After being here at the Peter Pan motel for 5 days setting up for my team, it has come for the rest of the team to arrive!! I have been setting up all the rooms, cleaning, washing, and everything that you could possibly imagine to be ready for 57 students to live here!! It has been a busy week, and a very cold one as well! The weather has been cloudy and overcast-forcing us all to wear pants and fleece jackets. But, it has finally warmed up to 65 and sunny today so that we can all enjoy the California sun and the arrival of all :)
Yesterday, an unexpected arrival occurred and the first of the team arrived, Meg Gaito. After being with 10 guys from my team (and the staff, of course!) it was so nice to finally have another girl here that I will be spending my summer with! We hit it off immediately, and chatted for a good 4 hours after her arrival. I was slightly ignored by the guys, since I had a new friend-but all is good as we all anticipate the arrival of the whole team.
Santa Cruz is an interesting place to be, and to be close to the Boardwalk, beach, Lighthouse, and even the Redwood forest is such a cool place to be this summer :) I don't have much to say, since the project has only officially started today but I am so pumped to finally begin what I have been called to in Santa Cruz, California!!! :)
<3 Melinda
Monday, May 28, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
One week Vacation
I have been in Southern California for almost a week now. Even though I have not made it too Santa Cruz, I have been enjoying the first week of my 12-week journey here with my grandparents. It has been a week full of fun trips to Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Downtown Huntington beach adventures and just relaxing. I am sad to say that I have not actually enjoyed the beach and sun yet, as I have not had time to lay out on the beach. BUT, I have 11 more weeks for that ;)
I actually have to remind myself that I am going to Santa Cruz, as being on vacation for the first week has made me think as if I am going home to Ohio first! I am excited to say that I will be finally in Santa Cruz on Wednesday. My grandparents and I will embark on the 360 mile drive from Huntington Beach (near Los Angeles), up to Santa Cruz. We will take the scenic route over two days, making stops in Santa Barbara, Morrow Bay, and driving up the Pacific Coast highway along the water and mountains.
I am a mix of every emotion heading to Project. But I am prepared for a radically changing summer that is filled with meeting 60+ people that will forever be in my life. To sacrifice my summer, and give it to the glory of the Lord will bring so many blessings and willingness to follow where the Lord wants me, beckons me even further to follow the Lord.
Two more days, and I will be in my summer haven :)
Melinda
I actually have to remind myself that I am going to Santa Cruz, as being on vacation for the first week has made me think as if I am going home to Ohio first! I am excited to say that I will be finally in Santa Cruz on Wednesday. My grandparents and I will embark on the 360 mile drive from Huntington Beach (near Los Angeles), up to Santa Cruz. We will take the scenic route over two days, making stops in Santa Barbara, Morrow Bay, and driving up the Pacific Coast highway along the water and mountains.
I am a mix of every emotion heading to Project. But I am prepared for a radically changing summer that is filled with meeting 60+ people that will forever be in my life. To sacrifice my summer, and give it to the glory of the Lord will bring so many blessings and willingness to follow where the Lord wants me, beckons me even further to follow the Lord.
Two more days, and I will be in my summer haven :)
Melinda
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
It's finally here...
The time has officially come for me to board a plane and leave everything that I know Behind. Tomorrow morning, or Wednesday, I will be leaving for California. It has been hard trying to get ready for the summer, as I have to pack very light and prepare for whatever the next 12 weeks throws at me.
The last week or so has been really hard as the time has come so quickly for me to leave. I did get to hang out with friends and family, see co-workers and have a great time during the week and a half that I have been home. But the thoughts of how I am leaving for 12 weeks, hit me hard several times as I realized that when I leave, I cannot turn around and come home for a weekend like in college. Essentially, I am stranded in California. Some may see this as a good thing, as I am right by the Beach! But, I am leaving what I have come home to in college for a different summer. The thoughts of not wanting to go had crossed my mind, as I became anxious and so very nervous for what was to come. I had become so complacent with going, since I was accepted back in February-but now is the time to re-embrace all my excitement and be excited for what God will use me for.
