The Lord's at Work!

The Lord continues to work in my life. We are still trying to work out details to try and bring a Feed My Starving Children Mobile Pack to Olivet. We are hitting some bumps in the road, but I trust the Lord is faithful and I am not giving up yet. Please keep praying and passing the word along about this event. Melinda encouraged me yesterday to not give up and to continue to seek the Lord. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6).

This weekend I was able to spend time in Michigan with Rachel. It was so great to get to meet her family and to experience the love they have for the Lord and for one another. What a blessing it is to have people in my life to continuously point me to the Lord and remind me of His faithfulness.



Today I was sharing with my grandma some of the things that have happened in the last few weeks and she listened with such a caring heart and then she reminded me that God works for good in all situations. He sure does! At the time we may not be able to see it, but while we are in the midst of stuggles God is still at work and is preparing us for something greater.

My sister is home! It's the first time the whole family has been home since the 2 days we were all here in August. Although she is home it doesn't quite seem like it, she went to bed at 7:00! I am so grateful to have her home though and to have the opportunity to spend some time together.

This past semester my small group has been a huge part of my life. Going into the school year, I thought I was just committing to something where we would meet once a week and encourage one another and then go our separate ways. I NEVER imagined that it would end up being such a large part of my life. The girls in my group have become my closest friends. We lift one another up in prayer, we challenge each other and encourage one another. Each girl has such a precious heart and it has been such a joy to get to know each of them. Together we have been growing in our faith and have been able to be a support system for each other. The Lord is so good and I have been so blessed with the opportunity I've had to be a part of this group.

Something that has really been on my heart as break begins is to not grow complacent in my faith. I want this break to be a time to grow in my faith and to spend quality time with the Lord. Sometimes it can be hard when I'm not on a schedule, but it's so important to me that I spend this break embracing the Lord. I want to be transparent to those around me. I want them to see how much I love the Lord and all the incredible ways He is working in my life! I want to lead by example and for others to want what I have. I pray the Lord will provide opportunities for me to talk about all He is doing in me and that I can be an encouragement to those around me.



School and home are definitely two very distinct environments and sometimes it can be hard to continuously transition from one to the other. It is definitely a good time to catch up on the things I don't often have time for at school. There are so many things coming up in my life that the Lord is preparing me for and I trust He is will use this time to do that if I will allow Him to!

God is good!

Preparing and Waiting

This week I was reminded of the Lord's faithfulness and that we can have hope in Him.

I remember about 2 months ago when I decided that I wanted to do a Feed My Starving Children Mobile Pack here at school. I was super excited about it for about a week, until I started talking to professors and others on campus who have a say in something big like this. After talking to them, I started doubting and thought maybe I should just give up. However, the Lord wasn't done with this project yet. He continued to put reminders in my way of my passion for this organization and for helping feed malnourished children. Then, I had someone come up to me and tell me that they wanted to do this event, it was then clear to me that I couldn't let people stop me but that I had to be obedient to the Lord. We have been discussing some fundraising ideas and planning to present the idea this week so that we can set a date. I am greatly blessed to have my wonderful friends support me and be willing to help with this. All of them have different gifts and ideas; it is great to be able to bring all of our talents together to work on this event! They have been so supportive through this. Not everyone wants to hear about my life and my passions or the things on my heart, but they are always so willing and eager to listen to me share my joys, which has been such an encouragement to me. I had kind of forgotten about how doubtful I was about this event happening until Melinda reminded me earlier this week and I then realized that the Lord is so incredibly faithful and that when He places something on our hearts He doesn't leave us to do it on our own.

Another thing that has really been on my heart is the season of Christmas. Sometimes it can be really hard to remember why we celebrate Christmas and it can seem like "that time of year again". This year I have really been trying to hear the story in a different light, I want to really understand what this time of year is about. When I was a kid I never could have explained advent to someone, all I knew was that we would light a candle on Sundays and open a gift each day to count down until Christmas. Well, it is way more than that! It is about the Lord coming to us, and even though we reflect on advent during this season we really should be living everyday in preparation for the Lord's coming. God is always with us, not just during this time but in every season. So, I guess this year I have been realizing that the Christmas story shows God coming to us and I have been reflecting on all the ways He has been with me in the past year and again how faithful He is. (Luke 1)

