Jersey City!

I used to wait for a sign, she said, before I did anything. Then one night I had a dream & an angel in black tights came to me & said, you can start any time now, & then I asked is this a sign? & the angel started laughing & I woke up. Now, I think the whole world is filled with signs, but if there's no laughter, I know they're not for me.

(StoryPeople)

Greeting you all from Jersey City! So the past couple of days have been a bit hectic but I have safely arrived in Jersey City and am loving it!

I will spend the next 11 months living with 3 roommates in a 150-year old row house. We are four of 8 interns with NEWARKACTS, the other four are living in a house in Newark.

From my bedroom window I have a wonderful view of the Manhattan skyline and can see the Empire State Building. From our parking lot we can see both the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. The past 3 days have been fairly overcast but it is still a gorgeous view. At some point ,once I figure out how to get the screen out of my window, I promise to get pictures and upload them so you can see the beauty for yourself.

Yesterday and today were two of our orientation days. We spend the time getting to know each other, learning about NEWARKACTS, and learning about the Epsicopal Church. During this time we have shared a lot of laughs, which tells me that we are going to have a good year.

I know that it is going to be a challenging year in many ways, being so far from home, working at an afterschool programming, really being on my own for the first time. Yet, the promise of these challenges makes me a bit excited.

I am excited to continue to grow in the ways I have started growing since moving to Chicago.

I hope to be better about updating this blog over the course of the next 11 months to share some of my journey with you. As I share this journey with you, I would love to hear from you, so you should send me an e-mail (gastal01@luther.edu), skype me(alma_adele) or even better send me snail mail (200 Palisades Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07306.).

I am hoping to post a blog in the next couple of days that will wrap up a lot of what my summer was and some of the lessons I learned in the past three months.

In the meantime may you all be blessed in many ways.