Oh dear. . .

It has been a while since I've been on here! And, I'm only writing this to let you know that it'll be a while longer before I write again. I am doing very well - at my parents house in Oakdale, helping out with the family business, and taking short trips here and there to see friends. I'll be in town for another week and then back to work on the 27th. I'll be heading down to San Diego to help put on our regions Winter Conference - I never went as a student so it'll be a whole new experience. And then back to SLO to prepare for the start of a new quarter on January 7th. I am already so excited for that the new year will bring. I won't be writing on my blog again til the New Year because my parents have dial-up internet. . .and in all honesty, it's also nice to have a little break from technology for a while. My goal is to send out an update letter during the first week of January as well, so you'll be hearing plenty from me in 2008. Until then, have a joyous Christmas. . .Christ, our savior, is born - this is the reason to celebrate every day of every year for eternity. Love you!

A Photo Update of the Past Week!

Just a little word of advise - be sure to scroll down because I just updated my blog 4 (well, 5 counting this one!) times in one sitting. Enjoy the pictures!

Trinity Hall Christmas Party!

First, we spent part of Bible study on Tuesday making invitations so that the girls could be intentional with iniviting their friends.
They turned out so cute and creative - it's fun to see what Liberal Arts ladies can do with paper, glue, and ribbon - I'm impressed!
The party was held at the wonderful home of a couple from church. They were such gracious hosts and the girls had a great time! One of the first things we did was a reindeer game. . .here is one group busily working on the antlers.
And this was the final product. Is all that's needed are a pair of pantyhose, ballons, and a red bow - so silly and fun!
We also enjoyed lots of yummy treats, including Chocolate Fondue which is such a fun party food. Sadly I didn't take many pictures. . .but we also did a gift exchange - with stealing, which always makes it more exciting. About 20 girls came, 3 of which do not currently know the Lord. This was such an answered prayer! Also, one of the girls in the Bible study will not be returning to Cal Poly for various reasons. She let everyone know at the end of the party and it provided such a sweet chance to care for her and pray for her. My hope is that not only was she ministered to but also that the women who don't have a relationship with Christ were also ministered to. What a special night!

Nativity Party!

Oh dear, angel Arijaan. . .with wings made out of plastic hangers thanks to Nolan. :) At Crusade's Christmas Party this year each college was asked to dress up as a different character in the nativity scene. . .so that's my attempt to fit in with the College of Liberal Arts!
Here is a sampling of what the nativity scene would have looked like 2,000 years ago. :) Notice the pregnant Mary on the left first quarter of the picture. SO hilarious!
This Nativity Party had dancing as well, I wonder if that was the case way back when as well? :) So fun!

Tea at 3

These are the lovely women I currently disciple (minus Katelyn who has been studying at the Univeristy of Conneticut for the quarter, and Sarah who had to work). They are each so wonderful and such a blessing in my life - it was a joy to have them over for a little tea party to close of the year. PS: I only disciple women with brown hair. :)
These are the little gifts I made for the girls over Thanksgiving break. I love a little crafty project to keep me busy and as long as my mom is near by things go really smoothly!
They are little cloth baggies filled with corn kernals (that the geese at home like to snack on). . .green of course!
A friend made one for me several years ago and I use it just about every night in the winter, I love putting it at my feet as I am going to sleep. Not only do these women have the warmth of the Lord in their souls, they now have it in a physical sense as well! aw. . . :)

Reliant K and Switchfoot

A beautiful fall sunset in SLO. . .from my apartment complex

Reliant K - they put on a really fun show. . .with fake snow coming down at one point!

The guy in the green shirt, with his head down, in the center is my friend Shawn! He was chosen out of thousands to play a song with the band. So cool!

Switchfoot! I knew some of their songs so that was cool but it was really loud, I blame them for my bad headache the next day!

This is what people do nowadays. . .no more lighters swaying in midair - now it's cellphones that kinda look like fireflies. . .maybe this means the smoking rate is going down. :)

Dead Week

That's what this week at Cal Poly is called - the last week before finals. Everyone knows that it's not really dead in the sense that you don't have much to do, rather it takes on a more literal meaning because often there's so much to do that you think the week might result in death. I definitely remember those days. . .and am so glad they're behind me!

I haven't posted in a while so just a little update: things are going well! Thanksgiving at home was nice, we BBQed a turkey for the first time. . .a little dry if you ask me, but everyone else disagrees so I must have gotten the ONLY dry slice on the whole bird. Went to a great high school football game - the Oakdale boys are in the playoffs. . .hadn't been to one of their games in 5 years, weird (a turf field in HS. . .now that's a little much) but fun. I also sewed some Christmas gifts. . .however, I will not disclose details for fear that some of the recipients are secret readers of my musings here.

By the time Sunday rolled around I was so excited to get back to SLO. And not because I had a bad time at home (I didn't!) but because I was thrilled to get back to work, doing what I love to do. . .to have a purpose and a passion for my day that is greater then myself. I'm so thankful for the Lord's calling on my life - His plans really are so good!

And now it's already the middle of the week. It's been busy thus far. . .with a bit of a break today which has been nice. Because it's the last week with students there is the need to wrap things up. . .which really is kinda sad since it has been such a great quarter. . .thankfully there's another one on the horizon - Winter Quarter starts January 7, 2008.

Some fun highlights coming up:
-Switchfoot and Reliant K concert at Cal Poly's Rec Center tonight! I'm excited to go. . .although I'm not super familiar with the music, oh well - can't turn down a free ticket!
-Getting to drop off a meal for Dan, Deb, and the 1 week old (today!) Kate Goodson on Thursday. . .she's the newest addition to the staff team, too bad she can't enjoy the Turkey Pot Pie (yay for Thanksgiving leftovers) that I'm bringing for her!
-The last CORE leadership meeting for the quarter this Friday. . .we've been meeting at 6:30 in the morning every other week because no other time would work for our busy college student leadership team - they certainly are deserving of a yummy breakfast to close off the year (and I get to put my melon-baller to work for a fruit salad, fun!)
-A super fun "Tea at Three" on Friday for the 6 women that I meet with for discipleship this quarter. What's better then warm drinks, goodies, and a homemade gift to close off the year?!
-Our ministry wide "NativiTAY ParTAY" (why we're saying it that way I do not know) on Saturday night. . .we're dressing up like the nativity scene according to college, because I've been involved in the College of Liberal Arts this year (Bible study and Unplugged) I will be dressing up like an angel. Have yet to create the costume though, any suggestions?
-Christmas Party/Outreach for the women of Trinity Hall at the lovely home of a wonderful couple from church on Sunday late afternoon. Girls are coming dressed up to enjoy yummy treats, a gift exchange, and a break from studying. . .how fun!
-During Finals week we, as a staff team, will have planning days for the new year and then close off this year with a party at the Pappas' on Wednesday night. . .Christmas carols around the piano, what fun!
-And then, to end this never ending list for now, I'm off to Oshkosh, Wisconsin thanks to a super cheap round-trip ticket I got that leaves out of the airport in SLO; you'd think that "super cheap" and the "airport in SLO" would never be in the same sentence but for once it is! I am so excited to see Jena, a fellow intern with Crusade out at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh. I fear that I will freeze to death, but if I do it'll be worth it. . .to die is gain! :) More about this wonderful gal later. . .

