I've been absolutely terrible about blogging these last few weeks and I'm going to try to remedy that this weekend, but I wanted to post a quick blog about this week...
I'm at Centrifuge (youth camp) this week with the Junior High students from Clovis Hills. It's definitely been an experience. They are so high energy and I'm definitely beginning to feel the effects of being "on the go" for most of the summer (not to mention our quest to see as much of California in one week as we could last week). For the most part, the week has been good and I've really enjoyed getting to hang out with them and get to know them. Centrifuge is a little different than what I am used to as far as Youth Camp is concerned, but I'm learning to like it more every day. :) Anyway, that's what I'm up to this week. I'll write more when I get home tomorrow about what I've been up to the last couple of weeks. I'm also going to work on posting pictures from our trip around California as well as the Sleepover and things like that...:) Love y'all and can't wait to see you soon!
Kimberly
Friday, July 27, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Sacramento, San Francisco, and SoCal...
So this is our "off" week...which is Summer Missionary talk for "Let's see as much of the State of California as we can in 6 days." Therefore, I just got home from two days in Sacramento, today I was in San Francisco, and tomorrow I'm leaving to go to Southern California (aka LA and the OC). It's been fun and I'll definitely update more when I get the chance, but for now I'm going to bed so I can be up early in the morning to head south!! YAY FOR CALI!!!! :)
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Reality
I was reminded this afternoon that my time in California is coming to an end. In four weeks, I'll be on a plane, headed back to Texas. While it's definitely the biggest and best of the contiguous 48, I'm already sad about leaving this place I've called home since June 4. Not only am I heading back to Texas, but headed back to all things Baylor, Waco, and the real world. I can honestly say I'm not ready for that at all. It's nice to be away from everything this summer, to go to a place where noone knows me and I can be just me, with no expectations of what I "should be", to be in a place so foreign, yet so familiar, to not have to worry about school, KXA, or anything. All of that to say, please pray for me as I wind down my time here and I get ready to come back to Texas. I know I have to go back, but right now (minus seeing my friends and family), I'm having a hard time wanting to because I don't want to have to deal with all of the "stuff" that's waiting for me when I get back. Also, pray that God will give me some kind of direction about 1) where to go to church next year (either back to Grace Temple to play the piano or somewhere else) and 2) life after graduation. Thanks. I really appreciate it.
Kimberly
Kimberly
Friday, July 13, 2007
Priceless
Sorry it's taken forever and a day to update this! I've been feeling a little lazy...:) Anyway, on to the excitement that is my adventure in California...:)
I guess I'll start with Sunday...it was a really good day! Church was so great! Dave's (my supervisor for those of you who might have forgotten...) wife, Kimberly, taught/preached on Sunday morning (She's the Pastor of Worship and Arts) and it was phenomenal! She spoke on the work of the Holy Spirit and how our lives are changed after the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. She talked about allowing the Holy Spirit to take control of things in our lives and asked us to think about those things that we were not letting go of. It really challenged me to think because there are so many things in my life that I want to keep for myself and not let the Holy Spirit have control of because I think I can do it better. There was definitely some conviction happening in my heart! On Sunday night, I went to ICON, the college group @ Clovis Hills and there the topic of freedom was discussed. My friend Hayley gave her testimony and it was so sweet to hear how she is experiencing freedom in her life. It really challenged me to daily ask God to help me experience freedom in my life from things that are holding me back from being all that He created me to be. Afterwards, we went to Starbucks with a few friends (yes, I have friends my own age here now! It's so exciting!!!) and it was definitely good to hang out with people my own age and get to know each other better. (Just so I won't be misunderstood, I have had friends the whole time I've been here, but it was super exciting to have people to hang out with after college group on sunday night...:) I don't know why, it just was...I'm weird, what can I say?)
Anyway, on Monday Kara and I went to Shaver Lake with some more of our college age friends! It's about 30/40 miles from Clovis up in the moutains!! It was so beautiful and so amazing! We had a great time. It was fun to relax and swim in the amazingness of God's creation (and man's too I guess...).
