Better and Better all the time

Well lets think my last blog was written about last Friday. As I sit here today it is Wednesday night. So let's discuss what has happened between then and now. Chicago is getting better and better all the time.

Saturday: My brother and I walked to the beach mostly to play beach volley ball and in case you were wondering this isn't really my cup of tea we were there for a total of like 3 hours and I only played two games. But I did enjoy the "beach" it amazed me how many people were there. It was maybe like 75 but I guess its a big city and its the best beach around. And it is pretty sweet it is only a 25 min walk. So maybe I will just talk a joy walk there one of these days. After the beach we came back to get ready to go to another BBQ (on top of the one on Friday see previous blog). It was a small group but a lot of fun and some great great food. We got home pretty late but it was a lot of fun. We actually went on some roof tops and that was fun.

Sunday: We went to church at my brother's church which meets in a school. Hopefully i will be plugged into a small group. I am going to a BBQ tomorrow for a college group through this church. After church we went to a middle eastern restaurant which was really really good but not all that filling. After that we went shopping and I got some athletic shorts and some socks. OK so not sure what happened exactly after shopping but I know at some point during the weekend which I think was this day we watched Dark Knight and play Settlers my brother won darn him.

Monday: Not exactly sure what we did in the morning but I know we went shopping again. I get some shoes for works yay! By work I mean my internship because I still haven't found a part time job. Then we went to the third BBQ for the weekend this was again pretty fun and a great end to the weekend.

Tuesday: Had my first full day of internship which was actually was really good. I am excited about going in tomorrow (just not about walking or waking up). I got to meet with my supervisor and discuss the things I was going to do for the job. I will be given time to research and do some of my own program development. In addition I will be doing some filing and other such clerical work.

Today (Wednesday): I got to sleep in. I did some house cleaning and applied for more jobs. My brother's friend came over and we watched Bucket List which BTW is a great movie. Oh and today when I was walking around applying to jobs I was packing up to look at a sign. And you know those things they have in parking lots to stop the car ya totally tripped on one and fell on my back it was great!

Observations:
Everyone here hunks
They are impatient drivers
there is way more diversity
they don't recycle
housing costs a ton condos are like 300,000 I know right Ridiculous
people like to party instead of small get togethers
everyone dresses nice at said parties (i.e. all my BBQ's)

Pray Requests:
Get in word everyday
Find a job
Make friends i can hang with
Learn to be a better servant

Well that's it for today :)

Love,
Dan

It was a good day

So yesterday was probably my favorite day since I have been here. It all started when I finally went to my internship. I got there and filled out some paperwork and then went through a procedures manual. We had a grand tour and all that. For those of you who don't know I am interning at Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago. It's a christian counseling center. I will be doing some administrative stuff and some group therapy. I am very excited about this opportunity. I will be working here for about 20 hours a week. So back to my day after all the training stuff we went to our weekly staff meeting. It was sweet we had a group devotional and some pray time. Then we talked about some things and had a teaching time. It was so awesome. I am very excited about what is coming up can't wait for Tuesday.

After my internship I went back to the apt and just chilled until my brother and I went to a BBQ. When I first got there I felt very out of place and obviously didn't know anybody. But I started talking to a couple guys and eventually felt very much a part of the crowd it ended up being a lot of fun and meet some people I could hang out with. So yay for me!

Hope you all are doing well.

Love,
Dan

Job Searching

I think its about day two here in chicago. I think I have pretty much adjusted fully to the two hour time difference. Probably because I didn't really sleep much before I arrived (see previous blog). Honestly, its all a bit boring. But this most likely will change when I start my internship or if I get a part time job. Speaking of part time jobs here's whats been going on.