Now I can check "update blog" off of my to-do list for the day (though I love writing here it's hard to squeeze it in at times!) and move on to other things before heading to the concert in a couple of hours. If you feel motivated to pray then I hope that the above list will help to inform your prayers. Thanks for being so wonderful!

And I'm back . . .

Hello! Well, I'm back in SLO. . .although only to leave again today to go home for Thanksgiving! My 5 days at the Calvary Chapel Conference Center were amazing. It was a huge blessing to meet the other interns in the region and to get poured into, cared for, and trained up. It was a very rejuvenating time for me, and in that sense I am sad that we're not on campus this week! The Crossroads Conference was also fantastic, Roger Hershey is such an amazing communicator and many students left with a fresh understanding of decision making, eternal perspective, and stewardship. . .as did I! It was so special to hear these talks again for last year, at this same conference, I realized the call the Lord had placed upon my life to go into full-time ministry. I am so thankful that this call still holds true today, the weekend was very affirming of what the Lord is doing with my life. How I want to be a faithful and obedient child! I could write volumes about all the thoughts that went through my head the past week. . .but alas, I'll leave it at that. Thank you for your prayers. I'll be home until Sunday and probably will not be blogging, the internet is slow and it'll be a nice break from technology! This Thanksgiving I have so much to be thankful for - I am thankful for you!!

And I'm Off. . .

Friends! What a busy and joyful day it has been. . .and not only because the weather is AMAZING right now, although that helps! I met with Jamey this morning to wrap up some Fellowship Dinner stuff (and tomorrow I am meeting the contact woman at the Marriott to give feedback and ask for compensation for some things that did not go smoothly the night of the event. . .I am not looking forward to this conversation BUT I am praying that even in this I would be filled with the Spirit so that His fruits would be evident in me). After this I went on to campus and did the 3rd new Christian follow-up lesson with Danielle. It was on the Holy Spirit and we looked at a passage on 1 Corinthians. I am so enjoying my times with her! I also met with my Bible study co-leader Hannah to talk about how study would go tonight and to tentatively map out the rest of the quarter. . .we have a super fun Christmas party outreach in the works, what a blast! I then had some down time to work on thank you notes that need to be sent out to people who gave toward the ministry but were unable to make it to the dinner on Friday night. After writing the same thing over and over and over I enjoyed a nice break from this while meeting for discipleship with Kelly and Sarah - it was a sweet chance to get into the Word, how blessed we are to have the living words of God at our fingertips! Then I zoomed home, started a load of laundry, finished prepping for Bible study, and awaited Melissa's arrival. She came over to learn how to cook a meal. . .so we made a super easy and yummy Chicken Pot Pie (the recipe on the back of the Bisquick box!) and green salad. I also had her "ball" a honeydew melon. . .I was afraid the melon would taste good because it's out of season but it was one of the best! We invited two girls, and my roommate, to enjoy the meal - and it really was so fun to fellowship over food. Melissa did a great job, and I had a blast instructing her! And then it was off to Bible study. I led the girls on the importance of prayer and we studied the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel. . .she was so persistent in prayer and a wonderful role model for women! We also had a "guest speaker", simply an upperclassmen who has been on a summer project that came to talk to us for a few minutes about the many great missions opportunities that Crusade offers during the summer. The application process has already begun. Pray that girls would be open to going and would seek direction from the Lord!

Okay, and that brings me to this moment - phew! Really, such a great day. Anyway, tomorrow morning I am leaving for a conference and will be gone until Sunday. Myself and all other first year interns in the Pacific Southwest region (CA, HI, AZ, NV) are headed to the Twin Peaks Calvary Chapel Conference Center for "Intern Briefing" Wednesday and Thursday. And then, Fri-Sun we, as well as all the staff members will be joining us at this point, will be putting on a conference for college juniors and seniors in our region called Crossroads. This is the conference that I attended last year that was so instrumental in bringing me to an awareness of what the Lord had for me after graduation. . .I'll never forget it. And now it's neat to be on the other end of things! So, I won't be blogging during this time but I would love your prayers and promise to update you when I return! Here are some, but not all, ways you can pray:
- safe travel, I am driving a full car tomorrow. . .we're leaving around 11
- a sweet time of connection and encouragement amongst the interns that are gathering
- rest and refreshment from the Lord as we reflect on how the past quarter has been and as we gear up for the rest of the year - may the joy of the Lord be our strength
- that the 115 juniors and seniors (30 of which are coming from SLO) would experience the Lord's presence and direction both now and in the future. That they would be obedient as they begin to take steps of faith in the plans that Lord leads them to make.

Thanks. . .and have a great week!

Oh Dear!

Nothing super profound in this post. . . I just wanted to show you my new haircut!! Yep, it's a change. I'm excited to get used to it and do it funky. . .it should be easy as well which is definitely my style. Okay, off to grocery shop with my roommate for our Pizza Making Party tonight! I'll try to take pictures, I am charging my camera's battery right now. Happy Monday. . .and thank you to all the veterans, both past and present.

Wow!

So, the Fellowship Dinner has come. . .and gone. Thank you for all of your prayers - it was an amazing evening of both celebration and a call to action. Things went so smoothly and people really seemed to enjoy the program. Dr. J.P. Moreland did an excellent job addressing the parents and community members and hearing him talk got me re-aligned and re-excited to go out and reach college students for Christ. He called the Campus Crusade for Christ ministry at Cal Poly and Cuesta the #1 college ministry across the nation (he has spoken at over 200 colleges in the states. . .I didn't even know there were that many :)!) because of our commitment to reaching the lost AND building the faith, through intellectual study (he is referring to our theological library of over 600 books for our students to read, research, and reflect on in order to strengthen their faith in a post-Christian culture), of our students. His remarks were so encouraging, but also very sobering - there are many more who need to hear the Good News of Christ.

