Hard Times

This week has been hard. Emotionally. Physically. Mentally.

I have been in charge of the house this week. My parents decided to take a much needed vacation and leave me in charge of my siblings. I am so happy that they decided to take this trip. Unfortunately, them leaving meant that I was now in charge of the household. I made a menu, went grocery shopping, made meals, drove the kids to classes and appointments, cleaned the house (sort of).
It's been hard. I now have mad respect for my mom and all she does everyday. But it has still been so difficult.

Yesterday I had two breakdowns. Within an hour of each. I felt like I had failed. Failed being in charge of my siblings and I felt like I failed my parents when they put me in charge. Thankfully my sister talked me through my breakdowns and offered support. I don't know what I would do if she hadn't helped me.

I have been having a hard time of being home after being away for the past 8 months. I think all the stress of being home finally came out this week. I am so excited for my parents to get home on Sunday. I will never take for granted what my mom goes through everyday with my siblings.

The opportunity to take some mental health time and just relax, have coffee and write is so needed after yesterday.

Three Weeks

Three weeks.

That's how long I have been at YWAM Denver. 

So much has happened, yet it feels like we just started everything. 

God has been showing me things that I didn't really want to hear. He has put people into my life that I would not have thought I could be friends with, yet God knew what he was doing when he put them in this place with me. He has shown me just how amazing his love is for me and for all of His creation. 

The first week was a get to know everyone time. We had worship Monday night after dinner and after check in.

Tuesday we had a late breakfast, worship, a session (I cannot for the life of me remember what the session was about). After the session we had lunch, then some more sessions that included get to know the whole class and some games. After dinner we had a school party. For the school party we went over to our school directors house. His wife made some cookies and lots of other dessert type things. While we were there, we played four on a couch. This game was very confusing for most people since none of us really knew each others names all that well and there were some rules that never got clarified until people did the wrong thing without knowing. 

On Wednesday, we started getting into our normal schedule. which meant getting up early and having quiet time before worship. All day we had sessions and with breaks and meals. 

Thursday, we had breakfast, quiet time, small groups, a short session and then lunch. after lunch there was a session and then we had work duties meetings. Each student in the base has a work duty that they will do each day normally. For my work duty, I am on weekend kitchen crew. For group works every other weekend so we have a full weekend off to do other things. After our work duty meetings we ate dinner, then had a commitment service. During the commitment service, we watched an hour long video of Loren Cunningham giving a sermon talk to a group of students in Switzerland. When the video ended, we had a time to debrief on what was said in the sermon and a time to just sit in silence and hear what God was talking to us about what Loren was saying. I was the last student out of the room that night. I had so much to process from the week and from that night. 

Friday we had worship again, some sessions, lunch and then my school headed out to downtown Denver to go ice skating and wonder around for a while. 

On Saturday we had a very relaxing day of not doing much. I did some laundry and just hung out with different people around the base. 

Sunday we went to Red Rocks Church, then back to the base for lunch and to hang out some more. 

More about the next two weeks coming soon!