You are blessed beyond belief my dear.

So it hit me this week, I only have TWO more weeks. I didn't really have to say goodbye last time I left this city, because I knew that I'd be coming back...but here I am facing this very sad reality. 

My past couple weeks here, in pictures:

Kindergarten graduation- Silas, DeMarcus and Selena! :)

The 2nd graduation I went to my first week here, the 5th graders from United Playerz!

Jessica practicing to walk in her heals before graduation. High Heel Walking 101 on Wednesday Nights ;)

Memorial Day Carnival!

Raymond! LOVE this guy!

Memorial Day Carnival- Titus

JUSTIN- The other intern and housemate! We've been going on lots of explorations together.

Jessica and John Michael playing basketball at the carnival.

Tony started a Ro-Sham-Bo tournament.

Tony! This man ends every sentence with 'Praise the Lord'. LOVE him!

Oh Ava

I love Thursday mornings, I go with Justin over to Crossroads to meet with Pastor Mike (so he doesn't get lost on the BART) and I head over to Sightglass, super cute coffee shop and roastery.  These mornings make me feel so alive! Maybe it's just because I don't drink coffee as often (ahh being on a budget!) but I think it's more of waking up early and spending some time with the Lord.

Every Monday Mandi, Justin and I head over to the food bank to do the shopping for Crossroads. This was a classy find- 'Browny Mix'.  There's usually some very unusual things, however some pretty great things as well.

Raymond laying down a beat while Cameron free styles and Raymart keeps the beat. During our nights with the youth.

MANDI- works for SFMO (San Francisco Missions Outpost) one of the ministries associated with Crossroads and the Outpost Church. She leads the groups around that come and stay at Crossroads and helps out with the kids and youth. I also live with her :)

Jessica, 13 years old, made this art display. It says on the bottom- Though the sorrow may last through the night, Joy comes in the morning! Love this girl!

I decided that his hair looks better parted like that :)

Bus Sardines!

Kayaking in the Bay with: Cameron, Jonathon, Robbie, Mandi, Justin, Silas and Titus!

Love those buildings!

Water fountain/playground near the Ferry Building.

Justin and I kayaking...Robbie's attacking Mandi in the back.

Giants game!

The neglected Bay Bridge

Kristyn came to visit me...she made a wrong turn so we went over to Sausalito.

Free day at the SF MOMA!

Every day has been an adventure, which I love. It's been amazing being able to pour solely into these kids and this ministry. We had a sleepover this past Friday night with about 20 of the kids that are going to go to camp in July.  It was a 'test run' to see how they'd do overnight and we had the 5k run fundraiser on Saturday morning.  I honestly do not know how you summer camp counselors do it for 3 months! I might have gotten 3 hours of sleep, those girls did NOT lay still! They all snored too, every single one of them. But it was an incredible experience and I'm so glad that I was able to do it with them.  One of the boys, TJ, asked me if I was going to camp with them and I told him that I was actually leaving in a couple weeks, then he asked when I was coming back and I told him next summer I should be here for the whole summer. Then he asked me what about the summer after that. I laughed at the time and told him I would love to, but who knows where I'll be then. 

Later I thought, wow I don't even spend that much time with this kid, and it was clear that he voiced how much he was going to miss me. 

It's going to be so so hard to leave here, but I'm putting it in my calendar now, in pen...no wait sharpie, that I'll be back here next summer.  I can't imagine not coming back, I love this kids too much, and this staff, they're amazing.

I'm so blessed to be here, in this city, living in this apartment, being able to spend my mornings exploring and my afternoons playing with these kids, it's just SO good!

We pray as a house every Wednesday morning, and every Thursday morning I go to Sightglass, order my cup of coffee and catch up on my one year bible or a devotional.  I've realized the impact that being in prayer or diving into His word on those mornings has on me. I feel so alive after! I want to work on this discipline for every morning.  

We had a retreat last weekend with the youth leaders for Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights to plan out the curriculum for the summer.  They're going to offer music lessons and a cooking class Monday nights (I get to teach the baking portion until I leave) and Wednesday nights we're going to play some crazy games and go on some field trips. Cameron's friend spoke to us over the weekend and he talked about the importance of a name in the Old Testament, about how the meaning of your name is the definition of you, of what God has called you to do. He told us to spend some time with God and ask Him what our name was, the name that God has given us.  Some said Victorious, Leader, Lover, Organizer.  I feel that mine is Comforter.  It was such a great weekend of fellowship, lots of stupid guy jokes and prayer. 

I'm so used to the Westmont ratio of one guy per every 3 or 4 girls, but I've been surrounded by so many guys here, and I've realized that God has definitely answered my prayer to have more brothers in my life.  I feel that I have been challenged by these brothers and I love spending time with them.

The speaker this past weekend also said one thing that really moved me: The same power that rose Christ from the grave is living inside of you.  Soak that in.  

Awaken His Spirit, pray unceasingly, pour out everything to be refilled every day.