Well, we're here! We definitely had a crazy and fun trip out here to Estes Park, Colorado, but arrived safely. If you heard about any of the huge storm systems and tornadoes that hit southern Wyoming and Northern Colorado last week, we drove through some of that to get here. God definitely blessed us with traveling mercies there. To read more about that visit our group weblog "CO LT 08 Group Blog" listed under "Links" on the right-hand side of this site, or go to http://colt2008.blogspot.com.
When I got out here to get my schedule for my job, I found out that I was promoted to AM Supervisor of the Pondorosa Staff Dining Room (referred to as "the Pondo"). So far... it's been tough getting up at 5am to go to work, and a little crazy as I'm trying to remember the 58 billion things that need to be done before and after each meal (note: 58 billion may have been a slight exaggeration... but it feels that way sometimes!). It's been fun though, it's crazy how easily I remember where stuff is and what needs to be done. It's also awesome to work with old friends again, especially my friends from Colombia and Mexico (they're also determined to teach me Spanish this summer because they feel German is useless... we'll see how successful I am).
As far as LT goes... we met with our project groups once already and had dinner together. Ours is unusually larger than my group from last year, but from what I know (and from what I've heard from MANY other people)... we have the SWEETEST project group. One of my really good friends from LT last year is one of the project leaders and we have SEVEN BGSU people in it, one of which is Sarah, my roommate!!! I'm really excited to get to know these people and grow with them this summer.
If you remember from last summer, we read a book called "Chazown" by Craig Groeschel. This year's book that we are reading is "What's So Amazing About Grace?" by Philip Yancey. I haven't started it yet, but I already know this is going to be a super-sweet book and that it really goes along with some of the stuff that God has revealed to me that He wants to teach me this summer. Feel free to read the book with us this summer!!
We also had our first LT meeting last night. It was really sweet, and I'm excited for these this summer. But something hasn't felt right, almost since I got here, and it didn't exactly feel right last night. I know things don't have to feel right to actually be right... but something feels out of place for me. And it may just be a period of adjustment, I don't know. The worship was really sweet... even though there's a lot going on for me right now, I felt SO FREE to just worship God and praise Him. Then Drage got up and brought the message, which was about having a "Focused Life" especially while we're out here, and the different LT Goals of the summer. So, if you don't know, I usually take notes during a message, even if I already have an outline, and the notes consist usually of a few different things, like: key important phrases the speaker makes that really stand out to me that aren't in the outline, points reiterated or reworded differently than in the outline that really stand out to me, questions that I need to look deeper into. But also during messages I can hear God speaking a lot of times so I also write down: questions God has for me, things God wants to say to me, questions I have for God or for myself, and any thoughts or prayers I have to God. I told you all this to tell you: God and I have a lot of questions for myself, most of them are pretty tough, and they all need to be answered. It was really good though. And then of course the LT vows and the chain links were given out... mine is again around my neck, but on my necklace this year instead of on a piece of a bandanna like last year. After that my roommates (Liz and Sarah) and I sat down and talked for awhile. I know now more than ever before that God has us out here together for a reason. I feel we are going to grow SO MUCH through experiencing this together, and learn how to be more open, honest, trusting, and loving toward each other as sisters. It's going to be sweet.
Well, that's all I have so far. Because of my busy schedule as a supervisor, and wanting to spend a lot of time with God, as well as hiking every mountain visible from the YMCA... and then some, I'm still hoping I can update as often as I'd like to. I have some pictures from the past week, but haven't had time to post them on the Photo Website. For those of you eagerly waiting, I apologize, I'll have some time soon this week.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Round 2- Colorado LT 2008: His Will
Another year, a new chapter.
So, after coming back from LT 07, I really thought that was it. I'd come home this summer, get a job, have a studio of students and work with a band, maybe take a class or two at UC, do a Collegiate Bible study at the church. But, after 90843 (that may be a slight overexaggeration) questions about whether or not I was going back... I felt like I should go back. So, I signed up, and began the journey again. This time I also volunteered to be a driver, to help out the group, and to serve others out in Colorado... which meant I was going to need a newer car, one that coul make it out there, handle the mountain terrain, and come back. But, over time, I really wasn't sure if I should, or even wanted to go back anymore. I went ahead and sent my support letters out and filled out all the necessary paperwork anyway, and continued praying about where God wanted me. Over a month into my support raising, I had no money, no support, and no car. I continued asking God if I was still supposed to go, or if this meant I needed to stay home. Then, one Friday one of my support envelopes came in the mail, and me, being the one that asks God for all sorts of outrageous signs... asked God for 10% (which would have been $100) and for it to be from some outrageous person. Well, least to say, God provided me with that $100 from a least likely source, and 2 hours later, my stepdad was calling me to tell me that he received a big bonus check at work and was giving me $300 of it toward the program. Talk about answered prayers!
