Thursday, May 29, 2008
The website is up!
Hay guys! Not much happened today, and I don't have much to say, but I did want to let you know that the website for CSM has been updated, and Summer Staff 2008 is on there!! So check us out: http://www.csm.org/washingtondcteam2008.php I look ridiculous, but they all reflect our personalities very well. I miss everyone, and can't wait for my short visit home this weekend!! I love you all, let me know what you think about our site!!:)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Nicest Kids in Town!
Hello everyone! I have exciting, though not necessarily good, news from last night! I don't really know where to start other than with yesterday afternoon on the way to supper...so Sheena, one of the spring 2008 interns in DC, was finishing up her last day as a city host yesterday, and we found the contents of her wallet spilled out all over the parking lot. After cleaning it up, we checked out her car and found that it had been completely broken into and all of her things were tossed around all over the place. So when she and the group came in for the night, she was obviously very upset. We called the police and they came, and after I wrote on here last night CSI came to dust the car for fingerprints!! It was a little bit cool to see the pictures flashing and blue lights outside my window. Anyways, she left today, and obviously no one has been caught yet, but at least they're checking everything out to see if they can catch a serial car thief. While that was all going on me, Cassie, and William had a serious theological chat w/ Jason ( the director/the boss/I think you know who he is by now) which was really cool. We talked about some serious issues with the church (of various denominations) as well as CSM rules and things. I really wish they would open one in Atlanta, even though I'm now thinking that the south isn't for me so much. Anyways, that's a story for another day when less excitement has occurred. We went to bed shortly after ten though, once all the blue lights and directors were gone.
This morning we got up and immediately started working on directions again. I guess it probably seems like that's all we do, but it really isn't, and it is supremely important to us doing our job so we have to. We met up for lunch (cause we were split into two groups) at Union Station, which is where I will catch a train to the airport on Saturday morning to get home for Trevor's graduation(more on that later). After that we practiced getting on the Metro (basically like Marta) and catching a bus back to Star. Once back, we worked on our orientation skit for Sundays when the groups come, and I must say that I had some pretty good input on that. I live my entire life pretty cinematically, so when we were looking for ideas I already had them lined up. We are doing skits to represent rules (I'm the PDA/hug girl, since I'm the one with the huge problem with no hugs), and we're revamping the Nicest Kids in Town song from the movie Hairspray! That was my idea, and I'm doing the choreography for it, as well as re-working the words. I'm pumped, this is right up my alley!! Right now we're just wasting time for about an hour until dinner, and then we're going to a Jamaican restaurant called Tropicana. I hope its good, all this ethnic food might just get to me by the end of the summer! I'm kidding, I love it here, ethnic eating and all.
Now onto Saturday and getting to and from the airport. I'm being driven to Union Station to catch a train to Baltimore to catch my plane to Atlanta, where I'll be picked up and spend the weekend until Monday morning. Then I'll be driven to Atlanta, catch a plan to Baltimore, catch a train to Union Station, then catch a bus to Star where I'll meet the group after the first ministry site of the morning. Intense, I feel like such a traveller! Anyways, I can't wait to be home to see the family and then to get back up here to be with my family away from my family:) I love DC!! I miss everyone, and I love you!
XOXO,
Hannah
This morning we got up and immediately started working on directions again. I guess it probably seems like that's all we do, but it really isn't, and it is supremely important to us doing our job so we have to. We met up for lunch (cause we were split into two groups) at Union Station, which is where I will catch a train to the airport on Saturday morning to get home for Trevor's graduation(more on that later). After that we practiced getting on the Metro (basically like Marta) and catching a bus back to Star. Once back, we worked on our orientation skit for Sundays when the groups come, and I must say that I had some pretty good input on that. I live my entire life pretty cinematically, so when we were looking for ideas I already had them lined up. We are doing skits to represent rules (I'm the PDA/hug girl, since I'm the one with the huge problem with no hugs), and we're revamping the Nicest Kids in Town song from the movie Hairspray! That was my idea, and I'm doing the choreography for it, as well as re-working the words. I'm pumped, this is right up my alley!! Right now we're just wasting time for about an hour until dinner, and then we're going to a Jamaican restaurant called Tropicana. I hope its good, all this ethnic food might just get to me by the end of the summer! I'm kidding, I love it here, ethnic eating and all.
Now onto Saturday and getting to and from the airport. I'm being driven to Union Station to catch a train to Baltimore to catch my plane to Atlanta, where I'll be picked up and spend the weekend until Monday morning. Then I'll be driven to Atlanta, catch a plan to Baltimore, catch a train to Union Station, then catch a bus to Star where I'll meet the group after the first ministry site of the morning. Intense, I feel like such a traveller! Anyways, I can't wait to be home to see the family and then to get back up here to be with my family away from my family:) I love DC!! I miss everyone, and I love you!