There are times when I begin to question God and whether He really knows what He is doing with my life. I look around and wonder why He has asked me to wait for certain things and then I realize that God is the perfect love and that He can do so much in my life if I will allow him to. He gave Zechariah and Elizabeth a baby in their old age. Zechariah needed proof and because he didn't trust God, his voice was taken from him until the day came when they had their baby. We can't limit God. We don't know what He is going to do in our lives. He may want us to go overseas, he may want us to move to the other side of the country, he may want us to go into a field where we may not be making much money. Who knows? But, because the Lord knows we have to be patient and we have to wait. Maybe for years, maybe for months. We can't be afraid to hope because we can't put a limit on God. God doesn't forget either so right now it may seem like he forgot about a certain area of your life, but He didn't! Maybe there are just other areas of your life He wants to work in first. I am continually learning about the love Christ has for me and how I can give Him complete control and place my hope in Him.

Hope in the Lord- Psalm 39:7

The Lord is the Giver of Joy!

Everyday is a day to praise the Lord and to thank Him for the blessings He has placed in my life, but today I wanted to take a chance to share a few.

I'm thankful for...

Joy:
This semester I have been so full of joy and I am thankful for the friends in my life. We will face trials, times of loneliness, and struggles in this world but the Lord has overcome that and He provides us joy. I know I have gone through seasons where I struggled to find that joy, but it is back and for that I am so incredibly grateful. I wake up each day with a smile on my face, eager for what that day holds. I've really found joy in the little everyday things, rather then constantly seeking what my future holds.

My Passions:
Starting college it took me a while to discover what my passions were. All I ever knew were athletics. This year the Lord has made it very clear to me what I love and how I can use those gifts for His kingdom. I am thankful for the passion he has given me for music. It is one that has been rekindled in the last few years, but I am able to use that to worship the Lord and that is something I'm extremely thankful for. Another passion He has given me is that of leadership. He has placed opportunities in front of me this fall to be an example and to hold leadership positions. What a blessing that has been. I have a job that I love and I have been able to share with others my excitement for my school. I have a huge heart for CIY, and through that God is doing some incredible things. Another major passion in my life right now is working with Feed My Starving Children to bring a Mobile Pack to Olivet. It is a big project, but I am so determined to make it happen and God's provided others who share that passion with me who are going to be a huge help! I feel like everything I do is something I have become extremely passionate about.


Life:
I was reminded today of the gift of life. We often take each day for granted but today I am reminded that each day is a gift from God. It's only been 6 months since the tornado when I experienced so many people losing their homes and families experience loss. I can't think about that day and not wonder where I could have been during that tornado without knowing that God was looking out for me. He definitely had his hand of protection on me.


There are so many more things that the Lord has blessed me with. His love is unfailing and He remains faithful!

A Step of Obedience

As many of you have seen I am going to have the opportunity to go to Haiti over Spring break this year! I am definitely excited to see God work through that. I will be keeping you updated, but please be praying for the team as we begin to prepare for this trip.

The Lord is teaching me that it is through obedience to Him that we have faith. The two go hand in hand. There are so many ways God is demanding my obedience and it is through this that I am learning to depend on Him for strength. It can be so easy to hand over one area of our lives to God, but to hand over them all takes complete trust in the Lord. For me I haven't been able to just hand it all over to Him over night, it's been a continuous process of prayer and obedience to Him. I so often want to have control and to know what the plan is, but God doesn't work that way. He asks us to let loose the reigns and to not create back up plans for our life. When we are in an intimate relationship with our Father we don't need a back up plan. It is a matter of letting go and listening to God that we will learn to be obedient to him. This can be extremely difficult especially when the world tells us something completely different, but no matter what voices are around us it is our choice as to who we will listen to. We have the ability and the privilege to live a life set apart for Christ. This may require waiting seasons, but it is through those times that God proves faithful. We may wait months even years for something, but no matter how long we wait it is God's plan that is best and his timing that is perfect. Waiting isn't a new concept, it is something we see over and over in the Bible. Abraham and Sarah waited for God to bless them with a baby and He did. We see patience in Joseph's life when his brothers sold him into slavery he remained patient and God made him a leader over his people. We may not know what it is God is doing right now as he is asking us to wait, but He knows what He is doing therefore we don't have to! And as we wait we grow to know Christ more and to desire Him more. If he gave us everything we wanted right now we wouldn't have to be dependent on Him, this is why He makes us wait. He wants to be first in our lives and if he isn't first in our lives now then how would he ever become first in our lives if he gave us everything we wanted.

