I was blessed beyond measure these past two years at Ecola, I would have never imagined the growth and stretching I would be going thought or all the friends or I should say family I would be gaining. God taught me a lot about myself and also about life while being at Ecola.
For this who don't know Ecola Bible School is a little place located on the beautiful coast of Oregon in Cannon Beach, with the famous Haystack Rock and many wonderful hiking places, you couldn't ask for a more God created location. He is everywhere you look, as you gaze as far as the eye can see into the ocean and up the mountains in the trees and to the sky. A one year bible program with the option of applying to the Second Year School Of Ministry Program.
I completed my first year not feeling like a grew a whole bunch, but knowing that deep down God had worked in my heart and was going to continuing doing so. I had lots of fun my first year, going on walks and hikes just about everyday or playing some volleyball, basketball and ultimate frisbee, of course with some studying here and there. It was a year full of FUN and meeting lots of new people. I was drug out of my comfort zone from the moment I stepped onto that campus knowing I would be going somewhere far from home and family and friends. I didn't know a single soul there and was ready to make new friends. It came a lot easier than I had expected. God blessed me with a wonderful best friend within the first week, not knowing how deep our friendship would grow, but by the end of the year we where not seen apart and if we you did see us apart it was weird.
As the year progressed I tossed around the idea of going to Second Year, or at least applying. The whole reason I decided to attend Ecola was because I would only be away from Alaska for a year (8 months) and I thought that was long enough for this heart that belongs in Alaska. I would toss around the idea about every other week, yes I will apply, no I won't, yes, no, back and fourth. When I went home I told everyone I would apply, but by the time it was time to go back to school I was not ready to leave home or think about even applying to come back. A few weeks back from break the applications for SOM came out and I applied, telling myself that if I got accepted that I would apply to be an RA as well. Not really wanting to have to be in charge and lay down rules to a dorm full of girls, but just wanting to open that door before I closed it completely to what God might have planned. Low and behold I got accepted to the School of Ministry and not much longer down the road got the position as one of the female RA's. I was excited and nervous about what the year was going to bring.
Summer came and went in the blink of an eye at the lodge for me and it was back to Oregon again.
Upon arriving I found out that I would be the RA of the Anchorage Dorm, I was so excited, that was my dorm my first year. It was hard being there and remembering all the memories form the year before, knowing in my that this year would be different and that I was not there as a first year but a second year this time, and that the girls would be looking up to me and seeking me out for advice and to be a listening ear.
The year flew by, I didn't think it would be over so fast. I was stretched in many ways. I would have not said YES make and RA because I am not always the best with dealing with girls and all the emotions and drama that comes with it. I did grow up with three brothers and then worked with a bunch of guys at a hunting lodge, I know how to handle and joke with the guys, but the girls are a bit different. Learning curve! I had to lean on God more than ever to get me through the year. He was my strength and energy. I would have not survived the year without Him. Staying up until at "earliest" 12:30 every night to do dorm checks and chat with my girls and then rising in the morning, learning quickly how much I liked my sleep and learned how to sleep in until the last minutes before going to class. I learned how to manage time better due to having all this homework assigned and it not due until the end of each term....any like to procrastinate? I know I do, but I learned fast that I needed to use my spare time to do homework, whenever that spare time came up. I learned that I am not going to be a counselor when I grown up, I enjoyed girls talking to me, but I know I learned things about people I would have never guessed or really wanted to her, but God knew I could do it and that I would be finding Him. I learned that sometimes you don't need to give advice, but just let people talk it out as they already know in their heart the answer they just wanted to talk about it and get to the point out loud. Life was good, more time was spent getting to know and love on those around me, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
I miss my time at Ecola, but know that it is time to move on and see what God has next. I made great life long friends. And I would never want to trade my time at Ecola for anything different. God knew what He was doing for sure, and I am so glad that He lead me there.
Famous Haystack Rock
Graduation from Second Year
Prayer Group Ladies
Dorm Ladies
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