Anyway, I have been in Chicago for just over a week and a half now. I am finding myself feeling much more settled in and enjoying the community on project. We have about 50 students total now (the Ohio State students just arrived this past weekend). On Sunday night, we had women's time, which was just an opportunity for all of us women to be together, drink coffee and eat cookies and share about our struggles and reveal our hearts to one another. Tons of walls came down and tears flowed, essentially opening the doors to many new and real relationships. Afterwards, all of us women continued talking, sharing, and enjoyed a new level of vulnerability and community.
Being vulnerable in relationships is definitely something God is challenging me to do. I have always had an idea in my mind of being different from everyone else, somehow far stranger in the things I do and the ways I think than anyone else. Therefore, I've always tried to hide my true thoughts and feelings from everyone. I thought those were mine to hold on to and not let come out into the light for anyone to see. However, this past semester, God started laying on my heart the importance of being truly vulnerable with people and placed some wonderful examples of this in my life. Now I find that when I open my heart to the people here and show them my true self, they are not running away but drawing closer to me, ready to embrace me and share in my journey with me. As Paul said in his letter to the Philippians: "fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind". This is the kind of fellowship that God has called us into.
Just to give you an idea of what project has been like so far, I will give you a rundown of what our weeks look like. Monday through Friday, except for Thursday, I work in the office with 9 other students and two staff on the Crossroads project from 9-5. We take a train and a bus to get to work, or sometimes a train and then walk 7 blocks. We are working developing a theme and the promotional materials for IndyCC, a Christian conference held in Indianapolis over Christmas break. We also have individual assignments we work on so I have been creating posters and am starting to work on websites.
Mondays at 6:30, we leave for our weekly theme night, which consists of a quick game, worship, a talk on the theme of the week, more worship and a meeting of our campus team. We get back around 10:30.
Tuesdays, we have "action group" or bible study, from 6-9. We eat together and study Philippians.
Wednesday, the Crossroads students are hosted by Rachel and Ryan, our director and his wife, for supper at 5:30 and then from 6-9 we have our Night with the Lord, or date night with Jesus as many of us like to call it.
On Thursdays, I do not go into the office. This is my campus day. At 11, my campus team and I go to Illinois Institute of Technology to talk to college students, and also to host Coffee Conversation from 12-2. This is a largely international campus so our objective is to share the gospel with many students who may have never heard it before. We are attempting to connect them to the Christian movement on campus, Bridges, and see the movement grow. During this time, I also have discipleship time with my discipler, Michelle.
Thursday nights, we have dinner provided for all of us at 5:30 and then leave at 6:30 for teaching night, at which Bacho, one of the directors, is teaching from Philippians.
Fridays after work, we have a free night. Saturdays are usually flexible as well, although there are workshops offered sometimes and sometimes a culture night, in which we watch a movie and talk about how to start spiritual conversation from it.
On Sundays, we all have assigned churches we go to. Mine church is Calvary Memorial Church. Afterwards, we usually go out for lunch. We have the afternoon off and then Sunday nights, we have Project Fun night.
So that was tiring just writing that all out :) We keep pretty busy but it is so worthwhile! I am being challenged to stay on schedule and maximize the little free time I have to spend time getting to know people, cook, clean, do laundry, have quiet time with Jesus, workout, see a little of Chicago, and maybe sleep somewhere in there :)
I would really appreciate your prayers for our campus ministry. For the college students we are reaching out to, that their hearts will be open to the good news we are bringing to them and that we will be bold and confident in sharing. Personally, you could be praying for me to be finding a balance and to become more consistent in my days. Also, for energy and humility. Thanks so much! God bless!
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