Arrived at Santa Monica!!!

So I finally arrived at Santa Monica after using the train, a bus, and getting picked up by another student from USC who's on the same project. The ride over here was pretty good. I got to spend quite a lot of time praying and reading the bible. During my quite time, God was really showing me that I needed to give him everything, every single part of me, this summer and for the rest of my life. I spent a lot of time reflecting on Romans 12:1 which is where Paul says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." I just know God is going to do amazing things here in Santa Monica and have us grow so much closer and deeper in our relationship with Jesus! Just hearing what the mission was for the Santa Monica Project was when it started 6 years ago (I think) just made me so excited to be here for the next 8 weeks. It was awesome getting to meet everyone today and I can't wait to get to know everyone better. So far, my 5 roommates are pretty awesome. We'll see though... haha! :) For free time today a big group of us all went and walked to the Santa Monica Pier. It was pretty awesome and was a great way to enlarge my excitement for project. On the pier we met a japanese music performer who seemed to be excited to hear that we were all on a mission's trip. For those of you who don't know, I went to a Summer Project to Tokyo, Japan last summer for 5 weeks and it was just an amazing summer. Yeah Tokyo! God grew me so much in my faith then and just seeing this man just helped me realize that God is going to shape me He wants me to be and it's going to be amazing!!! Hopefully I will remember everyone's name soon... so many people!

Prayer Requests:

1) I've been coughing for the past 3 weeks now and it hasn't gone away yet. Please pray that I would get better soon. It seems to be getting better but I hope that it doesn't get worse again.

2) That I would take time each and every day to spend time with Jesus. Especially in prayer. God has definitely been showing me lately how important prayer is.

3) That God would be at the center of this project and we would let God be in control.

4) I just recently was accepted into a Summer Camp at UCLA as a Camp Counselor for 2nd-5th graders and I still have to get my First Aid and CPR certificate by june 21st. If I don't get it by then I won't be able to go to the camp.

Open our hearts,
To see the things
That make Your heart cry,
To be the church
The You would desire.
Light to be seen.

Break down our pride,
And all the walls
We've built up inside,
Our earthly crowns
And all our desires,
We lay at Your feet.

So let hope rise,
And darkness tremble
In Your holy light,
And every eye will see
Jesus, our God,
Great and mighty to be praised.

God of all days,
Glorious in all of Your ways.
Your majesty, the wonder and grace,
In the light of Your name.

With everything,
With everything,
We will shout for your glory.

With everything,
With everything,
We will shout forth your praise.

Our hearts will cry
Be glorified,
Be lifted high,
Above all names.
For You our King,
With everything,
We will shout forth your praise.

- With Everything by Hillsong