I have walked around near where my brothers place and picked up lots of applications. At this point I have applied to about 15 places. Here is a list of them:

Ja'Grill: A jamican resturant

Argo tea: the starbucks of tea here

PAWS: this is the job I am really hopeing for its a pet adoption place

Jamba Juice

Kerasotes: A movie theater, also would be sweer, free movies

Einstein Bro’s Bagels: Speaks for itself

Chicago Bagel Authority

Pequod’s: Pizza Place

California Pizza Kitchen

Petco

Boarders

Best Buy

Urban Fresh: grocery store

Panera Bread

I will also be applying at gamestop tomorrow and eventually 6 starbucks when I photo copy the application.

Its been awesome seeing my brother. We have been eating dinner together everynight. This will be a great summer of learning and growing, a much needed summer to be by myself.

Prayer Requests:
Finding a Job
Finding friends
reading my bible everyday
relying on God, not man (a much needed lesson, why I am here)

I am here

I finally made it. The last few days have been pretty crazy. Friday I hung out with some friends as a sorta good-bye things. We went to the drive in and and didn't get me back until two in the morning. I then preceded to pack and do laundry. I finally hit the hay at 5 am. I woke up at 7 to get my final stuff together and head over to Sam's. Sam and I went up to Gig Harbor, WA for Carson and Sarah's wedding. Somehow I managed to stay wake to whole way there. However, fell asleep three times during the wedding. The reception was really good but I was so tired. As soon as I was in the car I feel asleep. A few friends and I stayed up and ate food and watched a movie which i fell asleep during. Finally come 4:30 am it was time to head to the airport. I slept the whole time on both the flights I had today. All that to say I have slept maybe 8 hours from 10am friday morning to 5pm sunday night.

I am in my brothers house all moved in. Its really hitting home for me right now how much I am going to miss all of you people. My church family at sherwood, Perrydale and Morningstar. All my camp friends this summer will be wierd without you. And of corse all you people that I hang out with. Love you all please keep in touch.

Love,
Dan

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope that you are all doing well and learning about our Lord and Savior. He truly is an amazing God. So often I am overwhelmed with who he is and what he is doing. This year has been a tough lesson for me. As some of you know I was a resident assistant (RA) in my dorm this year. This has been hard because I had to give up time with my friends who weren’t in my hall to spend the majority of my “free” time with guys who were in my hall. This has been challenging, hard, and fruitful. But when I look back on it all I am very thankful for who God put in my hall and how he used me.

This summer is going to much the same way. I am giving up something I love very much and am passionate about to go serve in a different capacity. This will be the first summer since 2005 that I will not be working at a camp of some kind. I will be leaving the comforts I now here and am going to Chicago for the summer. I will be there for two and half months and will be living with my brother Patrick. Recently I found out that I got an internship with a Christian counseling agency that will be about 20 hours a week. It will consist of three parts marketing, research and group therapy. I am very excited about this opportunity because it is right up my alley. I eventually want to go into counseling ministry of some kind that with hopefully include church and camp. Put simply I want to help people and I think counseling ministry will be a great way to use the gifts God has given me.

But like I said this summer won’t be easy so I need you. The most important thing I need from you is prayer.

Please pray for:
Me to have strength when the weeks drag on and I wish that I was at camp or home
Me and my brother to get along and enjoy the time we get to share together
Me to find another part time job, because the internship is unpaid
Me to learn and grow from this experience
The clients that I will be working with that I will have the right words to say
Ultimately that God will use me and be glorified this summer

Like I said already I need prayer more then anything. However, since I will be working at an unpaid internship 20 hours a week and may not be able to get another part time job, financial gifts would be appreciated. Your gift would go to my living expenses. I don’t want to be a burden on my brother or be forced to go in to debt. It is important for you to note that I am raising support independent of any missions organization. I am hoping to raise only as much as if the internship were paid. I’d love to talk and tell you more about what I’m doing.

Thank you for your love and support,
Dan Morrow

If you wish to contribute finically make checks payable to me and sent to 2026 N Kenmore Ave, APT 2R, Chicago, IL 60614