i'm home.

Hey everyone...
So yeah, it's definitely been a while since I updated (so sorry) but my last week in Chicago was really busy. We got back from our retreat, went to our last day of ministry sites, then had a farewell party and left all in three days. It was a great time, although very sad too.
I am definitely home. Lindsay is playing her flute in the living room, Abbey is dancing around in her nightgown and Masha is eating a snack before they all go off to bed. I have been to a family reunion, hung out with my friend Jen a lot, and have put off laundry and packing still...It was wierd being at my home church this morning. I found myself a little board during worship because I have been used to high tempo, up beat, crazy style worship that I love, sometimes in different languages. It was kind of funny...
Alright: the last ministry site I visited was Judson Baptist Church. I helped out with the older kids at a basic day camp. I had such a good time! I got smoked by a 6th grader in division flash cards, it was pretty intense. I lost 17 to 34...yes, you read the numbers correctly. We took the kids to the park that afternoon, which was also really great. We shared our Gospel bracelets with the kids: 5 different color beads, each with a meaning that lays out the Gospel in terms that kids can understand. I was sad leaving that day, but it was a great day to end my ministry site visits on.
Wednesday was pretty much a free day. I packed, wrote letters to the students, and finished up odds and ends. Wednesday night though was probably the best night of project. My committee was in charge of planning a staff farewell party for us and man, was it AWESOME. They started out with a song, written in our honor that was sooo funny, then moved on to a game that tested our knowledge of the students. Let's just say we all got whip-creamed in the face for not knowing much!
After the game, we were taken downstairs and flattered with really encouraging remarks from the students. Just when I thought I was blessed enough, the students each of us were discipling showed an amazing gesture of gratitude by washing our feet. They had signed each of the bowls that the water was poured into, so we got to keep it, and were given a frame with our EL stop and theme verse inside. It was AMAZING. It could not have been better.
The next morning, Thursday, my train left at 8:30am so it was an early one. I was taken to the station and got in my seat and was fine until the train passed Cellular Field, right next to IIT. That's when it hit me that the six weeks were over and I was headed back home.
Greg picked me up at the train station and took me out to lunch, and I have not slowed down since! I am headed back to Chicago in the next couple of weeks to say goodbye to the students before they leave, so that will be cool.
It is good to be home...I am adjusting slowly I think. Tomorrow I will write one last time to close everything up, but thanks for all of your support. It means more than you know...
Love, Nikki