First Day in Chicago

Today has been a very long, tiring, and exciting day. My day began with getting up at 3:45 to get on a 7:25 plane flight to head out to Chicago, IL. Saying goodbye to my family brought tears to my eyes but it also gave me a warmth in my heart knowing that I will be missed. Before we came we had to read 1 Peter to get us used to what we will be studying while were here. Here Peter is talking to believers about the qualities that a believer has. He is telling them to live their life without fear while they are here on earth because we have already inherited imperishable life and have hope through God. This really got be through my underlying fear of coming to Chicago.  I look at my past summers and they were great but I was not growing in my relationship with God by sitting on the beach all day and working at a restaurant without any intentions of sharing the gospel. So, with this in mind I have no doubt that God will make this summer more different than any other. Peter tells us to live lives that are noticed by unbelievers and bring glory to God. This is my goal for the summer. I do not want to go unnoticed by my unbelieving friends when I return to my campus at ECU and I also want to learn how to glorify my God in everything I do.

Well back to my first day here, when I landed in Chicago we were picked up by some of the staff members as we began our journey into the city. It was exactly what I expected plus a lot of construction! haha Someone told me that here they have two seasons: Winter and Construction. Guess i'm stuck between the yellow cones this summer! Anyways. I am staying with 68 other college students and 14 staff families (families meaning there are a TON of kids here!) in an apartment complex right next to the University of Illinois. 14 of the students, including myself, are from ECU's Campus Crusade for Christ. We noticed real quickly that we are the biggest group of students here that are all from the same school. This gives ECU a big name on this project ("Southern")! haha just kidding. But my apartment is VERY nice. I have my own room, furnished, and my own bathroom. Praise God! Today overall could not have went better as God helped me get settled in I met the lady, Andrea, that will be discipling me throughout the summer. I also already made relationships with a ton of other students here. I am very excited to spend the summer with these loving students and trained staff members. Beginning this weekend we will have evangelism training (sharing the gospel), job searching, and of course some "Project Fun!"

Thank you all so much who are taking the time to read this and who have supported me through money and prayers! I could not have made it here this morning without your support and prayers! I love you all and can't wait to give you more detail about my summer excitement here on my FIRST SUMMER PROJECT in  CHICAGO, IL.