Allison's Big Adventure

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September 17, 2026

Thank you, everyone for the birthday well wishes!! Here are some highlights from the day.

Ian came with me to find a birthday cake to have a little AO celebration after dinner.
There is an infamous and mysterious cake decorator at our Walmart.. their cakes are very popular on our Missoula subreddit. There were a few silly cakes to choose from but Ian and I thought the colors and flowers on this one were really pretty!!
My parents sent me a big box of goodies. I got to FaceTime them for a while and open my presents. Definitely one of the best highlights of the day!!
Steve and Laura wanted to take me out for a little birthday excursion and I got to visit a few bars in downtown Missoula! One of them was this rooftop bar in a local hotel! We caught the end of the sunset and the view was beautiful. Missoula sits in a valley, so when you’re high up in the city you can just see the mountain ranges in every direction. Very beautiful! And a very good reminder that I am blessed to live in such a beautiful place. This bar/view is within walking/biking distance of my house!

On Friday night, we’re going to go out for dinner and probably another cocktail to have a “birthday dinner” kind of thing because Steve and Laura had to prepare dinner for the residents at the AO on the actual day of my birthday. I’m excited to go out, dress up, and get some space on a day off. I’ve been feeling kind of burnt out and stressed these last couple weeks! I’m still working on finding my groove between two jobs: one at the church and one in the house where I live. But I’m feeling a little better most days… I’m still very homesick and weepy, but I’m more comfortable with my community here and finding it easier for me to share when I need help. Also, kind of unrelated but fun thing, I have been catching myself stressing about fitting homework into my schedule and getting to remember that I don’t have any! So that’s nice.

Some specific prayer requests:

  • The mouse infestation persists at the AO. We’re starting to get really creative over here lol. Pray that we can find some kind of control over this issue!! It’s so frustrating.
  • My depression is definitely starting to settle in and it’s starting to get more urgent for me to find a therapist and a psychiatrist. Please pray that I find good fits for both of these providers!
  • I’m starting to think more about what the time frame will look like for me to come home for the holidays. Please pray that I’m able to find leaders to cover me at church and that I can come home for a decent amount of time.

Thank you so much for your continued thoughts and prayers! They are felt and appreciated.

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