The Lord is so good! I see this in my own life as well as in the lives of others. God has blessed me with some incredible friends who lead by example and who encourage me on a daily basis. I feel extremely grateful to be at Olivet and to be able to know people who live a life that is dedicated to Christ.

Reflection of God's work in my Life

Life has been pretty busy these last few weeks. Classes are picking up, but are going pretty well. The amount I am sleeping is becoming less and less, but God has given me the energy I need each day. I am constantly learning more about the Lord and He has brought so many blessings into my life.

Work:
This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to Wisconsin for work. We went up to a Nazarene youth lock-in and just spent some time with the kids there. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed getting to meet some of the youth there. Besides that I am making phone calls and speaking to prospective students about Olivet. It's a privilege that as part of my job I get to share my wonderful experience here with students.



In the making:
A few weeks ago a group of us went to volunteer at Feed My Starving Children up in Schaumberg. It was a great night! It was awesome being able to help feed children overseas who are without food. I came home from there wanting to do so much more. I want our whole campus to be a part of this. I have been in contact with the organization and been praying about the opportunity to bring a Mobile Pack to Olivet. It takes a lot of planning and will cost a great deal. I have to talk to a few different people on campus before I can finalize the event. I have faith that it can happen, there are just a lot of obstacles that have to be overcome first.

Friends:
The Lord has blessed me with some incredible friends to encourage me and really challenge me. He has placed friends in my life who are such a great example of what living a life sold our for Christ looks like. We have been able to share in one another's struggles, pray for one another, and offer support to each other. I have realized lately the importance of being transparent and having accountability so that we can carry one another's burdens. My friends bring so much joy to my life and I am so thankful for the Godly example they are to me.

What I've been learning:
I've been learning so much about the love God has for me. He knows me personally and He care's about the smallest detail of my life. Just like we see in Psalm 139 when God knew every aspect of David's life. He was intimately acquainted with all of his ways even before He created him. He wants to have a personal relationship with each one of us.
As a campus community we have all been challenged this semester to consider what it means to be a Global Christian. I have really been asking God what this looks like in my life. I know He is going to use me for His Kingdom, but right now i'm just still allowing my heart to be open to His leading. We have really been assessing this in our d-group as well, and sharing with one another what we hear God saying to us. It's been so encouraging to hear all the many ways the Lord is working in the hearts of the girls and the support that we can give one another.

New Hobbies:
I have taken up piano again. It has been that hobby that comes and goes, but I love playing. For years I have been wanting to learn how to play without a book, but by cord charts for worship songs. My friend, Rachel, is teaching me and although I am not very good I love learning and practicing! I am getting better, but the fact that you can improvise is still foreign to me! It's been great to be able to spend a little time each day making music!

Giving up control

I love fall! It's such a beautiful time. I love watching the leaves change colors and fall from the trees. I enjoy running with the leaves crunching beneath my feet. I just wish there was enough time for it! School has kept me extremely busy and doesn't leave a whole lot of time for other things. I can sometimes fit in the gym or a run every now and then but not as much as I'd like. Just makes me really enjoy the times I do get to go. At the end of the summer I thought I would start training for a marathon or at least a half, but school hasn't left much room for training, so I'm not sure what to do about that!

Having a few days off this week has been really nice. I've been able to catch up on some homework and much needed sleep. I've made all sorts of goodies from pumpkin sugar cookies, carmel corn, even made meatloaf and apple crisp for the boys. It has been pretty quiet around home with it just being me, dad, and Cam but it gave me time to enjoy doing homework in my own quiet room! First time I haven't been distracted from my homework in a LONG time!

College is such a weird time. What do you call home? I live at school more than I do at home. All my stuff is at school. I wasn't at "home" all summer, so there really isn't many connections at "home". So, where is home? I feel like its somewhere new every few months. And yet, as I try to still figure this out God is challenging me to be content in all situations. To praise Him in every season.

