Summer in the City

As the end of the week approaches i take a deep breath and exhale slowly....a sigh of relief that the first of 46 weeks is finally coming to an end. It has not been a bad week, just a slow one. And exahausting. We have done everything from sitting for hours listening to Darrel talk about things few of us will remember the next day, to riding Chicago's mass transit system in round-about ways just to observe the city. I think all of us are ready for a break this weekend. As for me though, i am beginning to recognize that the way i think is changing.

Today on the train i had the random urge to stand up and let an older man sit in my seat. He declined the invitation. But the very urge to offer him my seat surprised me. I'm not saying that i am ordinarilly rude to the elderly, just that i normally wouldn't have thought to offer the seat, much less actually have had the nerve to stand up and do it. Later at the Green Energy place there were several people working in a garden. One young man pushed a wheelbarrow near to where we were sitting and began picking up weeds which were strewn on the ground. Without even thinking about it i stood up and began helping him. This may not sound like much but it did open my eyes to the people around me.

...Come Together...

I don't have a whole lot of time to update right now as I don't have my own computer or a library card (yet) so I have to use other's resources.

We all arrived in Chicago last sunday and are now in orientation for the 4th day. We are living with an intentional community here in Uptown called Jesus People USA (JPUSA). We have been instructed to get to know our hosts; to eat with them, talk to them, learn from them etc. At first I was a little hesitent to approach random strangers and just start talking to them, but after a couple days i have realized just how friendly and caring everyone here is!

I love the people that i am living with here and i am very excited about the coming month and the year in Paraguay, though admittadly i have had my doubts.

Things you can pray for:

-i need to get over my irrational fear of being away from everyone and everything i know for a whole year.

-my amazing teammates and i in our quest to learn Spanish

-all of the teams that need to get along in close quarters for a month. Transparency and grace in our dealings with each other.

-as far as i know i still need quite a bit of funds to even go on this trip

...I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane...

Well, I finally got a blog up. As of this Saturday, that is 4 days from now, I am officially Outside the (nappanee/hesston) Bubble. I will be headed to Paraguay for 10 months with Radical Journey which is a mission program through Mennonite Mission Network. I finally got my visa application sent out a few days ago and I know it will soon be on it's way into the Embassy in Washington DC. I have a suitcase on the floor in my room, overflowing with clothes that I still need to decide whether or not to pack. There are preparations still to be made for my last hurrah fund raiser meal. Friends need to be hugged and said goodbye to, but I don't like goodbyes so I'll say "see ya later" instead. "See ya later." hah. "See ya in what feels like an eternity."
Oh well. Life is life and I am super excited about this new opportunity that God has led me forward to. A chance to grow and learn, see new things and get out of the bubble.
And yes there is a reason i keep mentioning a bubble...Anita i hope you read this ;)

Thanks all for your prayers, encouragement and support. see you in ... 11 months.