So..Yeah..WOW!!!

Hey all,

I hope everyone is fantastic. This is my first week of RAD, and can I say whew! I mean it is an amazing program, I love it in fact, but so much to think about! The first day was heys, and starting in right away on a covenent. Monday, covenent most of the day, as well as going to some neghiborhoods. Tuesday..we finally finished up the covenent. We also started to get to know the city and the transportation ...thing! Oh and we had some yummy Chinese food in Chinatown. Wedensday we traveled around to different neghiborhoods. I loved how in just a matter of minutes you were indulged into a different culture..Greek, Italien, Indian, Mexican, Chinese, downtown, and many others... Thursday we had a free morning, but it was used to go grociery shopping and cleaning the apartment we are staying in. In the afternoon we created blogs and found out other sites to find things to do in Chicago! Friday morning the group went to help clean a school which got flooded, but I was to sick to go. I slept that morning, but by the afternoon I felt much better-which was a good thing, because we had a guest speaker, Mark Zehr. He was with us Friday evening and Saturday morning- he talked about worship. Saturday afternoon we were blindfolded, and dropped of in the city, in pairs, and we had to find our way back home. We had dinner, and then went to The House, a hip-hop church for youth. Today we are going to the First Bretheren Chruch, and then talking about our images of God-then I believe we are going to check out the jazz festival!

We have organized the house-cleaning is done by everyone, but somedays we each get our own duty. Then for cooking, we cook in pairs, and the pair that cooks the next night has to do the dishes. We even have the one bathroom-8 people situation, a sign helps a lot.

Actually we have a statement we say often- Celebrating our differences. I think this fits extremely well, we are so different, but comeing together for this one duty! We haven't really gotten to know each other yet, but Monday and Tuesday we are sharing our life stories....I am scared to death.

What if they shun me? I always feel that way before sharing my testimony. I don't know why, but eh. I think that I haven't been my self completely here. I held back so I would be accepted, but thankfully to a very good friend...Ali, I know that I just need to be myself all the way, because I like who I am, personality wise. I don't know it is a wierd feeling.

I have been distant from my team this week to because I have been worried about events at home and past things ...catching up to me. But I think with growing to know a few, if not all of my team better, has meltied that wall I built. So watch out RAD Caitlyn is here....he he he he