Tuesday began our week of girliness, that which we call Priceless. We played games and did a scavenger hunt of sorts on Tuesday afternoon. It was great fun and definitely interesting. Most of the girls that were there I hadn't had a chance to meet yet, so it was fun to get to know them. Yesterday (Wednesday), we discusses modesty and what that means to us as Christians. It was definitely interesting to hear their comments about what was and was not appropriate and I had to remind myself several times that even though we're all in the USA, culture is definitely different here than back home. I guess the whole modesty issue has always really frustrated me to no end. I know it's hard to find cute clothes to cover up your body, but it's possible. Millions of people do it everyday. I guess it's just one of those topics that I have a hard time finding sympathizing with people about because it's always been so cut and dry for me. I just pray that something we said or did will make a difference in one girl's attitude about clothing. Today we talked about purity and relationships. It was definitely an interesting (and at times awkward) discussion, but one that I feel like is so important. :) After talking about how far is too far (as far as physical purity) as well as emotional purity and the future consequences of it all, we asked the girls to write down some boundaries they have set for themselves as well as some qualities they are looking for in boys. We challenged them to stick to those boundaries and never settle for less than God's best. It was definitely a good reminder for me too as I made my hundredth list of qualities and boundaries. Oh how important it is to know those things before even thinking about dating a guy! Anyway, it's been an interestingly good week of hanging out with the girls and hearing from God's Word about some of these issues that we as girls struggle with especially during the teenage years.
Tomorrow night is our sleepover and even more girliness! :) I'm excited, but know that I need to go to bed so I'll have the energy I need to stay up all night tomorrow night! Whoohoo!!! :) Anyway, the week has been good, exhausting, but definitely good. God is good and it's so much fun to serve Him everyday! :) Love all of you and can't wait to see you in a month!
Kimberly
I guess I'll start with Sunday...it was a really good day! Church was so great! Dave's (my supervisor for those of you who might have forgotten...) wife, Kimberly, taught/preached on Sunday morning (She's the Pastor of Worship and Arts) and it was phenomenal! She spoke on the work of the Holy Spirit and how our lives are changed after the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. She talked about allowing the Holy Spirit to take control of things in our lives and asked us to think about those things that we were not letting go of. It really challenged me to think because there are so many things in my life that I want to keep for myself and not let the Holy Spirit have control of because I think I can do it better. There was definitely some conviction happening in my heart! On Sunday night, I went to ICON, the college group @ Clovis Hills and there the topic of freedom was discussed. My friend Hayley gave her testimony and it was so sweet to hear how she is experiencing freedom in her life. It really challenged me to daily ask God to help me experience freedom in my life from things that are holding me back from being all that He created me to be. Afterwards, we went to Starbucks with a few friends (yes, I have friends my own age here now! It's so exciting!!!) and it was definitely good to hang out with people my own age and get to know each other better. (Just so I won't be misunderstood, I have had friends the whole time I've been here, but it was super exciting to have people to hang out with after college group on sunday night...:) I don't know why, it just was...I'm weird, what can I say?)
Anyway, on Monday Kara and I went to Shaver Lake with some more of our college age friends! It's about 30/40 miles from Clovis up in the moutains!! It was so beautiful and so amazing! We had a great time. It was fun to relax and swim in the amazingness of God's creation (and man's too I guess...).
Tuesday began our week of girliness, that which we call Priceless. We played games and did a scavenger hunt of sorts on Tuesday afternoon. It was great fun and definitely interesting. Most of the girls that were there I hadn't had a chance to meet yet, so it was fun to get to know them. Yesterday (Wednesday), we discusses modesty and what that means to us as Christians. It was definitely interesting to hear their comments about what was and was not appropriate and I had to remind myself several times that even though we're all in the USA, culture is definitely different here than back home. I guess the whole modesty issue has always really frustrated me to no end. I know it's hard to find cute clothes to cover up your body, but it's possible. Millions of people do it everyday. I guess it's just one of those topics that I have a hard time finding sympathizing with people about because it's always been so cut and dry for me. I just pray that something we said or did will make a difference in one girl's attitude about clothing. Today we talked about purity and relationships. It was definitely an interesting (and at times awkward) discussion, but one that I feel like is so important. :) After talking about how far is too far (as far as physical purity) as well as emotional purity and the future consequences of it all, we asked the girls to write down some boundaries they have set for themselves as well as some qualities they are looking for in boys. We challenged them to stick to those boundaries and never settle for less than God's best. It was definitely a good reminder for me too as I made my hundredth list of qualities and boundaries. Oh how important it is to know those things before even thinking about dating a guy! Anyway, it's been an interestingly good week of hanging out with the girls and hearing from God's Word about some of these issues that we as girls struggle with especially during the teenage years.
