Things have really started to pick up, and working around student's schedules makes for pretty hectic days. I've been meeting regularly with girls at both American University and Marymount. They have been such a blessing and make me realize how much I love my job! We've also started Bible studies on both campuses which seem to be growing (slowly...but still growing!).
On Monday, September 26 we were given a great opportunity at American. GAiN (Global Aid Network) is an organization Cru partners with multiple times throughout the year. GAiN contacted us and said that the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation had a three day walk in the city where they used 2,000 pink tents. The foundation was going to donate them to GAiN. GAiN was going to pack them up and send them to Somalian refugees in Djibouti. Great, right?! There was one catch. The tents were obviously used, and they were wet, so GAiN needed the man power to set the tents up, air them out and repackage them so they could be sent to the refugees. My team (DC Metro) was given 100 tents which we set up on the quad at American University! 100 pink tents in the middle of campus obviously attracted tons of students. We asked the students as they walked by to help us set up or tear down the tents. It was a great way to serve and give students the opportunity to help these refugees! American University's students are very interested in community service and social justice, so we knew this opportunity would be great to do on their campus.
When we got back after the long day of setting up and tearing down tents, we had an e-mail from the school newspaper wanting to interview us for a story that was going to be run the following week! (What great publicity for Cru, right??!!)
On a more personal level, I'm adjusting to life in the city well! Here are a few things I've learned along the way:
1. LEARN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN! Don't try and go anywhere between 4pm and 7pm on any given day.
2. Drive aggressively (not sure if I'm proud of that one)
3. Act like you've been living here all your life (it paid off one day when two people in the metro asked me about where their stop was!)
4. Be willing to talk and hear about politics...all the time (I'm slowly becoming more interested in it!)
5. Patience is not a common virtue.
6. As a college student, it's not unusual to be involved in 10 different clubs at once (I'm guessing sleep is optional????)
7. If you're from anywhere in the south, people either love or make fun of your accent (yes, it's happened to me MANY times)
8. Most people who live here aren't locals. They are young professionals who live here for a few years and then move again.
9. There are rules about HOV highways (still haven't figured all those out yet)
10. When there is construction on any road, steer clear! (it took me two hours to get somewhere that should have taken 20 minutes!)
A quick last note: I've found a GREAT church! I've gotten involved in a small group Bible study with people my age, and I'm really enjoying it!
Okay, one more thing. This weekend is Fall Retreat! We're going to Northbay Adventure Camp in Maryland with the University of Maryland, Towsen and Salisbury. Pray for a great time and more students from DC Metro to sign up!
Thanks for your interest in what God is doing in the city! I'll try and do a better job of keeping you updated :)
