CBSP = Love

May 27, 2010

CBSP = Love

There are barely words to describe what an amazing experience this has already been, and I’ve only been here since Saturday.  I now understand why this place holds such a special place in the hearts of so many people!  Because I want to keep you all updated, I decided that actually creating a blog would be the most efficient way of doing so.  Now, I can’t guarantee how often I’ll be able to blog – we can’t get internet in our room, and my computer refuses to work without battery power, so I can’t go out in the courtyard and use it.  But, I’ll update whenever I can steal one of my roommates’ laptops (like right now, while Logan’s at work – thanks girl!).

The people and staff on project are absolutely wonderful.  It’s so funny to hear our random conversations as we try to figure out how we are all connected – and there are some crazy connections out there!  One of our student staff is someone that went on project with my friend Nikki from Eastern; the UTC people know Kim, Mackey, Megan, and Bo from when they went down for planning weekend; and I had a conversation about Missouri joining the Big 10 with one of the property managers of the motel, who happens to be from Michigan. 

I was fortunate enough to land a job on the first day of our job hunt.  Myself and four other girls are working at Surf Style as henna tattoo artists/hair wrappers.  I know – crazy job, right?  Not at all what I expected to be doing for 8 weeks, but the Lord has decided to use me there!  The really encouraging thing is that there will be a lot of time to talk and get into conversations with people as I do their tattoos or wrap their hair.  Plus, we’re pretty sure that everyone on project is going to have at least one hair wrap as a result of all of us practicing!  We’ll be working 3-4 days a week from 10-5.  While we were blessed with a job quickly, there are still several others who are still searching, so pray that the Lord will provide them with jobs quickly and that they will not be discouraged.

I’m currently working on marking things off the “Top 10 Things to Do in Clearwater” list that the JAB left me here when they visited.  I’m not gonna lie, I almost cried when I read their letter and saw my goodie bag full of stuff.  It was so sweet to have little presents waiting for me, and I can’t thank you girls enough for that shot of encouragement right off the bat!  So far, I’ve eaten at one Frenchey’s, had one Ritas trip after one of our meetings with oh, most of project, went around and around the circle of death (aka the roundabout) more times than I’ve wanted to, and enjoyed my first of many Clearwater sunsets =)

One of my personal goals is now to be on the beach every day, haha.  I missed Sunday, but I’m determined to be down there every day til I have to leave.  How many more opportunities am I going to have to be living a block from the beach for eight weeks?  I want to make the most of it!  I saw my first Clearwater sunset last night with my Life Group girls…and took our first picture =)  Now, unfortunately I haven’t managed to take ANY pictures yet…but don’t worry, the camera batteries are charged and I plan on taking some today since I am off.

Let’s see…other random tidbits and facts about my time in Clearwater so far:

• The trees in the courtyard are apparently a thriving ground for these little caterpillars, and they like to crawl all over you.  I feel like if I’m sitting outside I say caterpillar on a regular basis because they are EVERYWHERE!  Also, the palm trees have some kind of sap that they drop…or if you’re Logan, it’s raining chocolate…hahaha.
• We happen to be one of the last motels down the beach for a ways, so there aren’t very many people on the beach where we are, which is nice.  We sat out on the beach at like 10:30 the other night just talking and sharing with one another.  The water here is also so calm and shallow – definitely a change from Myrtle Beach last summer, where Travis struggled to get me in the water at all, haha.
• Probably also because of the previous fact, there are shells EVERYWHERE.  My shell hoarding habits haven’t reared their ugly head yet…but I’m sure they will.
• There are like, 11 kids here on project with the staff, and something like 7-8 of them are girls.  Little kids running around everywhere?  LOVE IT!  They are so precious and fun =)
• The Catch Phrase craziness has already happened and will again soon, I’m sure.
• We are enjoying showing the Southern experience to our girls from the North…and made Susie a “Things to Do in the South” list.  I’m happy to report that they have eaten their first Chik-Fil-A.

All in all…this place is amazing.  God is definitely already at work here, just in building our friendships with each other and providing knowledge for the staff as they train us in being more effective in sharing our faith and growing in our walk with the Lord.  I’m on the evangelism ministry team, which was my second choice but is definitely the area in which I need to grow.  One of the guys on our team challenged us to memorize the verses in the KGP, which I’m really excited about starting.

I’m still pretty short on my support.  If you are considering supporting me, please just let me know and I will give you all the details you need.  Or, if you just want to write me a letter or want me to send you a beautiful postcard of this amazing place, let me know!

I love and miss you all and hope your summers are starting off amazingly!  God bless all of you =)

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