Entry #9: First Travel Trip Of My Second Year

Hey everyone! I started my second year of ASOM about a month ago and this past weekend went on a Travel Trip to Macon ("Macon Bacon" as I lovingly call it), Georgia for the Made For More Conference/Girls Retreat. And let me tell you, that trip GREATLY impacted me. If you're a new reader on this blog page, I recommend that you go back, read my older posts from this year, catch up, and track with me as I share my journey!

On the drive home I had so many thoughts. I wrote them all down to share with you.❤

Wow. What an impactful weekend! Not only for myself, but I got the most wonderful opportunity to spend Friday evening to Saturday afternoon pouring into the lives of girls from ages 12-18 through worship and dance. I feel refreshed, but at the same time exhausted!

Friday night I had an opportunity to pray for a young girl named Hannah. A week or two ago, she found out that she was becoming allergic to the cold. Whenever her arm, or feet, or legs touched something cold, her skin would first turn red then get itchy and after that she would get welts. For example, that night from her jumping up and down on the cold cement in the gym her feet got swollen and began hurting really bad. She went to the doctor the day before for blood work and was told that what she is experiencing ranges from arthritis (and within some years she would lose complete use of her hands) all the way to cancer.Her distraught at these thoughts was very evident and completely understandable. But here’s the thing about facing a giant such as this; although you can acknowledge how big it is, you have to know that who you have on your team is so much bigger, greater, and stronger. Because of this moment, I will continue to keep her in prayer. I would love for you to join me in praying for her (and I will try to update as I am updated).I also met another really cool woman of God as we were waiting in line to get pictures with Bonray (the band that night). Her name is Zandy (I know, super cool name) and she told me how her plan right after high school is to go to basic training and become a Marine. As soon as she said that, I was blown away! We talked more that evening but Saturday morning as I was observing and meeting other girls I kept thinking about how not everyone has the same reaction I did when they hear a beautiful young girl is joining the Marines. As everything was coming to a close that afternoon, I felt impressed to pray for her. So naturally I did. And will certainly add her to my list of girls to cover in prayer.Lastly, I just want to take a moment to appreciate how down-to-earth my interaction with Morgan, drummer and singer for the band Bonray, was. When she talked to me and asked questions about me, it was like I had always been a friend of hers. I could hardly believe it and was so honored to have had that moment. Also, I've planted seeds of influence to see if Bonray would be able to perform at Unity next year (or hopefully within the next two years 😉). It would just be super awesome to see them there and I know it would be a GREAT opportunity for them. Seriously, their music is so cool you should check out their EP on Spotify (this was not a paid sponsorship but rather me advertising my love for them).Anyway this was a great weekend and I want to thank every one of you for taking the time to read this post. What I personally need right now is a lot of prayer. There hasn’t been anything major in my life (personally speaking) yet but the continuation of prayer that God’s will would continue to be done in my life and in the lives I get to impact is ALWAYS needed.

If you would like to partner with me financially, as I am a missionary here in Atlanta, I would greatly appreciate that! You can contact my parents for donations towards my tuition from the information provided below:

Bonnie Scott: (616)-846-4478

To donate towards my personal living expenses (food on Mondays, toiletries, etc) you can send it through my paypal:

angelistic124@yahoo.com

OR!

If you would like to send a care package you can address it to:

Samantha Scott
652 Angier Ave
Atlanta, GA 30308

Thank you again for your time and your prayers. I couldn’t do what I do without them.-Samantha Scott-

Entry #8: A Pocket of Light

After two plane rides, I arrived safely in Atlanta exactly one week ago. Switching flights isn't for everyone. Especially when you have to walk from one end of an airport to another. But I love the airport in Charlotte, NC so the walk was worth it, although thoroughly exhausting. I'm thrilled to be back in my home away from home. There are new things to experience this year. For instance, we have new temporary dorm housing. I'm definitely more of a fan of where we live now than in our old dorm building. It was closer to the school of ministry I attend here, but it's definitely better to do without the bug problems we all experienced at the old building.

I do hope that these new dorms become our permanent housing, but only time will tell.

