Well, I got to see my family this weekend. I also worked for the first time since i have been back. Another first was going to Chinese club on Friday. It was interesting. We learned some Chinese words and learned about mid autumn festival which was on Sunday. Then one of the chinese girls walked home with me and hungout at the women's house for a while. I was a little scared when I was walking to the club that it was going to be for people who speak Chinese, which would definitely not include me, but it is more for people who want to learn about Chinese culture and some words and stuff, so it was good.
Home was good, seeing my family and seeing kelsey before she leaves for Africa tomorrow. I felt kind of lazy all day yesterday and much of the day today.
I did go running last night though. And today after devos and stuff we tried learning how to do kip ups which is the move where you go from your back to your feet. I still can't do it, but I think I am getting close, not without some damage to my body though. I mean, I think I'll be okay but I am a little sore now.
I just got back from the prayer room. It was good. I played a little guitar and allowed some words flow out of me. i really felt closer to God through that, so it was sweet.
I love you all.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Every step of the way
God has really been showing me that it is awesome to be seeking him all the time, every step of the way. I have some time in the afternoons these days when I don't really have any planned activities, which is pretty sweet, and I have really been starting to feel like God has given me that time for a purpose, to walk around and see people I know and encourage each other and meet new people and such. So that is what I have been doing. For example, yesterday after class I was spending some time with God at a picnic table and a guy came up and sat down to wait for a friend. I introduced myself and his name is Marv and we talked a little...he goes to a church in the area and we talked about that a little and it was a pretty cool little conversation. After spending a little more time with God, I felt it was time to walk home, so I was walking and met up with Kassie coming the opposite way, so I walked with her to Anspach where she had class. It was cool to talk a little. Then on the way back I met up with a girl named Ana who I had met the day before at the His House Welcome Back BBQ. I walked back with her to Barnes and it was cool to talk to her a little and then I finally went home and stuff, but that was just one of the little excursions with God I have had in the past couple days and I really like it. God is pretty awesome.
One thing to go along with this is that I feel like there is a lot of stuff in my life that needs to be fixed or gotten rid of or things I need to do like homework and research and such but God is showing me that if I am focused on what he wants me to do all the time, then I will always be doing what needs to be done. He knows what needs to be done better than I do and he can manage my time much better than I can.
Speaking of knowing what needs to be done better than I do, I was thinking about getting an audit just to make sure I will be able to graduate when I want to but had kinda forgotten about it until one of my God excursions led me to talk to Krishelle and somehow it came up in our convo. So, I went to the office to sign up for an audit and after setting up a time, asked if there were different types of audit, for instance, one that i would need before graduation, and the lady asked me when do you plan on graduating? I told her in May, and she asked if I had applied for graduation, and after replying no she told me that I needed to do that before Sept 15, so I did. Anyway, it was a good thing God led me there, because otherwise I might not have applied by the deadline and might not be able to graduate.
So, in conclusion, it is pretty sweet to follow God around all day and I would suggest it for everybody. I am not perfect at it, but thank God that he is patient and is teaching me and reminding me and awesome and stuff.
One thing to go along with this is that I feel like there is a lot of stuff in my life that needs to be fixed or gotten rid of or things I need to do like homework and research and such but God is showing me that if I am focused on what he wants me to do all the time, then I will always be doing what needs to be done. He knows what needs to be done better than I do and he can manage my time much better than I can.
Speaking of knowing what needs to be done better than I do, I was thinking about getting an audit just to make sure I will be able to graduate when I want to but had kinda forgotten about it until one of my God excursions led me to talk to Krishelle and somehow it came up in our convo. So, I went to the office to sign up for an audit and after setting up a time, asked if there were different types of audit, for instance, one that i would need before graduation, and the lady asked me when do you plan on graduating? I told her in May, and she asked if I had applied for graduation, and after replying no she told me that I needed to do that before Sept 15, so I did. Anyway, it was a good thing God led me there, because otherwise I might not have applied by the deadline and might not be able to graduate.
