As my mother pointed out recently, it's been awhile since I have updated you all on what is happening in Chicago. God is definitely at work here and I will share what He has put on my heart recently. 

On July 9th, the staff left us students to take over project. That's right, we are now a group of 48 college students running around on our own in the city, trying to run a ministry. I even said, "I can't believe all the adults are leaving us," before I realized that we are all, in fact, adults ourselves. Each student was given a role on project before staff left and my role is action group leader. This means I lead my bible study on Tuesday nights and disciple the four other women in my study. I love it! God has definitely used it to humble me and show me how much I need to depend on Him. I have also loved getting to know these women more and investing into their lives. 

Crossroads has been exciting lately. We are in the process of creating the promotional materials now for IndyCC so we are busy filming, writing and designing everything. It has been awesome to work with this group of people and has taught me so much about teamwork and not taking pride in my own work, but realizing that God is working through me through the gifts He has given me. Out of my own strength, I can not accomplish anything. I have learned how not to take criticism personally and how to encourage others in unity. I tend to have a competitive tendency when it comes to designing but I am learning to let go of that for the sake of teamwork and accomplishing a common purpose. 

The community has been growing so much stronger on project. We had a sand volleyball tournament last weekend and this weekend we celebrated Christmas in July together. On Saturday, we had a women's sleepover and covered one apartment's floor in mattresses for us all to sleep on! There is so much love and caring for one another among this community. Everyone is already dreading the thought of saying good bye in a few short weeks. I will definitely miss the people here and great friendships developing, but I am excited as well to return to family at home and friends back at school. 

On Saturday of this weekend, 6 of us from project joined up with a group called Chicago's Beloved to hand out lunches and water to homeless people in the city. Each leader usually takes the same route so they actually know and have relationships with many of the homeless people we come across. We went through a tunnel where many homeless people live. It was really sad to see how little they have and how eager they are for a sandwich and a bottle of water. Some were very eager for us to pray with them as well. "Could always use extra blessings," was the way one man put it. One man that I gave a bottle of water with, I also got to share the gospel and gave him a Knowing God Personally booklet. We had a bible study for all those who could make it after we finished the routes handing out lunches. It was a physically and emotionally draining experience but definitely made me more aware of how blessed I am and even how selfish I am with what God has entrusted me with. 

Ministry on campus has been awesome lately. We held a ping pong tournament last week and many new faces showed up for that. My relationships with a couple of the Chinese women have been growing stronger, especially with one who is a fairly new believer. I have been able to encourage her a lot in her relationship with Christ. She even came to our weekly meeting this last week! 

I have less than three weeks left in the windy city! Please be praying for diligence in carrying out the work God has planned for me the rest of my time in the city. Also, even as I am feeling ready to leave the city and return to fresh air and open spaces, that I will remain in the present and continue to learn and grown in all God is teaching me. Thanks!

Indescribable

God is simply indescribable. It's hard for me to even convey in words the ways He has been working in my life lately. I think that is because it is so subtle what He has been doing but so life-changing at the same time. 

The last couple weeks of project have definitely been the best. I've had some awesome opportunities to step out in faith and share the gospel with people. A couple weeks ago Friday, a group of us went to Grant Park for swing dancing. They began with lessons and made us partner up with somebody. A 20 year old guy asked me to dance and we learned how to swing dance together. Then, we ended up talking for quite awhile, and very naturally I got to share the gospel with him through my story. He was brought up in the church and has the view of being a good person for God but actually hearing about grace and the Holy Spirit seemed pretty incredible to him. I was so excited just to share with him the hope I have in the Spirit and having Christ as my savior. Then, this last Saturday, he met up with me and 8 other people from project and we went to a diner called Ed Debevic's together. It's a 50's style diner where the waiters are rude to you just for fun. It was an interesting experience. 

A couple Saturdays ago, we had an outreach at the Taste of Chicago where we went out with a new tool called perspectives. J.D. and I ended up getting into conversation for 2 1/2 hours with two German men and found out that they were skeptical agnostics. We got to share the gospel with them and ended up having one on one conversations as we were kicked out of the taste when it was over and walked with them to their train. The man I talked to was very eager to ask questions and understand what I was telling him. I could see that he wanted to believe but was scared and skeptical still. It was amazing to me though that these men actually listened and cared and did not reject us when we started talking to them about the Holy Spirit!

Relationship on Campus at IIT have also been forming. This weekend Frances and Keshia and I met up with two girls from IIT, Wei and Marissa and went out for deep dish pizza and went to the Art Institute. It was so much fun hanging out with them and the art was amazing!! I saw van Gogh, Monet, Millet, el Greco and more! I was so excited! Marissa accepted Christ as her savior a few weeks ago and is thirsty for Christian community and to learn more. Wei believes in God but is not sure that Christianity is the right path. I am just praying for her and loving her and so grateful that God has put her in my life to build a relationship with. 

Personally, I am learning about reliance on the Spirit. It is so amazing to me that God's own Spirit lives within me and the same Spirit is in every believer. It is that Spirit that we rely on to guide us, produce good works, fruit and kindness in us. It is the Spirit that allows us to forgive and to have true love and fellowship with one another. I am learning that when Christ is ultimate in my life and I am relying on Him for all that I need, I am much more available to love others without reservation. I don't need anything back from people and I do not need to love selfishly. Christ will provide all that I need. "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." ~Philippians 4:19

So basically, I feel like I'm finally discovering what it is to walk with the Lord. I am far from perfect. In fact, I am completely broken and sinful without Jesus. What I am is a believer of God's grace, redeemed, loved, awed, inspired and a follower of Jesus, wherever that may lead. My prayer is to be completely submitted to God's will and walking in obedience of Him. I feel like this blog just can't do justice to what I'm experiencing because the way the Holy Spirit is transforming my life and my mind is simply indescribable.