As I am back in Atlanta, I remembered a particular outreach ministry that my school goes on every Thursday called Compassion Night. This outreach provides one meal for any and all homeless people who are in line to receive it. While they wait to receive their food, small groups of people start up conversation with those in line. Normally during the school year I am unable to go on this particular outreach because I'm involved with the travel team which meets Tuesday's and Thursday's while Compassion Night is also going on. However, since school technically hasn't started for me yet due to a large fundraising event in New York, I had this intense desire to go this past Thursday night.

It. Was. Awesome. I got to hear a few stories, but one in particular really stood out to me. I unfortunately don't remember his name at this time, but he talked with my boyfriend, John, and I about his ministry. He believes in God and that He has called him to sell/give everything he had away and live among the homeless. And that is what he did for, if I remember correctly, 10 years now. It was amazing to hear this story and as he was talking, I was reminded of a particular video I was shown in youth group years ago.

The video started out with a man sitting at a diner looking kind of down. One at a time, individuals came by; the first one stood and asked how he was doing, but when they realized that the guy sitting on the bench didn't match up with their happy-go-lucky attitude, they quickly moved on; another one came, sat across and made light conversation but soon got up and moved on like the one before. This happened with a few more individuals. But there was something different about the last one. They started out across from him, but after more conversation, instead of them getting up and leaving, they got up and sat next to the man looking down. It's this last person in the video that reminded me of the homeless man that was speaking to us.

I thought that I gave up everything for God by leaving my home, my family, everything I knew in Michigan to attend a ministry school in Atlanta. This man LITERALLY gave up everything to reach the lost. That lifestyle and calling is definitely not for everyone. But it is such an inspiration to see that even in the darkest of places, there are pockets of light. It also inspired me the way he talked about his relationship with God. If you had heard him speak, I'm sure you would agree that he spoke from a real deep knowing of God and who He is. Darkness is being invaded by the light and it is so beautiful. Such an inspiration of hope.

I can hardly wait until next Thursday to go on Compassion Night again!

Thank you for reading this blog post. I really couldn't not share about who I met on Compassion Night! If you would like to watch the video I mentioned in this blog post, the Lord helped me find where it was! Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWdQRf0qbZI I hope it inspires you as much as it has inspired me.

~Samantha

Entry #7: Long, Hard Summer

If I remember correctly, I last left this blog on a note of still needing $500 in order to complete my first year, graduate, and be accepted to come a second year. I have some great news for you; that $500 did come in. I completed my first year at ASOM debt-free, and in just a few weeks I'll be headed back for my second year. In case I hadn't mentioned it in my other blog posts, I am committed to doing three years at ASOM, lest God tells me to do something else. The great news doesn't stop there-- not only did that which was needed come in, but I had some overage. I didn't know how much it was, but I thought it was great to have that. The protocol with overage is if you're coming back a second or third year that money goes straight to paying off the next years missionary tuition. But then they had another option: if a person desired to, they could donate that overage to help out another student in need of having their missionary tuition paid. I didn't have to think about it very long. How could I not give what has been so generously given to me? I had longed for an opportunity such as this to come along. I want to be as generous as the Lord leads and He was surely leading me to do this. When the agreement paper came for me to sign, I saw that the amount was a hundred dollars.

In the grand scheme of things, is a hundred dollars a lot? Maybe, maybe not. But here's the thing: when it comes to giving, the amount isn't necessarily what matters. What matters is that I was given the great opportunity to help out my fellow classmate to get one step closer to graduating along with me.

Changing the topic, to be the most candor, this summer hasn't quite panned out the way I initially thought it would. I had a few options to consider for the summer and accepted a summer staff position at my most favorite camp in the world, Lost Valley Bible Camp. When I had thought about working there for the summer, I thought it would be great. I'd be closer to home, but not too close, and I'd be at my most favorite camp ever. I'd be at the place that really impacted and shaped my life. But then reality happened: I was three and a half hours away from home, and my parents didn't visit up north as often as I thought they might have. There wasn't anyone at Lost Valley that I really knew would be working there (though we're all good friends now). The hours were long. And hard. It was no easy feat to work at Lost Valley this summer. It was a true stress test. To be completely honest, there were a couple times the stress got so bad I was ready to call up my parents and have them come get me.

