I am sitting here staring at my keyboard. Will a memory suddenly come to mind? Will an idea of how to properly describe group eight pop into my head? Nothing is happening.
I have been in Washington D.C. for seventy-three days, well over two months. And I am tired. This job is not easy. I feel stretched and pulled in so many directions. Sunday through Saturday I live for my groups: eat, sleep, breathe to make sure they are getting where they need to be when they need to be there with the things they need for wherever “there” is. Simple? No. Complicated? Yes. Far from an ordinary job but still my job. It is the job the Lord has blessed me with for the summer.
Schedule for week eight: SUNDAY: Unpack, Leader’s Meeting, Pizza at the Church & Orientation MONDAY: Urban Plunge, Little Lights, Dinner at Pho & Prayer Tour TUESDAY: Downtown Cluster, Little Lights, Dinner at Thai, Debrief & Ice Cream WEDNESDAY: Our Daily Bread, Little Lights, Site Visit, & Free Night THURSDAY: Charlie’s Place, Naptime, Little Lights, Worship Night, Rita’s & Run FRIDAY: Group’s Depart, Accounting, Laundry, Grocery Shopping & Dinner at Matchbox
When I received my schudule Sunday afternoon, I was excited and hesitant at the same time. Groups can either make or break a schedule. Before I could try and predict what my group would be like, the weekly yell echoed down the hallway, “THEY ARE HERE!” I zipped up my backpack, looked into the mirror to make sure I didn’t scare the group when I introduced myself, and reminded myself Serve humbly and trust God with this week.
I met my group and began a week of adventure with them. I gained and lost a few things along the way…
Gain 1.The nickname “Celi” Night one and my group already gave me a nickname. I don’t think anyone ever called me Celeste. I wonder if they even know that my real name is Celeste. Lol. 2. A family from New York Although I describe most groups as family, this group was more. They were there for me as much as I was there for them. They wanted to joke with me, serve with me, and live in this foreign city with me. I’d say that only family would be willing to do that. 3. A momentary change in roles Our anchor site, which is a site that is attended every day of the week, was called Little Lights. It was incredibly organized and fun to be there. I helped out upstairs in the reading and math room. For most of the week, I was upstairs and didn’t see my group while on site. I remember this one day when I was sitting upstairs in between rotations. “Celi?” I looked up to see one of the guys from my group. He continued, “I just wanted to come check up on you. How’s it going?” I immediately smiled. It is rare that a student from a group will ask me how I am doing, so I was pleasantly surprised by it. “I am doing good. How is it going downstairs?” He started updating me on what was happening downstairs and ended with, “Glad you are doing good. See you in a bit.” He left me encouraged. For a brief moment in time, I was not a city host. I was family.
Loss 1. The ability to navigate I have lived here long enough to know directions, right? No, left. I don’t know…straight? Week eight sent me to a new location for Little Lights, a children’s camp, and I won’t forget how lost I felt in southeast D.C. It was rough to say the least. 2. A love for Pho’s sandwiches Probably the entire staff’s least favorite restaurant is Pho. It is a Vietnamese restaurant with smells and flavors that are out of the ordinary. Lol. Even so, I love the chicken with vermicelli noodles and fresh vegetables. This week, though, I changed my usual menu item and ended up regretting it the rest of the night. Definitely took an L when I ordered that sandwich and broth. 3. Strength to stay awake I tried my best to pay attention to the children who were reading upstairs to me, but there is something about a warm room and mood lighting that draws the strength to stay awake out of me. I think I only dozed off for a few seconds one day. Hopefully no one noticed. When I was awake though, reading to these little girls and listening to them read was the absolute cutest thing.
“We are the Little Lights. Gonna shine in this world so bright.”
That was the beginning of our morning song at Little Lights. I’d say it was the anthem of group eight. Their light lit up my eighth week and revitalized my tired spirit. They were the kind of group that MADE the schedule. And I am oh so thankful for them, my New Yorkers.
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