Working girl... I feel like a grown up

Well, hi :) So I know I said I was going to try to update pictures everyday, but unfortunately I brought the wrong camera cord with me, and I'd feel bad asking my roommate Kyle to borrow his laptop with a memory card slot every day soooo... yea :)

But anyways, I started work this week! I'm liking it so far. I'm going to be working with 3 other American interns, but they don't start until next week, so I probably won't do any real work until next week. Right now my supervisor is sort-of using me as her assistant since she's going on maternity leave next week. I've just been updating their social media sites and researching better ways to promote their annual National Day of Volunteering.

It's really interesting working with Irish people. I had lunch with the receptionists today... Sample conversation:

Lauren- "Indiana... that's under New York, right?"

Me- "No, it's under Michigan... the one with the lakes."

Lauren- "Don't know what that is... Indiana isn't a state, is it?"

Me- "Yea, it is... it's right next to Illinois where Chicago is."

Lauren- "Bollocks, I don't know anything about the states... so what is Rhode Island then?"

Me- "A state"

Lauren- "but Las Vegas is a city... and New York is a city AND a state?"

Me- "Yup"

Lauren- "Goodness... America is just too darn big."

Oh it's fun :) Anyways, I actually had a really great spiritual talk with one of my roommates yesterday. God toootally gave me an opportunity to tell him about my faith, and it was awesome :) Keep praying for opportunities!... and boldness!

I was having a hard time the other day missing everybody and just being out of my comfort zone here, and then I read something out of Crazy Love by Francis Chan that really challenged me. Talking about the profile of someone who is radically obsessed with God: "A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort. Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God... Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity: they are not fixed only on what is here in front of them." It doesn't matter if I feel uncomfortable here, God has me here for a reason, and I want to be available to be used by him rather than be grouchy because I miss everyone. I shouldn't be focused on that, I should be focused on God's eternal purpose and His plan for me here. I've been super encouraged by the reading I've been doing in Psalms recently, so that's helping. It's such a freeing feeling to surrender your circumstances to God. Thanks to everyone who's been praying for me! :)

Sam