well hello
What can I say after not updating for a very very long time? God is awesome and I give him the praise and glory for every new day. It is crazy to think that two years of my college career are done and over with. It is also crazy to think about what would have become of me if I was elsewhere at school. This year was awesome. I entered the world of a dating Gordon student. Being a dating Gordon student is quite different than what some of you are familiar with. First of all, y'all know about RDT's-relationship defining talks. Those are great, we all have them. Relationships at Gordon are very full, I feel. They are great and serious. We have this motto, Ring by Spring (or your money back-joke). It is sadly pretty true. It is scary because in Drew alone where Andy lived this past year, there was at least 5-7 engaged dudes or several (more than half I think, I can't remember) were in serious relationships. Of course being guilty of one of the statistics, I can't say anything. But this also means that we are a Gordon Couple. But, luckily, we attained a status that is a little bit better than just the gordon couple, we are a cool gordon couple who does't make anyone uncomfortable (friends that is).
Anyways, this year I became a biblical and theological studies major. I will hopefully have a minor in theatre (I have a few more credits to do to attain that)
I am interested in working with women who have either had an abortion or been sexuall abused or raped; another area I am interested in is younger women. Girls growing up without sound values in them. Those areas I really feel God has placed on my heart. My passion is for healing especially to women who have had abortions, but I may end up working with younger girls and helping them to know that they are worth so much. I want to instill beliefs into them that they are worth something and so precious is God's eyes.
I started off my summer with La Vida-an outdoors backpacking trip run by Gordon College. It was amazing. We had 8 people in our group including two leaders when your group can have as many as 14. Besides our male and female sherpa, we had two girls and four boys. For 12 days, we camped out in the woods. We actaully spend our first two nights in the Gordon woods for the ropes course and to test out the equipment. I am really thankful we got to do that because I would rather figure out on base that our tent is ripped or what not istead of in NY. It was also challenging because summer housing is in Wood this summer and we could basically see Wood from where we where. So, it was hard because Andy, Kimmy and a bunch of other people were right there-so close but so far. We hiked in the Adirondacks in the high peaks region. It was beautiful and peaceful. It was really wonderful to be removed from the hustle bustle of society. We also had no watches or cell phones so we had no indication besides the sun of the time. Our hardest day turned out to be the day when we grew the most and united as a group. One of the guys and I were leaders of the day and we were heading to a specific lean to. The day was a pretty good day hiking wise (aka we had a lot of distance to cover). After lunch at this beautiful falls, we headed on the trail. After 1.5 miles, we realized we had gone the wrong way. The trail was downhill which, although it felt wonderful, but we were supposed to be going up a peak. So we had to backtrack to the falls and make a decision. At first, most agreed to go on to our original destination but there was a couple who knew that they would not make it. It had already been a rough day, it was our first day (I think?) of full hiking with all our group gear and individual gear et al. So, after deliberation and heated disagreements between group members, we headed to a lean to that was right near our starting point for the day. Although we did not want to start over the next day, the trail was said to be very muddy, wet, uphill and long. We would not have made it to camp before dark. Getting to camp that night was bittersweet-we had made some wrong turns that day but were tired from the path we ended up taking.
One of the most amazing parts of the day was when we realized we were headed the wrong way, God told me to be okay and have JOY in whatever circumstance that faced us. I was one of the leaders of the day, and it is not enough to physically lead the group, I had to be a spiritual leader as well. So, God worked in me to be very positive and encouraging throughout the rest of the day. God had already blessed us with a very encouraging group. I really felt like community was being played out.
The next big thing was the SOLO. In our pack, we were given a solo tarp and some p-cords. For two nights, we are on our own. The thought of being alone overnight was especially daunting because I am afraid of the dark. But it was great--I spent a lot of prayer on trusting in the Lord...and memorized Psalm 91 which says that 'you will not fear the terror of night nor the arrow that flies by midday nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness nor the plague that destroys by midday' I fell asleep around when the sun went down both nights, (despite the fact that it was not too sunny either day). I had a great time and spent some quality time with God and his creaiton.
The last stop on this ramble about La Vida is the 10 mile run at the end. My goal was to finish in under 2 hours. Well, I finished in just under 1:42. It was amazing. I read the first half with a girl who is not a runner and then the latter half with an athlete. We had great conversations and before we knew it, we asked the second water station how long it had been-and it had been 6 miles. It was a great feeling to know that more than half of it was over. It was easier to keep on going because my joints were a little bit sore from hiking, so I only stopped to drink water instead of spilling it all on myself, but besides that, I ran the whole thing.