From a details standpoint things went smoothly as well. There are definitely a handful of things that went differently then I would have expected and liked them to go but if I keep the right perspective and remember that God knew exactly how the night would go before it even happened then I can't help but thank Him and give Him all the glory. I really have learned so much about event planning and what it takes to pull off a night like this - it takes a lot of planning and prayer!

So, all this to say that - our fundraising goal for the evening was met, and slightly surpassed!! I am in awe of the generosity of people and am energized to know that so many consider this work on the college campus to be of great importance. We have a fantastic team of people standing behind us and allowing us to be the hands and feet of Christ to our students.

At this point there still are some tasks to complete. Sending out letters to all of the guests who attended (and those who didn't, we had 10 no-shows) in order to follow-up with their commitments and to thank them for giving and/or attending the evening. Also, I need to wrap some things up with the hotel and the caterer before we pay the bill. However, my "fellowship dinner to-do list" has never looked so short. . .there really is light at the end of the tunnel. :)

On another note, it was so nice to have my parents at the event. The enjoyed the company of the people at their table (I strategically placed them with agriculture oriented parents) and simply having them there made the evening that much more special and meaningful for me. They got to meet some of the people I work with as well as hear a lot more about the need for college ministry and what the Lord is doing here on the Central Coast. This morning my mom and I went to go get pedicures together. . .my first one ever!! And it might be my last, it just wasn't relaxing for me - I'm too ticklish! However, it was very fun that my mom wanted to go together, her treat. Afterwards we met up with my dad for a late breakfast and now they're on their way back to the valley. I am blessed to have the parents that I do.

And now, on to a fun and relaxing couple of days (not that the last couple of days haven't been fun, but they certainly haven't been relaxing!). My dear friend Stacie and her family are in town so I'll be meeting up with them today - I'm so excited to celebrate Grandma's 85th with them! In the next couple of days I am also getting a hair cut, having dinner at the home of a wonderful family from church, and having my Bible study girls over for a pizza making party. I hope your next couple days will prove to have moments of fun and relaxation as well!

It's Coming Fast

Hi friends! Just a quick update from SLO. I am doing well, the colonoscopy went fine and now I'm just waiting for the doctor's office to call me to make a follow-up appointment. As for the Fellowship Dinner on Friday, things are well under way. I won't deny that there have been lots of moments in each day where I have been stressed. Pray that I would trust God with ALL of the details and ask for His wisdom as the day approaches. I am waiting to hear back from a couple of people, then I will finalize the seating arrangement and start printing nametags. I am recruiting some of the girls I disciple to help me with this. . .we can partner together in ministry in many different ways! :) It has been fun to see God's hand in this process. For example, yesterday I found out that the hotel does not provide a stage for the event (our previous location did. . .) so I called around frantically and found a company we could rent a stage from. The total cost came to $301 (this stuff isn't cheap. . .I'll keep this in mind if there's a wedding in my future!) which wasn't a fun additional cost that we weren't counting on. However, God is sovereign over all and He was counting on this additional cost because I checked the mail yesterday and a parent sent in a check for $300 as a result of getting an invitation to come to the event. How cool is that?! As of right now our numbers are at 161 - wow! I still have lots of phone calls to make and kinks to work out but it looks like things will come together in time. Pray that we would see the Lord at work, not only in the lives of students, but also in the lives of parents (I'm so excited mine are coming!) and community members. Pray for our student speaker Bethany, our student MC Danny, and our keynote speaker Dr. J.P. Moreland - may the Holy Spirit speak through them as to give God all credit and glory for the things He is doing in our midst. Thanks everyone!

The Week's Happenings. . .

Or at least some of them! This was a full week, Impact 1 was just a part of it but so much more is going on. It's a whirl-wind at times! Sunday evening we had our second, and last, Servant Team meeting of the quarter. This is a time of worship, prayer, evaluation, and encouragement for all of the leaders within the ministry (ministry teams leaders, contextualized ministry leaders, Bible study leaders). About 150 students showed up and God gets all the glory for raising up so many laborers here in SLO. During the week I had the chance to do some mid-quarter encouraging of our Destino and prayer team leaders. . .who doesn't love Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread?! I really enjoy getting to shepherd them so that they lead well. . .although, I am definitely learning as I go. That's one thing about this job, the learning curve is high. I also had the opportunity to meet with a student who I met the first week of school. She is not currently walking with the Lord but He is clearly working in her in many cool ways. She's actually moving from off-campus housing and into Trinity this weekend. . .pray that the Bible study girls would be a blessing to her. I got to lead Bible study this week and it was such JOY! Really, preparing and leading is so fun for me. We studied Luke 15 and learned much about God's heart for His people and how He desires for us to be people after His own heart. Earlier that day my co-leader, Hannah, had the opportunity to lead a student to Christ while out sharing with her roommate on campus. God is on the move at Cal Poly! I met with Danielle again this week and we did the second lesson of the follow-up curriculum that students go through when they pray to receive Christ. I was a lesson about confession and forgiveness. . .good stuff! I also met up with Jamey to plan and pray for the Fellowship Dinner - which is now less than a week away! Honestly, it has been rather stressful for me the past couple of days because we are receiving too many RSVPs in the mail. . . the ballroom is not big enough to hold all the people that want to come - it's a good problem to have but it's stressing me out none the less. I'm learning a lot though and I'm so exciting for the evening to arrive. . .especially since my parents are coming - so cool! On Friday we as a staff team met with our student leadership team, core, at 6:30 in the morning. . .but sadly yours truly woke up at 6:36. :( I felt terrible about coming late, especially since timeliness is super important to me. It was humbling for me! Last night was the "Library Open House", an event to kick off the new year for our library and study center. This place is so cool. . .it's also where we meet for our staff meetings but it's perfect for students because it's close to campus and is packing with amazing resources. It is so easy to take for granted all that we have at our finger tips here in SLO. What an undeserved joy it is to partner with the Lord as He does BIG things here!

Sunshine Saturday

It was another busy week. . .I'm enjoying a fun and relaxing Saturday. My friend, Nicky, and I went on a bike ride this morning to Avila. It was so refreshing. . .although rather hot - it's hard to believe that it's November! Afterwards we went groccery shopping, one of my hobbies. :) Trader Joes is selling Pumpkin Butter so I bought a jar, can't wait to give it a try. This afternoon I met up with a freshman in Trinity who came to Bible study once or twice at the beginning of the quarter. It was so fun to hang out with this girl! Pray that school work would not come before the Lord as this is a huge struggle for all college students. It is a joy to begin establishing relationships with women and I look back on these past several weeks in amazment of how many wonderful women I have had the chance to get to know. I blessing no doubt. I just finished making some jello because tomorrow I'm not allowed to eat any solid foods in order to prep for the colonoscopy on Monday. . .oh, fun. What really is fun, on the otherhand, is that I am joining some girls to go see a movie tonight - it's been a while since I've seen a movie in the theater. . .we're seeing a chick-flick which is right up my ally.