XOXO,
Hannah
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
By the cross You are the truth, You are the life, You are the way!
In case you don't know, the title is a line from a song called Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall. You should youtube or godtube it, because it's amazing:)So I have a lot of catching up to do, since I've not written on here since Saturday.
I'll start with Sunday. We went to church Sunday morning at 9 at National Community Church in the theatre at Union Station. It was a lot like Rockbridge Community in Dalton, so I enjoyed it. Everything was really upbeat in terms of music, and we sung old hymns, and the message was absolutely phenomenal! The church is in 4 different locations at different times, on Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday morning, and Sunday night. Afterwards we went to a coffee shop and got doughnuts before heading home. We got back around 11, and I was totally disoriented since church doesn't usually START until then back home. That afternoon, me, Katie, Cassie, and Sarah went and spent the day on the national mall next to the Washington Monument. We laid out on a blanket and mapped out directions/napped. I got sunburnt on my knees though, because of the way that I was laying, and that wasn't fun at all. Sunday night a group of 11 senior high students came in, and we had dinner with them, and watched a leaders meeting and orientation so that we could get an idea of what we are doing all summer. Sunday night we went to a Memorial Day concert at the Capitol which was incredible, and I saw some really awesome people like Rodney Atkins and Gladys Knight. I also felt especially patriotic when they played the songs for each of the military branches. I think its incredible that our country takes a day out of the year to remember those who served and died, and to uplift our veterans and those who are currently active. After the concert we went home and to bed, because after such a long day we were all exhausted.
Monday: Cassie's 22nd birthday!! We worked that morning at a place called Martha's Table, which is a soup kitchen that sends meals out each day, and prepares lunches at the kitchen on weekends and holidays. I worked in the kitchen and made 12 funfetti cakes!! Mrs. Baxter(the teacher I did my practicum under) would be so proud!! After that I helped box up the lunches for the people outside waiting on them, which were comprised of chicken breasts(they looked awesome), rice, rolls, and greens. A good lunch, I think. When the lunches were finished the guy in charge of the kitchen asked me specifically to wash dishes. So the whole group was held up while I finished, I was glad to be able to help though, even though the water only had two temperatures: scalding and freezing. Also the kitchen was the hottest place I've ever been. Still, awesome. And I look GREAT in a hairnet;)
After Martha's Table, we did an activity called Urban Plunge. What happens during that is the group is split up (in our case we were split into two groups of four) and given a sheet w/ directions downtown and $35. With this you have to feed yourselves and a homeless person, buy socks for a homeless person in need, find housing for the night, find healthcare, and find a place to shower/potty. We met a man named Ricardo, who had been homeless for years, and had interesting stories. He said he always tried to take care of himself and wore $100 slacks and Timberlands, which he once had 2 pairs of but gave them to someone else in a similar situation who was in need of shoes. I thought that was touching, especially since he has almost nothing. We got him the dinner that he wanted--a chicken salad sandwich from Starbucks--and talked to him for awhile about some interesting topics, specifically his relations with ladies in the city, information he volunteered for sure. We left him a bit later and went in search of housing and food for ourselves, since we couldn't afford to feed everyone at Starbucks. By this point, due to spending $5.40 on the bus, we were down to about $22 or so, and still in need of housing, clothes, medical care, and socks. We searched around until we found a thrift store which was closed, and then a soup kitchen where we would be able to find food, clothes, and a bathroom the next morning. We weren't within walking distance to a shelter, but we did get the addresses of some, and we found some comfortable places on the street where we could sleep. Our favorite was in some grass near the Episcopal church, where there was a slight incline that would've been comfortable. We then found our dinner by splitting 2 $5 footlongs at Subway, and getting water there. Down to $12 we had to hurry to get back to the bus within 3 hours of when we rode it the first time, so that we could ride for free. We also had to buy socks, which were $7 at CVS. We thought it was ridiculous, but were able to bless a man by giving them to him. We returned home exhausted, and holding around $5 give or take a few cents which we gave to a few other homeless people who gave us a bit of information. That night Melissa and I led the bible study/debriefing and I must say we did a pretty good job talking about the events of everyone's days and relating them to different biblical principles. We mainly played off of the ways in which each of us have different strengths and weaknesses, and how each of those can be used to glorify God, and NONE of us is any less valuable to the Kingdom than the other.