I'm loving my new job! I enjoy getting to build a relationship with students and encourage them to look into coming to Olivet. It's given me an opportunity to share my passion or Olivet with others. God definitely taught me patience through waiting for a job and I am so thankful that He did. I'm only working 4 hours a week, but for now it's a good amount with everything else I am committed to. It leaves a little time for homework and to sleep for a few hours!

One of the challenges for me lately has been all of the distractions around me. Sometimes it can be so hard to stay focused when there are a thousand other things going through my head, but it's a daily battle to put those aside and focus on the present. Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I didn't like to be in control. How much easier would it be to give God complete control if I wasn't a control freak? The Lord is truly the only one who has control. He's the only one I can depend on. He's the one who is never busy, always home, and who always cares. He knows my thoughts when I can't even put them into words (it takes someone very special to understand those!) It can be so easy to let the distractions around me cause me to feel dissatisfied or incomplete, but God says not to dwell on what we don't have. He tells us that He has something so much greater, something unfathomable if we just allow Him to have the reigns to our life.

Why not change majors one more time?

Life has been extremely busy with taking 18 credits. As most people know I like to be busy, so this isn't something that bothers me. In fact I have 6 classes, but I also have choir and SIFE which are both big commitments; however, both are things I really enjoy. I am still trying to get back into good study habits as well as trying to get enough sleep. I haven't quite figured out what it looks like to live off campus and then go back to campus to study in the library at night. I'm sure once it comes crunch time that will change because I sure don't get a lot done in my apartment. I haven't figured out a way yet to carry all of the books and everything else I need for an entire day to just stay on campus until all of my studying is done!

It seems like every time I post my major is changing, but once again I have switched majors. It's not so drastic this time...Business Administration with a non profit focus. For those of you wondering- changing majors won't put me behind at all, if anything I am planning to be ahead. More news on that to come! I truly believe God is calling me to work with a non profit organization once I graduate. This summer I experienced the joys of ministry and the struggles of it. I loved every minute of it and am committing my life to work to further His kingdom here on earth. What better way to do it then to use my love for business and my strengths. God has really laid the organization of Christ In Youth on my heart and I love the work that they do, I am really looking forward to see how God uses that passion of mine further down the road.

Update on work- I have been working one night a week reffing volleyball. Starting this week I am going to be working in Admissions at school. I am going to be calling prospective students and encouraging them to consider Olivet. This is something I am really passionate about. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to promote my school. Again I have been reminded that by placing complete trust in God and allowing Him to do things in His time He remains faithful!

Communication is such an important part of life. I think each and every day I am challenged in a new way to work on communicating with others. This summer I was really learning how to work with people and how to look at each person's gifts. While this is still true today I have been learning about communication in a new way. This has been a season of learning how to communicate with those it may be more difficult to communicate with. Its about making every word that comes out of my mouth glorifying to God and responding to people in love. Psalm 19:14 says "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." Not only do we show God's love through our actions toward others, but also in our words and in the way we think. Sometimes it is difficult to respond in such a way, but it's something God has really laid on my heart.

It can be so difficult around here to find quiet time, which is something I realize I need more and more of. I never used to be the person who needed alone time, but I have seen how important that time is. We live in a society where we have to have noise nonstop. Finding silence is next to impossible. Even when no one is around we turn the music on. It can be exhausting to live in a place where there is constantly something going on, it takes away from it being a place to relax. As difficult as it may be, it is my responsibility to take the initiative to find a quiet place and to make sure I am getting the things done that I need to. This is why I'm going to have to start making my way back to the library in the evenings!

God has shown me over and over again that although we go through times of frustration, struggle, and change He remains constant. He is always there for us and He knows all of our frustrations and struggles. We live in a world that brings feelings of discontentment and exhaustion, but God is our hope and He will give us rest.

Dayenu

God has been teaching me so many things over the past few days and I wanted to share a few of them with you.

1. My God is enough- Dayenu.
I was challenged with a few questions: If I lose my family, is God still enough? If I lose my home is God still enough? If I don’t know what the future holds as my God still enough? It’s when we come to the realization that all of these things don’t matter because God has it all under control. After we say that God is enough, we have to ask ourselves if others can see God in the middle of our darkest struggles? We have a God who is more than enough; will we depend on him in every area of our lives?

