like a star in the heavens. I don't drink, smoke, or cuss. I know who I am, I am confident enough to not even notice peer pressure let alone resist it, and confident enough to be honest. I am one Spirit with Christ, and confident in Him and the life he has spoken into my heart.

I've faced a fare amount of challenges since being here, already. Everything from not having enough money to eat (I'm good now), to staying encouraged, to knowing how to handle drunk people. I am continually going back and forth between being incredibly excited about what God is doing and going to do this winter, to wondering what the heck I am doing here in this culture so different from what I have ever known, and so different from my home, Heaven. Yet it is so good for me to be here! I feel like I'm finally out of my box, and free to be the person I was called to be. Like a soldier going from the boot camp to the battlefield. Everything in me tells me I was made for this!

I just realized last night that I asked to be here. Five months ago I was in California asking God to take me out of my comfort zone into the super dark places so that he could shine really bright in me.  I asked him to put me in with the drunks and the prostitutes, and the people who don't know love. Places where I would have to trust him with my life, and rely on him to help me, cause Lord knows I have no clue how to help people that have been so screwed up. All I know is they need Jesus' love.
 And look at me now. He took me here.

So you see even though its challenging sometimes, I'm so happy to be here. I'd much rather be here amongst these drunkards and sinners and be a lil' unsure, uncomfortable, and sometimes fighting to be myself, than in California or Montana, comfortable, among family, bored, and continually having to remind myself why I'm alive. Here I am continually reminded why I'm alive, because this is why I'm alive. To pull people out of the hell we were all in once, by the life of Christ that is in me. I was made for this, and God has diffidently given me a grace to be here amongst these people.

That being said I would appreciate all the prayers, advice, and encouragement you could give.
I need family here. I know they're out there, so pray that I meet them soon.

To my family all around the world(you know who you are) I love and miss you very much!


Winter Park Adventure(WPA) Part 1: The Lowdown

The new adventure has begun! This will be my 6th day here in Winter Park, CO, and it has most certainly proved to be an adventure! When I was waiting for the shuttle at Denver Airport to take me to Winter Park, there was a girl there also waiting. So I said "hi" and found out that she also is going to Winter Park to work for the winter. So we kept talking, and it turns out shes staying at the same place that I'm staying. When we got to the Lodge (where we were staying) we found out we were in the same room! Over the next couple days we found out that we are working in the same place in the park. Her name is Eve and she is amazing. Truly I believe that she is the best room mate that I could have gotten. She doesn't drink too much, she hates smoking, shes got a level head, and she's a lot of fun to be around.

I'm staying in the employee housing wing of the Winter Park Mountain Lodge, which is a hotel. The rooms are decent, even though we don't have a kitchen, only a microwave, and mini fridge. We have a good sized bathroom, with a shower, and, since yesterday, hot water. I assure you, a cold shower at 3,000ft above sea level in the Rocky Mountains, is a high price to pay to be clean. Many people on my floor didn't take a shower for 4 or 5 days. >_< Our rent will be a lil' less this month.

Also being at a 3,000ft elevation the air is extremely thin and dry. It can be hard to get to sleep at night because the air is so dry it hurts to breath. Many mornings I've woken up with blood in my nose.Walking 20yrds on flat ground leaves you huffing and puffing, and worked up to a sweat. They say that 7out of 10 people get elevation sickness, which looks like diarrhea, stomach aches, and throwing up. Thankfully no one on my floor has go it.

I had my first general orientation on Tuesday, and my 2end orientation for Moffat Market tomorrow, and that's when I learn all the details of my schedule and my specific job. The Moffat Market is a food court, so I'll either be a cashier or doing food-prep. Eve and I went to check it out, and it looks like its going to be a really fun place to work.

I also got applied for a second job working the evening shift as a server at the restaurant inside the lodge I'm staying at. I've been told to go see the manager this weekend and she'll tell me my hours...people tell me that means..I'm HIRED! lol So that will be really fun. I'll be starting the beginning of next week.

One of the main questions I've been getting: Is there a lot of snow? There are only patches of snow right now, and its been t-shirt weather the past couple of days. This is not a good thing seeing as the park is suppose to open on Wednesday. However, there is hope. We are expecting a blizzard this weekend, and Jesus is Lord. :)
Everyone here is extremely friendly. Many people know me as being very friendly, but the people here have caught me off guard by how friendly they are, and in truth at first it made me feel uncomfortable. lol But I have let this place take me outside of my box and teach me how to be just as friendly. Winter Park Resort is known for being Colorado's Favorite, and Friendliest. A couple years ago they were in competition with other ski resorts in CO to see who could be the friendliest according to the guests, and 4 out of 4 times this resort won. :)

While there is no snow, literally the only things for people to do is hike, skateboard,and drink. Winter Park is a tiny town with a liquor store or a pub literally on every corner. Like Sonics in Oklahoma or Starbucks in California or a Ponderosa in Montana. So it seems like everyone here are alcoholics or at least love to party. I stick out like a star in the heavens. :) To the glory of God.

With our work still not begun most people have been quite bored. Eve, struggling between her shyness and her boredom, put this sign on our door:
click to enlarge
 
Lol. She cracks me up.