After that we went for a real dinner at a place called Chipotle, which is a lot like Moe's or Barberitos. We came home when we finished, and we all took the 5 Love Languages quiz, as well as Spiritual Gifts. My love language is quality time, as is everyone else's who lives here, then physical touch. I think its funny that we're all quality time, which should make it easier for us to love each other this summer. My highest spiritual gifts were mercy, teaching/pastoring, and serving/ministering. Makes me reconsider my future goals for sure.
This morning we went to a place called Food and Friends, which is a meal delivery kitchen that delivers meals to the terminally ill according to their dietary needs. While everyone else stayed in the kitchen packaging and preparing food, Melissa and I went out with Jason (the boss) to deliver the meals. It was awesome to be able to see the people whose lives are being touched and affected by this service. It was also difficult to see since most of them are HIV/AIDS patients. After finishing the delivery we went back to Food and Friends and helped organize some milk cartons and things with a group of middle school students! I was happy to interact with some kids finally, and they all called me Hannah Montana and sang some of her songs with me. One of them also told me that he was a ladies man:) I must admit that I've missed my middle schoolers!!
After Food and Friends we came back to Star for lunch, and then went to drive around the city to learn directions more. It was a long day, but we had to be back at 5 to go out for dinner for Cassie's birthday. We went to a chicken place (I can't remember the name of it) in Silver Spring, which was pretty great as well. I think I am eating way too much, and I'm horrified I won't fit into my Georgette uniform already! We came back after dinner for bible study, and the two leaders proposed a foot washing for Thursday night which makes me nauceous. I've never done it, and I really hate feet. Please pray for me that I'll keep an open mind, and see this as I'm doing it for Jesus and not only for my peers. Now we're all just hanging out until time for bed.
So thanks for reading all of this if you have, I know that it's incredibly long, but it's what I've been up to. I hope to hear from you all, and I miss you all a ton. Please pray for me, my friends, and the people we will be serving in DC this summer. As always, it would be great to hear from you!!
XOXO,
Hannah
I'll start with Sunday. We went to church Sunday morning at 9 at National Community Church in the theatre at Union Station. It was a lot like Rockbridge Community in Dalton, so I enjoyed it. Everything was really upbeat in terms of music, and we sung old hymns, and the message was absolutely phenomenal! The church is in 4 different locations at different times, on Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday morning, and Sunday night. Afterwards we went to a coffee shop and got doughnuts before heading home. We got back around 11, and I was totally disoriented since church doesn't usually START until then back home. That afternoon, me, Katie, Cassie, and Sarah went and spent the day on the national mall next to the Washington Monument. We laid out on a blanket and mapped out directions/napped. I got sunburnt on my knees though, because of the way that I was laying, and that wasn't fun at all. Sunday night a group of 11 senior high students came in, and we had dinner with them, and watched a leaders meeting and orientation so that we could get an idea of what we are doing all summer. Sunday night we went to a Memorial Day concert at the Capitol which was incredible, and I saw some really awesome people like Rodney Atkins and Gladys Knight. I also felt especially patriotic when they played the songs for each of the military branches. I think its incredible that our country takes a day out of the year to remember those who served and died, and to uplift our veterans and those who are currently active. After the concert we went home and to bed, because after such a long day we were all exhausted.
Monday: Cassie's 22nd birthday!! We worked that morning at a place called Martha's Table, which is a soup kitchen that sends meals out each day, and prepares lunches at the kitchen on weekends and holidays. I worked in the kitchen and made 12 funfetti cakes!! Mrs. Baxter(the teacher I did my practicum under) would be so proud!! After that I helped box up the lunches for the people outside waiting on them, which were comprised of chicken breasts(they looked awesome), rice, rolls, and greens. A good lunch, I think. When the lunches were finished the guy in charge of the kitchen asked me specifically to wash dishes. So the whole group was held up while I finished, I was glad to be able to help though, even though the water only had two temperatures: scalding and freezing. Also the kitchen was the hottest place I've ever been. Still, awesome. And I look GREAT in a hairnet;)
After Martha's Table, we did an activity called Urban Plunge. What happens during that is the group is split up (in our case we were split into two groups of four) and given a sheet w/ directions downtown and $35. With this you have to feed yourselves and a homeless person, buy socks for a homeless person in need, find housing for the night, find healthcare, and find a place to shower/potty. We met a man named Ricardo, who had been homeless for years, and had interesting stories. He said he always tried to take care of himself and wore $100 slacks and Timberlands, which he once had 2 pairs of but gave them to someone else in a similar situation who was in need of shoes. I thought that was touching, especially since he has almost nothing. We got him the dinner that he wanted--a chicken salad sandwich from Starbucks--and talked to him for awhile about some interesting topics, specifically his relations with ladies in the city, information he volunteered for sure. We left him a bit later and went in search of housing and food for ourselves, since we couldn't afford to feed everyone at Starbucks. By this point, due to spending $5.40 on the bus, we were down to about $22 or so, and still in need of housing, clothes, medical care, and socks. We searched around until we found a thrift store which was closed, and then a soup kitchen where we would be able to find food, clothes, and a bathroom the next morning. We weren't within walking distance to a shelter, but we did get the addresses of some, and we found some comfortable places on the street where we could sleep. Our favorite was in some grass near the Episcopal church, where there was a slight incline that would've been comfortable. We then found our dinner by splitting 2 $5 footlongs at Subway, and getting water there. Down to $12 we had to hurry to get back to the bus within 3 hours of when we rode it the first time, so that we could ride for free. We also had to buy socks, which were $7 at CVS. We thought it was ridiculous, but were able to bless a man by giving them to him. We returned home exhausted, and holding around $5 give or take a few cents which we gave to a few other homeless people who gave us a bit of information. That night Melissa and I led the bible study/debriefing and I must say we did a pretty good job talking about the events of everyone's days and relating them to different biblical principles. We mainly played off of the ways in which each of us have different strengths and weaknesses, and how each of those can be used to glorify God, and NONE of us is any less valuable to the Kingdom than the other.
