{Day 0} Being Here

From the Sacramento airport, I took a 2.5 hour long shuttle ride in a 16 passenger van. Epic. There were 4 other BSW students, one BSM student, and another girl, and the 'other girl,' Danielle, and two of the BSW students, and I talked the whole time. Three of the BSW students were together: a brother and a sister and a friend who formed 3/4 of a band - from Michigan. Then another girl named Morgan from Montana.

Arrived at the Oxford Suites and met Jenna, a 2nd year BSW grad who lives in the house I'm staying at. You'll here more about her, I'm sure. We talked all the way through shopping at three different stores. I experienced my first grocery shopping experience. I'm really not sure I liked it very much. Too many decisions and debating about whether or not I need this or that. I think I'm covered, at least for a few more days.

On our way back from the stores, Jenna pointed out Bethel Church. "We can drive up in there if you want."

We had groceries that needed putting-away. I shrugged. She smiled and turned in. "Do you want to go in?"

"Like, in-in?"

"Yeah." She parked the car and we stepped out, groceries or no groceries. I didn't care much about groceries at that moment. We went inside - inside - Bethel Church. There was Hebrews coffee shop. We peered in through the window of the sanctuary. It's not that big. Not near as big as the International House of Prayer. Looked at the closed bookshop.

Couldn't keep the grin off my face. We left the main church and walked down to the prayer house. Oh! It's magnificent. The landscaping outside is magnificent. It's all so awesome and real and amazing and I can't believe I'm here! Like, for real! For the record, the prayer house atmosphere is thick. I was kinda surprised when I walked in, had a sudden wondering if perhaps I should have done this dive a bit more gradually, but I maintained my footing.

We walked around the outside of the prayer house for a bit. So, so, so pretty. And amazing. I'm busy planning as many ways as I can to practically live on Bethel campus over the next few weeks. Jenna says she thinks (but isn't quite sure) that there is something called Watch of the Lord every Mon/Wed/Fri night at the prayer house. Basically just more worship.

Dude, I'm so in.

Jenna commented more than once on my expression while we perused the Bethel grounds. It's like Christmas. She told the other girls, once we got back, that she wished she'd had a video camera. I told her while we were there, it's just Christian Disneyland. A while back there was an 'insulting' remark about how Bethel was Disneyland for Christians.

So? :) Bill Johnson hopes it's the happiest place on earth. :)

Anyway, we got back in the car, and as we're driving off, I see two people walking under the eaves of the building. (There were people scattered all over campus, having deep God conversations.) And I'm looking, and I'm looking, and I'm like, "Is that...is that...that's Kris Vallotton."

Kris Vallotton.

I saw him.

Here.

Like, for real.

I can't believe I'm here. This is crazy.

{Jenna looked at me with a smile after I said that that was Kris Vallotton. She said, "Yeah, he...works here."} :)

Anyway, I'm in a room with three other girls in a house where four girls already live, as far as I can tell. I've only met one of my roommates so far. Her name is Dani, and she is a singer-songwriter from France.

It's very hot, a dry heat that just kills you. It's not hot like Texas-hot, the hot that strikes up at you from the ground. It's just hot all over, and you only sweat a little, and then you suddenly wonder that your mouth is dry and your throat is parched and when oh when was the last time you had water? I'm really wishing I'd brought more shorts. I only brought one pair, along with four pairs of jeans. I may be breaking into my two knee-length skirts sooner than expected, though I'm slightly worried about dancing in them. We shall see, we shall see.

Besides the epic-ness that is Bethel church, the closest thing I've had to a spiritual moment is washing my feet in the bathroom when we arrived at the house (because I wear the equivalent to Toms and, um, they make your feet stink, so, yeah). The water is cold, like ice-cold. And to wash one's feet with ice-cold water after one has been traveling all day is one of the bestbestbest feelings in the world.


So, when Jesus washed the disciples' feet, it wasn't just a, "Hey, your feet stink," sort of gesture. It was like...pleasureful. Anyway. Yes.


Sorry I don't have any pictures for you. Part of me wanted to take some as we toured Bethel, but it just...felt wrong. It was a moment, and I couldn't ever have experienced the rapture of seeing it for the first time, so I didn't even try. I'll get some pictures up here as soon as I can, though. I've heard a lot of things about Bethel Church, but what no one's mentioned is how pretty the campus is. Just gorgeous.

I am staying in a purple house. Who doesn't want to stay in a purple house? And inside there are paintings by those who live there. Jenna paints, and so does Lauren/Laurel (in charge). Like, prophetic paintings. Suh-weetness!

I was just looking over my schedule to see what time I had to be there. Ten AM, for those who care, but the best part is not that it's at 10AM, but that it is WORSHIP! Bethel Worship! Tomorrow! At 10AM!!