Summertime and the livin' is (somewhat) easy... [Long Post!]
It has been so long since I actually posted in my journals! It really is amazing how busy one can get and just caught up in so many things... but, a comment on my xanga from a good friend (who I hadn't heard from in awhile, I might add), was a wake up call to get posting. So here I am with so much to say...
According to my last post, I was preparing for a Spring Break service trip to Kentucky with some members of CCM. That trip turned out to be very memorable. The area of Kentucky we worked in was very poverty-stricken, and apparently, it has the highest rate of drug abuse in the country. At times, it did get difficult; the Monsignor was up there in age, and at times could be hard to work with. Not only that, but some tasks were either tough, or tedious, or both. In the end though, I would say that the trip was worth it. I had a lot of good times and bonding moments with the others that went on the trip, and the Kentucky countryside in lower Appalachia was just beautiful--imagine seeing the sun over rolling hills with horses just cantering along (sounds like a postcard picture, but it was exactly what we saw almost every day). Now, trying to get back home in the midst of a driving snowstorm, that was difficult...
Winding down the end of my school year was also very trying. Many times I just wanted to give up, and depending on how you look at it, I almost did. I wouldn't trade all the good times I had with friends leading up to the end, but I just wish that I could have done a whole lot better. Exams were not as bad as I thought they would be, but I could have done a whole lot better in my classes, that is for sure. At the very least, I still have the cumulative GPA to pledge and to study abroad, both of which I was worried about, and both of which I will still be doing in the upcoming school year. And of course, the choir concerts were great, especially the gospel choir concert; there was so much energy that just flowed through all the choir members and the audience that I was just amazed at how God can make Himself present through something as wonderful and abstract as music. Simply amazing.
And finally, after countless, sleepless hours trying to complete work, exams, goodbyes, and packing away an entire year of life, I came home again. The first thing that amazed me was that even after I had sent along a lot of my stuff home with my family when they came up a couple of times, the back of my mom's van was filled the day I finally moved out, almost as if I had taken home nothing! I can't believe I had accumulated so much more during the year... And of course, there were a lot of mixed emotions, leaving the school. Just saying bye to people that were graduating was already hard, but then it was also not being able to see a lot of friends for a few weeks, and leaving the campus I have grown to love, even though I knew I would be back shortly. At the very least, I got to leave the hellhole known as Rouzer for the rest of my life.
In a matter of a few days, I was back on campus, with a bag packed with a week's worth of clothes. I had the pleasure of attending Chapter Camp with many members of IVCF. First off, let me say that it was hard to actually make the decision to go. I knew that I wouldn't have a lot of time at home, and I knew that it would probably be nice for my family to see me around the house for some of the summer, especially since I would be going abroad in the spring. But, one of the best reasons for going came from Kim Spears, who told me that while it was possible for me to regret not going, I would never regret going. And after some financial help, I decided to go. To brief those unfamiliar, Chapter Camp is a weeklong camp, through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, that is devoted to manuscript Bible study and fellowship with other chapters of IVCF in area schools. Our particular week of chapter camp took place at picturesque Lake Champion, nestled in the mountains of lower New York state. For someone who has never been to a summer camp, chapter camp was like something out of the movies for me! There was an enormous lake, and an awesome zip line that ran into it, and canoes, and a dining hall with awesome food, and great cabins and rooms--but I would have to say that the best parts of the camp were the actual manuscript studies. It had been something I had started to get into at Urbana during winter break, but devoting about seven hours of each day to studying the word of God is something else. So much was revealed to us in that time, and even at the amazing praise and worship sessions. Thankfully, I was even able to have a breakthrough of my own during the week, which was just so healing. And of course, meeting so many new people and making friends and strengthening bonds with friends from McDaniel... it all added up to a week that I will not easily forget. Now, if only I can get to work on one of my goals of uniting Christians on campus, Catholics and Protestants alike...