After that we went for a real dinner at a place called Chipotle, which is a lot like Moe's or Barberitos. We came home when we finished, and we all took the 5 Love Languages quiz, as well as Spiritual Gifts. My love language is quality time, as is everyone else's who lives here, then physical touch. I think its funny that we're all quality time, which should make it easier for us to love each other this summer. My highest spiritual gifts were mercy, teaching/pastoring, and serving/ministering. Makes me reconsider my future goals for sure.
This morning we went to a place called Food and Friends, which is a meal delivery kitchen that delivers meals to the terminally ill according to their dietary needs. While everyone else stayed in the kitchen packaging and preparing food, Melissa and I went out with Jason (the boss) to deliver the meals. It was awesome to be able to see the people whose lives are being touched and affected by this service. It was also difficult to see since most of them are HIV/AIDS patients. After finishing the delivery we went back to Food and Friends and helped organize some milk cartons and things with a group of middle school students! I was happy to interact with some kids finally, and they all called me Hannah Montana and sang some of her songs with me. One of them also told me that he was a ladies man:) I must admit that I've missed my middle schoolers!!
After Food and Friends we came back to Star for lunch, and then went to drive around the city to learn directions more. It was a long day, but we had to be back at 5 to go out for dinner for Cassie's birthday. We went to a chicken place (I can't remember the name of it) in Silver Spring, which was pretty great as well. I think I am eating way too much, and I'm horrified I won't fit into my Georgette uniform already! We came back after dinner for bible study, and the two leaders proposed a foot washing for Thursday night which makes me nauceous. I've never done it, and I really hate feet. Please pray for me that I'll keep an open mind, and see this as I'm doing it for Jesus and not only for my peers. Now we're all just hanging out until time for bed.
So thanks for reading all of this if you have, I know that it's incredibly long, but it's what I've been up to. I hope to hear from you all, and I miss you all a ton. Please pray for me, my friends, and the people we will be serving in DC this summer. As always, it would be great to hear from you!!
XOXO,
Hannah
Saturday, May 24, 2008
My Birthday night, and other details...
Hay yall!
So yesterday: after lunch we drove around and did the prayer tour again, which was increasingly easier than it was the day before. I actually recognized some things, which made me feel a lot better about actually leading one on my own soon. Afterwards, we went to DC Central Kitchen and did some various preparation things for the meals they would be sending out this weekend. I cut tiny onions for two hours, some cut potatoes, some worked with pork stock, and some made brownies. The onions weren't so bad, and the man in charge of the 2nd shift at the kitchen, Beau, was awesome. He played some oldies music for us and let us dance around the kitchen while we worked. Cassie told him it was my 21st too, so he made a huge deal about that, and announced it to everyone in the kitchen. After we finished cutting everything up we had a dance party w/ Beau, which of course was a lot of fun too. When we were leaving he gave me a hug! I was pretty pumped because of all the things I miss from home, I miss being able to get hugs from anyone the most. He told us his story when we were filling out comment cards too, that he was a former bank robber, but DC Central Kitchen's culinary arts classes had saved him, and now he doesn't have to depend on that for income anymore. It was pretty awesome to see how much it touched him that we were all there too, serving to help people like him. After the goodbyes (for real this time) we headed off to a birthday dinner for yours truly.
We ate at a place called The Diner in Adams Morgan, which was a really cool place. The food was excellent, and I did purchase my first alcoholic beverage there, coincidentally called the Georgia Peach. It was good, but they must have put a ton of alcohol in it because I was reallllllly dizzy. They also brought me this giant dessert thing full of chocolate, ice cream, and whipped cream, but I couldn't finish it, so I shared with the roommates. After we got back, it was DEFINITELY time for bed (even though it was only 11).
