San. Fran. Cisco!!!

It's absolutely crazy that I've already been in San Francisco for like 3 days! It already seems like forever since we rolled in from Denver. Let me fill you in: training week was nuts! We went all day everyday-there was always something going on. I met my team and I loved them instantly-they truly are great and were put in my life for a purpose this summer I can tell. All of the other people were wonderful too and I fell in love with them as well. I was totally beat when the week was done, but it was fun and well worth it-I learned a lot. Then we got into cars early Saturday morning and drove across Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and finally into Nevada where we stayed the night. Then we woke up and drove some more across the rest of Nevada and then all the way across California! I was so exhausted after that... Then we were finally in SF and it is incredible! It is the second densest city in the U.S. and you can definitely tell-things are packed so closely together, I can't even believe it. The hills are HUGE! Tonight we were going up on at honestly like a 45 degree angle. Crazy. You can be in one neighborhood and then go another block and be in a completely different kind of neighborhood and then go two more blocks and be in yet another one. The diversity is amazing-a lot of immigrants come here so there are lots of Latinos, Chinese, and African Americans, etc. I love it. So many different people. It's a beautiful city with so many special places, I can't wait to keep exploring it throughout the summer! We are staying in an old Baptist church that is pretty big and really nice. Sleeping on an air mattress is already making me ache, but we do have shelves in our rooms for clothes and stuff which was unexpected and super nice to have. I really like the building and our kitchen rocks! We also have a courtyard which is beautiful and has flowers and plants and a fountain. It's perfect if it's sunny, which it has been for the last two days! Work started right away on Monday morning when I began calling our ministry partners and setting up appointments. We work with a bunch of different organizations, all of which I am really excited about! The first is the Salvation Army Warehouse where we'll process clothes and put hygiene kits together and sort through toys. I've also met with the local YMCA Senior Annex where two weeks out of the summer, we'll be helping senior citizens from the area so a couple of craft projects. Today, I met with Project Open Hand which delivers hot meals to home-bound people with HIV/AIDS and also has a grocery center for other people with needs. My favorite thus far was St. Anthony's which serves meals to the homeless in the Tenderloin District, one of the poorest in SF. They have such a heart for the poor and marginalized and they truly believe in solidarity and also put it into practice. They believe in "Preaching the Gospel, and when necessary using words." It is a truly beautiful organization. There are more parts to it as well like a bag lunches program and also counseling and health services and other like things. Today they served over 1,900 meals! Most of the people that go there are either Veterans, in AA or NA, have a mental illness, HIV/AIDS, and other like problems. They have a beautiful ministry and idea and I get to go back next week with my staff and prepare lunch for the people and serve it to them and then eat with them. I cannot wait. I ask that all of you keep these beautiful, yet marginalized people in your hearts and prayers. That's about all for now. It's late and I'm exhausted and the rest of my staff has already headed to bed. More when I can for sure. I miss everyone very much and also Minnesota because it's so cold here! :P