Tomorrow night is our sleepover and even more girliness! :) I'm excited, but know that I need to go to bed so I'll have the energy I need to stay up all night tomorrow night! Whoohoo!!! :) Anyway, the week has been good, exhausting, but definitely good. God is good and it's so much fun to serve Him everyday! :) Love all of you and can't wait to see you in a month!
Kimberly
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Fireworks and the 4th of July!
This week has been full of 4th of July activities! On Tuesday, we helped out at the Freedom Tailgate party @ Clovis Hills. It was a lot of fun, but very hot! :) We attempted to put two volleyball nets, but were very unsuccessful. :) Let's just say that it's harder than it looks (or maybe we're just dumb). I worked at the drink booth for most of the evening. It was fun getting to hang out with some of the kids and others that were there. :) My favorite part of the evening was definitely the fireworks. :) First, I love California nights---it actually cools off and it's just amazing. :) They did a display of fireworks that they were selling at their fireworks booths and then there was an aerial display. (Everything that you buy at a fireworks stand has to be less than a certain height here...almost all of them are small fountains that you sit on the ground) Anyway, the aerial fireworks were good and it definitely made me think about the good 'ole days of Pineywoods and watching fireworks there several times a summer. :) Afterwards, we cleaned up and stuff. It was a long day, but it was fun. :) I love fireworks (and watching people watch firewords) so it was all worth it. :) At the end of the night, Dan (the guy in charge of the Tailgate) told Kara and I that we worked like men. That's definitely the most interesting compliment I've gotten in a while. :)
On the 4th of July Kara and I worked at on the Clovis Hills Youth Fireworks stands. Yes, the church sells fireworks. Everyone sells fireworks here-the high school bands, the football teams, the churches, everyone! :) It was a long, hot (105 degrees!), dirty day, but lots of fun. We got to hang out with Thilani all day and meet some of the youth parents, so it was a lot of fun. :) It was good to get to meet and talk with other people outside of the church as well and tell them what the proceeds of the stand were going to (youth mission trips and camps). My favorite scenes of the day were definitely when dads brought their sons to buy fireworks. They would all get so excited, it was so cute! :) Anyway, it was a lot of fun! :)
Well, that's all about it for now. I'm beginning to compile a list of my favorite things that are "different" about California. :) Love you guys and miss you all!!! :)
-Kimberly
On the 4th of July Kara and I worked at on the Clovis Hills Youth Fireworks stands. Yes, the church sells fireworks. Everyone sells fireworks here-the high school bands, the football teams, the churches, everyone! :) It was a long, hot (105 degrees!), dirty day, but lots of fun. We got to hang out with Thilani all day and meet some of the youth parents, so it was a lot of fun. :) It was good to get to meet and talk with other people outside of the church as well and tell them what the proceeds of the stand were going to (youth mission trips and camps). My favorite scenes of the day were definitely when dads brought their sons to buy fireworks. They would all get so excited, it was so cute! :) Anyway, it was a lot of fun! :)
Well, that's all about it for now. I'm beginning to compile a list of my favorite things that are "different" about California. :) Love you guys and miss you all!!! :)
-Kimberly
Monday, July 2, 2007
Obedience...