This morning/afternoon us ladies are going to the Smithsonian National Art Museum and this afternoon we are all having a birthday cookout at Jason's (the boss) house in Maryland. I probably won't write again after that, but I will let you know how it goes. It would be great to hear from you, and I look forward to seeing all of you who are keeping up with my crazy life:)
XOXO,
Hannah
So yesterday: after lunch we drove around and did the prayer tour again, which was increasingly easier than it was the day before. I actually recognized some things, which made me feel a lot better about actually leading one on my own soon. Afterwards, we went to DC Central Kitchen and did some various preparation things for the meals they would be sending out this weekend. I cut tiny onions for two hours, some cut potatoes, some worked with pork stock, and some made brownies. The onions weren't so bad, and the man in charge of the 2nd shift at the kitchen, Beau, was awesome. He played some oldies music for us and let us dance around the kitchen while we worked. Cassie told him it was my 21st too, so he made a huge deal about that, and announced it to everyone in the kitchen. After we finished cutting everything up we had a dance party w/ Beau, which of course was a lot of fun too. When we were leaving he gave me a hug! I was pretty pumped because of all the things I miss from home, I miss being able to get hugs from anyone the most. He told us his story when we were filling out comment cards too, that he was a former bank robber, but DC Central Kitchen's culinary arts classes had saved him, and now he doesn't have to depend on that for income anymore. It was pretty awesome to see how much it touched him that we were all there too, serving to help people like him. After the goodbyes (for real this time) we headed off to a birthday dinner for yours truly.
We ate at a place called The Diner in Adams Morgan, which was a really cool place. The food was excellent, and I did purchase my first alcoholic beverage there, coincidentally called the Georgia Peach. It was good, but they must have put a ton of alcohol in it because I was reallllllly dizzy. They also brought me this giant dessert thing full of chocolate, ice cream, and whipped cream, but I couldn't finish it, so I shared with the roommates. After we got back, it was DEFINITELY time for bed (even though it was only 11).
This morning/afternoon us ladies are going to the Smithsonian National Art Museum and this afternoon we are all having a birthday cookout at Jason's (the boss) house in Maryland. I probably won't write again after that, but I will let you know how it goes. It would be great to hear from you, and I look forward to seeing all of you who are keeping up with my crazy life:)
XOXO,
Hannah
Friday, May 23, 2008
Happy Birthday to Me!
I'm 21!!!!!
Which I find to be especially exciting:) Last night at midnight my incredible new friends/roommates surprised me with a cake, candles, and a card! I love them!! And I'm 21! It's sooo weird! No one has forgotten about me back home either, I've got a ton of calls, texts, myspaces, and facebooks wishing me happy birthday. I love how special birthdays make you feel.
Right now I'm in a coffee shop called Mayorga in Silver Spring, Maryland, and we've been here for the past 3 hours mapping things out, marking them on our maps, and writing out scripted notecards for the prayer tour. I'm excited because I'm able to visualize some of the parts of the city that I'm mapping. Ironically, there's a full bar in this coffee shop too, and though we've joked, I've not gone to explore it:)
My computer is dying now, but I love you guys, and I'll write more about my date of birth later!
Which I find to be especially exciting:) Last night at midnight my incredible new friends/roommates surprised me with a cake, candles, and a card! I love them!! And I'm 21! It's sooo weird! No one has forgotten about me back home either, I've got a ton of calls, texts, myspaces, and facebooks wishing me happy birthday. I love how special birthdays make you feel.
Right now I'm in a coffee shop called Mayorga in Silver Spring, Maryland, and we've been here for the past 3 hours mapping things out, marking them on our maps, and writing out scripted notecards for the prayer tour. I'm excited because I'm able to visualize some of the parts of the city that I'm mapping. Ironically, there's a full bar in this coffee shop too, and though we've joked, I've not gone to explore it:)
My computer is dying now, but I love you guys, and I'll write more about my date of birth later!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Long enough to drive back to Georgia...
Hay friends! Just wanted to add a little update on today while some of my roommates are watching the Grey's finale.
This morning we went to St. Thomas More, which is one of our ministry sites. It is an assisted living home for the elderly and those with significant mental illnesses who are unable to take care of themselves. We just did room visits while we were there, but we definitely met some interesting characters. I'll go ahead and introduce you to a man named Gabriel, because rumor has it we'll all be talking to and about him all summer long. I won't say much for fear of confidentiality issues, but he is hilarious! He told us all kinds of interesting stories about Uruguay (that's where he's originally from) and all of his women he used to date:) Uruguan and Brazilian women are the prettiest kind, he said. After talking to him for the entire time, we had to leave and come back to Star for lunch.
