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