Wow...World Changers was amazing. Until last week, I had never been on a World Changers project. I'd always heard about it and wanted to go or do something like it, but never had the opportunity. I think it's now one of my favorite things I've ever done---right up there with Pineywoods and Super Summer. :)
We arrived on Saturday afternoon after the grueling 20 minute ride across town to Fresno Pacific University, where we stayed all week. Saturday and Sunday were mostly filled with Orientation type of things along with meeting our Crews that we would be working in all week and going to the church on Sunday morning that would be feeding us lunch the rest of the week. We also visited our work site and met the homeowner, Mr. Kelley. From the beginning, I knew our crew would be great, but I never could have guessed just how much fun we would have or how awesome a crew we had until later in the week. We worked at our work site Monday-Friday, painting, gardening, and fixing other little things that needed to be fixed. I had so much fun working and getting dirty. I think that I was probably the dirtiest person on our crew almost every day. It was GREAT! :) It was hot, but not too hot. I think it might have gotten over 100 one day, but other than that, it was just in the mid/upper 90s (which is good for Fresno/Clovis during this time of the year). I really enjoyed getting to know everyone on our crew and see us all work together. Our Crew Chief, Charles (he was from Clovis Hills!!!) ,did such a great job and was so encouraging throughout the week! I couldn't have asked for a better crew! :) It was really sad on Friday night to have to say goodbye to all of them.
Even though I really enjoyed getting dirty and working hard all week, worship was probably my favorite time of each day. The theme for World Changers this summer is Obedience, Choose to Serve. Dave, my awesome Supervisor for the summer, was the Project Coordinator (basically in charge of all things World Changers on the Clovis end of things) as well as the Worship Pastor at night. Every night, God used him to speak directly to my heart and show me things about Himself that I needed reminding of or to be shown for the first time. It was absolutely incredible. God definitely taught me a lot about obedience, especially concerning obedience about my future. I came to California this summer with hopes that He would show me what the next step in life would be after I graduate from Baylor next May. While I've had "plans" for a while now that consist of going to grad school at Baylor, I'm just not really sure that's what God wants me to do anymore and I don't really feel at peace about that decision at all. I know that some would say that's because I'm in a new place and new people and I tend to doubt myself when I'm in situations like this, but I really think I've always felt uneasy about these plans and it's just now becoming real to me that this is going on. Anyway, back to World Changers. As Dave talked about obedience all week, I was reminded of a lot of things and retaught some others.
1) Serving God out of love and not obligation or fear is of the utmost importance. While I believe that I do serve God out of love, I know that those other two motivations for serving God creep back into my life sometimes when I get lazy with my relationship with God. God really challenged me to stay on top of things and always be motivated to serve Him out of love.
2) Serving God in everything I do is so crucial---even brushing my teeth!
3) While most people struggle with saying yes to big things that God asks them to do (be a missionary, go to Africa, etc), I find those things really easy to say yes to, it's the smaller things in life that I struggle with being obedient in. While I don't know why God isn't revealing my next steps in life to me yet, I have a feeling it's because He's teaching me to be obedient in the little things because He knows I don't have a problem with the big things.
4) God has given me passions and He wants me to use them for His Glory. He wants me to follow in His will and as I do, my desires will become like His. He loves me so much and He really does my best interests at his heart. I can see in my life where the passions He has given me have been used and are being used for His Glory. I can see too how when I am in good relationship with Him, my desires are very different than when I am not. I'm working on believing every single day, that He loves me so much that He wants only the best for me. I know that seems rediculous, but I guess there have been some things that have gone in my life over the last several months that have caused me to wonder about this truth. I'm working on every morning, waking up and claiming this to be true in my life. So far, so good. :)
5) I'm going to use this summer to practice walking in obedience to God. I don't have the distractions here that I normally would at school or home and so I think it's a good place to practice, so that when I do get back to my normal environments, I will already be good at it (hopefully).
6) I posted a song on Thursday afternoon that had really spoken to me throughout World Changers. I guess it really speaks for itself, but my prayer is that God would consume me from the inside out, that I would be changed from the inside out. I really like the 2nd verse: Your will above all else, My purpose remains, The art of losing myself, In bringing You praise. That's my heartbeat right now---that His will will be supreme in my life, above everything that I want and desire, that I will lose myself for His glory, to love Him and serve Him from the inside out. I know that as my desires and will become more like His, that my purpose is still the same---to know Him and make Him known. Oh how I love this song!! It is my heartbeat and I pray that I can sing the words honestly ever single day of my life---that I give Him control of my life. How fitting for a week about obedience!!! :)
Anyway, that's just a small portion of the things that God is teaching me right now. I hope that as the summer continues, that He will continue to teach me new things and continue to change me from the inside out.
