ChRisTmaS in MinNeApOLis!

***ChRiStmAS in MinNEaPoLis!*** 2009
mErRy chRiStmaS!!! and Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement during my time here in Minneapolis! Surprising, but it's actually not snowing up here yet...or at least it's not sticking yet...we've had one of Minnesota's warmest Novembers...but it has been getting chilly...the snow will be coming soon and won't disappear until March.

I'm coming up on my eighth month in Minneapolis, and you all have made it possible for me to be here. I've been amazed at how God has provided financially for me to be here and I believe I am in the place where He wants me to be. As I stated in my last letter, these last few months have been filled with lots of prayer, outreach in our community, and my days have consisted of keeping our community meals organized and coordinating our food donations that we receive. I've also been spending time meeting with and mentoring some of the girls living here. As 2009 comes to a close, some of our staff, interns and members of the house are transitioning onto other things. This means that we may have some new girls moving into our discipleship home and we'll be welcoming in new interns starting at the beginning of the new year. With this also comes a transition of not knowing all of the details of the upcoming months and seeing all of our new interns' gifts and the roles they will be playing. Also, we'll be shorter on staff, our friends Tim and Dana just had their first little boy right before Thanksgiving! (I spent Thanksgiving with Tim and Dana's family and friends...my first Thanksgiving away from family). With this time I will be focusing more on growing in my leadership within the house, becoming a big sister to some of the girls and mentoring through prayer and Bible Studies. I'll also be using my organizational skills to help with some administrative tasks and I'm also looking into volunteering at a local art gallery to build more relationships in the community-to incorporate more creative events at our Fallout urban art center. (and to get inspired!)
ChRisTmAS...I will also be traveling home to South Carolina for two weddings on my way to Ft. Myers, Florida where I'll spend Christmas with my parents. On my way back to Minneapolis I'll be staying in St. Louis, MO for the Urbana Conference with Source. So I have a busy Christmas break coming, but I don't mind :) I'm excited to be able to visit family and friends and I look forward to visiting some of you reading this letter! PleASe pRaY... for me during my time returning back to Minneapolis, just getting used to a new group of people to work with and continuing relationships with friends that are also staying. We will be starting up a new Bible Study in the new year.
Our Source BaNQuET... November 21st was an encouraging time with local supporters, volunteers, and friends. We had fun sharing what God has been doing in Source this year while running a silent art auction as well ( I sold two of my pieces)! It was an interactive banquet at a local church with multiple stations set up: outreach, our fallout arts initiative, transitional homes, and national outreach. Everyone could visit the silent auction tables and hear a couple of presentations of their choice throughout the evening. I was able to speak about our creative drum & easel outreach art nights we do at local shelters as one of the stations for the evening. Overall, it was an encouraging night as we all got together!