2. New Song.
The question isn’t where is God, but have I turned toward Him. We so often turn toward others and not toward God- this leaves us empty. We turn to other people to lift us up and we remain broken. God has turned toward us will we turn toward Him? Psalm 40:1-40 says that The Lord wants to put a new song in our life. A common theme- Will we trust on Him to do so?

3. Faithfulness in the Little Things.
When we look at the story of David we see His faithfulness in the things unseen. This is what God uses to shape Him. The same goes for us. It is our faithfulness to God in the everyday things that prepare us. It’s remaining faithful to the life Christ has called you to.

What has God been teaching you? Take time to reflect on the ways God wants you to be faithful to Him. He truly is enough!

Trusting God through Challenges

Adjusting to life away from CIY has been a challenge. I definitely miss working, but even more I miss all of the people I worked with. It's so hard to go back to life at school and being with a different group of friends. I find myself wanting to walk down the hall and find a certain person and then realizing I'm in a different place. Or even times when something spurs a memory and no one here has a clue what I'm talking about. However; as the days progress I am getting more and more used to the fact that Olivet is where I am right now. I have really been challenging myself to try and focus on the here and now. I often try to start planning out certain aspects of my life, but I have to remind myself that God wants to do things in my life this year, today, this second. So, rather then spending all my time looking toward the next big event, or for the next change in my life, I think it's really important to look at what it is God wants to teach me today and why it is He has me in this place right now.

I've been back at school for 3 weeks now. It started with leadership retreat and training, this was a great week to meet others and to just grow and be encouraged as a leader. I'm really excited about the d-group I am going to get to lead this fall and the relationships and growing that is going to take place. Another area I have been really involved in is choir. I have a leadership role with that this year and I have been working very diligently to plan retreat and to organize some of the events for the year. Already, I have faced some challenges and frustrations with that, but I am really passionate about leading this choir and getting to know the girls who are a part of it- I trust that God is at work through all of that. This weekend is our choir retreat so I will spend a good part of this week finishing the planning for that.

Work has been a major frustration as I have been back at school. As busy as I may be it is always nice to have a job- there is a sense of accomplishment in working and it's a good break from school work. As much as I would love to have a certain job on campus it just hasn't worked out. I have been a little bit discouraged with it all. I am working on not allowing that to define me, because in the end it's not about whether or not you get the job. I know for a fact that God has much bigger plans for me when it comes to working. Right now I am just focusing on growing in my spiritual life, doing my best in my classes, and really investing in the lives of others. There are seasons in life and God has been challenging me to really focus on other areas of my life in this season. God is faithful and I trust that if I am obedient He will open doors where He sees fit.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

It's a wrap!

Well, I’m home and summer feels like so long ago. I definitely miss being with everyone and being in Joplin, but I’m trying to look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead of me this school year. I realize that God doesn’t want this summer to be something that came and went but he wants me to use it as a catalyst for the upcoming months.

One of the biggest lessons I learned this summer is that we each are gifted in different ways and it takes all of us coming together to put on an event like MOVE. Romans 12 became my heartbeat of the summer- loving others and finding the gifts others have. God blessed me with some incredible people to keep me going and put a smile on my face. At the beginning of the summer I told God I couldn’t do the getting to know people and becoming friends just to say goodbye thing, but God had different plans. He really softened my heart and allowed me to make some great friends. I would never have been able to be what God wanted me to be this summer without them. He isn’t calling us to what is easy or to what we want; He wants us to get to know others and invest in others and I have realized that I had the wrong mindset going into the summer. It’s amazing the friendships that can be built in working/living with people for 3 months.

I already miss everyone! Goodbyes are not my thing. I hate pretty much telling someone you don’t know when you’ll see them again. I like to think of goodbyes more like see you later. We have to go back home for a while, but we will meet up soon. With technology now we can stay in touch as much as we want. Plus, knowing people from different places just means more great places to visit! And catching up with someone after being apart for a while means more to talk about.

It’s been a little hard to transition, but it has given me time to process some things and come up with some goals for the year ahead of me. I have unpacked from summer and repacked for school. I’m ready to begin the next chapter. Being home just feels like an intermission almost. I’m not here long enough to really settle in, but a few days here gives me a chance to catch up with some people, relax, and enjoy having a house and my own room!

I’m really excited for the upcoming year. I’ll move in this Saturday get unpacked and go to a leadership retreat. Everyone else will move in the next weekend and then school starts the 31^st.

