Santa Cruz update

Hey Guys! I just wanted to give you an update on what is going on in Santa Cruz!! It has been amazing the last few days; we have really been on the go this week! We start job orientation tomorrow morning at 9:00 and we will start working on Saturday! I am working with the Seaside Company, along with about 25 others...it is the main company on the boardwalk and is responsible for operating the rides, arcade games, and merchandise, as well as some food...I don't know where I will be as of yet but I know that God has a perfect plan for me...Tuesday we had training and orientation from 1:30-6...a long time but it was a lot of fun! We had praise and worship during that time and other stuff to make it seem less than it was...Then afterwards we went to a cool place called Pizza My Heart where they have a piece of pizza NY style and a t-shirt for $5.00! I also got some Mr. Pibb!!! Anyway, after that we hung out and such and went off to bed...Wednesday basically all day we did something called Soul to Soul...which is where the guys in our Action Group (or Bible Study group) meet and spent 30 minutes or so basically explaining things that have shaped our lives to this point...things such as heritage, history, hardships, high points and heroes...it was awesome to bond on that level so quickly and it has helped us see where we are all coming from....it is awesome in general to have a great group of guys with me to keep me focused and to be there for me...we already hang out A LOT and do quiet times together and such...but after Soul to Soul we had a FUN DAY!!! where we first got into groups of about 10 and had a little friendly competition :) Our team was named the "Philly 4-13ers" from Phillipians 4:13 (so cliche I know lol...somebody had to) and we were not cut out for the games (we finished last haha)...First we had a chant...which was basically the verse with a Lion King twist...we made one of the staff's babies cry (never a good start) and then we went to the boardwalk for some games like guitar hero (which I played with another guy...we were able to win that one), eating games, and two people from our group had to ride the rollercoaster and make the most creative picture...was hoping the whole team could do it :) lol...anyway, the final stage was dodgeball...where we lost ALL THREE games haha...it wasn't even close...but we had SO MUCH FUN doing it...and "we beat everyone who didn't play" LOL! So...bringing it up to today...we got into servant teams (I am on the outreach team) and planned the outreach for this weekend (we have one every week) and then later had Action Group time...but this project is SO AWESOME already...just to see the heart that everyone here has for the Lord and giving their summers to God...it makes for incredible fellowship so early and everyone feeds off of everybody else...I truly feel this is going to be an amazing summer that brings me back to NC State and home with a freshened heart and a love for God that will be greater than when I left...I do miss all of you guys but I know that, God willing, we will meet again in a few weeks and reminisce and look forward to what is going to be another great year at NC State!!! Thank you SO MUCH for all of your kind thoughts, prayers, and concerns...here's some things you can be praying for as the nitty gritty of the project approaches:

-Unity within the team
-Our coworkers and others that we will be in contact with over the 10 weeks
-Our hearts, specifically that they may be genuine in love and tuned to glorify God in everything

In Christ's Love,

Johnathan

Phillipians 2:1-5

P.S. Sorry this is so long but there is so much going on that I feel like sharing! Thanks for sticking it out!