Sunday, June 21, 2009

The Beast...

I've had my drivers license for 5 1/2 years, and in all of these years I have had minimal car problems. I have never run out of gas, my car has never died, and I have never locked my keys in my car. Somehow I have managed to experience all of these things in the 2 weeks I've been in Fresno. It all started out when they gave me this monster truck to drive, which we have fondly named "The Beast". I learned the hard way that it has a double tank of gas. I've learned that AAA is great when you need to get your keys out of your locked truck. Thursday night I was told they had found a new car for me (I had spent $150 dollars on gas in a week...clearly The Beast is not the most economical car) and I could pick it up on Friday afternoon. I drove to the church Friday afternoon, quite excited to be done with the thing, but of course I had to go out with a bang...the truck completely died less than 1 mile from the church. Seeing as it was 105 degrees and the hugest truck ever, pushing it was not really an option. A few hours later, once again AAA came to the rescue to tow it to the parking lot where I got rid of it forever and jumped into my new little Honda Civic. Such a nice change. It's actually becoming pretty comical...of course the truck would choose to die right before I was giving it back.

On a different note...I absolutely love it here. I couldn't imagine a more perfect fit for me. Basically, I'm getting paid to hang out with kids all day. I wasn't sure how I would like working with kids...but I LOVE it!! It doesn't even feel like a job. I've been finger painting, playing with frogs (not to my enjoyment), lots of swimming, having sleepovers, painting pottery, and going out to eat with kids. Kids are so simple and loving. They have such a beautiful faith. I am learning so much from them. I complicate things in my life needlessly. I have been learning how simple the Gospel really is. God loves me, He sent His Son to die for me, Jesus rose from the grave. All I have to do is believe. It's that easy.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Initial Thoughts

Top 10 things you should know about my time in CA right now...

1. California is much more interesting then Indiana.
2. Everyone should do children's ministry. It's a blast!
3. I LOVE the other Networkers and the NET!!
4. My truck has a double tank. If you don't know this, you run out of gas on a country road late at night.
5. My host family speaks German at home. Maybe I'll be fluent by the end of the summer.
6. I am working on a movie set. Seriously.
7. The mountains are absolutely breath-taking.
8. The body of Christ is a beautiful thing when it is being worked out the way it is here at 1st Pres.
9. In CA you call it the Freeway, not the Interstate. Or you will be mocked mercilessly.
10. I think I'll just stay here and never go back to Indiana.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

It's Here.

"Today is your day, your mountain is waiting...so get on your way!"-Dr. Suess

And so begins my summer in California. This afternoon I am leaving for Indy, where I'll spend the night with Liz before we get on our 6am flight Thursday morning and head out to California.

Am I excited? Yes!! How could I not be? I get to spend the summer working with the church and hanging out with kids under the hot California sun. And I even get paid for it! Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me. While I am a little nervous about the uncertainties of this, I am eager to see the way that God chooses to work in my life and what He has to teach me.

All that to say, I think that Dr. Suess sums it up pretty nicely. This summer is going to be challenging, but I'm ready for it. (I'm having a really hard time not including Miley Cyrus lyrics right now...but I will refrain.) California, here I come.