Getting oriented

       My community...
            ... is enthusiastic!
            ... chips in to help, even when they don't have to.
            ... enjoys watching classic movies (you know, like Space Jam).
            ... laughs a lot! (If you've never played Anomia, you really should.)
            ... welcomes people with joy.
            ... is up early.       ...but maybe only because we have to be.
            ... discusses issues of gender, international politics, and local poverty over dinner.
            ... is committed to prayer, especially praying with each other.
            ... shares, even when it comes to cookies.
            ... is big (ten strong!).
            ... is excited to be here (see below)!

Today the ten of us went to the office for the first time. We were introduced to our supervisors, toured the workspace, and took care of all that good ol' HR business in preparation for our actual start on Monday. The idea that we will actually be working there flooded us with awe and giddiness -- to the point that some ran around snapping photos of their desks and trying out their chairs (one opened a drawer and found himself overwhelmed by the volume of material he'll apparently be getting familiar with in the coming weeks). We know we'll be doing a lot of grunt work, but considering what the organization does, even grunt work becomes excitement-worthy!

This marks the end of our first "week" of DC life together (okay, just three days or so, but there's been enough packed into our days that it feels like a week!). We've talked about community, we've talked about the house, we've talked about security, we've talked about the history of the neighborhood and the organization (more on those later -- and probably adapted from a paper I'll be writing for my SM...), we've gone through handbooks and policies... Yeah, it's been pretty packed. But it's all been important, and I think it's gotten us off on the right foot.

It's been a good week, and a full one. We look forward to tackling this coming year together!

Sorry for the lack of photos. We've been so busy in sessions that nobody's really taken any. But soon we'll all be up on the official website, and when that happens, I'll direct you there to meet the crew.

Everything has been great, but all the same, I'd still like to request your prayers, if I may do so -- not just for myself, but also for my fellow interns and for our supervisors. No matter how wonderful and exciting new things can be, times of transition are still challenging. And for those of you who are comfortable doing so, let me know how I can be praying for you while we're at a distance!