So, in conclusion, it is pretty sweet to follow God around all day and I would suggest it for everybody. I am not perfect at it, but thank God that he is patient and is teaching me and reminding me and awesome and stuff.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Off Course
Well, this was a pretty good weekend. I am sure I won't be able to mention everything good about it. We had a leadership retreat with His House on Friday night and Saturday morning. It was a good time to focus on what we will be doing this year and stuff and to hangout with some people.
After that I helped Matt with a photo project which was pretty fun and then took a nap before Kelsey came and woke me up. We went and got free shakes at culvers with the couponn from the CM Life on Friday. Then we played some tennis, went to Qdoba, played some disc golf (where the off course part comes in when we threw our discs into the pond and/or trees), got slurpees, watched an episode of the Office, played some worship music. Then i had a good time at hot dogs, meeting people and praying and stuff.
Went to church this morning, Ou Qiang came for second service, a little late and we sat in little kid chairs because that's all that was left (praise the Lord). Had a meeting at Fazoli's with some people, took another short nap before Dave woke me up and we went to play disc golf (again with the going off course into the pond and trees). Then we went to the welcome back BBQ and I played djembe with three different groups unexpectedly. It was fun, but I was kind of glad to be done so I could talk to some people and get some food and stuff. I met some new people, re-met some people, talked to some old people, played some ultimate frisbee (dave threw a frisbee into the bushes in the ditch next to the train tracks and we had to get it out...another off course moment but fun), etc..
After cleaning up from that and coming home I went on a bike ride with Sara Mater to a couple playgrounds and played around and then took her back to her dorm and went over and had a good talk with Kassie at the women's house and then came home and saw Derek who had been gone for the weekend, and his brother, and Matt and Chris, who are fun. and I made myself a shake and this is probably a pretty boring post..
After that I helped Matt with a photo project which was pretty fun and then took a nap before Kelsey came and woke me up. We went and got free shakes at culvers with the couponn from the CM Life on Friday. Then we played some tennis, went to Qdoba, played some disc golf (where the off course part comes in when we threw our discs into the pond and/or trees), got slurpees, watched an episode of the Office, played some worship music. Then i had a good time at hot dogs, meeting people and praying and stuff.
Went to church this morning, Ou Qiang came for second service, a little late and we sat in little kid chairs because that's all that was left (praise the Lord). Had a meeting at Fazoli's with some people, took another short nap before Dave woke me up and we went to play disc golf (again with the going off course into the pond and trees). Then we went to the welcome back BBQ and I played djembe with three different groups unexpectedly. It was fun, but I was kind of glad to be done so I could talk to some people and get some food and stuff. I met some new people, re-met some people, talked to some old people, played some ultimate frisbee (dave threw a frisbee into the bushes in the ditch next to the train tracks and we had to get it out...another off course moment but fun), etc..
After cleaning up from that and coming home I went on a bike ride with Sara Mater to a couple playgrounds and played around and then took her back to her dorm and went over and had a good talk with Kassie at the women's house and then came home and saw Derek who had been gone for the weekend, and his brother, and Matt and Chris, who are fun. and I made myself a shake and this is probably a pretty boring post..
Friday, August 29, 2008
Keeping up with the siblings
I was actually planning on typing a new post in my blog before checking out the blogs of my siblings, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that two of my three siblings had also posted new info since last time I looked at their blogs.
I finished my first week of classes and things are going pretty well. I am still not back into the school thing yet. I am completely unmotivated to do school stuff and my schedule with work and His House activities and such is still up in the air. But it has been a good week with some good chances to connect with people.
First of all, as I think I mentioned, I am going to be leading the international ministry with His House this year, so I connected with some international student organizations. Dave and I also became friends with a Chinese student, playing basketball with him on our way back from Main Stage...much better than staying at the concert with the lead singer dropping f bombs left and right and talking about getting drunk.
I also had a good conversation today with a guy I met last year in racquetball club. We talked some about community and what is really important in life and then a little about spiritual beliefs. He is a cool guy, really down to earth. Be praying for him.
Tonight I reconnected with a friend who was in a singing group with me my senior year of high school and her freshman year, so now she is a freshman here and I am a senior and we hungout after His House with some people and had fun.
Classes are alright. Spanish class is pretty fun. My HEV classes are pretty boring so far, but not too bad. Also, I still haven't gotten everything going with my senior research project but I am working on it.