And lastly, I just have to share that I'm the proud new owner of a green papasan chain and foot stool that I bought off of the girl who is moving out of her apartment downstairs (pray for her, school and social life became too difficult so she's going home. . .my roomie had the chance to share the Gospel with her while studying for a class they have together, praise God that she knows (at least in her head) where true joy lies. . .now pray that she will accept this joy in Christ!) Here's a picture or two, I just love it!

I love the little foot stool that it comes with! I had to close the curtain to take the picture because this Californian sun in November is just too bright!

In what ways have you had the chance to "kick back" this weekend?!

Impact 1

World Vision was on our campus this week. . .allowing students to experience "Impact 1" - an aids awareness tent that was placed on Dexter Lawn. It was open everyday from 12-12 and even until 5AM on Halloween night. Students were given a MP3 player upon entering the tent and could choose between 3 stories to begin the self-guided tour. This was a very impactful (no pun intended!) 20 minutes and at the end students could speak with a response team about their thoughts and feelings. Students were asked to respond financially (by sponsoring a child or by giving money toward an orphanage), emotionally, and spiritually. World Vision is a Christian organization; they did a great job turning people's thoughts toward God and where He is in all the suffering and injustice in Africa. Here are some pictures of my Bible study going through the tent together before our weekly meeting on Wednesday.

First, we had dinner together at the "Garden Grill" (the cafeteria on campus). . .let me just say, things have improved a lot since I was a freshman here many moons ago! :)

We are about the begin the self-guided tour through the tent (two girls who don't come to Bible study came. . .pray that Amy and Kara would come to know the Lord!)

I listened to Olivia's story as I walked through her part of the tent. She was rapped twice, became pregnant both times, and now she and one of her children as aids.

This room was called the "chapel", each picture shows a child or a family who have aids. At one point we were at a "health clinic" and we received a special stamp on our hand if we had the disease. I received that stamp and though it has since faded away. . .the stamp of aids for those who truly have it will never fade.

Students were given the opportunity to write notes of encouragement to the people of Africa as well as make a bracelet to serve as a reminder of one's experience in the tent but more so a reminder of the crisis in Africa.

In a way this experience was very moving because my dear friend and roommate the past three years is in Africa right now, seeing first hand the suffering, and hope that only the Lord can provide, in that country. She is working with AIM, Adventures in Missions. . .check out her blog here: http://kristengardenhire.myadventures.org/ How amazing it is that we can serve the same God and His same creation but in drastically different ways. How omniscient He is!

Tuesday's Thoughts

Hi friends! How is your day going? I wonder who is reading this sometimes. . .who ever you are - thanks for caring, I care about you too! :) I've head a pretty relaxed morning. I'm preparing to lead the Bible study tonight on Luke 15 (the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son). . .pray that we would grow in our understanding of God's heart for His people. . .and in turn that we would become women after His own heart. I'd love to see the girls grow in this because they are living amongst many "lost sons" and daughters. . .wouldn't it be amazing to see these girls not only love the Lord but also desire to share and show that love to others?

In an hour or so I'm going "sharing" on campus with Kelly. Really, "sharing" isn't always the best name for it. . .but what is? We, prayerfully, will talk to several girls about spiritual things by using a survey to initiate conversation. On of the reasons I love engaging in conversation with women who don't know the Lord is that so often, sadly, no one takes the time to truly listen and truly care about who they are and what their story is. "Sharing", or whatever you want to call it, provides such great opportunities for this. Within Crusade we have a definition for successful witnessing which states: successful witnessing is taking the initiate by the power of the Holy Spirit to share Christ and leaving the results up to God. I love that! Yes, it's important (and hard!) to take the initiative but so freeing to know that it's the Lord who does the work. For this reason I have never had a conversation with someone that turned negative or hostile. . .I refuse to push the Gospel on someone who doesn't care to hear it. The Lord is in charge!

I will also be meeting with Jamey, the campus director, to talk and pray for the Fellowship Dinner. It's coming up FAST! I had a nightmare a couple of nights ago that hardly anyone showed up, the program was a mess, and the food was terrible. Ha, ha! So far so good! As of today 130 people have RSVPed. . .that already 30 more then last year, praise God! I have been checking the mail and putting info into the spreadsheet. . .trying to stay on top of it all. Feels like I'm planning a wedding - except I know that I'm not because that would require a special someone in my life that currently does not exist (in case you were wondering :))!

On a personal note, last week I had blood work done to see if I have Celiac Disease, otherwise known as a gluten allergy. Well the test came back negative so . . . wheat is still my friend! :) Now I am really curious as to what might be going on. . .yay for the colonoscopy on Monday. I'm not excited, but I am thankful that eventually I'll be feeling better then I am now.

I'm cooking dinner tonight - chili (a recipe from the Grace Church cookbook) and cornbread (Marie Callandars. . .just add water, it was on sale at Food 4 Less!) and I've been calling around to see if someone wants to enjoy this meal with my roommate and I. Perhaps you can drive over. . .just give me a call? :)

Fall Fun!

A few days ago it felt like summer. . .but now, as I sit here sipping hot tea, it feels like fall. I thought I'd share some pictures to prove it! Yesterday I went over to do a "Nasi Cooking Class" for some of the girlfriends I disciple - it was so fun! Nasi is a Dutch (well, really Indonesian. . .) rice dish, it's easy and always hits the spot!

Kelly did such a nice job setting the table (nasi, pickles, peanuts, fried egg, and peanut sauce. . .sounds weird but it's so good!)

Here are the lovely ladies I enjoyed a lovely evening with!

The girls also made Pumpkin Cake. . .so yummy with a cup of tea, a great chick-flick and a game of Catch Phrase!

As for today, I had one of the most productive and domestic mornings ever! I cleaned a ton (the kitchen, living room, and bathroom. . .thankfully this doesn't take too long when you live in a small apartment), changed my sheets and towels, did two loads of laundry, emptied the trash, got gas, and went grocery shopping! This afternoon Hannah and I took a bunch of the Bible study girls to the Avila Valley Barn - what a blast (petting zoo, pumpkins galore, fudge, roasted corn, ice cream, hay maze, and lots of picture-taking)!

