Posted in General Posts by Amanda Sackett on 5/27/2011
3:00 pm ; I am terrible at phone calls and keeping in contact with people, I just got off the phone with a good friend and possible future racer, Natasha - then i ordered a gross number 9 at burger king before what i thought would be a long night at work
3:15pm ; I am driving down rt 40 and one of my friends from back home pops in my head.
" Awe Becca!, I really need to give her a call and see how her mamma is doing, { when i left her mom was in and out of the hospital }, I really miss her, and she would really love these bracelets I'm selling for my fundraising, Becca, I couldnt wait to hear her on the other line and ask her about kite ( an inside joke between us) and find out about this new boyfriend she has! Oh how i miss her! Her smile, and her amazing hugs everytime we saw each other. The last time was on St. pattys day and she was wearing these big ole green glasses and a huge afro!. Haha, Oh, how i Miss lynchburg. - ehh, ill give her a call tomorrow I dont work until 5, that way we could catch up for awhile plus i really like this song"
3:17pm ; I turn up my jams and go on my merry way up the mountain to my new job at Nemacolin Woodlands.
3:49pm ; I slide my time card, sign the sheet, stop in and talk with Annie and Jill as they eat Grill Cheese sandwiches. Jill is about to head out to the beach and is super excited and poor Annie, so stressed because her job is eating her alive right now! They decide they need to head over to the Caddy Shack for a food tasting , I tell them to have fun and walk through the double doors into the Wildside, down the hallway into this huge room filled with games, bowling, a climbing wall, a huge bar, huge live snakes, fish, and exotic parrots. This is cool, people here are cool, i like working here! I make my way back to the server station, set up icecream, fill up ice, put the nozzels on the coke machines, make tea and coffee, - all the duties of a opening server- things i have been doing i feel for life. But its okay, I like it!
4:15 ; first table! yes, bring on that tip! 2nd table.. double yes!.. its going to be a busy night. ! nope not at all... it was actually dead after that. I think i had 3 more tables, and the last one stiffed me.
It was a weird day, I was sad. Crystal this awesome cook told me I wasnt myself! No, I wasnt I had a lot on my mind, my back and stomach were doing something weird. I was craving food. I started to begin to worry about my weight and how i had to stop eating so unhealthy and get back into my healthy kick again. So i ate some chocolate mint icecream haha. Then me and crystal were being taught by some of our Jamacian line cooks how to talk like a Jamacian - It was fun. Im not fluent yet, but im getting there mon ! :)
9:00; got cut, printed out my paperwork, met Annie in her office, talked for a few minutes. Slid my time card signed the sheet- walked down the hallway to the double doors and outside where the lightening was insane, not raining just crazy lightening. It was weird. Got in my car, started it up, and made my way down the mountain. All the while thinking of all the people I need to call like Cristian, Meredith, Nancy and Caroline. How i had to get some info together about the world race to talk to the mission board so they might support me. Look up people in Pittsburgh to give me shots. I should look up the side effects to some of these shots too! Should I go to eddies tonight? I'll see John, Danielle, Josh, Dennis and maybe Kelsey, oh yuck that picture she tagged of me. I need to talk to her about that. I wonder what Beth is getting into tonight? I have to go home and change... nah its an "in" night. I want to just go home. Get to my dads house, all I can think about is watching all the twilight movies. I recently saw water for elephants - robert pattinson and taylor lautner was on a late night show that I watched earlier that week, def. celebrity crushes. I wanted to see them again. haha, i hate even admitting this. But I did, I watched all the twilight movies that I could find. robert pattinson reminds me of this guy i know- so after that I got on facebook. Random people were online.
Its about 3 am now and Im clicking the refresh button, like statuses were going to change that much. Not really, I came across my friend Audra's status...it was talking about death and if any Logans people needed her she would be there. LOGANS PEOPLE!!!!! why?!?! I worked there, they are all like family, tim and anna popped into my head, one of my best friends Mark he came to mind, please tell me they are all okay. My heart was racing. Audra!! Audra!! what happened?!? ...the words " are you sitting down" came across the chat.. my heart was racing so fast. "Becca Almond, she was at Panther Falls, she fell, she broke her neck..., she died. "......
