Quick update

A quick update for ya'll...

My mom is in town until the 22nd and my pops flies in on the 18th. SO excited to spend time with them and introduce them to everyone I've gotten to know here who have acted as my family away from home.

I've met with my pastor recently and have found out what the rest of my internship is going to look like:) We are adding a 5th service and so I'll be helping out Cheryl in the First Impressions department until around Easter (getting new volunteers plugged in with ushering/greeting/communion prep and helping run things during the weekend). After that the major project for the rest of my internship will be bridging the "gap" between Pastoral Care and Youth. This basically means providing a form of counseling/life training classes for high school and junior high students who are struggling with deeper issues. Pretty excited about it:)

I've also met with a licensed Christian counselor to pick his brain about what he does. This was EXTREMELY helpful for me because I was able to get a lot of questions answered between the difference in "counseling" in a church and a licensed counselor. I've come to the conclusion that I'd LOVE to get my Masters if counseling does end up being something I pursue. I'm still undecided on that though :)

I might be going to Africa this summer... June 8-20th. I would need to raise $2,000 to go... but I'm not sure yet if it's something I am going to do. Here is why.... immediately following the trip to Nairobi I would turn around on the 21st (after we land at 5PM on the 20th from Africa) and go to Durango Colorado for a Christ's in Youth (CIY) summer camp for a week. This is a very high energy, intense camp that I need to be at and involved with if I am going to be taking on this project of bridging the gap between counseling and youth. It might just be too much to take on both Africa and CIY so close to each other. I have been asking around for advice on what to do and have mixed feedback so I'll figure that out a bit later. IF I do go to Africa we will fly out on the 8th and spend a night in London (!!!!) I would just die.... I miss London and would love to go back there! For those of you who don't know I lived in London for a semester in college. We shall see... :) Either way it's going to be a great summer.

PS- My host family was involved in a car accident this passed weekend and any prayers for full and quick recovery on all parts would be appreciated! They are all fine, just beat up and healing now. Nancy (the mother) has a cracked sternum and a big gash in her leg (very deep with 100 stitches) so she has been bed-ridden for the most part since the accident. The neighborhood and church family have been incredible in supporting them and meeting their needs (food each night, etc). So cool to see how it's really supposed to operate in the church:) Things could have been MUCH worse and through this we've again seen how HUGE God is.

Thanks again for all of your prayers, love, and support!!!!!!