Clothe yourselves with compassion.

"As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothes yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience."
-Colossians 3:12


Hello Hello!

I have started this to record this great new adventure I am undergoing.
And to keep my family as near as possible.

I have settled in quicker than I thought I would.
Already there is a pack of girls I call "my girls".
We do everything together.
Lets start with Catherine.
I met Catherine at the Orchestra meeting, and quickly learned she is a violinist, whose mother makes lots of Swedish food and she also loves peanut butter on cheese.
She is studying Spanish and Global Studies.
And is in a relationship with a guy she met a few years ago in mission work and he lives in Honduras.
Kelly is a twenty year old freshman who has so much spunk, and speaks like she is from Canada.
Even though she is really from Pennsylvania [ I think?, somewhere on the East Coast].
She took a year off from school and did missions in Quebec [explains the Canadian "Ay" 's].
There, Kelly met her boyfriend, who lives in France, but went to do missions like she did, and he is currently living in France.
And she is studying elementary school education.
Ali.. I cannot remember how she fell into our group.
But it was a good catch.
She wants to teach ESL and work with youth.
Arielle is a tall African American girl, who thinks.. I am really funny.
Haha, I think if she read that she would laugh way too hard.
Arielle wants to eventually do seminary, but she doesn't feel like God has put that into her hands quite yet.

Last night at the boat dance we all stuck together.
We danced together, we sat on the deck together.
Arielle and Catherine tried to get some hymns going.
And enjoyed the skyline together.
[Boat dance-we were on the Spirit of Chicago until 1:30 a.m. off of Navy Pier.]



Spirit of Chicago.

I have left my roommate out!
Erin is wonderful!
We click well.
It was a match that will work out wonderfully.

The best part about this group of girls is their lack of importance on boys.
Lacking in a good way.
I don't feel like I have ever had that sort of group of friends before.
This is all so new.
Example: the dance was way more fun.
We can enjoy our lunch conversations and laughs more without looking around to check out the boys.
As freshman, and already in a "click" we hold ourselves with a lot of pride.
It is strange to prance into the lunch room with this group of friends with confidence and no concern for who is looking.
Unlike a few girls I have sat down to lunch with and it was only about who they were friends with on Facebook, or if they were our age.


"Click" is not a very good word for us.
Because today we were leaving my dorm [everyone lives in Ohlson except Erin and I who live in Anderson] and we walked by an open door and started to chat with a girl who was just sitting on her bed texting..
And invited her to join us as we walked down to the L and to check out some streets near by with shops.
And at lunch we always plop down next to whomever and get involved and spread the happiness.
Click? - heck no.


Today I road on my first public transportation.
First it was the bus, after our mile walk to the bus to take us to Target. [$2]
Then after Target [which had a parking garage beneath it, strange] we road in a Taxi. [$10.15]
Expensive, but it kicks gas prices out the window.


I have not bought books yet.
I was supposed to have a check ready for me to pick up today, it was not.
And it won't be until Tuesday, so they say.
Classes do start on Monday.


Being away from home is not so hard.
I have pictures up of everyone and know I am still closely connected to everyone.
Darby is missed, and Rivers.
Just that companionship is difficult to not have.

I am attending the Rowing meeting on Wednesday.
And am already highly considering it.
Lets just see if I can balance everything.

All "my girls" are all very excited about the ministries here at North Park too.
Which makes it super.
They too are wanting to hear all the speakers and get involved around the city.

Pictures to enjoy.



This was before we went to the Spirit of Chicago and we were sitting in Starbucks.



Me, Catherine, Kelly and Ali.
[Erin was on her way, and Arielle... was M.I.A]




Catherine and I.




ditto.



There are more to come, I have lots on my camera.
[Those above were off to Ali's, and she has more too.]

There ya have it.
My new life is setting sail.



Hannah Joy.