I'm an introverted person! Long hours and lots of people can quickly overwhelm/stress me out if it goes on for too long. Midsummer, I was sure that if anyone had asked me how my summer went, I wouldn't want to answer their question because I had been so stressed. Thankfully, the staff at Lost Valley really care about their workers. When they noticed the stress getting bad, they took a step back, realized some things needed to change, and things got better. A lot better.

How did I get so stressed? Yes, the long hours and the people had something to do with it, but on top of that, I was placed in a leadership position and I didn't always know the right way to go about a task. It was also my first year on staff there. I didn't know what was expected. Personally, being in a leadership position scares me. I'm scared that I'm going to come across as bossy and that everyone will hate me. I had received some really good advice over Fourth Wave that I kept reminding myself. The girl that was leading our Fourth Wave team was told by her mom that she was the mom. If they got to be friends, that would be great, but she was the mom. That was one of the lessons I learned this summer; you can't always be everyone's friend. Sometimes, you have to make tough decisions--especially if you're in leadership. If you get to be friends with those you are leading, what a great bonus! But if you don't, at least you have a team that will listen, respond, and respect you. That really is most important.

Though this summer has easily been marked as the hardest summer of my 21 years of living, I did grow immensely as a leader. I gained more tools to use when it comes to leading. On top of that, now any work that seems to be a lot, I know it will pale in comparison to what I had to do over this summer. I really thought I had long days at ASOM... I catch myself laughing at the fact that I once thought that. And even the fundraiser jobs I volunteer to work at to help pay off my missionary fund still pale in comparison.

Did Lost Valley want this to be a hard summer for me? No. I had been told time and time again that it's normally not that stressful at all. Does it get hard sometimes? Sure. But it was never as hard as it had been this summer.

Changing the topic again, since I am going to be heading back to ASOM for my second year of ministry school, I am asking for your partnership in what God is doing there through me. Over the span of the next nine months, I am to raise $6,400 again. Through my service at Lost Valley, I committed to saving $100 a week and send that towards paying my missionary tuition. I am proud to say that I have all $600 ready to go and send in today.

I am very grateful for those who became monthly supporters and partnered with me last year. I am also thankful for those who gave one-time gifts. Every little bit certainly helped me accomplish everything God had for me that year.
This year I am asking for monthly supporters who would commit to sending $25/month for the length of my time there at ASOM. I am also looking for those to give one-time gifts of any amount.
I will, of course, be working fundraiser events during the school year as I am able to. This past year I was able to fundraise over $1,400!

If you are interested in partnering with me financially, you can get in touch with my parents, Bonnie and Larry at:
(616)-846-4478
Funds can also be sent to my PayPal email:
angelistic124@yahoo.com
If you are wanting to send a check, contact me for more information at:
(616)-846-4478

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. God bless 😘
Samantha Scott

Entry #6: It's Not Over Yet

"It's not over till it's over-- and it's not over yet." Is was what I told myself on the drive to our last stop in Madisonville, Kentucky. I'd been on the road for the past six weeks during what is commonly known around ASOM as Fourth Wave. We've travelled to Alabama, Kentucky, Indiana, back to Kentucky, back to Indiana again, Missouri, Georgia, North Carolina, and Kentucky for the third and final time.

We came back to Georgia with about three weeks left of Fourth Wave for Georgia Fine Arts. On the way there we reminded ourselves to not get in the mindset of, "We're home now, we're on our own time," instead of the team always coming first. I took this advice to heart, especially knowing that we'd be staying at our dorms, with some of our friends there, too.

I honestly tried my very hardest to remind myself that I was still on Fourth Wave so my team always came first, no matter what. I was doing pretty good at staying in that mindset until the last couple of days, but thankfully soon enough we were be back out on the road.

I really want to take time to thank those who partnered with me in raising funds towards Fourth Wave. Hearing I had just a few days to raise a little over $600 in order to go totally freaked me out. Anyone who has kept up with this blog knows from reading these entries that it hasn't been the easiest in getting here. I mean, first I thought I was going to Australia, then I was moved to Corporate, and then finally placed on Greater Conversation. It's been a crazy ride, but I wouldn't want to change it.

Immediately after we got back from Fourth Wave, there was another big event called Paradigm. Paradigm in a nutshell is a leadership conference. There is typically a morning session, then it breaks into smaller sessions for the afternoon, and also there is an evening session.

