Woah. Blazing fast internet. I think that calls for a blog post!

Oh my. It's Wednesday. What has happened this week. Hmm...

Sunday. Wake up at 6:45. we had 25 people at the Blackwoods service. The Lord seems to be bringing more people every week which is quite a blessing. We only had 2 at Seawall again. After talking with Hal and Ellen, the ACMNP pros in our group, we think we don't get too many at this service because it starts at 10 am and the check out time is at 10 am. Also most people are out and about at the time of day. We will see what God has in store for us there. At the sunset service at Cadallic we didn't think we would have too many people because it was cloudy. Well, lets thank God again, because we had 17 at that service, AND there was an AMAZING sunset. Pictures just can;t do it justice. We had 4 Acadia Corp employees there who are all amazing people. The other were from families. After service, Lindsey invited us over again for some more delicious food and a movie! Woop Woop! Lindsey- You are amazing.

Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday work was fairly busy. So far this week: The computers have gone out, weve had a separated family and called the ranger, I've gotten yelled out by an old lady, I've folded 100 shirts just to watch the lady unfold them because she cant see the designs that are 2 feet above her head, and had dinner at the restaurant with Meghan and Kendra. Meghan works at the shop and found it absolutely absurd that the restaurant was not my first stop in the park. So we went. a 4 course meal for 21 dollars. Including tip. Thank you employee discount! Other than that, work is fairly uneventful, and people are mostly bearable.

We have a few prayer requests that have come in this week that I'd like to share:
My friend Mark From UNI who is serving with ACMNP in Custer State park txted me the other day asking for prayers. His co minister decided to step down from the ministry leaving Mark to do the services (which we do in Acadia with 6 people) by himself. Prayers that he can follow God's guidance and find the strength to continue when times get tough!
All the people travelling to and from the park. For safe travel. And all the people falling on the trail that their injuries heal. I met a man while campground calling who had tumbled 8 ft off a path. Prayers that he may heal completely.
And lastly,
all the staffers here. July 3rd marks the start to our "busy season". Most places are still understaffed after the second hiring wave, which means working 48-50 hour work weeks in the restaurant and 45-48 in the shops. People are starting to get burnt out and having negative attitudes.. Not what we need right now!

In all, I am LOVING this place. You have ocean views from the mountains. You can't get that in Iowa!!! (or Wisconsin.. or Illinois. or anywhere in the Midwest for that matter.)
And one last thought: It's a small world. I asked someone where she was from today. Her family said Illinois. I had heard of their town and told them I was from Iowa. She asked where. I said Iowa City. She said she grew up here and graduated from IC West and went on to Coe in CR.. hmm..

I've been in Maine one week and it seems like I've been here forever. It's a different world out here, but an amazing world.

Last Saturday night, Lee and I went campground calling. All that basically entails is walking around the campground going to each site and inviting people to ranger talks and our Sunday services. It took about 2 hours and people took it pretty well. I feel like we went somewhere after that, but I don't remember.

Sunday, we had 3 services. At Blackwoods campground, we had 17 people. Even after the morning rain! It was amazing! We went to Seawall Campground, a 40 minute drive, next and only had 2 people there. It was disappointing, but Hal and Ellen said not many people seemed interesting. We went out to lunch as a group at Seawall drive in, a little dinky pull up place off the side of the road. Afterwards, Lee, Kayla, and I went into Bar Harbor to see Toy Story 3. We went to a place called 'Reed Pizza'. They serve Pizza during the movie and have couches. Its basically the best movie place ever.

I started work on Monday. Work is pretty uneventful and always fun. The people are cool and the work isnt too bad. That was basically my week. We had some hot weather, cold weather, and rain. But, we lived.

Friday night, Tim, Lee, Kayla, and I went to Pirates cove for mini golf.
Saturday, I hiked a mountain, and am preparing to watch the world cup! If only I could find the channel it is on!

Maine

Wednesday 6 am (CST): Depart home. The car is loaded, the snacks packed, and the sunglasses on. We set out going East on Interstate 80. The next turn? 500 something miles down I-80. Awesome.

Wednesday 4 pm (EST): Switch drivers. Dad is driving again. We are merging back onto 80. Or is it 90 now? POP. Hmm. i wonder what that was.

Wednesday 5:30 (EST): Steak and shake for dinner. Yum. Oh, whats that? A sprung spring and a slashed tire? Uh-oh!

Friday 12 PM (EST): LOOK ITS THE JORDAN POND DORM!!! Shoot. No cell reception.

Friday 7 pm (EST): Hi. Wanna go to the beach with us? Sure. Hi. Want to go to ImprovAcadia with us? Sure.

Saturday 10 am (EST): Dad, lets go on a boat ride!

Thats the first few days in an nutshell. The car got fixed in Hamburg, NY (outside of Buffalo) starting about 8 am and put us about 5 hours behind, but we made it on Friday to Acadia National Park. It is way hot here. But these are the hottest two days all summer. It shouldn't last. I got unpacked, locked my keys in my car, figured out how to go from no reception to reception only in town. Went to the beach, cut open my leg, and went to an improv show with some of the ACMNP people plus a couple. It was hilarious. Afterwards, we came back and I went to bed. Dorms are 4 people to a room (Think small than a normal dorm room, with 2 bunk beds, 4 closets, and some shelves between the beds and a window. Add it to the second floor of an unconditioned building in 80 some degree weather and you get our room. this morning, I went back into town and dad and I went on the nature boat ride and saw all the islands around. We were going to go whale watching, but It was 4 hours long and its cold out on the ocean, and it would be pushing it to get dad back to the hotel in time to leave for the airport.

Most everyone in the dorms (theres 51 of us!) works during the day, either at the restaurant or the shop. On peoples days off, it seems some go into town or go hiking, or climbing. some seem to just chill. I'm sure it depends on what day it is and who else is off with you. I'm thinking if it cools down hiking sounds fun. .Or biking. And ofcourse, going into town once and a while to turn on my phone.

Address for the summer:
Amanda Woodin
Jordan Pond Dorm
PO Box 267
Seal Harbor, ME 04675