After lunch we went to buy maps and then were thrown into the city. We had to navigate from the passenger's seat all day and get the driver and the rest of the group to a number of ministry sites. It was nice to see where we were going, but we were in the car for a total of 6 hours today, and that's way too much! We joked that it was long enough to drive back to Georgia! After having soul food for dinner and my 1st Dr. Pepper since Sunday, we went to the mall to debrief. There we talked about what had happened today, and the fact that we'll be spending more time with our maps tomorrow.
Now it's about 3 hours til I turn 21, and it feels absolutely no different than 20. Other than I'm about 293576234975623495 times happier this birthday, than last. I love being here, and I've got say again that I don't want to come home!:) I love you and miss you all, email me or something!
This morning we went to St. Thomas More, which is one of our ministry sites. It is an assisted living home for the elderly and those with significant mental illnesses who are unable to take care of themselves. We just did room visits while we were there, but we definitely met some interesting characters. I'll go ahead and introduce you to a man named Gabriel, because rumor has it we'll all be talking to and about him all summer long. I won't say much for fear of confidentiality issues, but he is hilarious! He told us all kinds of interesting stories about Uruguay (that's where he's originally from) and all of his women he used to date:) Uruguan and Brazilian women are the prettiest kind, he said. After talking to him for the entire time, we had to leave and come back to Star for lunch.
After lunch we went to buy maps and then were thrown into the city. We had to navigate from the passenger's seat all day and get the driver and the rest of the group to a number of ministry sites. It was nice to see where we were going, but we were in the car for a total of 6 hours today, and that's way too much! We joked that it was long enough to drive back to Georgia! After having soul food for dinner and my 1st Dr. Pepper since Sunday, we went to the mall to debrief. There we talked about what had happened today, and the fact that we'll be spending more time with our maps tomorrow.
Now it's about 3 hours til I turn 21, and it feels absolutely no different than 20. Other than I'm about 293576234975623495 times happier this birthday, than last. I love being here, and I've got say again that I don't want to come home!:) I love you and miss you all, email me or something!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Address
Hay hay,
So Keri commented on my last blog asking about my address, and I just want to say I would LOOOOVE mail! All my roommates are sending/getting it, and I think that would be far beyond awesome. So my address is:
Hannah Henderson
CSM
P.O. Box 55090
Washington, DC 20040-5090
It would also be best to send the mail by U.S. Postal Service, because it gets here faster.
Love you all!
XOXO,
Hannah
So Keri commented on my last blog asking about my address, and I just want to say I would LOOOOVE mail! All my roommates are sending/getting it, and I think that would be far beyond awesome. So my address is:
Hannah Henderson
CSM
P.O. Box 55090
Washington, DC 20040-5090
It would also be best to send the mail by U.S. Postal Service, because it gets here faster.
Love you all!
XOXO,
Hannah
A Night Off
Hello all,
So tonight we were fortunate enough to be finished enough to have the night off. We decided to drive into Silver Spring, Maryland, and see what that city had to offer. We found a Borders, some awesome restaurants, a little mall, and a movie theater. Plus free parking. So after spending some time shopping around (I bought The Catcher and the Rye) we found a fun restaurant to stop in. It was a TexMex Texas themed restaurant, with a bar in the back and live music. It was so much fun:) We had chips and salsa, and William had pie, and we listened to a guy named Jeff play some acoustic music for us. Fabulous! I've got to say, I have never felt so at home with people whom I've only known for 3 days. I already don't want to come back to Chatsworth/Athens, and would be quite fine to live here in D.C. forever serving and worshipping and just hanging out with some pretty amazing people. The only problem I've had is the fact that we can only hug members of the opposite sex sideways, and I'm a pretty big hugger, so I always go in full-frontal. I told them that was all I wanted for my birthday, was a bunch of real full hugs:) We've had a blast though, and I wouldn't trade my time here for anything in the world! Tomorrow we are training some more, and going to an actual ministry site, but we don't know which one yet. They like to keep everything a surprise around here, which I have to admit is much more fun anyhow. I'll keep you updated on all the happenings in the big city, and please email me and stuff too. I love hearing from home! God bless, and hopefully I'll write again soon.
