Summer at the Ark Encounter

 This summer I had the awesome opportunity to work in the culinary department at Answers in Genesis's Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky. My mom, sister, and I left home on May 22nd, arrived on May 24th, and I started work the following Monday. 

The sunrise the day we left Florida.

Here's a panoramic of the inside of the house I stayed in. Answers in Genesis provides seasonal/ temporary housing for people who live far away and come to work for the ministry. It was a blessing and so much fun to share this space with 45 other ladies. Staying in the housing I met one young lady from South Africa, one from Republic of Georgia, three from Bolivia, and many from around the country. I normally worked 5 days a week with two off days. Every week my schedule varied, but many times my next-door neighbor and I had the same off days, so we explored Kentucky. You'll see pictures from our adventures a little later on. :)

There's a few bird cages stationed on the path outside leading up to the Ark. 

 Silas, a Kookaburra, lives in one.

 CooCoo, a hornbill, lives in the other. If you're interested, the picture below provides information about hornbills.

The skies in Kentucky display such beauty. 

The entrance to the Ark.

A lamb at the petting zoo.

I worked at the Olive Leaf Cafe three days a week and at Emzara's Buffet two days. Here's a panoramic view of the cafe inside the Answers Center. 

Flowers at the Ark.

In May my friend and I drove up to the Creation Museum. I hadn't visited in years, and they've added so many new exhibits. Along the way we stopped at Bigby Coffee. They have some awesome cold brew coffee that I highly recommend trying. :)  

The grounds at the Creation Musuem offer a wide variety of flowers and beautiful scenes to gaze at.

And that's it for now! I hope you are having a joyful week.  :) 

Keep looking up, He's always looking down...

~~Ashley

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

A Christmas Vacation to Kentucky

Hello to you all! 

I hope each of you are doing well and enjoying the new year. 

 Right before Christmas, we girls took a mini vacation with our mom to Kentucky to visit the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter.  On the way, we stopped in Tennessee to visit Crown College and were able to take a tour.

 The inside was pretty...it reminded me of a museum. Alot of antique items are displayed, like Billy Sunday's car (pictured above). 

We arrived at the Creation Museum on Monday (Dec. 17), and enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the garden of lights at Christmas Town.  Enjoy the pictures.

Since the weather was frigid, there was a large fire pit at the entrance of the garden...it provided much welcomed (and needed) warmth.

Everything was beautifully lit up with Christmas lights.

Not very many animals in the petting zoo were active.

Early Tuesday morning, we arrived at the Ark. The size is just incredible; this picture was taken from the parking lot. A bus drove us from the parking lot up the ark.

The first deck contained many displays with signs that explained how the food and water systems for the animals might have  worked while Noah and his family were living on the ark. 

I should just mention, every display was done superbly and the workmanship was excellent. The attention to the smallest details was amazing.

Animals that were on the ark (both extinct and living) were in cages scattered throughout the three decks.

There were so many signs that answer questions people may have about the ark. This above picture is just one example. If you want to read about how freshwater fish survived during the flood, just click on the picture to enlarge it. 

There were a few displays that showed what might have been going on in the earth before the flood. The world was in such a sad and wicked state...Genesis tells us "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." (Gen. 6:5-6)

In this particular display, women were worshiping this false god by offering their babies as sacrifices.

These ramps led to the second and third stories. 

 This exhibit, called Fairy Tale Ark, explained the 7 D's of Deception. To read about each D, click on each picture to enlarge.  

 

 This is one massive door...can you see the cross in the middle? A sign nearby explained how Jesus is the only door into heaven, just as there was only one door into the ark. This song by Buddy Davis talks about the Ark.  In John 10:9-10, Jesus said,  "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

We took a lunch break at a picnic table outside with this view behind us. 

After lunch, we visited the petting zoo.

These goats were so friendly...Deborah sat down on a log and goats wanted to sit on her lap. :)

The rest of the day was spent looking at and reading the various displays.

A beautiful sunset at the close of the day...

 When we left in the evening, the ark was lit up prettily with rainbow colors.

The next day we visited the Creation Museum, but I'll save those pictures for another time and another post. :)

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
~John 14:6