A few prayer requests for this week:
-Priceless, our girls-only event that's happening next week for the Clovis Hills girls-that Kara and I will get everything together this week and not be stressed out about it all
-solid relationships with the girls here in Clovis built on trust and authenticity
-my relationship with my partner, Kara
-Me-vulnerability with those around me, that I wouldn't feel like I have to keep everything in, but that I can share what is going on in my heart and mind with those that God has placed around me this summer
-Deeper relationships with people---not just the fluffy stuff
Thanks y'all!!! :) Hope you all have a great week!
I'm lovin' it!
Kimberly
We arrived on Saturday afternoon after the grueling 20 minute ride across town to Fresno Pacific University, where we stayed all week. Saturday and Sunday were mostly filled with Orientation type of things along with meeting our Crews that we would be working in all week and going to the church on Sunday morning that would be feeding us lunch the rest of the week. We also visited our work site and met the homeowner, Mr. Kelley. From the beginning, I knew our crew would be great, but I never could have guessed just how much fun we would have or how awesome a crew we had until later in the week. We worked at our work site Monday-Friday, painting, gardening, and fixing other little things that needed to be fixed. I had so much fun working and getting dirty. I think that I was probably the dirtiest person on our crew almost every day. It was GREAT! :) It was hot, but not too hot. I think it might have gotten over 100 one day, but other than that, it was just in the mid/upper 90s (which is good for Fresno/Clovis during this time of the year). I really enjoyed getting to know everyone on our crew and see us all work together. Our Crew Chief, Charles (he was from Clovis Hills!!!) ,did such a great job and was so encouraging throughout the week! I couldn't have asked for a better crew! :) It was really sad on Friday night to have to say goodbye to all of them.
Even though I really enjoyed getting dirty and working hard all week, worship was probably my favorite time of each day. The theme for World Changers this summer is Obedience, Choose to Serve. Dave, my awesome Supervisor for the summer, was the Project Coordinator (basically in charge of all things World Changers on the Clovis end of things) as well as the Worship Pastor at night. Every night, God used him to speak directly to my heart and show me things about Himself that I needed reminding of or to be shown for the first time. It was absolutely incredible. God definitely taught me a lot about obedience, especially concerning obedience about my future. I came to California this summer with hopes that He would show me what the next step in life would be after I graduate from Baylor next May. While I've had "plans" for a while now that consist of going to grad school at Baylor, I'm just not really sure that's what God wants me to do anymore and I don't really feel at peace about that decision at all. I know that some would say that's because I'm in a new place and new people and I tend to doubt myself when I'm in situations like this, but I really think I've always felt uneasy about these plans and it's just now becoming real to me that this is going on. Anyway, back to World Changers. As Dave talked about obedience all week, I was reminded of a lot of things and retaught some others.
1) Serving God out of love and not obligation or fear is of the utmost importance. While I believe that I do serve God out of love, I know that those other two motivations for serving God creep back into my life sometimes when I get lazy with my relationship with God. God really challenged me to stay on top of things and always be motivated to serve Him out of love.
2) Serving God in everything I do is so crucial---even brushing my teeth!
3) While most people struggle with saying yes to big things that God asks them to do (be a missionary, go to Africa, etc), I find those things really easy to say yes to, it's the smaller things in life that I struggle with being obedient in. While I don't know why God isn't revealing my next steps in life to me yet, I have a feeling it's because He's teaching me to be obedient in the little things because He knows I don't have a problem with the big things.
