And So It Begins!

OCMD Round 2. Oh, yes.

I am currently sitting on the porch of The 3 Jacks (the house the students live in and the staff stay in for the first week). I almost forgot about how noisy it is being right next to the busy road! It never seems to be quiet around here. :)

Ben and I had planned to start our journey by leaving my house around 8am Monday morning. Our plan was to meet up, grab some breakfast, and hit the road for OCMD! Ben is my good friend from CNU who is also interning in OCMD this summer (read his blog for a different perspective on life over here! http://ocmd2011.tumblr.com/ ). I was so excited when I found out Ben would be joining the staff team in Ocean City this year! He is so fun - loves to joke around, knows how far is too far, and has a contagious smile. Most importantly, Ben is a great example of a biblical man. I just know the guys will absolutely love him! Anyway, back to Monday morning.....as soon as he got to my house, he wanted to go on a walk to pray for the project and safe travels. What a great way to start off the trip and what a great way to take leadership before even arriving in MD.

As we finished turning the corner into my cul-de-sac and I asked Ben where we were going for breakfast, he pointed to the car driving up behind us. I didn't recognize the car, which is uncommon to see an unfamiliar vehicle in our small cul-de-sac that's tucked away off of the main road. Little did I know, Ben and a few of my friends had planned to come over and serve us breakfast. HOW SWEET IS THAT?!?! I am so blessed. Sarah, Sally, and Bree arrived with chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, bacon, fruit, coffee (with three different flavored creamers), orange juice, and milk. I felt so spoiled, blessed, and thankful. They prayed for our trip and headed out! What a selfless act.

I have never really caravanned before, so it was fun for me to travel alongside Ben! I felt safe on the road knowing that someone was near me and wouldn't try to cut me off or anything hahahh :) So we arrived to our destination around 1:30. I immediately felt comfort by the smell of the 3 Jacks. Weird, I know....but it's so familiar! It feels like I never left. Shortly after greeting Michael the other staff arrived. All of us seemed to get here within an hour or so of each other....what great timing is that?! So we hung out, made connections, and began to form bonds. So fun! The rest of the day was filled with many things, such as
- a hunt on the boardwalk for hermit crabs for the Baker's girls (named Shelly and Colorful..how cute!)
- a delicious dinner cooked by the Bakers and the Freys (yummy tacos and chocolate covered strawberries)
- a look at our binders (the schedule for the week, the orientation week for students, a typical week, and a ton of resources)
- Michael and Carol's year map - a map of big parts of their year to kinda catch us up on where they're coming from
- the boys playing games outside while the girls sit inside and chat :)

Today has been filled with content....and that will continue tonight and for the rest of the week. I found out who the girls I will disciple and have in my Bible study are!!!!!!! I'm so excited. I won't share specific names just yet in case any of them read this :) But please be praying for our Bible study and their final week at home before coming here. Today we also got to hear Roy and Chrissi's year map :) The other staff will share their year maps tonight and tomorrow, so that should be enjoyable.

HUGE prayer request - for the students to not get nervous and to continue to be excited for what the summer has in store

More to come later this week :)