To make a long story short, within the week I had a enough money to pay off the program ($700), and within a little over 2 weeks, I had 100% of the support I needed, and a new car.
God works in mysterious ways, and He works on His own time. Which is why worrying is useless... it only means we are lacking in faith. When we have faith in God and give it up to Him, there is no need to worry, because He is faithful to answer, and He WILL answer, in His own time, not ours. I'm learning this more and more every day.
I'm really interested and excited to see what God is going to do through my life this summer. I have a huge heart to go out there and evangelize to people. Evangelism I have learned comes in many different forms, but all comes down to the main point of sharing Christ's love and redemption. I personally want to go out to Colorado and just love on people, to show them a love they may have NEVER known before... that they would see the Light reflected in my life, and come to know our Savior.
I am also interested, excited, and maybe a little afraid even, to see what God is going to do in my life. To be honest, this past semester was a rough semester at school for me. Taking 20 credit hours and teaching was insane. I also felt a lot of pressure in areas of my life, and felt very weak in a few places. I learned several big lessons, one of which is that God is totally in control, and I forget that way too often. He has control and there is no need for me to worry and try to take care of things on my own without His help, because I will just stumble and fall, time after time (and believe me, I did). I felt like I had a lot thrown at me, without time to process everything. I feel like this summer will be a lot of processing, some grieving, and a lot of grace and love. It will also be time to take a deeper look into some of my past fears and hurts, that are affecting my present. God has already spoken to me about this, and yes, I'm a little apprehensive, but it will be a time to lean on Him and let Him hold me in His arms. A time of cleaning, emptying out, and huge time of restoration.
I thank all of you that have generously contributed gifts, time, encouragement, prayers, love and support to this summer. It will be life-changing!
So, after coming back from LT 07, I really thought that was it. I'd come home this summer, get a job, have a studio of students and work with a band, maybe take a class or two at UC, do a Collegiate Bible study at the church. But, after 90843 (that may be a slight overexaggeration) questions about whether or not I was going back... I felt like I should go back. So, I signed up, and began the journey again. This time I also volunteered to be a driver, to help out the group, and to serve others out in Colorado... which meant I was going to need a newer car, one that coul make it out there, handle the mountain terrain, and come back. But, over time, I really wasn't sure if I should, or even wanted to go back anymore. I went ahead and sent my support letters out and filled out all the necessary paperwork anyway, and continued praying about where God wanted me. Over a month into my support raising, I had no money, no support, and no car. I continued asking God if I was still supposed to go, or if this meant I needed to stay home. Then, one Friday one of my support envelopes came in the mail, and me, being the one that asks God for all sorts of outrageous signs... asked God for 10% (which would have been $100) and for it to be from some outrageous person. Well, least to say, God provided me with that $100 from a least likely source, and 2 hours later, my stepdad was calling me to tell me that he received a big bonus check at work and was giving me $300 of it toward the program. Talk about answered prayers!
To make a long story short, within the week I had a enough money to pay off the program ($700), and within a little over 2 weeks, I had 100% of the support I needed, and a new car.
God works in mysterious ways, and He works on His own time. Which is why worrying is useless... it only means we are lacking in faith. When we have faith in God and give it up to Him, there is no need to worry, because He is faithful to answer, and He WILL answer, in His own time, not ours. I'm learning this more and more every day.
I'm really interested and excited to see what God is going to do through my life this summer. I have a huge heart to go out there and evangelize to people. Evangelism I have learned comes in many different forms, but all comes down to the main point of sharing Christ's love and redemption. I personally want to go out to Colorado and just love on people, to show them a love they may have NEVER known before... that they would see the Light reflected in my life, and come to know our Savior.
I am also interested, excited, and maybe a little afraid even, to see what God is going to do in my life. To be honest, this past semester was a rough semester at school for me. Taking 20 credit hours and teaching was insane. I also felt a lot of pressure in areas of my life, and felt very weak in a few places. I learned several big lessons, one of which is that God is totally in control, and I forget that way too often. He has control and there is no need for me to worry and try to take care of things on my own without His help, because I will just stumble and fall, time after time (and believe me, I did). I felt like I had a lot thrown at me, without time to process everything. I feel like this summer will be a lot of processing, some grieving, and a lot of grace and love. It will also be time to take a deeper look into some of my past fears and hurts, that are affecting my present. God has already spoken to me about this, and yes, I'm a little apprehensive, but it will be a time to lean on Him and let Him hold me in His arms. A time of cleaning, emptying out, and huge time of restoration.
I thank all of you that have generously contributed gifts, time, encouragement, prayers, love and support to this summer. It will be life-changing!
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