This summer I am splitting my time between westford and the north shore. I am babysitting for three kids all under 4 in Hamilton a couple days a week and then working at Java Mama hopefully for 3 or so days a week. I am also babysitting for my old babysitter's kids who moved into the Price's old house.
Well.....if you have made it to here, I am impressed. Anyway, I would love to hear from you at least by comment. But you know that my house is always open....give me a call, I would love to hear about what is going on with you.
Take care.
Blessings
Anyways, this year I became a biblical and theological studies major. I will hopefully have a minor in theatre (I have a few more credits to do to attain that)
I am interested in working with women who have either had an abortion or been sexuall abused or raped; another area I am interested in is younger women. Girls growing up without sound values in them. Those areas I really feel God has placed on my heart. My passion is for healing especially to women who have had abortions, but I may end up working with younger girls and helping them to know that they are worth so much. I want to instill beliefs into them that they are worth something and so precious is God's eyes.
I started off my summer with La Vida-an outdoors backpacking trip run by Gordon College. It was amazing. We had 8 people in our group including two leaders when your group can have as many as 14. Besides our male and female sherpa, we had two girls and four boys. For 12 days, we camped out in the woods. We actaully spend our first two nights in the Gordon woods for the ropes course and to test out the equipment. I am really thankful we got to do that because I would rather figure out on base that our tent is ripped or what not istead of in NY. It was also challenging because summer housing is in Wood this summer and we could basically see Wood from where we where. So, it was hard because Andy, Kimmy and a bunch of other people were right there-so close but so far. We hiked in the Adirondacks in the high peaks region. It was beautiful and peaceful. It was really wonderful to be removed from the hustle bustle of society. We also had no watches or cell phones so we had no indication besides the sun of the time. Our hardest day turned out to be the day when we grew the most and united as a group. One of the guys and I were leaders of the day and we were heading to a specific lean to. The day was a pretty good day hiking wise (aka we had a lot of distance to cover). After lunch at this beautiful falls, we headed on the trail. After 1.5 miles, we realized we had gone the wrong way. The trail was downhill which, although it felt wonderful, but we were supposed to be going up a peak. So we had to backtrack to the falls and make a decision. At first, most agreed to go on to our original destination but there was a couple who knew that they would not make it. It had already been a rough day, it was our first day (I think?) of full hiking with all our group gear and individual gear et al. So, after deliberation and heated disagreements between group members, we headed to a lean to that was right near our starting point for the day. Although we did not want to start over the next day, the trail was said to be very muddy, wet, uphill and long. We would not have made it to camp before dark. Getting to camp that night was bittersweet-we had made some wrong turns that day but were tired from the path we ended up taking.
One of the most amazing parts of the day was when we realized we were headed the wrong way, God told me to be okay and have JOY in whatever circumstance that faced us. I was one of the leaders of the day, and it is not enough to physically lead the group, I had to be a spiritual leader as well. So, God worked in me to be very positive and encouraging throughout the rest of the day. God had already blessed us with a very encouraging group. I really felt like community was being played out.
The next big thing was the SOLO. In our pack, we were given a solo tarp and some p-cords. For two nights, we are on our own. The thought of being alone overnight was especially daunting because I am afraid of the dark. But it was great--I spent a lot of prayer on trusting in the Lord...and memorized Psalm 91 which says that 'you will not fear the terror of night nor the arrow that flies by midday nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness nor the plague that destroys by midday' I fell asleep around when the sun went down both nights, (despite the fact that it was not too sunny either day). I had a great time and spent some quality time with God and his creaiton.
The last stop on this ramble about La Vida is the 10 mile run at the end. My goal was to finish in under 2 hours. Well, I finished in just under 1:42. It was amazing. I read the first half with a girl who is not a runner and then the latter half with an athlete. We had great conversations and before we knew it, we asked the second water station how long it had been-and it had been 6 miles. It was a great feeling to know that more than half of it was over. It was easier to keep on going because my joints were a little bit sore from hiking, so I only stopped to drink water instead of spilling it all on myself, but besides that, I ran the whole thing.
This summer I am splitting my time between westford and the north shore. I am babysitting for three kids all under 4 in Hamilton a couple days a week and then working at Java Mama hopefully for 3 or so days a week. I am also babysitting for my old babysitter's kids who moved into the Price's old house.
Well.....if you have made it to here, I am impressed. Anyway, I would love to hear from you at least by comment. But you know that my house is always open....give me a call, I would love to hear about what is going on with you.
Take care.
Blessings