“I had been in my 2nd year of teaching 1st grade in Ohio when I felt God calling me to an adventure. So I moved to a volcano, serving at Mt Rainier National Park in 2002. I met people I would have never have gotten close to in another environment, and God did His work on me and in my new friendships. Homesickness hit me hard at first, but by the end of my summer stint, He had done what only He can do- He brought me healing, and clarity, and was completely faithful to provide what I needed to forgive some people and situations in my life. Then He opened wide the door to furthering ministry by serving in the National ACMNP office in Freeport Maine for the next few years.

“I had such an amazing time of learning and growing while I worked under Dick Camp and Gordon Compton in Maine when the National Headquarters was based there. I remember a coworker and I one time praying out on the deck of our office for all of the staff serving in the parks, and who walked up but Nancy Ost, the wife of ACMNP founder Warren Ost, who just happened to be visiting Maine.  It was such an honor to meet her and realize how special it was to be a part of this legacy in the National Parks that started decades and decades prior.

“After working in the ACMNP office, I moved on to work in inner city ministry, found a solid church, got married, and had 2 kids. I am now working back in a school district in the technology department, and enjoy hiking in National Parks as much as I can. I hit up 13 parks one year (my record) and I just had a work conference that took me out to California where I finally got to see the monster trees at Sequoia, the beautiful sunrises at Joshua Tree, and of course Death Valley to reenact some Star Wars scenes. God has been so good at what He’s done in my life and I am thankful He’s made such gorgeous scenery!

“God’s creation pointed me towards healing through its beauty and the devotional times I had while at Mt Rainier were life changing. It was important for me to see the hurt and hopelessness in many of the transient employees I worked alongside, and know how to encourage them to find hope in places they might not have known about.”

-Robyn, Mt. Rainier & ACMNP Headquarters (Freeport, ME) – 2002-2005