Shortly after Paradigm, I learned that I would be going on a travel trip to Maryland for Potomac District Fine Arts. This might be random to insert here, but Virginia is SO beautiful to drive through. I still can't get over it. What can I say? The mountains were quite majestic.

Anyways, after that I was back in Atlanta for less than 24 hours before I left again to fundraise at the Kentucky Derby. Now, I knew my mom and my grandma watched the Derby years ago, but I had never seen it and therefore knew pretty much nothing about it. During the fundraiser, I learned how to read the program, and actually began to keep up with the races while also working (it was difficult, but I managed😅). Also, the culture and tradition of Derby intrigued me. Almost everyone dressed to the nines, the women with beautiful fancy hats (fascinators)... It made me want to come back as a guest to this event someday in the future.

So here I am, back in Atlanta yet again. I can hardly believe that my first year here at ASOM is almost over. I'm here for two weeks and then I'm off to fundraise at Senior PGA. After that, I'm back until the end of the school year (which is really only a little over a week). Then I fly back home to Michigan! Yeay!

In other news, I recently heard that I'm only $500 away from being fully funded for my first year, able to walk at graduation, and recognized as completing my first year. That's insane! God really has blessed my first year and I really am so grateful to those who have come up alongside me and have invested in what He is doing here. He truly has taught me and is continuing to teach me that He is my true provider. He places amazing, generous people in my life to armor-bear me in this mission. I wouldn't be here without Him or with the people who have not only given financially towards this, but have sent care packages, letters, and prayers. It all has greatly encouraged me and has made a real difference!

If you would like to donate towards this final push towards completing my first year, you can go to: http://atlsom.com/ and click on Missionaries.

Another option is to give through PayPal: angelistic124@yahoo.com

Thank you for being a part of this.
-Samantha Scott

Entry #5: The Box of The Unknown

   I don't know about you, but for me, last week was pretty crazy. Tuesday was nothing special but Wednesday began the tumbling of news that would change my immediate future. 

I know I had written earlier about not going to Australia and was instead moved to the Corporate team. This took a couple of days to adjust, but after that, I came to embrace the opportunity set out before me. The funds from the jobs worked in Miami would set me up quite nicely in finishing up this year's tuition, as well as put me in a good place for my second year. 

Then, another opportunity was set out before me to intern with the missions department of the Dream Center, which my school is in connection with. This would be a paid internship and the funds raised there would also go directly towards my tuition. 

So yeah! With both of these opportunities, I would be sitting pretty comfortably in regards to my missions tuition! But then...

I received news that I was being moved from Corporate to Greater Conversation (GC). GC is a team that travels all over the U.S. presenting the Kingdom message through stomp, step, drama, dance, worship, human video, prophetic art, and spoken word. 

Then I received news that the internship would be bigger and more time consuming than I had in my schedule. At the end of the day it came down to internship, or WAP (Worship, Arts, Production). It was a difficult choice that I didn't make lightly. Although the internship would all the more set me up nicely, I came to ASOM specifically for WAP. I am aware of a big call on my life to be a worship leader and though I absolutely LOVE missions, right now is not the season for that.

Because I decided to not take the paid internship, I needed an option this summer that paid. I currently can't afford to not raise funds of my own for the coming year's tuition and for my own self to be sustained. Instead of taking the internship, there came an opportunity to work at a summer camp about 40 minutes from Atlanta. From what was discussed, the internship would have started now, at the tail end of my first year, through the summer, and into my second year. I'm unsure if by my third year I would be full-blown missions staff, or if I would be able to return to WAP. Regardless, I wouldn't graduate with the certificate I am currently working towards, and I would go without countless guitar, vocal, and piano lessons (what I plan to take next year), as well as opportunities to lead worship and grow in that gift. 

Second year is crucial. It's the beginning of getting opportunities to lead worship bands. It's the deciding factor of what you do for your third year. There was no way I could miss this. But beyond that, I didn't sense that was what God was telling me to do. If it were, surely I would have stepped into what He was saying above my own desire. 

The events that I have just described really speak to how I felt before I came here in August of 2016. 

It was an ordinary day working in the Electronics Department of my local Meijer store. I was two weeks from quitting my job, and after doing all the calculations, I realized I was a little over $1,000 short. I thought to cancel my flight, take back my letter of resignation, and instead quit in January and come to ASOM then (as they have a January session). In that time, I would continue saving for school, and then I would have enough to cover my schooling. But then God spoke to me. 