NOOOOOOO NOOOO NOOOOOO!!!!! the tears flooded! I just thought about how I needed to call her. Why didnt I call her at that moment? A song came on, a song! I picked a song over a friendship?!?!!? I could of heard her voice one more time!!! What if God needed me to call her at that moment to distract her and then she wouldnt of fell . Why didnt I call?!?! I cried for a long time, I was the only one up it was so early in the morning, I couldnt get ahold of anyone, I couldnt sleep.
- Here I am, questioning yet again. Why?! This girl, so young so beautiful. So full of energy and life. The happiest of all happiest. Always smiling and always making you feel so loved. Why had I not spent more time with her? She invited me so many places and I found other things to do. Im a terrible friend. I have this scene in my head that I cant stop replaying of how it might have happened. Where is she, can she see me? Becca, I hope you can hear me, i love you girlie. Always. I need to be in Lynchburg, I need to be there for her, for mac, amy, johnsee, ria, mark ;my logans family. I just cant believe this. How tragic. She had your heart the moment you said hello! We started just about at the same time at logans. We were immediate friends. But thats what Becca made, immediate friends. She just came across a hair bow one time. She knew i would love it. She bought it for me. Thats how Becca is, She just thinks of everyone else. I came to work and she gave it to me, " love you girl i thought of you when i saw this.." Wow. there are not people like rebecca. She was one of a kind. You never saw her without a smile on her face. She was all for love and peace. a hippie for sure!!! :) She was nothing short of amazing. Perfect and loved in every way. I'll never forget her. EVER.
The truth is, we honestly never know when you going to see someone ever again. Why am I letting so many people walk in and out of my life without offering or showing them how much i love them, or how much God loves them. Just look at my day- it was a regular day. I did nothing incredible, or showed anyone i genuily cared and probably didnt do anything out of my way to be nice, It revovled around me. :( This thought arises in my head alot, and Im not proud of it. "Well I am going on the World Race in October, Ill do it everyday, Ill make a difference then." No, now is the time. why am i waiting? Im getting so wrapped up in fundraising and working so that I can make enough money to go. Im consumed with life here in the US. All these people I love are here. Here in the US. Im walking away and leaving for a year, and who knows if they are going to be here when I get back?!?! God wants more from me than this. Would God be proud of me, of how many people Im leading to his kingdom? No,not at this moment, No! Im not promised tomorrow either, Do i want to stand infront of him when I could of done more and didnt?!?! I m ashamed of who I am at this moment. I want to do more. More isnt waiting until October, its waiting on the next 5 minutes. What am I going to do to make a different in the lives of the people I love in the next 5 minutes.....
My dearest world racers, in this pre-race, limbo, time line, deadline stage we are all in; We are still called to be missionaries here, while we are waiting for God to take us on our next adventure. Dont forget that like me. - Dont just do the stuff until we can leave. Do it now. We are still called to love here and make differences here. - I need to be reminded of this daily. Noone is promised tomorrow or the next 5 minutes. praying for you all and love you.
I love you for ever and ever becca. You have impacted my life in so many ways. I cant believe this has happened. I cant believe the world has lost you. You will be in my heart and mind as far as this life will take me. Im sad, so very sad. But this is for a reason, a reason i wont understand here. Im going into this world race with another perspective in mind thanks to you! I can only hope that I can show all these people as much love and joy as you showed everyone here. love always amanda nicole.
p.s. now you are higher than that kite! way higher :)
* tim, luke, matt, megan, me, becca, mac, abby and tj.
Don’t brag about tomorrow,since you don’t know what the day will bring. prov. 27 :1
How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. James 4:14
Look at those who are honest and good,for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace. Ps 37:37
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Posted in General Posts by Amanda Sackett on 5/6/2011
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to find God in everything
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to understand and find His calling on my life
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adventures
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brokeness
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funny stories & inside jokes
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meeting AMAZING new people.
