God is sooo Good!

Ok Im not sure where to start. So I will start with yesterday. I was on the dish tank when I over heard a lady talking about Jesus and her church. I told her it was such a blessing to hear her talking about the Lord and that I have felt very alone working in such a dark place spiritually. She gave me the most beautiful and encouraging words about putting on the Armor of God. It was clear to me that God was speaking to me through her and it was a truly amazing experience.

Then I was pulled from the dishtank to begin cooking my dish I would prepare for competition today. Chef Mark had left me a note explaining how I was to use this time to practice for competition and he would be there with 2 other people to judge my dish. I was frazzled but I pulled it together and finished within the time limit. I presented two plates to 3 judges and they discussed my dish with me with little criticism. Chef told me he was highly impressed and he thought I would do very well. I didnt really know what to think, I was stunned actually to have such good comments from several chefs.

And then competition day... I arrived at school at 8am to beging gathering all my ingredients and equipment for my dish. At 10am we began cooking.. There was 7 first year students and 3 second year students. This was a competition to see who would make the competition team that will compete representing the school. I dont know if any of that makes sense... Anyway I cut apart a chicken into 8 pieces and then cooked the breasts. Here is my menu: Pan Seared Chicken Breast with Red eye gravy, Palenta cake, and honey glazed carrots...

 

 

I am very excited to announce that I placed 1st!! I give God all the Glory because I know I was not alone. For instance I was going to make grits but Chef Mark at work showed me how to make palenta cakes because he thought it would show my versatility. And when I got there today Chef Mandy informed me that they had forgotten to get grits. God is soooo Good! Thats all I can say! Some people would say that was coincidence but I know that God takes care of all the little details. He is faithful and good!!

I've got to get caught up with this blog!!

There is so much going on and I have neglected to update my blog. First I want to Praise God for providing once again! The State financial aid came through, so I will receive $2000 to go towards school. I was so excited I wanted to do a little happy dance in the office. Second I am preparing for tryouts to be on a competition team. The tryouts will take place a week from today. I will have to cut up a whole chicken and cook it with a starch, vegetable, and a sauce. And I have one hour and fifteen minutes to make two plates, one for presentation and one for taste. The chefs at work have all been helping me by showing me how to cut up the chicken and teaching me how to make a dish. I will be making pan seared chicken with red eye gravy over grits and possible some honey glazed carrots. Im not sure yet about which vegetable I want to use. I have been practicing but I dont have it under the ONE hour and Fifteen minute time limit. I really want to make this team! There is nine students in my class and four in the second year class. Oh yeah we are competing against second year students I forgot to mention that. Im usually not a very competitive person but I really really want to make the team. I think its because I feel kind of like the underdog. I feel like I have to prove myself or something. So, anywho that's the lastest. Keep me in your prayers any of you who might read this!

Here's a funny story!

I was busy doing the dishes and feeling like I was finally getting a good groove with my speed. I mean I was going through the dishes, spraying them, sending them through the machine, and putting them away. And then I put an empty crate on the rack above, like I do everyday, when all of the sudden the crate on the opposite side full of glasses slid of the rack and landed with a enormously loud crash. People came running from everywhere to see what and who had made the shaddering sound. And as I stood and looked at the shreds of glass all over the floor the only thing I could do was accept the responsibility and claim my mistake. So I began to sweep up the glass as my coworkers laughed but encouraged me with their personal stories of simular situations. So I brushed it off and jumped right back into my dish washing and again placed an empty crate on the rack and again watched a crate full of glasses slide off and hit the floor with another but what must have been a louder boom. This time even more people came to see and I was told they heard it all over the hotel. So again I swept up the glass as people said "Man your paycheck is getting smaller and smaller". I no longer put the empty crates on the rack but chose to place them on the floor just to be safe. What is truly amazing is that even when I have bad days of shaddering glass or whatever else I may face in my days that God is beside me and I can feel His presence. The next day I placed the empty crate back on the rack with no catastrophes. And I smiled and thanked God! :)

 

My name was on the board!!

 

I was given the task of dicing 2 gallons of pineapple, 2 onions, and chopping parsley for pineapple salsa. After completing this task I went to lunch and when I returned my name was written on the board with some more tasks. Yay!! I was excited so I took a picture and everyone in the kitchen thought I was crazy but I don't care. I felt for the first time like I belonged and was just excited to have something to do other then dishes.