Praise God. He is doing some sweet stuff. Oh, I forgot to mention prayer. I have had some good prayer times this week. We have a 24/7 prayer room that I have gone to a few times, and I also went to the prayer meeting on Tuesday which was really good.
Anyway, I love you all. Have a great day and/or night. Adios
I finished my first week of classes and things are going pretty well. I am still not back into the school thing yet. I am completely unmotivated to do school stuff and my schedule with work and His House activities and such is still up in the air. But it has been a good week with some good chances to connect with people.
First of all, as I think I mentioned, I am going to be leading the international ministry with His House this year, so I connected with some international student organizations. Dave and I also became friends with a Chinese student, playing basketball with him on our way back from Main Stage...much better than staying at the concert with the lead singer dropping f bombs left and right and talking about getting drunk.
I also had a good conversation today with a guy I met last year in racquetball club. We talked some about community and what is really important in life and then a little about spiritual beliefs. He is a cool guy, really down to earth. Be praying for him.
Tonight I reconnected with a friend who was in a singing group with me my senior year of high school and her freshman year, so now she is a freshman here and I am a senior and we hungout after His House with some people and had fun.
Classes are alright. Spanish class is pretty fun. My HEV classes are pretty boring so far, but not too bad. Also, I still haven't gotten everything going with my senior research project but I am working on it.
Praise God. He is doing some sweet stuff. Oh, I forgot to mention prayer. I have had some good prayer times this week. We have a 24/7 prayer room that I have gone to a few times, and I also went to the prayer meeting on Tuesday which was really good.
Anyway, I love you all. Have a great day and/or night. Adios
Friday, August 22, 2008
Mount Pleasy
Yup, you guessed it. I am back in Mount Pleasant at the Men's House (also known as the His House - mom and others, and the Men's Room - Kelsey).
I got back aroudn 2 today and got caught up in some kind of whirlwind. After Dan, one of my new roommates, helped me move my stuff to my room, some of my friends came over and we went rope swinging into the Chip (Chippewa River). From there we came home and hungout for a bit before deciding to go out to Los Palominos for my dinner (my first meal of the day). It took a whle to get our food so by the time we were done we were a few minutes late for His House. After the service I saw and talked to a bunch more people I didn't see all summer. It was pretty great.
Then I came home for about 20 minutes and tried to start unpacking before a few of us went on a prayer walk down Main St with a bunch of parties and drunk people and cops. Despite the sadness of the scene, God gave me a sense of hope and anticipation for what he is going to be doing in these peoples' lives. I am excited to see him work this year. Now, I must get some sleep to wake up and go rope swinging at 9 tomorrow before Brenna, my house sister from last year, has to leave.
Adios
I got back aroudn 2 today and got caught up in some kind of whirlwind. After Dan, one of my new roommates, helped me move my stuff to my room, some of my friends came over and we went rope swinging into the Chip (Chippewa River). From there we came home and hungout for a bit before deciding to go out to Los Palominos for my dinner (my first meal of the day). It took a whle to get our food so by the time we were done we were a few minutes late for His House. After the service I saw and talked to a bunch more people I didn't see all summer. It was pretty great.
Then I came home for about 20 minutes and tried to start unpacking before a few of us went on a prayer walk down Main St with a bunch of parties and drunk people and cops. Despite the sadness of the scene, God gave me a sense of hope and anticipation for what he is going to be doing in these peoples' lives. I am excited to see him work this year. Now, I must get some sleep to wake up and go rope swinging at 9 tomorrow before Brenna, my house sister from last year, has to leave.
Adios
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Family Time
I am not sure if it is just because we weren't allowed to dance in the DR or for other reasons, but I have started to enjoy dancing since returning from the DR this summer. I guess you might not really call what I do dancing but it is fun nonetheless.
We are having our family gettogether. Everybody else is asleep now. It has been pretty good. We haven't really done anything too exciting as a family but it is nice to see everybody. Tomorrow we are expecting some more visitors, some family and some like family.
I finally got all the photos from the DR on facebook, at least enough of them, and tagged and captioned.
I can't really think of anything exciting to share. If something exciting has happened to me recently, you probably already know or don't care.