"Are you doing that so you won't have to rely on Me and instead rely on yourself like you've always done, or will you trust Me?"

That question stopped me. He's right. I have been leaning on myself a lot. As a naturally independent person, through experiences I've learned that the only one I can really depend on is me. On top of that, I didn't want to feel like I was asking people to pay for something that I should have been more intentional about saving for. However, that's not what He's called me to do.

He's called me to rally people around me to lift me up in prayer and financial support. He's called me to trust in Him completely as my true provider. I wasn't ever meant to take this journey alone. He is to be my provider like He always has been. Here was my opportunity to let Him be exactly that. I left my job at the end of August and came to ASOM in September. The rest is history. Now I'm about to head off with GC which leaves March 3rd!

If you would pray with me that all the teams about to leave on their various trips, including Greater Conversation, would be safe, that we would have many opportunities to lead people to Christ, and that we would see many people be transformed by the truth of God's Kingdom, that would be greatly appreciated!

If you would like to donate towards my missions tuition fund, checks can be mailed to the following address:

Atlanta School of Ministry
Att. Samantha Scott
P.O. Box 54532
Atlanta, GA 30308

If you would like to donate to me personally, funds can be sent to my PayPal email:
angelistic124@yahoo.com

Thank you for taking the time to read and invest in me! You are not only making a difference in my life, but in the lives of those around me.

Samantha

Entry #4: Travel Trip (Talladega, AL)

Disclaimer: If you haven't read any of my past blog posts, please do so! It will greatly benefit you in understanding what I'm talking about.

One of the more well-known extracurricular activities here at ASOM is Travel. This group meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6pm to anywhere around 10pm at the latest. We learn and create stomps, steps, dramas, spoken words, and dances. We take what we know and divide into smaller teams and travel all over the U.S. going to camps, churches, and conventions. We perform these arts in front of people of all ages. 

Since joining ASOM in September of 2016, more specifically the travel team, I've had the opportunity of traveling to Dexter, Georgia; Lansing, Michigan for Michigan Youth Convention; and more recently went to Talladega, Alabama for their Youth Quake retreat. It's this most recent trip I want to share with you.

It was a one-day travel trip. The day began with getting up early, getting out the door and on the road by 6:30am. It takes a little under two hours to get there. We eat a super good breakfast and head off to the morning session. In the morning we perform a dance and a drama about being unified. I get the wonderful privilege of doing the transition from the drama to the speaker. I've never done a transition before, but it goes relatively smooth despite it being my first time. 

After the morning session, we head over to lunch. At lunch is when I meet this wonderful young woman of God you see pictured with me below: 

This is Kaydence. She was quiet and shy. She sat alone, head lowered, focused on getting through the meal. As soon as I saw her, I knew it was my duty to go over and be a friend to her. I knew exactly how it was going to go. She would be closed off for a little while, but sooner or later, the more I asked questions about her life and shared about mine, her head would lift and we'd be laughing. I was in great anticipation for this moment. 

When it came, we laughed and shared more about our lives with each other. Our time was cut a little short and I had to leave in order to prepare for the afternoon session with the rest of the team. Before I left the table, she asked me, "Will you sit with me at dinner?" To which I responded with a resounding, "Yes!"

After the afternoon session, the team and I hung out for a bit. We set up a target and took turns shooting at it with a bow and arrow (turns out I was a pretty good shot, though I'm not too surprised because I am pretty good with a handgun too). This went on until about dinner time. 

At dinner, you can assume that I sat with Kaydence, and I did! She shared more with me about her family and thanked me for sitting with her. From what I remembered her telling me, she did have a few friends, but when a traumatic event happened in her life, her friends left. She thanked me for showing her what a true friend looks like. 

She also let me know how good it felt to laugh again. Since that traumatic event, she hadn't laughed a whole lot. We then headed to the evening service, and seeing her worship with so much freedom and joy really touched my life. Before the team and I left to head back to Atlanta, she ran up to me and hugged me so tight. 

Keep in mind I only got to spend not even a whole day with her! I wish we could have been there for all three days. But I really want to encourage you, the reader, to never underestimate the impact you can make in someones life in one day. You really do have the power to change their perspective when you make yourself available to what God wants to do. 