Here we are. . .in the rain - but it was totally worth it!

A hay maze, not as easy as it first appeared! Ashley and Ashley sure look terrified!

Picking out perfect little pumpkins. . .the girls don't have enough space in their tiny dorm rooms for anything bigger!

And to close, a silly picture of yours truly! It's a green gourd, of course I'm happy. :)

What fun things have you done this weekend?!

Yay!

Hi friends! Just wanting to briefly update you on how last night went. Thanks so much for all of your prayers! It was easy to give God all the glory knowing that how the night went was a direct result of all the prayer that went into it. Overall, it was so much fun! I'm not the best with gauging numbers but I think there were about 150 students there, quite a few of whom I know either through leading a Bible study in the Liberal Arts dorm or having been a College of Liberal Arts student here the past 4 years. It was fun to speak to a crowd of familiar faces. The Lord really gave me a passion and joy for the topic I was speaking on and I think that's the reason it was so joyful to share with them from His Word. I taught from Daniel 1 because it is a great example of what it looks like to partake in a "transformational community" in the midst of Babylon. I likened Babylon to our lives and world today. . .self-centered, worldly, a society that adheres to the Babylonian motto of "I am and there is no one besides me" (Isaiah 47:10). Daniel and his friends RESOLVED (1:8) to live lives of integrity to the glory of God and the Lord blessed them richly for it. Daniel's experience in community encouraged him and challenged him to be in the world and yet not of it. This is also the case in Romans 12. . .verse 2 calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, but to experience this, by the Lord's grace, in the presence of others (the rest of the chapter focuses on community, the body of Christ, and what it means and looks like to love others). Don't know if this is making any sense as you're reading it but prayerfully the Holy Spirit allowed it to touch the hearts of others as I spoke. And I hope to get to do it again sometime, more practice would be good - as with everything!

Today has been such a great day, I love Thursdays! Grace Church Women's Bible Study, The Well (Bible study leader training class) and two discipleship appointments. We did a Bible study through "holiness", God's holiness, our positional holiness, and our need to grow in our person and practice in terms of holiness. The Lord challenges me to be very real with my girls and openly share current struggles with sin. It was a joyful chance for me to let them into my life and prayerfully they will know that, in order to do ministry (of ANY kind that brings glory to God) you don't have to be, and quite frankly will NEVER be, perfect. . .until the day he calls us home of course. Then, finally, our position as well as our person and practice will be completely holy. . . and until then we must go on, knowing that the Lord sees Christ when He sees us - may this alone spur us on to to live lives that magnify His holiness. I am praying that you are enjoying the place of ministry that the Lord has you in currently and that you are allowing people into your humanity, your struggle with sin, knowing that it is only by the grace and mercy of God that He chooses to transform us and use us for His name's sake.

Okay, off to dinner with a friend. Have a great evening!

A Quicky!

I hope your week is going well! It is SOOO HOT in SLO right now, unbelievable! I am having some friends over for dinner tonight. . .I've planned to make a nice fall meal (including spaghetti squash and pumpkin pudding), I had no idea that I'd be making it on a summer day though. :) I love the heat so really I'm not complaining. I got to begin follow-up today with the student who prayed to receive Christ two weeks ago . . . it was so fun! We did a lesson about how we can have 100% assurance of salvation (1 John 5:9-13). . .it was neat to get to lead her into the truth of God's Word, and a great reminder for myself as well! I also took one of my discipleship girls sharing today. . .we talked to a Christian - but one who was wanting to grow (me too!). We discussed the role of the Holy Spirit and the need to submit our will to God. It was a good conversation! Fun, too, because tonight's Bible Study is on the Holy Spirit - He is so often misunderstood and neglected. . .I'm sure I'll learn a lot tonight as well! I'm still mulling over what to speak on tomorrow night. . .at this point I have too many thoughts to cram into 15 minutes - pray that the Lord would help me come up with a clear outline, something straight form His Word that will be both challenging and encouraging!

On another note, I had to get some blood work done today. After the lady was done taking my blood I actually blacked out! Such a weird experience, I had no idea I was going to! The lady was so nice though. . .and I got some free apple juice out of it! :) They are checking to see if I might have Celiac Disease, which is just a funky name for someone who is allergic to gluten (wheat products!). Wouldn't that be a bummer? I've been feeling pretty crummy for quite some time now (months. . .) so the ball is finally rolling in terms of trying to figure out what is going on. On November 5th I'm getting a colonoscopy. . .that should be fun. Ultimately I know that this little ordeal really isn't a big deal, but if you think of praying for it that would be great! I'll keep you posted. . .

But for now, I'll keep living life like I have been. . .so now it's off to make dinner and then Bible study! Have a great night yourself!

A New Week!

Okay, a now a little about the week ahead - it'll be another full one. . .how I love this job so much! In discipleship this week two of my girls and I will be reading an article called "Faith Is Not a Feeling", so true! And the other girls and I will be learning about the need for, and gaining a desire for, scripture memorization - we'll select a passage to begin memorizing and then try to weekly hold each other accountable to reciting several verses. . .join us! I am also trying to take each of my girls sharing on campus (through the use of a survey typically) at least twice this quarter. . .last week was so fun, I'm already excited to go several times this week. Hannah will be leading the Trinity Bible study this week (last week I led on confession and forgiveness, I learned SO MUCH in preparation and really enjoyed leading the girls in discussion), I'll be there for support and to bring a yummy dessert (I'm planning on making a super good coffee cake thanks to the Roach family). I will begin doing "follow-up" with Danielle, my new friend in Trinity Hall who prayed to receive Christ at Andre Kole's show. We're starting with Assurance of Salvation, I am using a 5 week curriculum that Campus Crusade provides called "Life Concepts" - good stuff for me to hear again as well! On Wednesday evening I will be speaking for the College of Liberal Arts Unplugged meeting. About 150 students have attended the past several times we've had this meeting. . .I have butterflies in my stomach even now! I'll be speaking for 15 minutes about what it means to be a "transformational community" (which stems from our ministry's vision statement). . .using scripture from Daniel (thanks to an amazing Beth Moore study that I am going through right now!) and Romans 12 (thanks to Pastor Tim's great sermon today!) and then I'll be leading the students into a time of small group discussion based off of questions I will pose to them (I have no idea what those are currently!) as a result of my talk. Truly, I am excited and thankful for this opportunity to speak before such wonderful students. . .and nervous too! Pray that I would be as prepared as the Lord desires for me to be and that I would teach from His Word in such a way that conveys His great love. May I decrease so that He may increase! More great things are planned for this week. . .and I am sure your week will prove to be full as well. May we remember to "keep the main thing the main thing" which, of course, is Jesus Christ!