XOXO,
Hannah
So tonight we were fortunate enough to be finished enough to have the night off. We decided to drive into Silver Spring, Maryland, and see what that city had to offer. We found a Borders, some awesome restaurants, a little mall, and a movie theater. Plus free parking. So after spending some time shopping around (I bought The Catcher and the Rye) we found a fun restaurant to stop in. It was a TexMex Texas themed restaurant, with a bar in the back and live music. It was so much fun:) We had chips and salsa, and William had pie, and we listened to a guy named Jeff play some acoustic music for us. Fabulous! I've got to say, I have never felt so at home with people whom I've only known for 3 days. I already don't want to come back to Chatsworth/Athens, and would be quite fine to live here in D.C. forever serving and worshipping and just hanging out with some pretty amazing people. The only problem I've had is the fact that we can only hug members of the opposite sex sideways, and I'm a pretty big hugger, so I always go in full-frontal. I told them that was all I wanted for my birthday, was a bunch of real full hugs:) We've had a blast though, and I wouldn't trade my time here for anything in the world! Tomorrow we are training some more, and going to an actual ministry site, but we don't know which one yet. They like to keep everything a surprise around here, which I have to admit is much more fun anyhow. I'll keep you updated on all the happenings in the big city, and please email me and stuff too. I love hearing from home! God bless, and hopefully I'll write again soon.
XOXO,
Hannah
Training Week
Hay friends! Since I don't have many opportunities to call home and talk to anyone, I thought it might be easiest to make a blog of my time here in the big city of Washington D.C. I also figured it would help me to remember everything that happens while I'm here That being said, I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS CITY!! I love D.C. and the people here at CSM, my roommates, and all of the ministry sites that we'll be working with. I guess the easiest way to start is to go by days that I've missed, so I'm going to do that.
Day one: Sunday, May 18th: I flew into Baltimore around 11 and Jason, our city director here in D.C. picked me up at the airport. When I got to Star (the housing site and the shortened name of the church where we stay) my roommates William and Katie were here. Katie is an upcoming junior from Clemson, and the only person who lives in the same room as me. William is from Kansas, and lives right next door. He's going to be a junior as well. The rest of the roommates got here then too, there's Melissa a junior from North Carolina, Kristyn who is 23 and from Indiana, Cassie who just graduated from somewhere in Indiana and is moving to Atlanta (yay Georgia) to go to Emory in the fall, AJ from North Carolina(I think) who goes to Virginia Tech, and Sarah an upcoming senior from Virginia. We're a diverse group of people, and I wouldn't have it any other way. CSM's Vice President, Kyle, flew in from California, and our training began soon after. We then had dinner at a Mandalay restaurant, which was so good. After dinner we went on the prayer tour which we will be leading students on this summer when they get here, and spent the rest of the evening doing some training before bed.
Day two: Monday, May 19th: Monday was a training day again, and that's what it mostly consisted of. We spent a large amount of time writing our stories of salvation and our walks with Christ. These were written to prepare for any speaking opportunities we may have, as well as to help us all learn a bit more about each other. I was so nervous because of how dark mine can be with all that happened last year and last summer, but the point of the story was the victory of the Lord, and everyone was very supportive of that. I've never felt so welcomed and so happy in a group of people I barely know. After we told stories and had our picnic lunch, we came back for more training, then prepared for dinner at one of the restaurants we use called Taste of India. Again, so good. After dinner was a tiny bit more training, then bedtime.
Day three: Tuesday, May 20th: Training again yesterday morning, then we had some lunch here at Star. We got our keys (there are 12! I've never had so many before!) and practiced opening the doors, and then had a bit of free time. During this, a group of us went to Target and I got some much needed laundry detergent and a laundry bag to keep my dirties in. After that we went to dinner at Ben's Chili Bowl, a restaurant specific to D.C., and one you definitely have to try if you ever visit. It's pretty incredible! We took our pictures for the website after dinner, which you should check out at www.csm.org then click Washington, D.C. and summer staff 2008 (not sure when they'll be up, but they're coming). We each have bios up there too...or we will have anyway. That night was the most fun because we all played games and just hung out. I lost all the time, but it was fantastic nonetheless. The only sad part was it being Kyle's last night, and we had to say goodbye to her. I was up til one, which was a huge change since I love going to bed around 10 or so and getting some good sleep in.
Day four: Wednesday, May 21st: First of all, I AM ALMOST 21!! On Friday! I can't believe it! Today Mark Harmon, the old city director who had been the director for 20 years or so, came to visit and share some insight with us. After that we all had lunch at Wok N Roll, a Chinese restaurant, where I actually had some sushi that I liked! Shocking. Then we had to try and navigate our way around the prayer tour and all over D.C. which seemed to work for everybody but me. I made us take a wrong turn:(. It ended up taking us about 3 hours or more (I'm bad with time, so I'm not positive) to do a prayer tour which usually lasts around an hour and a half. If you'll come visit me, I'll take you on the tour because I'm pretty positive it's going to be my favorite part of the missions experience with the groups. Now we're back at Star waiting to hear our plans for dinner and the rest of the evening, which I can't wait to hear about. I'm sleeping, but loving it, so I'm game for just about anything. Also, we stopped at a 7/11 and I got some fruit juice called Naked, in the orange mango flavor, which is so good! I have to mention that everyone made fun of the way I pronounce Naked, as well as the way I pronounce pretty much everything. At least I'm entertaining, I guess. Anyways, I will update when I get a chance!
