First Week of Classes

This past week was the first week of DownLine classes.  DL classes are Monday nights, Wednesday mornings, and one Friday class a month.  So, my housemates and I had the joy of attending our first Wednesday morning class.  It starts at 5:45 in the morning!  But, surprisingly, it wasn't too bad.  We also had our first EL class on Thursday night.  Overall, I can honestly say I am learning a ton.  Don't ask me for specifics though, because I would have to look back over my notes.  It's just A TON of information to process and remember.

Aww... one day this week

Other happenings this week included Kelly (one of my housemates) finishing a table she built for our house.  It's pretty stinkin' awesome!  And, yes, she built it from scratch, stained the top, painted the bottom, and put glaze over the paint.  There's been talk of Kelly starting her own furniture business.  :)  I said she should name it "Kelly's Custom Creations".  She's one talented girl!

Awesome table!

She did a great job!

Also, on Friday night, all DownLine students went to For the Kingdom Campground here in Memphis (actually Millington).  We ate dinner and then split off into men's and women's activities.  I'm not sure what the guys did, but the ladies had alot of fun.  At one point, we split into groups and had a "purse" scavenger hunt.  We nominated one person to be the runner for our group.  The runner had to be the first to take the item to the front in order to win (pic below).  Needless to say, it got pretty competitive!  At the end of the night, we had a fashion show.  From each group, one girl volunteered to be the "model".  We had to come with an outfit for her from a mixed bag of clothing, accessories, shoes, and wigs.  We also had to write a description of what our model was wearing (pic below).  It was a great night of fun and time to get to know each other.

The girls stretching out for the "purse" scavenger hunt...

All the models for the fashion show...

Orientation Week

The last week seems like a blur.  Most of my time was taken up with orientation for the program and special events to kick off the year.  Each day we met at a different location: Baptist East Hospital, Memphis Athletic Ministries, Urban Young Life, First Evangelical Church, Barnhart, and Network of International Christian Schools.  Each day consisted of different activities, including teaching time, being introduced to different ministries to volunteer with, and helpful information.  At the end of each day, my housemates and I felt sufficiently overwhelmed with the amount of information we had heard.  Overall, it was a great week with a fun ending.  Friday night, we had an EL cookout and time to hangout.  Then, Saturday night, there was a DownLine welcome dinner.  Everyone, who is in the EL program or taking the DownLine Institute classes, was invited.

Our first day!

Welcome dinner pic!

One thing that really stuck out to me this week was visiting the Civil Rights Museum downtown.  I'm ashamed to say it, but I had never actually been inside it.  I'm glad I was the given the opportunity though.  Going through the museum really made me think, and I learned alot too.  At one point, I remember standing in front of an exhibit made to look like a restaurant.  I was standing next to one of my housemates, JaNell, as we watched a video about what it was like during the Civil Rights Movement when African American people staged sit-ins in restaurants.  As we stood there in silence, we watched video footage of white people beating black people for sitting where they were not allowed to sit.  And, it made me sick.  And, it made me thankful that I wasn't born during that time.  And, it made me thankful that one day I'll be home in heaven.  All racism, hatred, prejudice, and evil will be no more.  And, I will worship my Jesus alongside people from every nation and tongue.

Our little family :)

New season and a Redbirds' game...

This past week was a whirlwind of change.  I moved into a new house.  Well, it's new to me.  I started driving a different car.  Again, not a new car, but it's new to me.  And, so far, I'm enjoying every step of this new season of my life.
     

To backtrack a little, I moved into a new house last Monday in order to begin a year long discipleship program.  I am a part of the Emerging Leaders program through DownLine Ministries here in Memphis.  Today, we had our first day of orientation.  And, next Monday, our classes will officially begin.  In addition, my old car (affectionately known as Blue Thunder) has been put to rest.  She didn't die, but she has been retired.  (And, yes, there may be another post about Blue Thunder at some point in the near future.)

Potential name: Gold Magic

To finish out this past week, I went to a Redbirds' game with friends on Friday night.  It was super fun and, surprisingly, not that hot.  Then, on Sunday night, the EL's had a progressive dinner in which the girls' houses cooked for everyone in the program.  It was a fun time of fellowship and getting to meet other people in the program.

Casey, Tracy, and Emily were cheesin'!

Me and Carrie :)

Typical. 

All in all, there is alot of change happening around me.  Friends have moved away.  Others have bought their first homes.  Some have gotten engaged.  Some have gotten new jobs.  I could go on and on.  And, I am so happy for all of these new changes and seasons of life for my friends.  And, not to be outdone, I am beginning a new season as well. :)  In the middle of all this change, I have a distinct feeling that the Lord is up to something in my life.  And, I am trusting that He is going to shape and mold me in more ways then I can imagine over the course of this year.