ROAD TRIP -- DAYS SIX AND SEVEN
We got into Chicago on the night of January 1 and were greeted by FREEZING cold temperatures and wind. As we drove across Iowa on our way into Illinois the temperature dropped to 6 degrees and stayed around that temperature most of the drive. It was SO cold! We got to Chicago and our little home here at Chicagoland Community Church and got unpacked and settled in.
This church is so amazing. It's this cool little building that is full of lots of history and funny stories. We are sleeping in the conference room, so we have to take all our stuff out and store it in a hallway during the day. We have a little kitchen and cool area to hang out, and of course a sanctuary to run around in. It's great. When we got here on the night of the 1st, Sarajane, who's second home is pretty much Chicago, took us to this awesome little cafe down the street called the "Pick Me Up." It is a cool place with great people working there, yummy food, good coffee, and awesome ice cream! We also went to the grocery store and got breakfast and lunch stuff for the time we're here. We went to the Pick Me Up last night too to eat dinner and just chill.
Yesterday we got up and ready and packed up and headed to Caribou Coffee for coffee and time to hang out with each other. We talked a lot about community and what we want to do with our lives. Then we spent the rest of the day trying not to freeze to death as we checked out downtown Chicago. We saw the sites and had lots of fun. We went up in hotels to try and get good views, went into empty conference rooms, and some of us even set of security alarms. We also went down to the waterfront, and it's cool because there are actually beaches in Chicago, and this time of year they are snow-covered beaches. We walked around and took pictures at the water's front, until a wave came up and broke on shore right where we were standing. Ben Perdue and I got pretty wet in our feet area and our pants were even frozen from where the water hit them, it was great.
Last night we hung out with Sarajane's friend Ivan from the summer before last. We talked about his life and his friend Taylor's life as well. It was an amazing experience that was very enlightening for me, but also left me tons of questions about community and loving people. I think I have a lot to figure out about what I am supposed to do in this life, but I think that is what part of this trip is for.
Today we are going to hang around the church, do some chores we've been assigned since we get to stay here for free, and probably head to the Chicago Prayer Furnace at some point today. Of course, not without a trip to Caribou Coffee after breakfast!