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to be uncomfortable
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to have my life in one back pack
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to understand & live in differnt cultures
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to try some crazy new food like grilled grasshopper legs haha
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to grow
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to be streched in new ways
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to spread his word & reach his people
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laugh
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daily loving on others
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to love when it seems impossible
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to die to myself
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to learn new things
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to be a follower and a leader
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touch lives
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to give people the greatest gift.
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get freaked out by some crazy bugs i have never seen before
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spiders EWW.
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to push myself when i am tired
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sleep in a tent
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see people healed & saved
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eaten up by misquitos
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cold showers
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see a lion
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feed the hungry
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play soccer with some kids
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worship in a different language
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learn to speak different languages
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hug strangers
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get dirty
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hold babies
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cry
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see beautiful nights/ sunrises/ and sunsets
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smell some funky stuff
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cool pictures
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to get lost (:
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ride in back of cattle trucks
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wear weird clothes
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awesome bible studies
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sing
... to be continued...
There is noway i would be able to tell you what i think is going to happen on this trip. I know there will be things that are indescribable and things that i will not want to share. But i do know this, God is going to do some amazing things, I can not wait to see what he has in store for me, my team, his people. its going to be an adventure of a life time.
WOO HOO!!!
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Posted in General Posts by Amanda Sackett on 5/5/2011
When I started High School all i wanted was to fit in!
My idea of fitting in wasnt really what my parents wanted for me.
I rebelled.
I was the oldest so they were the strickest on me. Everything in me found a way to sneak away or get away with what they directed me not to do.
Lets just say. I was grounded ALOT. haha.
[ 16 years old. i thought i knew what i wanted. and i thought i was an adult.]
lets back track just for a sec,
Before i started acting like a lunatic. I was brought up in christian home, went to church, and was involved in youth group. I accepted jesus into my heart at 11. i was a good kid. did my homework, brushed my teeth, did what my parents told me. i was raised in a good home. I just never knew what it meant to allow jesus to live through me. something just snapped in me at 16.
Well before i went looney, i agreed to go on a mission trip with my grandfather. but at this point, i didnt want anything to do with church and definitly not my grandparents.
I refused to go!
Well grandpap, He wasnt having it! If i didnt go i would have to pay him back. Well, my little tail didnt have that kind of money.... so i was going.
I made it up in my mind that i was not going to have a good time.
I hardened my heart and was going to be the biggest brat there!
that my friends didnt last too long. the moment i got on that airplane i was having a blast. God was already at work!
We stayed at an orphanage and i fell in love with everything there
- the kids
- the ministry
- the people
- the place
by the end of the week during my quiet time. [ i think this might have been my first one ever] i was looking up at the stars [ i never saw the sky like that] and completely broke! I knew this is something i wanted for ever. to love and to serve . and just do "jesus stuff"
i was so into it-i signed up for two more mission trips that summer
then the next summer another one. i really really loved it.
- Now, i wish i could tell you i stayed mission minded for the past 8 years... its like i kinda did, but in a round about way... but not the way i knew i should have been. i had a boyfriend and was more concerned when i was going to see him next or go to the beach... prom.. cars. you know
a teenage life.
- i went off to college after i graduated... ended up at liberty university.. i had no idea that it was even a baptist college. never even heard of jerry fawell . i picked it on a whim. just wanted to get away. liberty taught me so much about who god was. i had two amazing roommates that really showed me how to live a christian life. i grew 
at liberty we had a "missions emphasis week" my heart would race everytime the missionaries talked with us. i just knew it was something i wanted but just never surrendered to it. my junior year i found myself on my face at the end of one of the services. i finally stood up and walked down to the front of the alter and gave my life to missions. i had no idea what i was doing, but it was the only thing that would make my heart calm down. when i was on my face, i just knew thats where i was supposed to be. i was on a spiritual high for about 2 weeks after that but slowly it went away and i got a relationship and school ... i didnt want to do anything long term. just short term . life was just too great to give up. i wanted to marry the boy i was dating, and i wasnt sure if he was called to missions. so i just gave it up. short term missions was good enough. but, in the back of my mind i knew i was called to more long term. i just didnt want to admit it. i made every excuse in the book to stay. i remember having conversations with god about reasons why i shouldnt give it all up or reasons i needed to stay. im silly for ever thinking to try and convince god that i needed to first satisfy me.. then him. ...