 

 

 

 

My new job...

I must say I never knew washing dishes could be so hard!! My whole body pretty much hurts... It has been an adjustment to go into an enviroment completely different. I have to say I have struggled a little with feeling like Im in a strange country all by myself. I am not used to the language and lifestyles of the world. However God has been there, I can feel His presence with me. On one lunch break I was sitting all alone feeling very heavy burdened and weary when a guy with dreads asked me if I was working in the kitchen. I said yes and then he started telling me all about his experiences cooking in NY. And then he said something that has stuck with me and helped me more than he knows. "Just think of this place as your school, its not a job but a school, your here to learn as much as you can." Its like God used him to help me at just the right time, because at that moment I was doing everything in me not to just sit and cry. God gave me a scripture verse one morning that I think I will make my special verse to get me through this program.

Isaiah 41:10
"So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strenthen you and help you: I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

I need God's strength every minute of every day to get me through this difficult transition. I am praying for Him to use me to be the light in a dark place.

And this is the dish area when Im finished!! Yay!!

My morning begings!!

I start tomorrow!!

Over the last week I have been offered 3 different positions... One in which I knew was not an option and then the last position I was very interested in, however I have decided to go with the job at Embassy Suits in Charleston. I must admit I am nervous, scared and will definitely be out of my comfort zone. The thing that scares me the most is the schedule, having to work at times Im not accustom to. But through it all God has been faitful to give me the knowledge and strength with each step and Im trusting He will get me through this challenge as well. I want to bring God glory for every thing I do and there is no way I could face this change in my life without Him. The hymn "Trust and Obey" comes to my mind.

When we walk with the Lord, In the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey. Trust and obey, for theres's no other way To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey.

Please pray for me as I start this next step of my experience in Culinary School. I start tomorrow at 9am.

Sample Math Problems:
You are making gingerbread cookies. The recipe calls for 1 1/2 kilograms of molasses. You purchase molasses in 16 fluid ounce containers. If one cup of molasses weighs 12 ounces, how many containers of molasses should you use?


A crab cake recipe calls for 2 ounces of diced celery and yields 20 crab cakes. If the recipe is scaled to make 320 crab cakes, then ___ pounds of diced celery are required.


These are just a couple of the math problems I learned.  Hope you enjoy!!

Me in my new uniform!! I feel very strange but excited! I am going to give them all a wash they are quite stiff. Hehehe :)

Proverbs 16:3 and 9
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord dtermines his steps."

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know th plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

God is faithful! I asked for a job and He placed 2 for me to choose from. What a blessing! I have decided to accept the job at Embassy Suits because I feel it would be a better enviroment for me to learn what I need to know. I know that God is going before me and I commit all my plans over to Him.

Waiting on a Job....

I have put in several applications now and I am just waiting to hear back from one of them. I feel a little nervous but again I know God has just the right place for me. We learned that Adam is going to be layed off from his job so the pressure is on for me to find a job soon. God has always provided and He is faithful so I can rest in His promises. Life may not always be easy but God will always give us the strength to endure any hardship.

Final Exams!!

Well I took my final exams this morning for Culinary Math and Servsafe. I have an A+ in Culinary Math! Praise God! I know that it is only by his grace that is possible. I will not know my grade in Servsafe for a few days because the test is sealed and sent somewhere else to be graded. My classes will begin again on August the 20th and I will go on Mondays and Wednesdays. I have put in several applications and I am hoping that God will send the job He wants for me. I interviewed at Embassy Suits with the executive chef and think I might get the job. I am waiting to hear back from him. I had a good feeling and felt he was very informative and professional. Please pray for me! Thanks

One more day of classes this week, then Im off to Mexico Saturday afternoon. I had a good day today and actually understood the math. It is a wonderful thing when you understand and can work the problem and get the correct answer. Those of you who are math wizards you just don't know how blessed you are! I am missing all next week of classes, but I plan to study in the evenings while in Mexico. (hopefully) I am scheduled to take my final exams of Friday August 10th, so that gives me time when I get back to study hard. Please pray for me and the whole team going to Mexico next week. I am looking forward to see what God will do!
Audios!!

