get it all out

Tonight I am back at Higher Groundz, one of my favorite coffee shops in SLO.  It is a good place to study.  I should be studying, what with the French midterm tomorrow, the senior project introduction due Friday.  

But I need to write something in my native language.  So hello, WordPress.  I am overwhelmed, underwhelmed.  Here comes some “verbal” processing.  The Lord has been leading me so well, directing my steps as I remain in him.  Here’s an example:

Today I sat in the UU plaza with Caellin and Lyse and got the WORST sunburn of the year  It’s not real cute.  Anyway, we talked about our weekends, and I soaked up all the wisdom I could from Caellin as she explained her experiences of ministry partner development (MPD) to Lyse and I.  Later, after a brief intermission of French literature, I came back to the UU plaza to meet with Megan to talk about support raising for her summer project to Tokyo.  I felt really inadequate talking with her, because I am dealing with so much doubt in the are of the Lord’s provision lately.  To be honest, my emotions feel just like the skin on my back: dry, itchy, burned, uncomfortable.  I’m over-cooked with all of the information that my mind marinates in after a weekend full of good, albeit overwhelming details of MPD.

It turns out that the Lord blessed my conversation with Megan, who brings joy to my life through her willingness to follow the Lord’s call to Tokyo.  Talking with Megan was just what I needed to remember all of the truths the Lord has been teaching me lately about how to trust in him to fight for me.  Deut. 2-3, 1 Kings 17, Philippians 4 just kept coming to mind as we talked.  Towards the end of our conversation, Ashley, a team member from the Invisible Children roadies came to up to us and we talked for a bit about Invisible Children and life.  After a few minutes of chatting, Ashley shared with us about how she recently stayed with a missionary family in Orange County, where she was blown away by the way they lived their lives completely off of financial support from ministry partners.  

I was blown away too.  This story, unsolicited from a complete stranger was a breath of fresh air into my sunburned day.  Thank goodness for aloe vera and encouragement from sisters in Christ.

Ashely is great.  Check out her video….she’s legit:

friend

Had coffee with a good friend today. It was a much needed catch up on each other’s lives. It was refreshing. And good.  

I have serious beliefs that coffee shops and good conversation go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Home Sweet Home

Came across this article while aimlessly clicking links on strangers’ blogs. It’s amazing what I’ll do to keep myself from studying from finals. Anywhoo….love this town even more after reading the article. Go ahead, check it.

And by the way, I have an interview at Higher Groundz next week. Jumping back on that coffee shop bandwagon! Enjoy the article….tell me what you think about this over-caffeinated town. If you’ll excuse me, I’m off to get a cup of Joe before diving into studying geology…

Coffee Shops.

I’m just going to throw this information out.  I’m addicted to coffee shops.  Not coffee itself, mind you, but the place where they keep the coffee.  I think I know why, too.  Each shop is unique, and while offering basically the same drinks (I get the same thing at each one), I enjoy the atmosphere at each shop.  I literally had to budget myself $30 this month for coffee shop runs…which might sound like a lot to you, but is modest compared to what I spent last month.  Yikes!  

When I worked at Starbucks in high school, we were big on customer service training.  One of the things I learned in training was that Starbucks is striving to create this “third place” for people.  Now, before you write me off for being brain washed by some globalization scheme of Howard Schultz (somewhat true), just hear me out.  The third place is separate from “normal” life. The first place is home, and the second place is work.  People are looking for some kind of third place to escape the responsibilities each of these places present….voila, Starbucks (or any coffee shop).  I pretty much agree with this philosophy, although I’d have to say that coffee shops are more like my 5th place, after home, school, work, Bible study 1, and Bible study 2.  

So I’m guilty.  I love the “third place.”  I can’t get enough of it, frankly.  The following is a list of my favorite shops in SLO.  We don’t really have coffee shops in Bako, so sorry if you’re reading this and it doesn’t apply to you….  

1.  Uptown Espresso/Black Horse:  recently changed its name, but still a great place to have a date night with Jesus or study.  I love the patio (which is where I gave my final speech for COMS 101, btw) and also have some great memories of meeting DeKlotz here for d-ship last year.  Learned so much about who God is in this place!  I always run into at least one person I know here, which is usually a good thing.  Also, it’s downtown, which is an upgrade in my book. 

2.  Linnaea’s Cafe:  Love the garden and the almond lattes.  I lied before when I said I get the same thing everywhere.  I splurge here for the flavored latte instead of my normal single unflavored latte.  Also, its pretty quirky, and though that doesn’t fit my personality completely, its a good change from my normal routine.  I have a strong urge to buy a fixed gear bike after visiting this shop, and want to go home and shower after looking at the “earthy” girls who work here.

3.  Higher Groundz:  Its right down the street from my house and run by Christians.  The music is great (usually some Jon Foreman in the mix) and I know at least three of the employees.  A great place for d-ship.  However, it doesn’t feel as intimate to me for some reason.  Still makes the top three.  Try the Chai.

Ok.  Now that I’ve confessed, you can keep me accountable.  Its ok.  Ask me how many times I’ve been out to coffee this week…. Really though.  Caffeine makes me feel icky, so the coffee itself isn’t the problem.  The real truth is that these coffee shops have become a great place for me to wind down and soak in the Father’s love.  Try a Date Night with Jesus at a local coffee shop–I guarantee it will be a pick-me-up for your week.  Go.  Try it.