- So, my life takes this major turn, that boy , [ we broke up] school, [ i didnt know what i wanted, dropped out] ... then, my friend sean invited me to go on a mission trip to the dominican republic. it was crazy last minute, one of the kids got sick and couldnt go, and they needed someone to fill the space. i packed and left within 9 hrs.
* there is a pattern here that always takes me forever to realize. everytime my life goes nuts and i try to do my own thing, God gets me on the mission field. you would think by now i would just get it*
- i get to the DR and i was in so much peace. that same brokeness and love for missions filled my heart. i met a boy my age there, he lived there, HE WAS A MISSIONARY and WAS MY AGE! i was like okay. if this kid can do it. i certainly can.
- i came back. Got right back into the grove of things. Started a new school, hung out with friends, worked alot. i convinced myself again long term maybe... like when im 30.
Still, choosing to hold onto life here in the u.s.
Im great at making excuses...
I just kept pushing it and pushing it away. My mind never let it go though. It was always this battle inside myself.. hey god, i know what i am doing so im not going yet. wait on me. ill go when im ready. .. its like i was fighting him. everyday. i was never at peace.
i did this for almost 2 years.
so i finished up school and still decided to stay.. when i knew i should have left.
OoOoO not a good idea,
this is what happens when you do something you know your not supposed to be doing
- lose my job [quit]
- get hired somewhere new [get fired]
- put in 21 applications [ no job]
- cant pay bills
- have to move back home. [ last thing i ever wanted to do]
- so im like OKAY, god, IM LISTENING NOW!!!
WHAT?!?!
- i go to sleep, wake up that next morning still totally confused. My friend makes breakfast for me because she hears i have no money. during breakfast im spilling everything on her. She is amazing and listened to just everything... by the end of our meal a casual conversation comes up about her brother...
we stalk him on facebook
he is a missionary
DING DING DING haha - thats it. from a video on facebook. ahhh! MISSIONS!!!!
my heart starts racing, its like everything just made sense.
- while im driving home im yelling at God the entire way...
Okay, i get it! Where ? How?
! if this is what you want slap me in the face with it.!
- i get to my house , walk in my room, and look at my stuff. I didnt want any of it.
" take it God, take it all, just send me"
I call 2 people, Meredith Bauguess and Crystal George.
< the most inspiring and wise christian girls i know.
- now mere, she is practical... if anyone was going to knock some sense into me it was her!
[ b asically i was looking for another excuse... nope huh uh not this time]..
she knew it was for me too.
- & crystal. she just is so { well if you could mix [ inspiring, wise, unique, and exciting] and come up with a word that would be her} we chat, im going 100 miles a minute. and she was like hey why dont you just come over haha.
im telling her my heart, how i just dont want anything .. and im just like
i dont know where to look dont know whats next...
she says " i got it".... THE WORLD RACE!
i look it up. and every place i have ever thought about going was every place on this trip. my heart is racing so hard, my whole body was just ... uncontainable.
i apply right there.
got a call the next day
interviewed the day after
got accepted.
i have more peace than anyone could imagine. i know this is my life calling. im estatic. and cant wait for what is next.
Send me
Move me
Take me.
*
i want nothing more than to have nothing but everything to be in the
will of God.
"... go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me " matthew 19:20-21
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Posted in General Posts by Amanda Sackett on 5/4/2011
" We are only asked to love, to offer hope to the many hopeless. We don't get to choose all the endings,
but we are asked to play the rescuers.
We won't solve all the mysteries & our hearts will certainly break in such a vulnerable life,
but it is the best way.
We were made to be lovers in broken places pouring ourselves out again & again until we are called home" - TWLOHA
Put her there :) ... I'm amanda- {{ not Mandee or Sackett }}
- min by my momma & andy by my neice - which she has YET to call me, but it sounds cool.
I'm 23, born & raised in Smithfield . pennsylvania.
- but got out of there when i could. ...
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went to Liberty University & Miller Motte Tech. College
i have my Massage Therapy degree but have no desire to ever use it.... well ...for now.
