My New Home

Well after getting up at 4:15, two long flights and a ride in the Super Shuttle...I finally arrived at the BPH. AKA: The Beach Plaza Hotel. This is home for the next ten weeks. I met 3 people that are on this project before I even got to the Hotel. One I met in Denver Airport, one in the Long Beach Airport and one on the Super Shuttle. When I got to the hotel I got registered, handed in the rest of my support, got some ideas for places to apply. I was supposed to get to put my things in my room and relax in there, but our room wasn't finished yet. They had just put new carpet in, the beds weren't made and there were still a few things that needed assembled. I met all the staff and some more of the girls and then a big group of us decided to go to eat. 10 of us took the bus to the Pike and had lunch at Islands (a burger place). When we got back I was finally able to get into my room and the rest of my roommates had arrived.

These girls are awesome. There's 5 of us in our room and I'm really looking forward to getting to know them all over these next ten weeks :) We had a bonfire last night and it was really cool just to talk to everyone and starting to learn about them. I've almost got everyone's names down...there's like 50-60 some people here including staff. I'll get them eventually. So I've been seeing Jeremiah 29:11 everywhere here. It's on a lot of people's stuff and I think it's such an encouraging verse, especially to college students. It's comforting to know that God does know the plans He has for us, even if we don't yet.

I love being here with a bunch of people that know and love Jesus and just want to be consumed by Him. Yesterday I was having a terrible time just standing on the beach. It was windy and the sand shifts and I was having trouble staying in one spot. My friends and I were laughing about it and we were talking to one of the staff members and saying how I couldn't stand on the beach. He replied, "That's because the only firm ground is Jesus and he's the only one you can rely on." It was so neat to hear that. He's totally right. It pretty much fits my life right now. I'm at a point where I really need to stand firm and here is the perfect place to start.

By the way, I'm 20 today! Isn't that exciting?! :)