Getting to Know...

Bio-Notes . . . Amy Guartuche (gwuare-two’chay): I grew up in Kelso, with my parents, Tom and Ann Hight, and my brother and sister, Ross and Laura. Mom homeschooled us until we entered the public school system at Kelso High. Our family came to East Hills Alliance in 1995, and I was a part of the church for the next eight years, growing up here involved in VBS, Bible quizzing, youth group and miming.

I continued my education at Lower Columbia College, exploring the idea of elementary education as my career. Then I decided to enter the military, and joined the Marine Corps. I received my training in North and South Carolina and became a mechanic, building helicopter engines. Part of my assignment was to walk alongside new Marines, helping them to adjust to their new routines, keeping their connections with home. I found I was more and more interested in helping them and gained a lot of personal satisfaction in doing that.

I had the "concrete" experience of constructing engines for eight hours, and perhaps ten minutes of mentoring time every day, helping junior Marines, and found myself feeling like that ten minutes quantified "what I had accomplished" that day.

The House:

What do you enjoy in your "free time"?

Amy:

(Laughing) I gave up my favorite free time activity for Lent this year! It’s reading, both fiction and nonfiction. When I have time, going to the gym is also refreshing for me. I enjoy family time and reacquainting myself with this area. My husband, Daniel, is from Corpus Christi, Texas, and I have been showing him around beautiful Southwest Washington.

The House:

What is your latest reading material, since Lent has taken away your reading for pleasure?

Amy:

I have been reading some church history texts for my classes, which have dismantled some of my assumptions about that subject. Also the Chronological Bible; it has been fun to join with so many others in the church and take on this project together!

The House:

What classes are you taking presently?

Amy:

Right now I am finishing up classes in church history and New Testament studies, which are part of the requirements for the Master of Divinity degree. I finished my BS in Religion through the online Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, which has a campus in Virginia. I also have my MA with Liberty, and should finish this last seminary degree next year.

I believe I am being called to the military chaplaincy, and that appears today to be His Plan. It may not go as I see it now; we’ll see. Dad (Tom Hight) always said that what is happening now is always preparing us for the future.

The House:

How do you feel God has prepared you for this assignment as intern at East Hills?

Amy:

Danny and I had a hard time finding a home church in North Carolina. The little church we eventually felt led to join had some great people in it but didn’t seem to have a lot of opportunity for us long-term. We are excited to be in a place where there are so many opportunities to "plug in"; to give and receive in so many areas of church life.

The House:

What is there about you I haven’t asked that you want to share as we get to know you?

Amy:

I am naturally an introvert, and tend to be very quiet. However, I am not shy or afraid, and I care about people, just quietly. I want to help, connect and serve, but will always be doing that quietly. I feel a deep love for God’s people.

I want people to know I am approachable, just quiet!

The House:

What is there about your assignment as intern that I haven’t asked that you want to share with us?

Amy:

It is probably going to be changing! I’ll be going forward as an intern six months at a time, then addressing with staff how I’m doing, changes to be made, addressing learning curves. Three current areas of focus are:

Discipleship: helping with connections, one-on- one or in groups; mentorship

Outreach: mobilizing our membership to reach out to neighbors, friends and co-workers, to augment what they are already doing in this area.

Volunteer Organization: supporting volunteers so that they have what they need, know they are the right person for the right job, and are loving it!

The House:
Last words?

Amy:

If you have questions, call me. Daniel and I feel like we have come home to EHA, that EHA is our family, and we really appreciate that feeling, which has come from you and getting to know you.