Chicago - day #13

Beach. Day.

Today we went to the beach on our day off. Who knew there was a beach in Chicago? We could even almost see Michigan on the other side :)

Chicago - day #12

Playing an ice-breaker called "bear-hunter-ninja" -- very similar to rock-paper-scissors

Our very first Thursday night weekly meeting as a project - we are studying 1st Peter the entire summer as a summer project. Here, Bacho is speaking from 1st Peter.

Some of the women that are here this summer!

Chicago - days #11-13

So, I know I haven't kept up with my pictures for the last few days. To make up for it, I've posted quite a few pictures that you can take a look at. Most of them are of the campus that I will be spending the majority of my time on for the next five weeks. I will be at the University of Illinois - Chicago (UIC)

 On the 4th floor of the library at UIC, overlooking "Little Italy"

 Campus

Trying to be artsy

More campus

Oh hey, Sears (Willis) Tower!!

It's a beautiful day!

 Tonight, my date night with Jesus included making homemade, Balsamic Chicken with pasta (my favorite dinner to make!), and then going out to Wormhole Coffee - a sweet Cafe in Wicker Park. They make the sweetest coffee art!!

Chicago-style hot dogs - day #10

Today I had one of the best hot dogs I've ever had! I'm not joking. I don't know what it was about this hot dog, but it seriously was delicious. If anyone would like to come visit me in Chicago in the next five weeks, I will take you to Portillo's, and we can eat Chicago-style hot dogs. They even put delicious pickles on your hot dogs, (MY FAVORITE!) and I promise they are delicious. YUM! So there is your incentive to come visit me this summer... Chicago-style hot dogs, and..... me, of course ;)

Chicago - day #9

Scavenger Hunt

Today we had the students go on a scavenger hunt in order to become more acclimated & familiar with the city.

Our team in front of the DePaul statue

DePaul University

Navy Pier

Chicago - day #8

Arrival

Today, students arrived in Chicago. There are 56 that came today, and 12 arriving next Friday. It was exciting to see them get here, and starting to get settled in. It'll be fun getting to know everyone over the next several weeks. I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store.

Students engaging in a "mixer" before dinner:

Chicago-style pizza for over 100 people - students, staff & families:

Chicago - day #7

This is a picture of the Automatic Lofts, the apartments where I'm living for the time that I'm in Chicago:

Earlier this afternoon, I was able to take the 'L' up to Evanston to visit some of the girls that were on the Berlin Summer Project last year. It was extremely refreshing, and so great to see them. For a couple of them, I hadn't seen since we parted ways in the airport almost a year ago, so it was great to catch up with each other. We met at a cute European-style cafe (very fitting) called Kafein:

If you think of it, please be praying for tomorrow (Friday, June 1st), as 56 students will be arriving in Chicago - either by plan, train, or automobile. The rest of the students will be arriving a week from today. We are very excited, because for the last week, our staff team has been preparing for them to come here.

Pray for their safety as they arrive, and that their transition to Chicago would go smoothly. Thanks!