After singing with choir at Baccalaureate and the actual graduation, I headed home for a day, and moved back in the very next day in order to start my work with Conference Services. Yes, for those that were wondering, I did indeed get the job, and that's what I have been up to all summer! The job itself really isn't all too bad; granted, the tasks and the hours are pretty random, but soon enough, you get used to moving tables and chairs and having to direct cars for graduation parking and help campers check in to their dorms. It's nice living in a house on campus as well, though we also get a meal plan. Actually, we are living in McDaniel House, which is the CCM house during the school year; and after going this far with the job, I'm kind of glad that I won't be living in a house just yet. Don't get me wrong, I love the people in CCM, and the people that I work with for the summer are basically awesome. But, there have been times of stress and drama, which is not made much better with the fact that we all live together; and being that it is summer, a lot goes down at this house... honestly, though, I have little to complain about. I am the one who applied, and the job pays well and the bosses are great. Oh, but about that paying... I didn't anticipate having a lot of my paycheck being taken away due to taxes, and having to pay $800 for...
...my World Youth Day deposit! After a few emails and phone calls, I made the decision that I would attend World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia with my youth group from home. I am definitely excited for it, and being that I missed out last time, I knew that I couldn't let this chance just get away from me. I am going to need, however, a lot of help in fundraising the remaining $2139, especially before I head off to Budapest.
So, there is my life again. I am going to try and update more regularly. I'm not sure who still reads this, but maybe we can revive the trend of blogging, who knows? Anyhow, even with this job, I still go home once in awhile. I actually just came back from home yesterday. The end f this job is actually quite near; I move back home on the 29th, before I have to move back into my permanent dorm room on August 16th for peer mentor training. But for now, living in the summertime is nice, without the pressure of academics on my back. Things to look forward to:
-Hershey Park with the other workers!
-release of Harry Potter 7
-finally living in ANW 108 in the fall with only the coolest roomie in the world, Lee Anderson (lol...)
-peer mentoring for my nine mentees... =)
That is all for now. I miss you all, so if I haven't spoken to you in a while, my bad... give me a ring or leave me a message or something. Make contact--I would love to see you.
According to my last post, I was preparing for a Spring Break service trip to Kentucky with some members of CCM. That trip turned out to be very memorable. The area of Kentucky we worked in was very poverty-stricken, and apparently, it has the highest rate of drug abuse in the country. At times, it did get difficult; the Monsignor was up there in age, and at times could be hard to work with. Not only that, but some tasks were either tough, or tedious, or both. In the end though, I would say that the trip was worth it. I had a lot of good times and bonding moments with the others that went on the trip, and the Kentucky countryside in lower Appalachia was just beautiful--imagine seeing the sun over rolling hills with horses just cantering along (sounds like a postcard picture, but it was exactly what we saw almost every day). Now, trying to get back home in the midst of a driving snowstorm, that was difficult...
Winding down the end of my school year was also very trying. Many times I just wanted to give up, and depending on how you look at it, I almost did. I wouldn't trade all the good times I had with friends leading up to the end, but I just wish that I could have done a whole lot better. Exams were not as bad as I thought they would be, but I could have done a whole lot better in my classes, that is for sure. At the very least, I still have the cumulative GPA to pledge and to study abroad, both of which I was worried about, and both of which I will still be doing in the upcoming school year. And of course, the choir concerts were great, especially the gospel choir concert; there was so much energy that just flowed through all the choir members and the audience that I was just amazed at how God can make Himself present through something as wonderful and abstract as music. Simply amazing.
And finally, after countless, sleepless hours trying to complete work, exams, goodbyes, and packing away an entire year of life, I came home again. The first thing that amazed me was that even after I had sent along a lot of my stuff home with my family when they came up a couple of times, the back of my mom's van was filled the day I finally moved out, almost as if I had taken home nothing! I can't believe I had accumulated so much more during the year... And of course, there were a lot of mixed emotions, leaving the school. Just saying bye to people that were graduating was already hard, but then it was also not being able to see a lot of friends for a few weeks, and leaving the campus I have grown to love, even though I knew I would be back shortly. At the very least, I got to leave the hellhole known as Rouzer for the rest of my life.
