My host family is wonderful and I am so thankful for them, but I feel like I never get to see them! Either I'm gone on a trip or they're at the beach. I think I've only had maybe two solid weeks of us all being here at the same time. I was in Atlanta, then we had about two weeks, then they were at the beach this past week, and now I leave Monday for Louisiana. It's crazy! I am certainly looking forward to seeing them tonight, even if it's only for a little bit. I missed them, but their trip may have been a little bit of a blessing in disguise. Since they were gone all week I had to relocate to a temporary host home. I'll admit that I was a little nervous. It's hard enough to adjust to ONE new house, how would I handle having to do it twice?! Well, this family made that no issue. They are absolutely wonderful and I am so glad that God put me with them this week. The mom is the director of pre-school ministry at the church and she is a hoot. She has boundless energy and loves to just sit and talk. Her husband is hilarious. He has a very dry sense of humor, but I think it's hilarious. The girls are absolutely wonderful. One going into eighth grade and one going into third and I adore them. One day last weekend we sat for probably a little over an hour making friendship bracelets and it was so much fun! They are precious and I'm going to miss seeing them when I get back to my host home tonight. I have such a wonderful time with this family this week. They took me in with no hesitation and I became a part of their family for the week. I made tie-dye cupcakes with the girls on Wednesday night, sat up late talking with them, had dinner and lunch with them as often as I could, went and got Dippin' Dots with them after dinner, and just spent time with them. The mom is from North Carolina, which was a God send this week since I have been homesick as of late. I can't even adequately put into words how much of a blessing this family has been to be this week. I am forever grateful and once again amazed at how God works out even the smallest things for us.
Not only has this family been an enormous blessing, but I am falling more and more in love with these students. The fact that every time I see one of the girls from my Sunday school class or small group they are genuinely excited to see me and introduce me to whoever they're with (even if it's friends!) makes my heart so happy. I am excited to go on this mission trip with them and see how God is going to use them in the lives of the kids we're working with in Louisiana. The high school group is all kinds of wonderful too. A few students in particular have made me smile this week. On Tuesday I had the opportunity to hang out with some of the guys for a few hours and it was so much fun. Initially they were helping us sand down wood blocks for a project, but it turned into a trip to Dippin' Dots before heading to middle school house church to lead worship. Such an amazing time. That was probably one of the highlights of the week. It was the first time I had sung for the middle school group, so I was nervous, as usual, but the guys that lead with me took that away in no time. The guys are crazy and hilarious and remind me so much of my small group guys at home that it's almost like I'm not away at all. I am so thankful that they are willing to let me in and spend time with me and not feel weird because I'm not 'one of the guys'. They will never know how much they have blessed me. There are also some girls that I have gotten close to. Sisters that remind me so much of my best friend and her little sister that it's insanity. I got to hang out with them Thursday night at the Freedom Celebration and it was fun. We've made plans to go to the art museum in Birmingham on one of my days off. I can't wait! I am constantly amazed by how my God orchestrates things exactly how he wants them and most of the time I have no idea what he's doing for me until after the fact. I have met so many amazing new people here this summer, but I have also found people who feel like home. This place and these people will forever hold a piece of my heart.
-C
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