4) God has given me passions and He wants me to use them for His Glory. He wants me to follow in His will and as I do, my desires will become like His. He loves me so much and He really does my best interests at his heart. I can see in my life where the passions He has given me have been used and are being used for His Glory. I can see too how when I am in good relationship with Him, my desires are very different than when I am not. I'm working on believing every single day, that He loves me so much that He wants only the best for me. I know that seems rediculous, but I guess there have been some things that have gone in my life over the last several months that have caused me to wonder about this truth. I'm working on every morning, waking up and claiming this to be true in my life. So far, so good. :)
5) I'm going to use this summer to practice walking in obedience to God. I don't have the distractions here that I normally would at school or home and so I think it's a good place to practice, so that when I do get back to my normal environments, I will already be good at it (hopefully).
6) I posted a song on Thursday afternoon that had really spoken to me throughout World Changers. I guess it really speaks for itself, but my prayer is that God would consume me from the inside out, that I would be changed from the inside out. I really like the 2nd verse: Your will above all else, My purpose remains, The art of losing myself, In bringing You praise. That's my heartbeat right now---that His will will be supreme in my life, above everything that I want and desire, that I will lose myself for His glory, to love Him and serve Him from the inside out. I know that as my desires and will become more like His, that my purpose is still the same---to know Him and make Him known. Oh how I love this song!! It is my heartbeat and I pray that I can sing the words honestly ever single day of my life---that I give Him control of my life. How fitting for a week about obedience!!! :)
Anyway, that's just a small portion of the things that God is teaching me right now. I hope that as the summer continues, that He will continue to teach me new things and continue to change me from the inside out.
A few prayer requests for this week:
-Priceless, our girls-only event that's happening next week for the Clovis Hills girls-that Kara and I will get everything together this week and not be stressed out about it all
-solid relationships with the girls here in Clovis built on trust and authenticity
-my relationship with my partner, Kara
-Me-vulnerability with those around me, that I wouldn't feel like I have to keep everything in, but that I can share what is going on in my heart and mind with those that God has placed around me this summer
-Deeper relationships with people---not just the fluffy stuff
Thanks y'all!!! :) Hope you all have a great week!
I'm lovin' it!
Kimberly
Pictures!!
I finally uploaded most of my pictures from the summer!! Whoohoo!! For all three of you that read this, I know you're super excited! :) Anyway, below are the links. Let me know if they don't work. I'll update later today about World Changers because I know you're all dying to know all about it...:)
http://baylor.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2113314&l=2232c&id=9203501 (the first two weeks I was here-Orientation and Clovis)
http://baylor.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2113325&l=05b6c&id=9203501 (San Francisco and World Changers---I know there are no "working" pictures from San Francisco, they advised us not to take our cameras with us each day because of distraction and risk of it getting stolen)
Also, another fun link for you...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WwBMij2Yg0 (This is the World Changers Love Song written by the amazing staff at World Changers last week. It's absolutely hilarious!!!!)
http://baylor.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2113314&l=2232c&id=9203501 (the first two weeks I was here-Orientation and Clovis)
http://baylor.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2113325&l=05b6c&id=9203501 (San Francisco and World Changers---I know there are no "working" pictures from San Francisco, they advised us not to take our cameras with us each day because of distraction and risk of it getting stolen)
Also, another fun link for you...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WwBMij2Yg0 (This is the World Changers Love Song written by the amazing staff at World Changers last week. It's absolutely hilarious!!!!)