In a matter of a few days, I was back on campus, with a bag packed with a week's worth of clothes. I had the pleasure of attending Chapter Camp with many members of IVCF. First off, let me say that it was hard to actually make the decision to go. I knew that I wouldn't have a lot of time at home, and I knew that it would probably be nice for my family to see me around the house for some of the summer, especially since I would be going abroad in the spring. But, one of the best reasons for going came from Kim Spears, who told me that while it was possible for me to regret not going, I would never regret going. And after some financial help, I decided to go. To brief those unfamiliar, Chapter Camp is a weeklong camp, through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, that is devoted to manuscript Bible study and fellowship with other chapters of IVCF in area schools. Our particular week of chapter camp took place at picturesque Lake Champion, nestled in the mountains of lower New York state. For someone who has never been to a summer camp, chapter camp was like something out of the movies for me! There was an enormous lake, and an awesome zip line that ran into it, and canoes, and a dining hall with awesome food, and great cabins and rooms--but I would have to say that the best parts of the camp were the actual manuscript studies. It had been something I had started to get into at Urbana during winter break, but devoting about seven hours of each day to studying the word of God is something else. So much was revealed to us in that time, and even at the amazing praise and worship sessions. Thankfully, I was even able to have a breakthrough of my own during the week, which was just so healing. And of course, meeting so many new people and making friends and strengthening bonds with friends from McDaniel... it all added up to a week that I will not easily forget. Now, if only I can get to work on one of my goals of uniting Christians on campus, Catholics and Protestants alike...
After singing with choir at Baccalaureate and the actual graduation, I headed home for a day, and moved back in the very next day in order to start my work with Conference Services. Yes, for those that were wondering, I did indeed get the job, and that's what I have been up to all summer! The job itself really isn't all too bad; granted, the tasks and the hours are pretty random, but soon enough, you get used to moving tables and chairs and having to direct cars for graduation parking and help campers check in to their dorms. It's nice living in a house on campus as well, though we also get a meal plan. Actually, we are living in McDaniel House, which is the CCM house during the school year; and after going this far with the job, I'm kind of glad that I won't be living in a house just yet. Don't get me wrong, I love the people in CCM, and the people that I work with for the summer are basically awesome. But, there have been times of stress and drama, which is not made much better with the fact that we all live together; and being that it is summer, a lot goes down at this house... honestly, though, I have little to complain about. I am the one who applied, and the job pays well and the bosses are great. Oh, but about that paying... I didn't anticipate having a lot of my paycheck being taken away due to taxes, and having to pay $800 for...
...my World Youth Day deposit! After a few emails and phone calls, I made the decision that I would attend World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia with my youth group from home. I am definitely excited for it, and being that I missed out last time, I knew that I couldn't let this chance just get away from me. I am going to need, however, a lot of help in fundraising the remaining $2139, especially before I head off to Budapest.
So, there is my life again. I am going to try and update more regularly. I'm not sure who still reads this, but maybe we can revive the trend of blogging, who knows? Anyhow, even with this job, I still go home once in awhile. I actually just came back from home yesterday. The end f this job is actually quite near; I move back home on the 29th, before I have to move back into my permanent dorm room on August 16th for peer mentor training. But for now, living in the summertime is nice, without the pressure of academics on my back. Things to look forward to:
-Hershey Park with the other workers!
-release of Harry Potter 7
-finally living in ANW 108 in the fall with only the coolest roomie in the world, Lee Anderson (lol...)
-peer mentoring for my nine mentees... =)
That is all for now. I miss you all, so if I haven't spoken to you in a while, my bad... give me a ring or leave me a message or something. Make contact--I would love to see you.