This Weekend!

This weekend has been a reminder of the fact that I am a college grad who has entered into a new stage of life. . .as have many of her friends! Take yesterday for example. . .I went to an afternoon wedding and an evening baby shower - what fun!

The beautiful bride and groom exchanging vows at the See Canyon Apple Ranch in Avila. What a perfect day for Mr. and Mrs. Morgan - it was an honor to celebrate with them!

And then off to Deb's baby shower. There she sits unpacking a gift in the green chair, while we play "Bingo" according to the gifts she receives. So fun - I made chocolate Fondue for the evening, yum! Last night was the first time ever that I touched a pregnant tummy. . .so weird, and so amazing - what a creative God we serve!

Last Weekend!

Here are some pictures that I have been meaning to post from Fall Retreat last weekend . . .where did the week go?!

I tried to capture the size of our group for you. . .although there were more students there that my camera could not get!

Our Decades Dance Party on Friday night was such a hit! Here are three juniors (two of whom I disciple, on the right). . .can you guess what decade they represent? :) Super Seniors and Staff were "the future", a lot of foil was involved in my costume!
Here is the discussion group that I led with Matt. We grabbed lunch on Saturday in downtown Ventura. . .this great group of students (and I) experienced "life change" this weekend. . .and we were just one of the 40ish groups that did!
What do college students like to do in their free time? Try to pull each other into trashcans of course! This is a game called "Cajabee Can Can". . .I chose to be a spectator and for those who know me this would not surprise you!

This has become a Fall Retreat classic called "Buck Buck". These students endure great self-inflicted pain for love of the game. What I love about this picture is that Kevin (the one who I captured in midair in the red shirt) is on staff and is expecting a baby with his wife in February. . .I hope he lives to see the birth of his child. :)

Here I am with some of the Trinity Bible Study girls that came to Fall Retreat. It was such a great time to get to know them and experience the Lord's working in their lives first-hand. I love these girls!

Fall Retreat!

Wow, I know I use this word a lot, but really - WOW is all I have to say! :)

The weekend was AMAZING, thanks for your prayers! Here are some highlights:

- great car rides to and from Ventura, fun conversations with the girls I drove
- In-and-Out. . .right across the street from the Marriott :)
- Chuck, our speaker, was a to-the-point Bible teacher. . .he was the perfect fit for our students (and me!) this weekend - challenging us to live as authentic Christ-followers ought
- amazing worship
- a chance to "talk" via Skype with our STINT team in East Asia, powerful
- Buck Buck and Cajabee Can Can (totally spelt wrong I assume) in the park. . .beautiful weather!
- a great discussion group full of students who were eager to learn and share with each other
- a mad crazy dance party like no other. . .so fun!
- met so many great students, what a blessing!
- lastly, two words: changed lives. That's what this weekend was about and that's exactly what happened.

And now it's a new week once again! Today the staff team took a day off. I had a very productive day running errands, having dinner with a couple from church, and getting prayer letters "signed, sealed, [and soon to be] delivered". . .check your mail boxes in the coming days! (if you're not on the list but want to be, just let me know!)

I'll post pictures from the weekend soon. . .but now it's off to bed, a very busy couple of days await. Yay!

And we're off!

Today over 400 students are headed out of SLO and to our Fall Retreat weekend in Ventura! Of the four years that I went as a student this weekend always proved to be a powerful time of teaching by a great speaker, worship, fellowship, and so much fun! We are staying at the Marriott hotel right on the coast for two nights. If you'd like, here's how you can pray:

- safe travel as students will be arriving at all times this afternoon/evening (it's about a 2 hr. drive, not bad!)
- that our speaker would teach clearly from the Word and that the Lord would soften all hearts to hear and apply what is taught so that He would be glorified through us
- that discussion group leaders (myself included) would with bold compassion show grace and truth toward the students in their group, that students would be vulnerable and that the Spirit would be directing our words, thoughts, and actions toward each other as we get to know many new faces
- that students would come to know the Lord (every year nonbelievers show up, by the grace of God!)
- that students would recognize how the living God is moving in their lives so that all are equipped to go back to SLO on Sunday with a new understanding of both the Great Commandment and the Great Commission and how that plays out in their day-to-day lives
- that I would seek strength from the Lord as this will probably be a tiring weekend, that I would have quality conversations with many students, that I would be secure in Christ alone as I try to figure out what it looks like to go to Fall Retreat as a staff member for the first time.

I hope this weekend provided you with opportunities to retreat with the Lord also. Thanks again so much for your prayers and support. Daily I am humbled by how all of you have shown the love of the Lord to me. Have a great weekend!

Wow, again!

I love how you never know what a day will hold. . .read til the end, it's gonna be good! :)

I love my job. I love the fact that one of the main things I get to focus on is evangelism. . .sharing the greatest news I've ever heard with others. As I was reflecting on Andre Kole this morning I was praising God for him and his talents that he has used to proclaim the Gospel to hundreds of thousands in over 70 countries. However, I was also praising God that He did not (as far as I know) bless me with any crazy talents that I could put on display for large audiences. My heart is for one-on-one or small group evangelism. I love sharing Christ with those I know and those I don't know. . .but I love doing so in a very relational setting. As I was helping to count the response cards that we got after Andre Kole's show last night it was a joy to see that so many had accepted Christ but I was sad that I didn't get to rejoice with them in the moment they made the decision, and chances are that I won't even get to know them well enough to talk about the decision they made (but someone will, we put follow-up material in the mail for them today and they will also be contacted by us about ways that they can grow in their relationship with Christ now that their journey has begun). There's something so special in talking someone through the Gospel while hearing about who they are and where they are coming from.

That's what I'm focusing on during my discipleship appointments this week. We can all grow in the area of evangelism so the girls and I will be looking at how Christ shared the Good News with the woman at the well (John 4). And then we will be applying God's Word as I take them each out sharing this week and next. Melissa and I went today and had a great time initiating spiritual conversation with two girls, on two separate occasions. One was very open to share her beliefs but she wasn't a "seeker", she didn't care to hear the Gospel. . .so we thanked her for her time and we enjoyed praying for her afterwards. It was fun getting to know her! The second girl we talked to grew up in the Church of Christ (don't know a whole lot about this church. . .) and we had the opportunity to share the Gospel with her! She doesn't understand sin and that it's ONLY through Christ that we stand redeemed in the Lord's sight. . .but once again it was so fun to dive into spiritual conversation with her as well as love on her. Although Melissa and I took the initiative to start these conversations (through the use of a survey) both were very relational and enjoyable. I love how open college students are. . .the harvest is plentiful!