Sunday, July 1, 2007
San Francisco, Part 2
Wednesday
Wednesday we spent the entire day at the San Francisco Rescue Mission. It was definitely an interesting experience and probably the hardest day I experienced in San Francisco, simply because I do not like chaotic situations when I don't have control over them or I can't fix them. I spent most of my day helping clean up different areas of the Rescue Mission as well as stuffing envelopes with newsletters. I did get to attend the Celebration Service that afternoon, which is required for those that want to eat the meal that is served afterwards. We served the men and women in attendance a meal afterward and then cleaned up. I think what made the day a little difficult was that I didn't get to have much interaction with the people we served at all. I don't mind doing behind the scenes work and serving when no one else sees, but I really would have loved to have more interaction with those that were at the Rescue Mission that day. All in all, it was a long day of work and I was definitely glad when it was over, but it was a good experience and definitely a good reminder that just because I may know a better way to get something done, that isn't always the way things get done, if that makes sense). We had the evening off on Wednesday and we got to go to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39!! It was so much fun!! :) We ate at Bubba Gump's (yes, from the movie Forrest Gump) and shopped around for souvenirs. It was so much fun to just relax and hang out with the kids and get to see some of the sights of San Francisco...:)
Thursday
Thursday was my favorite day of the entire week! We went to the Haight-Ashbury Food Program on Thursday morning and it was AMAZING!!! I loved it!! Definitely my favorite place we went all week! :) The HAFP is located in Lower Haight-Ashbury and has no Christian affiliation whatsoever. They have a Food Pantry once a week and serve a very delicious lunch 4 or 5 days a week (I can't remember what they said) to those in need in the Haight-Ashbury District. We worked all morning at preparing the food for lunch. I chopped zuchini and potatoes until I thought my fingers might fall off, but it was all fun!! The volunteers there were just amazing and so much fun to work with. It was probably the happiest place we were at all week and definitely the most helpful as far as working with volunteers. The food there was amazing too! They have a chef-training program there and the food was so good, I would be willing to pay to eat there! :) We ate lunch and then served for almost two hours. It was the first time all week that I had had a lot of interaction with people (minus the afternoon at the day care place) and it was so much fun to talk with the men and women that came through the line. I hope and pray that I was able to small ray of sunshine in their lives that day. It was just so much fun, which I found to be amazing because there was never any formal mention of God or the Church or anything. The people there simply want to meet the needs of their neighborhood and do it with a smile. It was so cool!!!! I also got to talk to their Executive Director, Michael, for a little while during the morning and it was good to make that contact. We talked about funding and different social work type stuff. They don't have a social worker on staff, but hopefully will be able to afford one soon. Out of all of the places that we served at, that was the one that I would probably be the most willing to work at and I thought I would never say that because I don't really feel called to inner city ministry or anything like that. So, we'll see what happens with that. :) Thursday afternoon we did the "Meet a Need" Exercise, where our City Host gave us $20 and sent us out into the Haight-Ashbury District to try to meet someone's needs. It was an interesting experience and I found that when we were finished, I was overwhelmed with the amount of need that there was and how inadequate $20 was in meeting those needs. It was a good experience in realizing that anything can be used to help meet needs, even if we feel like it is inadequate. We bought a blanket for a couple of girls and bought a man something to eat with our money. It was really neat. Haight-Ashbury is definitely an interesting place. :) Thursday night was Burrito night and worship with the other groups @ CSM and then our final debriefing session.
Friday
We came home on Friday! Whoohoo!! We did stop by the Full House house before we left though and I took some pictures! It is supposedly the house that is seen in the credits part at the beginning of the show. :) Our trip home was good and pretty uneventful. I loved hanging out with the junior highers some more. They are definitely a very cool, very hard working group of kids!! :) I love 'em!
As I look back at my week in San Francisco, there are a few things that stick out in my mind (some spiritual, others not):
-We as the church need to work in finding a balance between meeting people's physical and emotional needs vs. spiritual needs. This is an area in my life that God is really working on me. I know that there is a delicate balance between the two, and to find that balance is so crucial.
-I don't like chaos when I'm not in control of it.
-I really liked the city of San Francisco, but I began to feel really claustrophobic by the end of the week. Tall buildings and lots of hills just aren't my thing for an extended period of time. :) I was definitely glad to be back where there is some sense of wide-open spaces by Friday.
-God is at work through a variety of agencies and organizations in San Francisco and I'm really glad I got to be a small part of that.
