The end is coming.

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Tomorrow I will have 2 weeks left till I leave for home--crazy!

Then, when that happens, I will have 2.5 weeks till leave for Rwanda--even crazier.

I'm starting to get more excited about Africa as the time approaches, but also more overwhelmed, which I guess is to be expected.

I've been super busy with Africa work and internship work and trying to balance it all on top of just being a friend to the people I'm around everyday.

Anna and I have a secret goal of getting 100 interviews (or listening conversations) before we leave, and right now, it looks like we might, just might, reach that mark...we should have about 97 by the end of next week. But, that just leaves us one week to try and get 3 more, so we'll see...its attainable. I'm certain of it. Maybe Anna and I will just interview each other to get 2 more. :)

Our resource directory has been coming along. I've had several spontaneous field trips to different organizations this week to interview people and get a list of all the resources and services they offer so I can put all this information into the directory so that when Anna and I leave, the directory will be as complete as we could get it so that it is ready to be used to connect, engage, and mobilize. How's that for cliche. But for real, our boss really wants it complete with all the information we can gather so that he knows what's out there for him to use to connect people to what is already offered. Because my time here is winding down, I'm running out of people to call to set up interviews and have run out of things to enter into the asset base, so this lady, who knows everyone in Knoxville I'm convinced, takes me on these outings and we just stop by different ministries, she drops the name of the person we need to say to get in, and then we end up getting an impromptu tour of the facilities, an overview of their programs, an interview on the spot, and connections and networking to help for the future...getting the Alliance name and vision out to as many people who they should be connected to as possible. Its great to be out and about everyday, but I'm falling behind on my office work now because I'm getting all this information. I'm learning about how its sometimes so much more efficient to go out with someone who knows people and the right thing to say in person instead of calling and trying to get information over the phone as a summer intern because so often people won't give you the time of day, and I don't blame them. I wouldn't talk to me either. But, when you drop in, sometimes people are so willing to show you around and talk and I get all this great information. But, I'm kind of on information overload and have so much to enter into the database, but its a good thing. I thought my work would wind down towards the end, but its kind of picking up. Its going to fly by and then it will be over and I'm sure that there will be loose ends that I won't have tied up, but I know that what Anna and I have done this summer has been helpful. I wasn't sure about it for awhile, but now I'm beginning to see the bigger picture for this Alliance and have seen my place in it this summer and am thankful for what I have learned and for how I am growing. Its probably been the toughest 10 weeks of my life, but I know that God is working.

Some prayer requests:
-Rest: sometimes I work 15+ hour days...I'm going to bed really late and getting up really early, so I'm just really tired all the time.
-Perseverance. Some days I just want to quit, because I'm tired, frustrated, or just weary.
-God's love: for me to show God's love to all those around me, both near and far.


Emily

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