One thing I have been realizing lately is the freedom of life with Christ. Of course I have heard it talked about throughout my life, but I am starting to realize that I am excperiencing some of it. I feel like there are many people, even people I think of as good Christians, who do not really have the same freedom I have. Some of it is situational, but one thing I am realizing is how much we worry about things that don't matter and stuff, so that is one thing I am trying to get rid of in my life. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7. There is also a good section at the end of Matthew 6 that talks about worry too. I especially like 6:33 which talks about seeking God first and everything else will fall into place. God wants us to let him take care of many things we spend time worrying about. He wants us to focus our time and energy on him and his will rather than our own worries.
Alright, I'm out. Time for some sleep. Freedom and Peace in Christ.
We are having our family gettogether. Everybody else is asleep now. It has been pretty good. We haven't really done anything too exciting as a family but it is nice to see everybody. Tomorrow we are expecting some more visitors, some family and some like family.
I finally got all the photos from the DR on facebook, at least enough of them, and tagged and captioned.
I can't really think of anything exciting to share. If something exciting has happened to me recently, you probably already know or don't care.
One thing I have been realizing lately is the freedom of life with Christ. Of course I have heard it talked about throughout my life, but I am starting to realize that I am excperiencing some of it. I feel like there are many people, even people I think of as good Christians, who do not really have the same freedom I have. Some of it is situational, but one thing I am realizing is how much we worry about things that don't matter and stuff, so that is one thing I am trying to get rid of in my life. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7. There is also a good section at the end of Matthew 6 that talks about worry too. I especially like 6:33 which talks about seeking God first and everything else will fall into place. God wants us to let him take care of many things we spend time worrying about. He wants us to focus our time and energy on him and his will rather than our own worries.
Alright, I'm out. Time for some sleep. Freedom and Peace in Christ.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Me Olvido
Well, I kind of forgot about this thing, my blog. But here I am, back for more. I had an awesome summer in Dominican Republic. I learned some Espanol, met many awesome people, and God taught me some things about true love.
I learned about seeking love primarily from him, rather than from other people and the importance of spending time with and receiving love from God in order to pour that love out to others.
I am enjoying my time back with my family. I miss the DR but am excited about what God has for me here this year.
Speaking of which, there are a couple things I am particularly excited about. I just went through the twelve lessons on the Travelling Team website and I suggest them for everyone. One thing they talk about is welcoming, which is basically becoming friends with international students. I feel like i have a pretty good opportunity for that since i will be leading the international ministry with His House this year.
Also, something to keep me accountable on is being a mobilizer. A mobilizer is basically somebody who informs and motivates people to do their part to fulfill the great commission. I want to maybe talk at life groups or something about missions and have a daily or at least a few times a week prayer meeting, specifically focusing on missions. I might try to do some other things as well.
Basically, please be praying that I don't lose focus when I get to school and forget about all of this but that I can stay motivated. Also, if you want to join me with any of this, I would love your help.
If you want me to change anything about my blog writing other than making it more frequent, which I am going to try to do, let me know. If you have specific questions about my life, just ask. I love you all. God bless.
I learned about seeking love primarily from him, rather than from other people and the importance of spending time with and receiving love from God in order to pour that love out to others.
I am enjoying my time back with my family. I miss the DR but am excited about what God has for me here this year.
Speaking of which, there are a couple things I am particularly excited about. I just went through the twelve lessons on the Travelling Team website and I suggest them for everyone. One thing they talk about is welcoming, which is basically becoming friends with international students. I feel like i have a pretty good opportunity for that since i will be leading the international ministry with His House this year.
Also, something to keep me accountable on is being a mobilizer. A mobilizer is basically somebody who informs and motivates people to do their part to fulfill the great commission. I want to maybe talk at life groups or something about missions and have a daily or at least a few times a week prayer meeting, specifically focusing on missions. I might try to do some other things as well.
Basically, please be praying that I don't lose focus when I get to school and forget about all of this but that I can stay motivated. Also, if you want to join me with any of this, I would love your help.
If you want me to change anything about my blog writing other than making it more frequent, which I am going to try to do, let me know. If you have specific questions about my life, just ask. I love you all. God bless.
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