So, that was my week in San Francisco. I'm working at posting all of my pictures on the internet and I'll post a link as soon as I get them all up so that you can see them! :)
Kimberly :)
Wednesday we spent the entire day at the San Francisco Rescue Mission. It was definitely an interesting experience and probably the hardest day I experienced in San Francisco, simply because I do not like chaotic situations when I don't have control over them or I can't fix them. I spent most of my day helping clean up different areas of the Rescue Mission as well as stuffing envelopes with newsletters. I did get to attend the Celebration Service that afternoon, which is required for those that want to eat the meal that is served afterwards. We served the men and women in attendance a meal afterward and then cleaned up. I think what made the day a little difficult was that I didn't get to have much interaction with the people we served at all. I don't mind doing behind the scenes work and serving when no one else sees, but I really would have loved to have more interaction with those that were at the Rescue Mission that day. All in all, it was a long day of work and I was definitely glad when it was over, but it was a good experience and definitely a good reminder that just because I may know a better way to get something done, that isn't always the way things get done, if that makes sense). We had the evening off on Wednesday and we got to go to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39!! It was so much fun!! :) We ate at Bubba Gump's (yes, from the movie Forrest Gump) and shopped around for souvenirs. It was so much fun to just relax and hang out with the kids and get to see some of the sights of San Francisco...:)
Thursday
Thursday was my favorite day of the entire week! We went to the Haight-Ashbury Food Program on Thursday morning and it was AMAZING!!! I loved it!! Definitely my favorite place we went all week! :) The HAFP is located in Lower Haight-Ashbury and has no Christian affiliation whatsoever. They have a Food Pantry once a week and serve a very delicious lunch 4 or 5 days a week (I can't remember what they said) to those in need in the Haight-Ashbury District. We worked all morning at preparing the food for lunch. I chopped zuchini and potatoes until I thought my fingers might fall off, but it was all fun!! The volunteers there were just amazing and so much fun to work with. It was probably the happiest place we were at all week and definitely the most helpful as far as working with volunteers. The food there was amazing too! They have a chef-training program there and the food was so good, I would be willing to pay to eat there! :) We ate lunch and then served for almost two hours. It was the first time all week that I had had a lot of interaction with people (minus the afternoon at the day care place) and it was so much fun to talk with the men and women that came through the line. I hope and pray that I was able to small ray of sunshine in their lives that day. It was just so much fun, which I found to be amazing because there was never any formal mention of God or the Church or anything. The people there simply want to meet the needs of their neighborhood and do it with a smile. It was so cool!!!! I also got to talk to their Executive Director, Michael, for a little while during the morning and it was good to make that contact. We talked about funding and different social work type stuff. They don't have a social worker on staff, but hopefully will be able to afford one soon. Out of all of the places that we served at, that was the one that I would probably be the most willing to work at and I thought I would never say that because I don't really feel called to inner city ministry or anything like that. So, we'll see what happens with that. :) Thursday afternoon we did the "Meet a Need" Exercise, where our City Host gave us $20 and sent us out into the Haight-Ashbury District to try to meet someone's needs. It was an interesting experience and I found that when we were finished, I was overwhelmed with the amount of need that there was and how inadequate $20 was in meeting those needs. It was a good experience in realizing that anything can be used to help meet needs, even if we feel like it is inadequate. We bought a blanket for a couple of girls and bought a man something to eat with our money. It was really neat. Haight-Ashbury is definitely an interesting place. :) Thursday night was Burrito night and worship with the other groups @ CSM and then our final debriefing session.
Friday
We came home on Friday! Whoohoo!! We did stop by the Full House house before we left though and I took some pictures! It is supposedly the house that is seen in the credits part at the beginning of the show. :) Our trip home was good and pretty uneventful. I loved hanging out with the junior highers some more. They are definitely a very cool, very hard working group of kids!! :) I love 'em!
As I look back at my week in San Francisco, there are a few things that stick out in my mind (some spiritual, others not):
-We as the church need to work in finding a balance between meeting people's physical and emotional needs vs. spiritual needs. This is an area in my life that God is really working on me. I know that there is a delicate balance between the two, and to find that balance is so crucial.
-I don't like chaos when I'm not in control of it.
-I really liked the city of San Francisco, but I began to feel really claustrophobic by the end of the week. Tall buildings and lots of hills just aren't my thing for an extended period of time. :) I was definitely glad to be back where there is some sense of wide-open spaces by Friday.
-God is at work through a variety of agencies and organizations in San Francisco and I'm really glad I got to be a small part of that.
So, that was my week in San Francisco. I'm working at posting all of my pictures on the internet and I'll post a link as soon as I get them all up so that you can see them! :)
Kimberly :)
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