A place to call "home"

and people that I will grow to love.....

I never thought it would have been in Pittsburgh, Pa, but stranger things could happen! :)
xo

Union Project!

unionproject.org

look it up. I am going to be working here for the next 11 months!! It's a sweet organization!! :)

Can you tell that I started work and I'm really pumped about it??!?!

Can't wait to dive deeper into the Union Project and everything they have ready for me.... it's going to be a really really great year!

xoxo


Search for your Peace,
Ap

The Word Became Flesh...

So throughout this entire week of Orientation on the City of Pittsburgh, PULSE, our individual selves, placements and faith, something that we have been discussing has been how we as Christians are going to go out into this city, into our placements and spread the incredible news of our God. The scripture, the love, the greatness of it all. How can we spend our year in Pittsburgh as someone that was called to follow Christ?

On Friday we dove into John chapter 1 a bit, and by a bit, I mean it was just skimming the incredibleness of this chapter!

The Word Became Flesh

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood[a] it.

6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.[b]

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

As we read through this section of John, Chris (our Director of PULSE) also printed out verse 14 in The Message version...

14The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.

Moved into Neighborhoods with a one-of-a-kind glory. Just what the 8 of us did on Sunday.... we moved into a new neighborhood ready to "make a difference!" Ready to start something new that will bring frustration, challenges, but will also bring love, laughter, friendships, and hope!

Tomorrow I get to see Devon and Kristen at Pittsburgh Mennonite Church!! I cannot wait! It is like another part of this adventure is falling into place...

Find your Peace,
Anna

A prayer of patience....

Sometimes, I think I'll need this more this year than anything....


Lord, teach me to be patient - with life, with people,and with myself. I sometimes try to hurry things along too much, and I push for answers before the time is right. Teach me to trust Your sense of timing rather than my ownand to surrender my will to Your greater and wiser plan. Help me let life unfold slowly, like the small rosebud whose petals unravel bit by bit, and remind me that in hurrying the bloom along, I destroy the bud and much of the beauty therein.

Instead, let me wait for all to unfold in its own time. Each moment and state of growth contains a loveliness. Teach me to slow down enough to appreciate life and all it holds. Amen.

Intentional Community...

Well-
I officially am THRILLED to be in Pittsburgh. Seriously friends, this place is for me! Throughout the past few days many things have been occurring to me... 1. I was made for a city. 2. I live with 7 women that are going to support, love, encourage, accept, laugh, learn, and live intentionally with me. How cool. What and incredible opportunity and experience. Yesterday after dinner we went to a place called the Shadow Lounge and listened to local musicians raise money for a local farm. Music about intentional communities, peace, love, Jesus... how exciting. In that hour and a half we already made connections through previous PULSErs, church goers, and just plain strangers. After our walk back to the house and many laughs, we set the coffee pot for the next morning and either fell into bed or added a few more touches to our rooms! It was an eventful day!

This morning we met at Chris's house down the road for our morning meeting. During this time, we drank coffee, had a small devotional time and discusses our finances, transportation, and more about PULSE. My favorite part of the morning was talking about Psalm 133. Relating this message to our Intentional Community and how we each are affected by each other was such an eye opening experience. I want to share Psalm 133 with you and let you think about it!

Psalm 133
A song of ascents. Of David.

1 How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron's beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.

3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

Today was a very productive day. We learned a lot, but most of all we learned more about each other! :) We sat and talked through random facts, bonded over Harry Potter and ended our night with Chocolate Cake and Cherry Wine! :)

"You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you."
- Frederick Buechner

Find Peace,
Anna

And so it begins...

Well, here I am, sitting in my room, typing away on my computer that is located on "my own" desk. I've never had my own room before... (other than in Ireland) but it is almost too big. I didn't bring enough stuff to fit in it, even though I brought a ton! Pittsburgh is a beautiful city. Today as our first day, we did alot of team building games. We walked to Highland Park and ran around in the grass. This afternoon we took on the local farmers market... and I will let you know now.. it will probably be one of my favorite places. There was fresh fruit, veggies, local businesses... etc. So incredible. I loved it.

Tonight is an optional hang out at this club where there will be live music, I can't wait! :)

Silly me, I left my camera at home, so once it makes it's way back to me I will take a ton of pictures and show you around the PULSE house! :)

Lots of love-
Peace,
Anna

I want to get closer...

I need a devotional-- I need to break myself down and figure out what or where I want my life to go... what direction? I know its crazy, me moving to Pittsburgh and all, but I want to. I know its right-- but somethings still feel off in my mind. I don't know if it is because I have yet to focus on the actual moving part because it feels far away, or because I need to "find" myself.

I want to pull an Elizabeth Gilbert in the book Eat Pray Love. Oh how I adore that book. I need to want that, right?! I feel like I'm on the edge of something that I need to dive deeper, but what? Gosh I get so angry at this "What" word. More pissed off than anything.

In just 2 weeks Ill be packing my bags and will be headed off on this journey, adventure, experience that I have no clue what it will bring. New friends? Gosh I hope so. New faith? Maybe a stronger one. A calling? Yes, please.

I want to draw closer... to life itself, love, and my God.

but where do i begin.