My first two weeks of leading are done. I really wanted to stop and take time to write down everything as it came, but I really don't hardly have time to breath. My only free time is before 7:30 and whatever time I may have during training when its not my turn to train. The list of responsibilities are as follows:

- Kitchen Head (Planning the menu, shopping, and making the food every day.)
- Leading a van (looking at a map, figure out where I'm going to put the students, training the students at the doors, encouraging and motivating the students, driving anywhere we go on weekends)
- Song Service (Playing the guitar every day, picking songs, asking students to help, initiating testimony sharing)
- Worships (Once  a week giving a 20-35 minute bible-based worship talk, and once a week initiating a small group discussion.)
- Mentoring students (Just creating good atmosphere, getting to know each and every student, always being positive.)

So that has kept me on my toes. Its a whole new adventure to be a leader and I love it. I'm just glad this is my weekend off because I was getting exhausted.

The pre-treat was in a beautiful cabin up in the Cascades. All the leaders from Idaho, UCC, Washington, and Oregon came together, did a little training, praying, and some relaxing to prepare us for the summer. Leadership really started in my mind when John asked me to drive the rental car back because he needed to make some calls. I drove the leadership team around all weekend.

Sunday came, the students were arriving, and I was supposed to make popcorn and smoothies. As simple as that is, I really was unexperienced at such a task. I ruined one batch of smoothie completely because I accidentally left a plastic spoon in the Vitamix when I turned it on.... whoops :) I was fishing bits of white plastic out, trying to salvage the poor smoothie. I eventually threw that away. Then on to the popcorn. I was tired of messing up with the smoothie, but at least I knew how to make popcorn... wait, where's the popcorn maker? I ended up having to use a pan, and guess my way through making it over a glass stove. I think I scratched the stove before I realized I was supposed to pick the pan up and shake it. Anyways, the students eventually got fed that night.

My first day out in the field leading went okay. I had 5 students: 4 repeaters and 1 newbie. It was lots of fun. We got out almost 30 books in 2.5 hours. Thats an incredible day! The days after that got a little bit harder, including the first day John came to work with me. I was a little nervous, and got into a situation where I had to back up quickly... ended up backing into a pole. Yeah, the van's a little dented, and I'll have to pay for that. :~|

Then came the weekend. Shopping was a lot more fun the 2nd week because a student was helping me, so it took half the time and I got to get to know her a little bit better :) We played some games in the park including Mafia, and crazy game where we were all given a number 1-18, were blindfolded and had to all somehow get in order of 1-18 without talking.

Sabbath we all loaded up into the vans and headed up to Mount Rainer to spend a wonderful relaxing Sabbath in nature. I hop into my van and look back to see who decided to ride with me. Six guys had all crammed into my van, while the other vans were still mostly empty. They named it the Theo-Mobile because all except one were or are going to be theology majors. They said I can be an honorary theology major because I make good theology jokes and quote original languages sometimes :) I'm honored. We had a nice time up at Rainer. For once it wasn't rainy-er. (pun intended) We had a beautiful view of the mountain and went on a nice little hike that was quite steep and gave us a nice view of St. Hellens and Adams. I'm suuuuuper out of shape after being in Arizona and California for so long. :~P

I'm so glad to be here, though. So very, very happy. At every stage of this path God is taking me on, whether relaxing on a Californian beach with friends or sloshing through the rain delivering books, tired, stressed, and ready to cry, I love this journey. God knew exactly where I'd be the happiest. I love the simple sweet moments of life, and I also LOVE the moments where God pushes me out of my comfort zone. Its uncomfortable, but I know I'm growing. Sometimes I feel so inadequate to be a leader. God doesn't ask us to be perfect right now, He just asks us to keep growing, to focus on Him and follow His leading. There's a sweet, sweet, peace knowing that you are exactly where God wants you to be.