My life h as been a [crazy adventure] and i have met some !amazing! people along the way. Each person has [grown me & shaped me & stretched me] into the person i am today.
i dont just have one family. i'm lucky. each place&stage in my life God has blessed me a family that encouraged me or helped me along the way and took me in as one of their own. Each of these families will never realize how much impact they have placed in my heart and life.
my forreal parents : Brenda & Gregory.
Love them! They have put up with ALOT from me. They never know what i am up to next, and i scare them 1/2 to death all the time. they are amazing. They have given me STRONG ROOTS. but
}big wings to fly.{
- Along with my parents they blessed this world and me with 2 little sisters.... who arent so little anymore.
Krystle and Jenna- between the differences of playing with Barbies or Baby Dolls or the arguments over who is better { nsync or the backstreet boys} we have grown past these.
( baby dolls rock & nsync will always be cooler) :) - haha
These 2 by far are my [best friends] .
Krystle, i could go on forever about this girl. I look up to her ( and she is younger). She is nothing short of amazing.
She is married to the ( one & only) benjamin chesslo
^ im jealous of his tats.
& they have a Beautiful daughter
Lily Paige. * i would give her the world.
Jenna graduates from HS this june. GO AG! - she has an amazing future ahead of her. I cant wait to see what God has instore for someone as unique as she is. - she also has a really cool boyfriend TYLER. ( i approve! and im a little protective when it comes to my sisters) he is going to be a pro HOCKEY player (: woot woot.
grams and paps. lucky to still have all 4..
grandma and pappy REESE. - I dont know where to begin. They have supported me to the end and back. They are responsible for giving me a burning passion to serve Christ and worship Him
day in and day out.
grandma and pappy SACKETT- they are responsible for my HUGE HEART and FREE SPIRIT and i will never forget the taste of a good home cooked meal on the farm. above all else they have taught me hope, trust and the power of healing from Jesus Christ.
the not fam.- but fam. <3
- Nancy and Mitch, lil sis Caroline & roomie Brandon
- sister and best friend Meredith & hubbs Adam.
- Janet and Myron
- Mama and Papa Nein
- 3847 , Emily, Jesse, Lucas, Mark, March, Adam, Erin and Ashley.
- kellyn Cunningham
- leigh anna and kyle mullet :)
- Camp Willow Run staff (summer 08)
- the jarmans & guilliams & miles'
- scarlette and her lil man.
- the future mr. and mrs. irrizary's [ probably still am spelling it wrong]
- the forrester's
- the rickerts & daltons
- my sweethearts. (:
- mount moriah baptist church/ cross pointe/ and brentwood church
- coffee bar
* sometimes all of us go along time with out seeing each other but these people have stamped my heart for life.
.... loves....
rainboots- sundresses- yellow- butterflies- my dog, sugar-painting- music- photography-fishing- the lake- kneeboarding- wakeboarding- tubing- sun- summer- 4th of july- decorating- swimming- quad riding- pigs- horses- flowers- day dreaming- camping- talking- movies- adventures- reading- bows- mud- storms- missions- church- baseball-soccer-running-barefeet- braids- tattoo's ( still need one)- hugs- singing ( in my car LOUDLY)- laughing- cheesy jokes- mary kate & ashley olsen- elijah wood
.... not so much....
spiders, texting, office jobs, pantyhose, snow (except for on christmas), cold rain, mashed potatoes, P-words, cuss words, sports center, money, capitol I's, PDA, the word baby. - dont EVER call me that! :) haha
* i have amazing friends & really enjoy meeting new people. I havent met one person that has not impacted my life is some way.
i love to love
i love to give
- i wear my heart on my sleeve- its not my favorite thing about me, but its why i am me!
- i am completely in love with my savior and father Jesus Christ
- i am the worst of all sinners
- i am a MESS !
BUT. i have a GRACIOUS, LOVING, & FORGIVING
FATHER. who makes up EVERY part of me
i want ALL of Him ALL the TIME!!!
" for I am crucified with Christ. it is no longer i who live but Christ lives in me"
gal. 2:20
"Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh & heart may fail but God is my strength of my heart and my portion forever."
psalm 73:46
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