I am excited, and ready to meet all the friends that I have made on Facebook. All the conversations of flights and travel plans have flooded our group page, and to know that we will all be in the same place in a week and a half, is super exciting in itself! I am ready to be humbled, challenged, and used by God in incredible ways, far past my fears and insecurities. I am indeed making a huge sacrifice for the Lord, and I know that it will be worth it!! :)
Please be in prayer for my travels tomorrow to Huntington Beach, CA as I spend a few days with my grandparents before heading to Santa Cruz next Tuesday/Wednesday. Thanks for all the prayers and support that you have given-and there is more to come as I continue on this journey!!! :))
<3 In Christ, Mel
The last week or so has been really hard as the time has come so quickly for me to leave. I did get to hang out with friends and family, see co-workers and have a great time during the week and a half that I have been home. But the thoughts of how I am leaving for 12 weeks, hit me hard several times as I realized that when I leave, I cannot turn around and come home for a weekend like in college. Essentially, I am stranded in California. Some may see this as a good thing, as I am right by the Beach! But, I am leaving what I have come home to in college for a different summer. The thoughts of not wanting to go had crossed my mind, as I became anxious and so very nervous for what was to come. I had become so complacent with going, since I was accepted back in February-but now is the time to re-embrace all my excitement and be excited for what God will use me for.
I am excited, and ready to meet all the friends that I have made on Facebook. All the conversations of flights and travel plans have flooded our group page, and to know that we will all be in the same place in a week and a half, is super exciting in itself! I am ready to be humbled, challenged, and used by God in incredible ways, far past my fears and insecurities. I am indeed making a huge sacrifice for the Lord, and I know that it will be worth it!! :)
Please be in prayer for my travels tomorrow to Huntington Beach, CA as I spend a few days with my grandparents before heading to Santa Cruz next Tuesday/Wednesday. Thanks for all the prayers and support that you have given-and there is more to come as I continue on this journey!!! :))
<3 In Christ, Mel
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Countdown is here...
Well, in less than ONE week I will be leaving my home state of Ohio and taking up residence in the state of California for 12 weeks- A vacation with my grandparents, and then 11 weeks in Santa Cruz. As it is getting closer, I fight with the feelings of being nervous, excited, and content at the same time. I have known that I was accepted since the end of February, and SCSP has just become a part of my summer plans. I don't think that reality has hit me that I am giving over my summer to God and His work done through me.
Honestly, in talking with my team on Facebook and planning various fun things to do, I don't believe that it has hit them yet either. We are all so excited to spend an amazing summer together, yet we do not know what to expect in the ministry field. The hardest part is remembering why we are all there for, not for a fun summer of living with these random college students but rather there to PROCLAIM the Gospel in such a real way that we are involved in the daily lives of the people that work on the Boardwalk. We are living life with them to show them that we are different, we have a great hope, and want to share this with everyone-even in California! This is where I become excited, to see what the Lord has in store for us :)
I was reading Hebrews 6-10 last night, and I was overcome with understanding of how and why Jesus Christ had come to die for us. The priesthood demanded a change, and with that came a NEW covenant, one that came with eternal redemption from sin! Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross was a replacement for all the animals sacrifice that could not forever wash away our sins. Hebrews 7:26-28 states:
Honestly, in talking with my team on Facebook and planning various fun things to do, I don't believe that it has hit them yet either. We are all so excited to spend an amazing summer together, yet we do not know what to expect in the ministry field. The hardest part is remembering why we are all there for, not for a fun summer of living with these random college students but rather there to PROCLAIM the Gospel in such a real way that we are involved in the daily lives of the people that work on the Boardwalk. We are living life with them to show them that we are different, we have a great hope, and want to share this with everyone-even in California! This is where I become excited, to see what the Lord has in store for us :)
I was reading Hebrews 6-10 last night, and I was overcome with understanding of how and why Jesus Christ had come to die for us. The priesthood demanded a change, and with that came a NEW covenant, one that came with eternal redemption from sin! Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross was a replacement for all the animals sacrifice that could not forever wash away our sins. Hebrews 7:26-28 states:
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men sin their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
How awesome is our Lord and Savior, that He has come ONCE for all of us! To learn this, requires sharing with others! :) This is why I am spending my summer in California.
<3 Mel
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