Now here comes the good part. . .last night a girl from Trinity joined us to see Andre Kole whom I had not met before. We sat together and had a great time connecting. She mentioned that she needed to go to the DMV but didn't have a car so I offered to give her a ride. Well, she took me up on it and while we were driving around together this afternoon I had the chance to ask her what last night was like for her. Well, she proceeded to tell me that she prayed to receive Christ!! How exciting. . .and how blessed beyond belief I am that the Lord allowed me to spend time with her today. . .He didn't have to ordain that time but He did and it encouraged me SO MUCH! Now she wants to get involved with Bible Study and come to our weekly meetings. I love how God really does work in whatever way He desires, whether it's through Andre Kole or a conversation at a bench on campus, or in class, or at your job. . .He is stirring in the hearts of people and calling them to enter into a thriving and exciting relationship with Him! I hope this finds you encourages as well, we really do serve a God who is mighty to save!

Wow!

Well, I found out a couple things about Andre Kole last night. He doesn't look like Prince Charles :), he has a lot of sparkly jackets, he's an AMAZING illusionist, and he loves the Lord and knows how to incorporate his crazy talents to boldly share Christ with about 1,000 college students. This is so exciting. . .90 students prayed to begin a personal relationship with Jesus last night!! And many more want more information. Praise God for the faithfulness of one man as he is doing what the Lord has called him to and is being used in mighty ways. Praise God that He, the Lord, is NOT an illusion and that I can put all my trust in Him alone, whether I can see the specific ways in which He is working or not. He is mighty to save!

Andre Kole

Ha, ha. . .so this picture of Andre Kole makes me laugh - he kinda looks like Prince Charles or something. We'll soon find out if he really looks like that in person! Would you all please pray for Andre Kole and the illusion show he will be performing tomorrow night at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center. This man is legit. . .check out the website: andrekole.org He is on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ and is using his gifts/skills/talents (not sure what to call it. . .) to glorify God by spreading the Good News. Pray that hundreds of believers and nonbelievers would come and be brought one step closer to knowing God more. May many put their trust in Christ for the very first time! Pray that we, as staff and students, would be faithful to quickly follow-up on any decisions made tomorrow night. This is so exciting, I'm looking forward to reporting back to you soon!

Happy Friday!

My internet is down in my apartment. . .so I haven't been able to be on the computer much the last couple of days. . .stressful at times but overall a nice break! I'm currently using the internet at the "Swanson Center" which is our office/library/study center. . .it's a great place for staff and students alike. We're very blessed by it and it's only a 10 minute walk away from the University Union, which is at the center of all the happenings on campus. It has been another very busy week with lots of ups and a few downs. I still LOVE my job! Tonight is the closing event of a week of prayer and fasting that we have been encouraging students to take part in. Tomorrow is our Freshmen/Transfer Student Dinner. . .38 groups, with 6-8 new students in each group, are gathering at the homes of upperclassmen to connect and enjoy a meal together. Then, all these groups are gathering at a local church to hang out, play a game, have dessert, and hear more about the ministry. I'm the staff member in charge. . .hoping it all goes as planned, for the most part at least!

The upcoming week is yet another exciting one! On Monday night a world-renowned illusionist, Andre Kole, is coming to do an amazing performance for students at our Performing Arts Center on campus. He is on staff with Campus Crusade and has been traveling around for 20 plus years. Thousands have hear the Gospel, interwoven into his show, and hundreds at a time have come to know Christ. This is SO EXCITING!! Pray that students would come, hear the Good News, and respond!

On Wednesday our regional director is coming to town. We'll, as a staff team, catch dinner with him. I love being reminded that we're a part of something so much bigger then what's going on at Cal Poly and Cuesta.

On Thursday I'm organizing a "hand-addressed envelops party". The goal is to put about 1,000 invitations for our Fellowship Dinner in the mail by Friday. We are hand-addressing all the envelops. . .and therefore are recruiting students, with nice handwriting :), to help us. I am learning how to delegate, it's a good thing!

And then, drum roll please. . .Friday-Sun is our Fall Retreat! We will be in Ventura this year. . .we're expecting about 500 (or more!) students to join us for a great weekend including a speaker, worship, discussion groups, lots of fellowship, a dance and lots more. Pray that the Lord would use this weekend to change lives and set hearts on fire for Him!

Wow, the quarter is flying by! I hope you are doing well and enjoying the Fall. Thanks for all of your support!

Faith

It's been a while. . .life has been so busy! I am trying to learn what it means to "work hard, play hard, and rest hard". The "work hard" aspect comes easiest perhaps. . .but then so does burn-out! My work is increasing my faith in God. . .there are so many things to trust Him for, there would be no way to get through my day except to have faith in my perfect Father. As you can see by the picture on the left the "40 Evangelistic Conversations" goal has been met. I am in awe of the Lord! Really, the goal has been surpassed - I have had the opportunity to connect with many students the last 2 weeks that Cal Poly has been in session. Writing down their names and random little facts about them has helped me to remember them when I see them around campus. This morning I am off to meet with the leaders of Destino, I'll spend some time "coaching" them (the term coaching cracks me up coming from someone who is not sports oriented or competitive. . .who knew that I'd ever be a coach?! :)). I have a discipleship appointment with Kelly and Sarah, I'll be sharing with them the individual vision plans that I mapped out for each of them (this part is hard for me to do!) and we'll be discussing a chapter that I photocopied from "The Gospel for Real Life" by Jerry Bridges what addresses the question: why the cross? Good stuff! Then off to lunch with a wonderful freshman friend Molly, who is the sister of a very dear college friend. Molly has a bunch of "plus dollars" so she's treating me to Sandwich Factory. . . I worked there for several quarters my freshman and sophomore year. After lunch Hannah and I will be meeting up to plan Bible study for tomorrow. Pray for discernment as we discuss the best way to structure our hour and a half with the girls. I'm hoping to spend the rest of the afternoon with a swim, making a dessert for tomorrow's study, and working on Discipleship vision plans for the 4 other girls that I meet with this quarter. May the Lord increase OUR faith this week. What are you trusting Him for?

I love my job!!

