This week has been full of ups and downs. While I got to spend time getting to know my fellow interns, I've had a some time to myself as well. I've done a lot of looking inward in the past week and it has never felt better. The Tuesday night worships that are, for the most part, intern led, have opened my eyes and helped me clear my head and stay sane during these crazy times.
Every second of the day seems to be filled with something different. Even my day off has been filled with lovely cultural activities! For our first Tuesday night worship, Reverend Chris Schoolcraft paid us a special visit. He was one of PT's first interns in 1998. He spoke about the importance of this summer. He told what we should get out of it, and that we need to let ourselves be changed. Schoolcraft said, "We often miss the value of the people right next to us. We get caught up in the every day and miss the value of those humble people." I've been trying to do this since I arrived in Dallas. I have met so many different types of people and some with such different background and cultural experiences, it has opened my eyes to all of the different types of people and lifestyles out there. Another thing Schoolcraft said was this; "Your story is not the only story. Your story is part of a bigger story."
To me, Dallas has an entirely different and interesting vibe than my usual Michigan life. I feel so comfortable here. There is such a natural feeling about being in this location. I think this internship was just the break from my mundane that I needed. I'm becoming unsure if I'm cut out for the life I was living. After so long, my attention and appreciation for places diminishes. Maybe my story isn't meant to be rooted. Michigan has been worth the while. But life there has become bland, and meaningless. I go through every day, and every week, without contributing to the well-being of the world. I go through my life in Michigan without helping anyone. I have a strong passion for helping people, and I don't feel fulfilled, no matter what I engage myself in. Schoolcraft ended his speach to us last Tuesday with these words, "So many people have chased success and missed significance." Being in Dallas, I feel like there are endless opportunities to become significant.
During my first weekend of free time, a bunch of us went out to celebrate a few birthdays in the group! We got all dressed up, (a huge change from the camp clothes of shorts &t-shirts) and went to dinner at On The Border. After that, we roamed around a nearby (and high class) mall, to waste some time before seeing the new X-Men movie! Even if we wouldn't have been at one of the coolest movie theaters I've ever been too, the movie itself was worth the money! This place was kind of like dinner and a movie all in one. Each row of seats had a table in front of them with buttons to press to call the servers (sort of like on an airplane). The large group of us chose to sit in the back, so as to not distract any of the other viewers with our immature talking, games and horse-play before the movie started. The chairs were like office chairs, wheels and recliners included. Since I was in such a different place, I felt the need to live the whole experience, so I ordered a delicious brownie sundae for dessert :)
With the change of atmosphere here in Dallas, I have decided that I must live and truly engage in these cultural differences, as well as endure these trials of new life changing activities so I can truly get the most out of PT that I can.
This weekend, with my day and a half of free time, I spent a large chunk of it laying outside at the pool with some friends. Although there was lots of quality bonding and getting to know each other on a deeper and more soulful level, we all lost track of time and fried ourselves, resulting in everyone walking a bit slower, and a large purchase of aloe! Today, I actually had the opportunity to go to this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant called Cafe Madrid with my friends Erin and Andrew. Regardless of the fact that I didn't know what a single thing was on the menu, nor could I pronounce it, it was the best food I've eaten in a long time. The authenticity and real character this food, and building had, was indescribable. I could have eaten there everyday this week if I had the choice. And if nothing else, it truly heightened my yearning to travel abroad.
For dinner, a large group of us gathered together for a girls night! Once again, we got all dressed up, and headed over to Pei Wei where I had some amazing caramel chicken and rice :) For dessert, we visited (for the second time this week) a great little frozen yogurt place, unlike any I've ever been to! At this place, they charge by the ounce of ice cream you buy, and it's self serve, including the large variety of toppings too. The first time I went to a place like this I got Italian Cappuccino flavored ice cream. This time, I tried Fudge Brownie Cake Batter fro-yo! Both were soooo delicious! Mmmm :)
Every second of the day seems to be filled with something different. Even my day off has been filled with lovely cultural activities! For our first Tuesday night worship, Reverend Chris Schoolcraft paid us a special visit. He was one of PT's first interns in 1998. He spoke about the importance of this summer. He told what we should get out of it, and that we need to let ourselves be changed. Schoolcraft said, "We often miss the value of the people right next to us. We get caught up in the every day and miss the value of those humble people." I've been trying to do this since I arrived in Dallas. I have met so many different types of people and some with such different background and cultural experiences, it has opened my eyes to all of the different types of people and lifestyles out there. Another thing Schoolcraft said was this; "Your story is not the only story. Your story is part of a bigger story."
To me, Dallas has an entirely different and interesting vibe than my usual Michigan life. I feel so comfortable here. There is such a natural feeling about being in this location. I think this internship was just the break from my mundane that I needed. I'm becoming unsure if I'm cut out for the life I was living. After so long, my attention and appreciation for places diminishes. Maybe my story isn't meant to be rooted. Michigan has been worth the while. But life there has become bland, and meaningless. I go through every day, and every week, without contributing to the well-being of the world. I go through my life in Michigan without helping anyone. I have a strong passion for helping people, and I don't feel fulfilled, no matter what I engage myself in. Schoolcraft ended his speach to us last Tuesday with these words, "So many people have chased success and missed significance." Being in Dallas, I feel like there are endless opportunities to become significant.
With the change of atmosphere here in Dallas, I have decided that I must live and truly engage in these cultural differences, as well as endure these trials of new life changing activities so I can truly get the most out of PT that I can.
For dinner, a large group of us gathered together for a girls night! Once again, we got all dressed up, and headed over to Pei Wei where I had some amazing caramel chicken and rice :) For dessert, we visited (for the second time this week) a great little frozen yogurt place, unlike any I've ever been to! At this place, they charge by the ounce of ice cream you buy, and it's self serve, including the large variety of toppings too. The first time I went to a place like this I got Italian Cappuccino flavored ice cream. This time, I tried Fudge Brownie Cake Batter fro-yo! Both were soooo delicious! Mmmm :)
Listen to this --> God of Justice by Tim Hughes :)
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