Slacking at work...

So yesterday was friday...which meant the weekend had arrived! Rachel and I work at the YMCA in the evenings, and help kids with homework after school. Normally there are around 12 kids that come to the club, but yesterday only 2 girls showed up. Mr. Issac (one of the teachers) announced to us that we were going to race. I was a little not sure of what this race was going to be like. Then Mr. Issac and the girls, Erika and Elisha, started bringing out the race track. I then realized that we were going to race remote control cars. The races was wonderful, i was pretty bad, but it was a great way to spend a Friday afternoon.

-ballet-lake-journaling-help the children-

On Wednesday night Rachel, Amy, Stephanie, and I decided to head downtown to watch a ballet performance in Millenium Park. We got there a little late and after only being there for 15 minutes the performers bowed, people clapped, and some began to leave. We were so confused on why the performance was so short. So, we decided to head to the lake, and check it out. We got to see many boats, and the view of the city was gorgeous. When it got dark we decided it was time to head home. On our way back we started hearing music that seemed to be coming from the park. Our curiosity got the best of us and we were quickly drawn towards the music. We then realized that the music was for the ballet, and we had left during intermission. We felt pretty stupid.
Yesterday was Rachel's birthday...Happy Birthday Rachel!!! anyways... Krista had her Dutt's discipline on journaling. She ended up taking us out in the city to 4 different locations. At the locations she read Psalm 30 and we were to journal after she finished reading. The four locations were all very different. One location was at a park, the next was at a train stop downtown, then we were in a food court, and then on a art statue at a farmer's market. Some verses that stuck out to me were... "But joy comes in the moring..." "You have clothed me so my soul will praise you and not be silent..." "You have saved me from those gone before me in the pit..." In the afternoon we worked with an organization that was called Helping Children Of Abuse. Basically we went downtown, stood on a street corner, and asked for money. This was so out of my comfort zone. I found it very hard to do, but it helped me think of my attitude and how i normally react to people asking for money. So... How do YOU react to people when they stop you on a street corner for money?

Stories...

Today was officially my 8th day living in the grand city of Chicago, IL. I feel as if i am getting to know the RAD people i am living with fairly well by just spending time together. Although today i have gotten to know everyone on a whole different level. We spent the whole day telling our personal stories. I was very scared when i first learned that we were doing this because i tend to have a hard time opening up. When i realized that we were all on the same boat, and that it was going to be hard to open up for others as well, then my fear seemed to disappear. It was good to laugh at funny parts in our lives, but i also felt so close to everyone when we cried together. It is great to be living in a house where everyone trusts and respects each other.

hello all!!! as you can see i started a blog. i will be keep posting my different experiences in my year spent with RAD both in Chicago and in Columbia...