Let's go to the Beach

"Let's go to the beach, beach, let's go get away!"

Nicki Minaj says it so well. Lets go to the beach. Cause that's where I am! In sunny San Diego! It's day three and I can't believe I get to spend the next ten weeks here. It's semi surreal being able to say that I get to spend more than just a short vacation here. So nice. 

We arrived Tuesday afternoon after a slight flight delay in Phoenix to clear blue skies and beautiful ocean water. The past few days have been a blur of orientation, meeting my DNA group (small group) and already jumping in with them. The past few days we've been job hunting- I'm currently sitting in Starbucks having completed my job application for here, waiting to go visit another place soon in order to get an application. I feel like competition is stiff here and I'm just hoping and praying I get a job interview within the next few days. I know God will provide, it's just a challenge to accept that right now as it seems semi hopeless. 

The girls in my group are precious- Jen, Tressa and Lauren and our leader Marian. We sat on the beach and poured our hearts out to each other for three hours a few days ago, and I have the sunburn to prove it. It's been fun discovering all the places I can get burned, as it seems every day I figure out where I missed my sunblock. Today is nice and cloudy though so I'm hoping it'll give me some time to not be so red... that'd be golden. But anyway, They're great and I can't wait to get to know them more and more and the weeks go on. 

I live in a condo with 16 girls and 2 bathrooms. needless to say, it's been an interesting transition into trying to find my own space and to find time to get ready with that many people in and out of the bathrooms... but, God is teaching me patience, which is never a fun lesson to learn but so vital. He's already been working in my life, teaching me to have confidence and how to hold my tongue when i disagree with someone because honestly, I don't always have to be right. It's a new thing I've been discovering so that's been nice. I'm on my way to a changed person already!!

I don't have internet at my condo yet, I believe we will be soon, so I don't know how often updates will come, but I will definitely try to keep everyone posted!! :) Tonight is the first Friday Night Live outreach, which will be so FUN! I can't wait, and I'm really hoping the people we were able to talk to on the beach yesterday will come- some awesome stories came from that from various groups that went out so I'm super pumped to see all else God will do! Be praying that tonight goes smoothly and the people who said they wanted to come will actually do it! Will step out in faith and see what He has in store for them. 

I've been meeting so many new people, there's over 100 of us on project so it's been almost like being in the dorm as an RA all over again. I recognize faces but not names yet. It'll come. :) We'll soon all be best friends I'm sure. Anyway. Continue to pray for my job hunt- that God will provide in a big way with something that will challenge me and provide me with a good opportunity to connect to people in the community and also to earn some money as I still am about 200 dollars short of my base support goal. Thanks so much for your prayers already and for those you will continue to pray. I appreciate you all and just the love you share with me. :) Well, Tressa is almost done with her application so I'm going to sign off!

Till I write again,

Jacks

Thought of the Week: Apparently you look like a tourist in San Diego if you're dressed too "conservatively." Looks like we'll be tourists the whole time we're here then! ;)