Be encouraged, and reach out to those around you. Be intentional. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Don't lean on your own understanding, but have your mind constantly renewed by the Creator. 

This is the ministry I am called to. If you'd like to partner with me, specifically financially, you can send gifts to:(Tuition: A little over $2,000 left to have my first year paid for!)
Atlanta School of Ministry
Att. Samantha Scott
PO Box 54532
Atlanta, GA 30308

Personal gifts can be sent electronically through my PayPal email: angelistic124@yahoo.com

Anything sent will be greatly appreciated and dealt with according to how you wish.
Thanks for reading 😊
~Samantha

Entry #3: Australia?

Disclaimer: If you haven't read any of my previous blog posts, please do so! It will benefit you greatly in understanding what I'm talking about if you do.😊

Hey everyone! For those of you who don't know, every year for 4th wave at ASOM, there is such a thing called '4th Wave Missons'. This is where we set aside an entire wave (roughly about 6-7 weeks) to various ministries across the world and even here in the U.S.! We have teams going to Australia, India, Africa, California, Midwest, Louisiana, and there was a corporate team, but they decided to remove that option.

The selection process started with each student writing down their top three choices of where they felt God was leading them to go. These papers were collected and prayerfully considered by all of staff. A few weeks later, the teams were formed. Each student was given an envelope with their name on it and a colored square in it. This colored square led to a picture on one of the walls in the sanctuary. On the back of the picture was the name of our location. 

I received my envelope with my name on it. I began opening it with my best friend Jordyn next to me. 
  "It's blue! Your color is blue!" She said.
  "What? No way.. There's no way it's blue." I denied because I knew what that meant. I didn't want to believe what that meant. What it meant was something scary to me. You'll know why as you keep reading.

I opened the envelope. Inside there was exactly what Jordyn said; a blue square. I looked to where the blue card meant. It was a picture of water taped to the sound booth in the back of the sanctuary. And there stood Becca, a girl I knew would be leading/co-leading the trip. I'm not sure what to feel. I feel overwhelmed and as if I'm about to pass out. This trip by no means would be cheap.

Five of us gather around the blue picture. At the count of three we're allowed to turn over the image and be clearly revealed where we are to go. One... Two... Three!

Yup, that's right, Australia. You probably won't be able to see it on my face, but behind that smile, I'm really unsure of what to feel. I knew it meant I'd have to raise almost as much as my first year tuition, which was daunting in itself, and now this on top of that? What the heck?! 

Now, I know my God is the true provider. I know $4,000 is pocket change compared to the mega banks He owns, but for little me living in Atlanta, and not having a normal job to help pay for this tremendously generating some serious fear. After a while I accept the fact that if this is where God wants me to go, He will provide. I rested in that. I reminded myself of that. 

However, because I don't have my first year paid off quite yet, I've been informed of a new opportunity. The Corporate Team was added back and I was now selected to be a part of that. Let me tell you... I struggled so hard to maintain a good attitude about being taken off Australia (trip of my dreams) and moved to staying state side. I told God over and over again that I wanted to have a genuinely good attitude towards this change. After all, I'm in love with God and whatever He wants me to do, say, or go, you better believe I'm going to do just that. 

On the flip side, I did get a little upset at this news. I thought to myself, "Man, what the heck, God? First you call me to a trip so impossible and now you take it away and send me to work until my feet don't want to be feet anymore. Why did you do this?" I realized I began to become almost bitter about this. And this behavior was not something I wanted to rule over this situation. God gives AND takes away. But that doesn't make Him a bad God. 

I soon repented of my bitterness and asked over and over for Him to create in me a spirit that was happy about this opportunity. That I now get the chance to stay somewhere super nice (from what I'm told), work closer with people who need to hear about Jesus in the workforce, pay off my tuition, and, if I'm fortunate enough, make some tips so I might continue living this missionary life. Also, if I pay off my current tuition, the funds raised while working will automatically go towards my next year of school! Not only that, but this doesn't cost anything extra!

The more I focus on that, the less I focus on what I want. I'm sure I'll go to Australia one day, but for now, I'm content with going wherever the Lord says, "Go." 

Thanks for reading this post and being a part of this journey with me!😄

~Samantha