First of all I had last Saturday and Sunday off of work which was AMAZING and MUCH NEEDED! Sunday I fell asleep on the couch probably about three times...and I loved it!
Monday I headed to Baltimore with the rest of the staff at NCC for the annual staff planning retreat! It was wonderful! We stayed in a Marriott right on the water and enjoyed each other's company over intentional meetings usually involving food. I walked to Little Italy a couple of times for some meetings over food and each time it was wonderful! We had some great staff bonding and dreaming time on Tuesday and I really enjoyed hearing what each department is thinking and dreaming about for 2009. It was a great time of getting away and processing. Awesome to go as a protege and see how they work through things. One thing I know for sure...NCC cares about their leaders and the investment of time and money to bring each staff member (and protege) to Baltimore for two days was a great blessing. So glad I was a part of it!
We got back late on Tuesday and Wednesday morning came too soon. I worked at Ebenezers on Wednesday, but it really felt like Monday. Wednesday night I went to dinner with a friend and got some things to fill a couple boxes for operation Christmas child. It was so fun to fill two boxes on my own. Usually I fill boxes with my family or with a small group, but this time I was able to fill two on my own and it was such a blessing. I enjoyed every minute of picking out presents and I'm pretty sure God multiplied the size of my box because there's no way everything should have fit, but IT DID!
I worked on Thursday until close and then got ready for the second retreat of the week. I packed my overnight bag for Friday and went to bed dreaming about what my turkey would look like. I woke up and went to work for a bit and then took Michelle's car to the store to get a turkey (hence the dream on Thursday night) to make for the inservice Thanksgiving for the homeless community around DC that we are hosting tomorrow at Ebenezers! I picked out a beautiful bird and I even made a friend in the process...she was looking for the perfect turkey and she comforted me as I embarked on my first experience of making a turkey by myself. That afternoon I headed to West Virginia for an Alpha getaway! About 50 people came who are a part of the Alpha course through NCC...a course that seeks to help people discover Christianity in a non-threatening way. It was an amazing retreat...the facilities were nice, but the transformations made it what it was. I saw so many people raising their hands in worship for the first time, crying during prayer for the first time, asking for prayer for the first time, and overcoming the obstacles that have kept them from believing. It was powerful and so great to be a part of. So many questions and God truly met each person where they were. Not everyone left with a mind blowing experience or even a firm commitment to Christ, but each person left with a better understanding than when they came in. Alpha is neat because everyone is at a different level and place in their faith so the outcome is not the same for each person...but you see steps taken by everyone and it makes me want to clap for God!
Now, here I sit exhausted and empowered! I'm challenged by the people attending Alpha because I don't want to lose that excitement and curiosity, but it is so easy to do! I pray I would seek God like it's my first time raising my hands in worship every time I do it. We can become so used to it that we forget how significant it is, but being in a context like this retreat reminds me of just how much that means to God and to me.
I am off to bed. Getting up early to cook a turkey...pray for me! ;)
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