Life @ the BWChapel

Hello there, lovelies!

Saturday marked our final "normal" Chapel program. It was super long because the Elwells had songs they wanted to sing and so did Sarah and Chris. Basically, we did all of the singing things that everyone wanted to do all summer but didn't get to in one, semi-cohesive program. We finished at 10:30pm.

In addition to a ton of music, Susie & Ben did some of their classic skits since Ben (as well as Chris) left today (Monday). The Ben & Susie duo also "passed the baton" in a pretty sweet way by teaching Joey and Desi (Junior staff members) the last Ben & Susie skit, "Parachute." Ben & Susie actually even came out at the end of the skit to welcome Joey & Desi to jump with them once they put their parachutes on. It was really sweet and very symbolic.

After the program, a group went to watch "Jaws" at Jay-Z's house while the scaredy-cats of the bunch (Teri, Isaiah, Caleb, and I) went back to the Dunn House to play games (namely, Scattegories) and drink hot chocolate with the Cummings kids and with Marin. It was a fun game, and Isaiah made some killer hot cocoa, but alas, after one game, I had to escape/hide from all the peoples. No matter how cute & small peoples are, sometimes you still have to run away. :)

So...Teri, Marin, Maria (the eldest Cummings kid/teen), and I ran away from the chaos and watched "Pride and Prejudice." We had an awesome time talking about the Q-Tip men (the servants wearing powdered wigs) and the awkward scene featuring Darcy's bust statue. Lesson we learned from the night: "Don't look at men's busts." Note: *If you don't understand, don't try. You'll end up feeling weird.*

Today, we had a Leader's Meeting to talk about the schedule for next year. Jay-Z brought bagels and smear & Elizabeth mad us a coffee cake. It was a delicious way to chat about things for next year. We said bye to Chris & Ben, and then Isaiah & I went to Mavis Diner and had lunch with Charlie & Elena (our house parents). It was awesome to spend some couple time together. And now, after talking with my mom and brother Mitch and keeping poor Isaiah awake, Teri, Isaiah & I are here at the Chapel, manning the Heaven & Hell machine for the afternoon.

This week, we do one skit tonight, one tomorrow, and two on Wednesday. Besides that, we basically let the singing group (I honestly don't remember who they are though I am sure they're lovely) and the singing couple (Renee & Romi) take over. Isaiah & I are hoping to get some good couple time in this week since things are even more chill, and I am, little by little, feeling healthy & normal. We will continue to do a bit of afternoon & night evangelism, but are also hoping to do more fun things with the free time we have (like finally going kayaking with Jay-Z's double-kayak, visiting Cape May again with the staff, and perhaps even figuring out a way to get in a vacation for Isaiah & I...we''re still figuring it out). I realize this sounds odd: needing a vacation after being at the beach all summer, but the truth is ministry as a couple is tiring, and after a whole summer of serving and living in community, we need actual alone time before heading home.

We are excited about the program tonight. I am especially looking forward to talking with Renee & Romi more, who we actually met last year when we (Isaiah & I) were only dating. We are also really pumped to have breakfast with our friend & church-buddy, Devin, tomorrow. He heads home pretty soon.

Be praying for our last days here, our conversations with Lena (and others), that we can be spending good time with the staff and other friends (like Devin and Akira), and that we get some needed Isaiah & Calli-jade time somehow at some place besides the Dunn House before we go home to my family.

Also be praying for transitions for those heading home to their regular lives, and for Isaiah & I when we return home: that God will give us stamina to complete TEAM Japan items and that God will provide us with ways of making money so that we can pay our phone & loan bills.

We love you all!