Whoever took the time to read this, I love you and I am sure that I miss you a ton! Keep me in your prayers through this long trip, and I promise to keep you in mine! Course, maybe you should pray that I'll want to come back eventually, because right now I definitely do not.
XOXO,
Hannah
Day one: Sunday, May 18th: I flew into Baltimore around 11 and Jason, our city director here in D.C. picked me up at the airport. When I got to Star (the housing site and the shortened name of the church where we stay) my roommates William and Katie were here. Katie is an upcoming junior from Clemson, and the only person who lives in the same room as me. William is from Kansas, and lives right next door. He's going to be a junior as well. The rest of the roommates got here then too, there's Melissa a junior from North Carolina, Kristyn who is 23 and from Indiana, Cassie who just graduated from somewhere in Indiana and is moving to Atlanta (yay Georgia) to go to Emory in the fall, AJ from North Carolina(I think) who goes to Virginia Tech, and Sarah an upcoming senior from Virginia. We're a diverse group of people, and I wouldn't have it any other way. CSM's Vice President, Kyle, flew in from California, and our training began soon after. We then had dinner at a Mandalay restaurant, which was so good. After dinner we went on the prayer tour which we will be leading students on this summer when they get here, and spent the rest of the evening doing some training before bed.
Day two: Monday, May 19th: Monday was a training day again, and that's what it mostly consisted of. We spent a large amount of time writing our stories of salvation and our walks with Christ. These were written to prepare for any speaking opportunities we may have, as well as to help us all learn a bit more about each other. I was so nervous because of how dark mine can be with all that happened last year and last summer, but the point of the story was the victory of the Lord, and everyone was very supportive of that. I've never felt so welcomed and so happy in a group of people I barely know. After we told stories and had our picnic lunch, we came back for more training, then prepared for dinner at one of the restaurants we use called Taste of India. Again, so good. After dinner was a tiny bit more training, then bedtime.
Day three: Tuesday, May 20th: Training again yesterday morning, then we had some lunch here at Star. We got our keys (there are 12! I've never had so many before!) and practiced opening the doors, and then had a bit of free time. During this, a group of us went to Target and I got some much needed laundry detergent and a laundry bag to keep my dirties in. After that we went to dinner at Ben's Chili Bowl, a restaurant specific to D.C., and one you definitely have to try if you ever visit. It's pretty incredible! We took our pictures for the website after dinner, which you should check out at www.csm.org then click Washington, D.C. and summer staff 2008 (not sure when they'll be up, but they're coming). We each have bios up there too...or we will have anyway. That night was the most fun because we all played games and just hung out. I lost all the time, but it was fantastic nonetheless. The only sad part was it being Kyle's last night, and we had to say goodbye to her. I was up til one, which was a huge change since I love going to bed around 10 or so and getting some good sleep in.
Day four: Wednesday, May 21st: First of all, I AM ALMOST 21!! On Friday! I can't believe it! Today Mark Harmon, the old city director who had been the director for 20 years or so, came to visit and share some insight with us. After that we all had lunch at Wok N Roll, a Chinese restaurant, where I actually had some sushi that I liked! Shocking. Then we had to try and navigate our way around the prayer tour and all over D.C. which seemed to work for everybody but me. I made us take a wrong turn:(. It ended up taking us about 3 hours or more (I'm bad with time, so I'm not positive) to do a prayer tour which usually lasts around an hour and a half. If you'll come visit me, I'll take you on the tour because I'm pretty positive it's going to be my favorite part of the missions experience with the groups. Now we're back at Star waiting to hear our plans for dinner and the rest of the evening, which I can't wait to hear about. I'm sleeping, but loving it, so I'm game for just about anything. Also, we stopped at a 7/11 and I got some fruit juice called Naked, in the orange mango flavor, which is so good! I have to mention that everyone made fun of the way I pronounce Naked, as well as the way I pronounce pretty much everything. At least I'm entertaining, I guess. Anyways, I will update when I get a chance!
Whoever took the time to read this, I love you and I am sure that I miss you a ton! Keep me in your prayers through this long trip, and I promise to keep you in mine! Course, maybe you should pray that I'll want to come back eventually, because right now I definitely do not.
XOXO,
Hannah
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