I know it's only the third week but still. . . I love my job! I have a lot to learn and there will be a lot of challenges ahead and yet I would not want to be doing anything else right now! I'm short on time but I wanted to give you a quick update on what this week holds so that if you're praying you can pray informed prayers! Here we go:

- I met with the prayer team leaders yesterday and was just blown away by their hearts for the Lord and their excitement for what He will do through the prayers of His children this year. Some things planned are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday prayer times on campus at 7:30 in the morning with all of the Christian groups on campus (this morning was AMAZING. . .there's nothing like praying with brothers and sisters from all walks of life!). Also, next week we are encouraging a week of prayer and fasting which will end with a "debriefing" time on Friday. . .many things will be prayed for including the salvation of students, a major outreach event happening on Oct. 8th, and our Fall Retreat on Oct. 12-14. I left our planning time together yesterday simply in awe of the fact that I get to work alongside such amazing students who love the Lord!

- I will also be coaching the Destino movement leaders within Campus Crusade that focuses on the Latino community on campus. I just found out about this role and am SO EXCITED! The leaders are holding a meeting later tonight, I'm going to stop in and connect with them. . .I'll be sure to blog more on this later!

- The first Trinity Bible study gathering is tomorrow at 8! Hannah and I spent some time this afternoon mapping out the night and praying for the Lord's will to be done. We are excited (and nervous!) to see what He has in store for tomorrow. I will be doing a short devotional (because most of the time will be spent connecting with each other and casting vision for the quarter/year) on the fact that God loves us and He has a plan and a purpose for our lives! This is the first of 4 "spiritual laws" that are shared when someone hears the Gospel from someone trained to use the "Knowing God Personally" booklet that Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade, put together. I am so thankful for the opportunity to speak of God's love for us and I pray that the Holy Spirit would use the words that come out of my mouth to reach many for Him!

- Discipleship begins this week! This quarter I will be discipling a total of 6 girls, in pairs. This will take time in preparation. . .although this week I'll be spending the majority of our hour and a half together reconnecting after summer, re-casting vision behind the heart and cost of discipleship, as well as asking the girls to self-evaluate where their strengths and weaknesses lie in terms of their development as a spiritual multiplier. Later in the week, after I have met with each of the girls, I will take the time to create a "strategic plan" for the quarter with goals and objectives based off of their strengths and areas of growth. This is challenging for me to do. . .but it also excites me because having a clear plan will keep us focused on the Lord and His will!

- Wednesday is the first night for "W8 Unplugged" - a whole new and exciting way that we are organizing our meeting every other week of the quarter (odd weeks of the quarter will be done just as we've done in the past, even weeks of the quarter will be this new set-up that I will fill you in on later!). Students will be meeting in classrooms all over campus according to the college (Engineering, Ag, Liberal Arts, etc. . .) they belong to. I'm so excited to go with my Bible study girls and see how it works!

- I'm in charge of some of the legistical details of our Fellowship Dinner (Nov 9th. . .a chance for community members to enjoy a nice meal, hear more about the ministry, and consider partnering with us financially) and by the end of this week about 600 "Save the Date" cards need to go in the mail (J.P. Moreland is coming to speak!). In order to get that to happen I am meeting with a former staff guy who's still in town as well as meeting with a woman at the brand new Marriott hotel in SLO to see if we might use their facilities rather then Embassy Suites which is where the evening was hosted in the past. This job really challenges me but I am enjoying it because it's a lot of behind the scenes work!

- There are also staff meetings and new staff trainings scheduled as well as a Crusade party on Friday night and a Bible study hangout/get to know each other on Saturday night.

All in all, it's a busy and exciting week! Though it sounds like a lot and at times is overwhelming I love remembering that this is my job. . .seeing lives change. Each of the things that I get to be a part of here is visionary and prayerfully will bring us one step closer to fulfilling the Great Commission. . .Christ will return when all have heard, that's motivation enough to work hard and serve Him faithfully! Now of course, thankfully the staff team also values time off and boundaries. . .these are things I will need to be intentional with, there's a lot of room for growth in this area as well! Okay, I'm off to my church's "Ladies Salad Supper". . .one of the favorite nights of the quarter! I made a yummy salad called "Confetti Corn Toss" to bring along - can't wait to try what everyone else brings. Have a GREAT week!

One last thing. . .if you have any questions about what I wrote (as I flew through A LOT) or simply want to know more then leave a comment and I'll blog more about that topic/thought!

Trinity Hall

Here it is, the Liberal Arts "Red Brick" dorm that I have the joy of leading a Bible study in this year. It has been so special to meet the girls living here as it brings back many memories of when I lived there MY freshmen year. . .can it really be my 5th fall in San Luis Obispo?! I have been spending a good chunk of my working hours establishing relationships and having spiritual conversations with the girls that live here. The Lord has been doing exciting things! You may remember back to WOW week and all the Freshmen Survival Kits we passed out. Well, in order for the students to receive a kit the had to fill out a survey, giving us their contact information and, through a few questions, allowing us to gauge where they might be at in their walk (or lack thereof) with the Lord. After getting all these cards and dividing them up into piles according to dorms we then sort through the cards (students, really) and classify them as "hot", "warm", or "cold" contacts. The hot and warm contacts are our priority as we enter into the dorm to meet them because they are most open about spiritual things (ranging from a student who is on fire for the Lord to a student who has a bit of curiosity about God, joining a Bible study, or hearing more about Campus Crusade). Well, Trinity Hall has 55 hot and warm contacts! In the summer I prayed that the Lord would raise up a few Christian girls to be living in the dorm. . .He certainly does abundantly more then I could ask or imagine! Hannah and I have been so blessed to meet many wonderful girls (my faith goal of having 40 evangelistic conversations will be reached soon. . .thanks to these girls!) who are so thankful and excited to hear about a Bible study that is starting up in their dorm. However, it has also been our prayer that we would be building relationships with nonchristians and that has been happening as well. We don't want to loose sight of the fact that there are many who don't know Jesus. Please pray for Laura, Kellie, Brittany and Kelsey (each are warm contacts!). . .may they hear and experience the Gospel through us and the girls who know the Lord in Trinity. What an exciting time! Hannah and I will be gathering the girls together for the first time on Tuesday night at 8 (in preparation I already made stroopwafels with some girlfriends this morning!) in the dorm room of Sarah and Shannon on the 3rd floor. We'll spend the time getting to know each other, doing an ice-breaker activity, and discussing our vision for the Bible study this quarter. We spent some time this afternoon meeting more girls and giving them all a little reminder flier about the first Bible study of the year. May the Lord's will be done!