Colorado Landings.

Joshua and Me

 It’s hard to believe that it has only been just over a month since leaving Portugal. In some ways my cute little apartment by the sea seems like years ago, but in other ways it seems like only yesterday! So much has transpired since my last run by the Atlantic! I In December, I landed in the states, spent a few days in Denver dropping off stuff as well as getting a general lay of the land! I then flew home to spend a lovely month with my family over the Christmas holiday season! That time was filled with a solid week with my two adorable nephews, my always-fun brothers, my sweet sister-in-laws, my stable parents and even my little Chihuahua! I started to worry when after three weeks, not a snow flake had fallen to provide me with a fresh layer of white, but in the final week we received a healthy dump of Michigan’s finest snow fall which allowed me to go cross country skiing with some of my favorite people through some of my favorite woods! However, before I knew it, my frolicking in a winter wonderland had come to an end, and it was time to start my new adventure in Denver.

The Statema Ladies

I landed in Denver last week Saturday and I am happy to say that I have finally unpacked the last of the boxes I had shipped from Portugal!  I am currently living with my boss and his family in the basement of their lovely home in Littleton, Colorado, which is about 30 minutes south of downtown Denver. My little basement bedroom is now decorated with the few things I took back from Portugal, and it honestly feels like home! I will be staying with them for two months until I can figure out where exactly I want to live! They are also graciously letting me borrow their spare vehicle for a couple months so that I can hopefully save enough to buy one of my own!

Claire Callison and Me

Exploration has very much commenced, as I am a week into my time here in Colorado. I’ve been driving around, getting lost, checking out new trails systems, meeting lots of fun people, visiting new churches, and getting some quality time with my new family here! The girls and I the other day went on a little hike along the Platte River in the beautiful sunshine that seems to find Denver almost 300 days a year! I have also started working in my new role as the Short Term Trip Coordinator by narrowing down what exactly we will be offering for short-term trips this summer! I am so excited about this new role. I have seen the tremendous impact of short term trips in helping people begin to imagine what God might have planned for them and I am excited about facilitating and participating in what God is doing to call his people.

Even with all this excitement and change, I am very much aware that I am in a major life transition! This part of it is never easy, as I find myself in a new context feeling somewhat unknown by the people around me and feeling a bit lost as to what life is going to look like here. However, God has not left me without some familiarity. Through “random” connections within the neighborhood, I have already found volleyball team! I am playing in a four on four, indoor, beach volleyball league that plays weekly in a super cool warehouse that has wall to wall sand and makes me think that I am indeed still living by the sea. I am so excited that ministry will continue as I seek to build relationships within this new context and see where God takes them. Thanks so much for your prayers and support as I transition and as I continue to settle, raise support for my new role, and try to make life work here in Denver, Colorado!