playing catch-up!

a LOT of stuff has happened this past week! i'm going to do my best to succinctly recap all of the highs, lows, adventures and excitements in this post :)

first...the job! last week was my first full week of working. it's been really interesting/challenging/humbling learning the ropes. there are so many steps to cleaning a room that i never would have guessed before! it is hard work that takes a lot of energy. on the plus side, i've gotten to know a handful of the housekeepers (they are all really sweet...i'm excited to know them better) and have even picked up some cool towel-folding tricks ;) this is going to be a busy week of working because of the all the out-of-towners coming to daytona for the July 4th NASCAR race (which i will be going to!). i'm going to have to be relying on the Lord's strength for energy to do my work AND do ministry at my job.

next...another busy weekend! friday night, our community team hosted a project barbecue and 'battle of the sexes' social. here are a couple of photos...

the barbecue (which most people here call a "cookout"...interesting :) )
this is bob; he's a guest at the hotel who came down to entertain us/play worship. it was so random and fun!
battle of the sexes...the girls in pink!

on saturday the men and women split up for a day of quality time with just the guys/just the girls. our staff women put on quite a day of pampering, relaxation, and celebration for us! we started the day off making bracelets and painting our nails, eased in to a chick-flick and finished the day having an amazing dinner celebration at this oceanfront penthouse clubroom. it was an amazing time to love on each other, be girly and delight in our identity as daughters of the King :)

dinner...
the view from our dinner...another angle!

mandi, heidi, me, melissa...gathering for a photo!
our amazing staff women!
my d-group :)

sunday was a jam-packed day of church activities. it started off by teaching sunday school to some high school students with my friend david; this was our second lesson in a series of 3 based on John 14:6, the verse in which Jesus professes his identity as "the way, the truth, and the life". it was really cool to talk with them about what it means for Jesus to be the truth; they are smart, they ask good questions and it is really sweet to share knowledge with them! after sunday school, we went to the main church service. this week, the campus crusade students/staff were in charge of running the whole service. i, along with a handful of other students, go to get up in front of the church to lead them through different parts of the service and our project director, Earle, gave the sermon. i love this church...it so cool how they have welcomed us in and allowed us to serve them! after church, we were hosted by two couples for a brief lunch before church outreach. we capped off the afternoon by going door-to-door with church members in the surrounding neighborhood, cleverly offering them a free bag of popcorn with an attached note... "pop in to first presbyterian church!"

finally, i have exciting news! as this summer project is halfway finished, it's almost time for full time campus crusade staff to leave. they will be passing the torch of project leadership/administration on to students for the remainder of the summer. it is really cool and exciting, a total challenge and exercise in leadership training for all of us students! anyways, there are several important jobs to be filled...discipleship group leaders, ministry team leaders, and project overseers. sunday night, i was challenged to be the female project director; i am so humbled and excited to lead the students on this project! i really feel like the Lord has been preparing my heart for this responsibility by breaking me into humility and burdening my heart with the desire to love all of the women here. i'm looking forward to all He is going to do in the next 5 weeks...i know they will be full of growth and challenges! please pray for me as i step into this place of leadership.

also, something funny....people have told me i'm picking up a southern accent! crazy, i know. hopefully it will last a little bit after i get home!!