Update!

Well Ive experienced my first obstacle. I was struggling with some of the math over the weekend and expected to take a test monday morning. I got frazzled and upset because I just wasnt understanding. We were doing volume to weight word problems and kilogram to liters and all that hard kind of stuff. But I want to share just how amazing God is and how if we trust in him, He will see us through. I got up monday morning decided after spending time reading God's word and praying that I was just going to go do the best I could and ask for some quick reviewing before the quiz. So...I asked the Chef if we could take a few minutes to go over some of the problems and he said " Oh, we are not going to test on this today, I want to make sure everyone understands the material." I almost laughed out loud!! Seriously!! God took care of it for me and I got to spend another day reviewing. That is amazing and I feel blessed. However, I know that its not always going to be easy and I struggled again today with a new chapter, but my trust is in the Lord. No matter what!

God answers prayers!

I am pleased to announce that the Federal Pell Grant came through!!Yay!! God is so good! It amazes me how God has worked out all the details and continues to prove to me that He is in control. It is only when we let go of the control that we find true peace. Please continue to pray that I can receive some State Grant Aid and to find a job.

The First Day...

I am truly blessed with so many people lifting me up in prayer and I can feel the power prayer brings. I was nervous but quickly felt very comfortable and assured that this is where God wants me. I enjoyed the classes and felt excitement about what the future holds for me in this field. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to everyone who prayed for me! Words can not express how much I appreciate your prayers. Off to another day! :)

Romans 4: 20,21
"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave Glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."

Dear God, I may not know what tomorrow brings. I may not see your plan. But I fully lean on your promised word and the provisions of your hand. Thank you for your faithfulness and how you stay beside me. I never want to wonder far or lose my walk to find thee. You call my name quietly and I follow as you will. And I trust in your leading me always ever still. Oh dear God, how you love me, I know I don't deserve. What a mystery to understand the greatness of whom I serve. As I take my next step there you will be I do not have to fear. Because you are my loving Father and Friend always very near.

Financial aid!

Well Im still in the process of getting my financial aid. It has been a big ordeal and somewhat of a headache but Im trusting God will work it all out. The financial secretary told me to go ahead and pay as if I have already gotten it, so that is a blessing. Any way please pray for me as I continue on this journey.

Counting down the days!

I only have 11 more days until I start school.  It is so exciting and terrifying all at the same time. I really have no idea what to expect.  Culinary Math and ServeSafe are my first classes, which will start July 16th through August 3rd.  Three weeks of classes but I will have to miss the third week due to a commitment to a mission trip to Mexico.  I have been allowed to miss this week and make up the final exams to certify when I return from Mexico.  I will be in Mexico from July 28th through August 5th.  I will also start looking for a job when I return from Mexico.  I am praying for guidance to find the job that is best for me and for the job that I know God already has planned.  This also makes me nervous, because I have no experience in a restaurant or any public food establishment.  Just one more step of faith, trusting God will be my strength and give me the ability to meet this challenge.  My devotion this morning was from 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on the Lord because He cares for you."  And Philipians 4:6,7 "Do not be anxious about Anything , but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiveing, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  I am so grateful for a loving Savior who is faithful and dependable.  I find comfort and strength in God's Holy Word.

Welcome to my Blog!!

The purpose of this blog is to document my journey through culinary school and to give God the glory for every step along the way.  I started looking into culinary school at the beginning of this year. And with each step I prayed for God to guide me and make it clear to me if this was the direction He wanted me to go. God has definitely kept His promise that if we sincerely ask Him to show us His will for our life He will be faithful to show us.  He has made it abundantly clear to me with many examples that this is His plan for me.  So even though I am nervous about the change for me and my family I am willing to walk through the door and enter a new enviroment.  I must admit it is quite frightening but at the same time very exciting! I have confidence that Christ will be with me all along the way giving me His strength and courage to face any challenge or obstacle. I think of Joshua, newly appointed leader after the death of Moses, preparing to lead the nation of Israel into the promise land. God repeatedly told him to be strong and courageous. In chapter 1 verse 9 God said to Joshua "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." This is such a comfort to have The Lord Almighty promise to always be with us! So as I begin classes on July 16th I will go with God beside me. For I know that I can do "All things through Christ who strengthens me"!