Hello Everyone!

Thank you so much for you support and patience as I have been busy this summer in Milwaukee.

It was such a life changing experience for everyone who was involved.

From the adult staff to the students to the children we worked with and even the others we lived with this summer.

This is a picture of the 19 students that I lived with and worked with this summer. All of them had a heart for the city of Milwaukee and desired to serve the Lord this past summer through serving the people of Milwaukee and dedicating their summer to following God to Milwaukee Wisconsin, some from the other side of the country, Milwaukee and every where in between. It was a blessing just being giving the opportunity to spend 8 weeks surrounded by 18 other peers who are encouraging me to follow God. They also helped me discover gifts I have been given and how I can use them in my life to serve God. As you all know by now, I spent the summer working at a Day Care called the Village Kindergarten. Every day coming back to the facility we stayed at I was asked about work that day and not just out of habit or to appear interested, my teammates truely wanted to hear how God had used that day and what had happened in my life and the lives of my co-workers and children. It was such a cool way to reflect on the day and remember something other than the stress of running after kids, preparing meals, and changing diapers. It really helpped to realize not only the impact I could have but the impact that my job was having on me. On my final day of work it was extremely difficult to leave. I had formed a bond with the families there. It breaks my heart to think that I will miss Jeremiah's first steps, Elijah's first day of school, Kyree's first sentence and all the other special moments in watching these kids I love to learn and grow. I know that God had such a purpose in bringing them into my life, even for such a short time. I was able to learn so much from my co-workers as well. The owner of the daycare Ticsha and her mom LaVall were able to unknowingly act as mentors to me. I learned so much about what it looks like to be a Christian women in her 40s and 60s. Just by watching the way they interacted with the children I was able to see God's love shining through. They really took me in a talked to me and showed a genuine interest in who I was. It was very inspiring as to how I want to interact with people. I was also able to build a cool bond with Tischa's niece Amani. Amani is 14 and would come into the daycare with her brothers everyday to help out. Having Amani around was a really source of motivation for me. I wanted to be to her what Tischa and LaVall were for me. I wanted to be able to be an example of a christian 20 year old. I strived to use the little bit of free conversation we had to talk to her about my life at school, my relationships and most importantly to emphasis the importance of God in my life. I wish we had been able to talk more but it brought me great joy when Amani would try and tie the door shut when it was time for me to leave or convince me to stay longer. I really know that God used her to soften my heart and allow me to break through the teenage attitude that I have so recently left behind and remember to get to know someone to really be able to mutual impact each others lives. Overall, working at the Village this summer was truely a blessing from God and an experience that I will forever be changed by and remember (an experience that you my supporters and friends helped make possible!)

Another relationship from this summer that had a lasting impact on me was my relationship with my discipler, or Crusade staff mentor, Bethany. Meeting with Bethany gave me encouragement and insight for my summer and my future. She was kind enough to point out to me my strengths and help me work through some growth areas in my life. She helped me to talk through some thoughts about how I will serve the Lord in my future and she was a great resource to answer questions about how she choice her ministry organization (Campus Crusade).

I could talk forever about the relationships I made with my teammates. I was blessed with two amazing roommates this summer, Kristen and Jessi. Together we shared what God was teaching us, shared our struggles and joys from the summer. This resulted in many late nights building lifetime friendships. I also loved my time spend with the other students. Having a job I didn't have the opportunity to spend every day with a small group of my teammates. We had a extremely packed schedule so it was hard to find time to spend all together. I was able to be a part of the social committee and was able to help plan a weekly fun activity for the whole group to bond. Our final activity was a Christmas in July party where we all gathered like a family for Christmas ham and a white elephant gift exchange. It was awesome to see us all together as the family God gives us believers. The final relationship i would like to share with you is the one I had with the other members of the Marketplace Ministry Track (the 7 of us students who had a job in the community). During our weekly meetings we were able to pray for each other, cry together and really gain an understand and picture of the support and love that God wants us to share with our fellow believers and everyone who is in our life. It was such a blessing to see everyone open up to each other and be vulnerable.

Now as I am over a week out of project it is hard to believe that i have to leave this summer behind. I will truly miss the people I was around and Milwaukee will forever hold a special place in my heart. However I am so very excited to return to Green Bay, WI and to see what awesome things God has in store for that City. I know that I have learned a lot this summer that God will want me to use in Green Bay as I return to my ministry with Campus Crusade there. I am looking forward to meeting the new freshman as I lead a freshman women's bible study. I also plan on discipling (mentoring) one or two women this semester. I will continue to pursue my major of non-profit management and see where the Lord takes that.

I have realized since leaving project that while I spent a summer in the city that I will spend my life in cities. God wants to and will use me in each one of them. I would like to invite you to continue to follow my blog and hear what God is doing wherever I am. So goodbye to Alesha's summer in the City and Hello to Alesha's life in God's Cities.

Matthew 5:14
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."