Rylee's God Things

Hi all!!! I hope you are having an amazing week!!! It's actually kind of insane how richly God has blessed me over the past few weeks. We have finally gotten into the routine of things here: we had our first Small Groups on Wednesday which went so well! And I was given the opportunity to go on outreach TWICE in the last few days!!! To my favorite places in the whole wide world!!! I got to go to Pueblos this past Friday, which was my Friday site during my entire first year. I was able to give big hugs to my sweet kiddos after not seeing them all summer, and it was a blast. I couldn't have asked for a better outreach. It was funny, actually- we normally blow up water balloons at one of the kiddos houses, but he wasn't allowed to get wet so we didn't ask. Before we left for outreach, I threw a case of water in the trunk. Within minutes of remembering this, the kids all had water bottles in hand and were ready to throw water on each other. And let me tell you, the g...

Hey hey!!! I just want to do a little happy dance real quick because this blog post is coming out SO MUCH SOONER than normal!!! Go me!!! *Starts Happy Dance* The past week has been way too much sitting and listening. We just finished up Orientation Week- also known as the Longest Week in History. If you don't believe me, ask my sweet friends! We all are so extremely excited for this next week which will include the beginning of the normal schedule of DCLS. We are assigned our tracks this week and our community groups, along with our standard prayer/worship opportunities. One thing we were able to get a head start on, though, was outreach! Yesterday was our first time back at our Adopt-a-Block sites. We go out every Saturday to meet the communities right where they are at, pass out needs, and continue to build relationships with them. I have the sweet blessing of attending Imperial Courts every Saturday. The site and its people have definitely stolen my heart. The only unf...

Hey hey!!! Long time no see, I know, I know. Life gets in the way a bit too often for this girl to think about updating anywhere! Life Update: I graduated my first year of DCLS in June! I know I updated in late May about what life looked like then, but I will be the first to tell you my life has turned completely around since then!  Grad was absolutely incredible and more than I could have ever expected. I was actually awarded Student of the Year, which completed and wrapped up my year so perfectly. Graduation was full of hugs, tears, laughter, but mostly an insane amount of love. I couldn’t have asked for a better end to my first year.  I was able to return home for the summer which was SO nice. I have to give it up for my parents here, because they’re the greatest and allowed me to work crazy amounts this summer and still loved me when I was cranky and sleep deprived. I was able to work my tail off to save a decent amount for returning to Los Angeles (where I ...

Hi all!! Just a couple minor updates on my life... This is absolutely insane. I graduate my first year of DCLS this Sunday, and I can't help but look back. I never thought I would see this day, yet here we are. Standing on its doorstep. This is crazy. I told my Mom this the other day on the phone, but it feels like she JUST dropped me off!! Wow. Graduation is officially in five days, and it's sorta freaking me out. I know that this is a season that eventually needs to come to an end, but it will be so different from here on out. In other news, I got accepted back as a second year!! I am so excited to have the opportunity to come back this fall. It's an incredibly exciting responsibility, and I cannot wait for it. Saying goodbye SUCKS. If you don't absolutely have to do it, avoid it at all costs. I have had to say goodbyes/ see you later's for the past week, and I hate it. It only gets harder from here on out with Graduation here soon, too. So not ready. ...

((Preface: I have been speaking Spanish so often recently and for some reason my brain is really in Spanish mode today AND I haven't taken an English class in almost a year so if some of my sentences don't make sense please give me grace :)) As my first year in DCLS comes to a close, I have reflected a lot on what the past nine months have held. With a little under three weeks until Graduation, I figured I should write this now before I'm overwhelmed with team activities, a lot of 'lasts', and goodbyes. This time has been incredibly bittersweet. I'm more than excited to be at home with my friends and family, but I'm really going to miss the community around me. I've come to see a lot of change in the past nine months, not only just in myself. I obviously am much different than when I arrived, but I've also come to see a lot of change in my friends. In my surrounding classmates. In the community around me. It's crazy to look back and see all t...

Wow hi! Twice in two weeks! Look at me go! In DCLS, we have lots of different responsibilities. We memorize Scripture every week, we go on outreach, and we have jobs to do at church. We have two regular church days: Thursdays and Sundays. My every other Thursday job is during service, but last Thursday I managed to catch one important verse that really stuck out to me. Hebrews 11:11 (Passion Translation): "Sarah's faith embraced God's miracle power to conceive even though she was barren and was past the age of childbearing, for the authority of her faith rested in the One who made the promise, and she tapped into his faithfulness."  First part of the Scripture mentions how she " embraced God's miracle power ". How powerful is that?! We serve a God of miracles, and I get to see it every single day. Not only do I secondhand get to hear about it and celebrate with others as they see miracles come to pass, I get to see my own happen in my life. For...

I'm not gonna lie to you- I haven't done the BEST job at updating this blog, but it hasn't been too bad... right?! My Dad told me this weekend that I'm "going to get better at updating my blog" with no room for arguments. Sooooo… here I am! I had the sweet privilege of going home for a long weekend this past week- and man did it go FAST . Felt like one second I touched down and the next I was right back on my flight to LA. It was very much needed, though- I got to see my favorite people, drive my own car, and Mom spoiled us with a bit of shopping... (When I say I'm spoiled rotten, I really mean it!) I even had the opportunity to visit both Mama and Dad each at their work which was so fun! Something that resonated with me was an encounter I had with one of Dad's assistant principals. She said, "Wow! You look so tan and so relaxed!" Um.... did she just use the word RELAXED to describe... ME?! It feels like life recently has been anything BUT...

Will I ever have a regular posting schedule for this?? Probably not. I wish I was that disciplined, but life sure has been getting in the way (in the best way possible!) the past couple of months. Since getting back to the Dream Center in January after a short break home, I have been incredibly busy. I'm not sure I have had one second to sit and breathe in weeks. I absolutely love the business and laughter that follows, but it also means I have no time to sit and write things like this. Yet in the craziness and constant running, I have never felt more loved. Yesterday, we woke up for a team morning at 5:30 AM. And while the Dream Center has changed me in many ways, it has yet to take my morning grumpiness away. We walked to our event, and as I was praying on the way, I asked Jesus if there was anything He wanted to tell me. There was a slight pause before He told me, "You are loved." At 6 in the morning, I got sassy and replied with, "Yeah, I know that. Anyth...