I have grown so much this summer just through all of the things I’ve been able to experience and the people I’ve worked with. It’d be wrong to go into this year not having different goals and challenges for myself. This summer we encouraged high schoolers to leave and find ways to be a kingdom worker in their homes, schools, and churches- this goes for me as well. God has taught me to step out of my comfort zone. He has really shown me that He is in control of my life- it’s not about what anyone else wants for my life it’s me listening to Him and God directing me. I have always known he was in control, but it has become more apparent to me these past few months. I’ve also seen how much more I am capable of when my focus is on Christ and not the approval of others.

As much as I hated to see this summer end, it marks the beginning of “something bigger” and the continuation of all God’s doing in my life.

Stay posted to hear updates on some of my goals for this year!

Lessons to be learned

We are wrapping up our third and final week here in Tennessee, which also means that it's my last week of MOVE this summer. The weeks in Tennessee have been challenging, yet at the same time so incredible.

Over these three weeks we have had many experiences that could have set us back, but we didn't let them. The Spirit has still been moving, we can't allow certain situations to hinder us from sharing the love of Christ with those students here who are so hungry for Jesus. The first week we had major registration issues, which caused us to have to play catch up for the next few days. This problem began to feel like less and less of a concern as more problems arose. We have had students here who were ready to attempt suicide, students who had a friend at home hang himself while they were here, last night we had a student who found out that his mom passed away. All of this makes issues like being short on mattresses or registration problems seem minuscule. While being on the side of CIY that hears about all of these issues, I have also been able to see that even with all of this going on there are students here who are feeling God speaking. In the midst of chaos I am so encouraged by the faith of the students here and their willingness to surrender their lives to Christ. The boy yesterday whose mom died said to his dad on the phone, "I know dad, but I believe that God is going to use this for something bigger." I was reminded by this 16 year old boy that we can have hope in God no matter what the circumstance.

As people get tired and worn down people's joy seems to wear away as well. Patience becomes harder and harder as we are busy and are constantly around people. However, I think about Jesus and the love he had for people. When He was tired He still loved. When people physically beat him he still loved. When people denied him he still loved them. If Jesus loved like this, why should I love any less than he did? "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10. Every morning when I wake up I have to make the decision to show love to everyone I encounter that day. I'd love to say I have done this perfectly, but the truth is I haven't-It is still something I have to work on daily. One of the most important things I have learned this summer is that we are all very different. God has given each of us our own gifts. It talks about this in Romans 12 as well. It takes all of us and all of our different gifts to make up one body. God doesn't expect us to do it all, He instructs us to lean on each other and to bring all of our gifts together for His kingdom.

A glimpse of my Summer!

Summer is flying by. 3 weeks in Colorado are already over. It was hard to leave- I met so many great people and I just love the landscape and weather. I could probably move there someday! Each week in Colorado was very different and throughout the course of the 3 weeks I think I finally understand every component my job entails. It took a while to catch on to every detail and figure out how to not overlook any. I work about 18 hours a day and some days would be really long, but it’s amazing how much energy I had from the little amounts of sleep I got. When I am running all over the place and have 3 or 4 things going on at once I often have to remind myself in that moment that the work I am doing is not for me or the people around me, but for God and God alone.

Our team has really begun to work well together. We have learned what each other need help with and how we can encourage one another. Some of my favorite memories from Colorado before moving on include renting bikes and riding around town and going hiking in Silverton. I wasn’t able to get to know many of the students or sit in on all the sessions, but I still heard stories and could see that God was moving in the lives of the thousands of students that came over the course of the weeks I was there. The most rewarding thing for me was when by the last week I knew youth ministers by name and I was able to connect with them and check in on them throughout the week. Every time I get a phone call about a problem and figure out a way to fix it reminds me that I am on this earth to serve others. It’s amazing to me the number of people I met in such a short time. It’s always hard to meet people and then have to say goodbye until who knows when, but I think that God brings those people into our lives so that we can work together and learn from one another and then continue on to do His work.

After we got back from Colorado we celebrated Fourth of July with the other interns. It was a very relaxing day and we were blessed to be able to go swimming and have a cookout and The Christian’s home. We have been in Joplin for 5 days. It has been great to catch up with some of the other teams that were back, to be back at the office, and to catch up on some much needed rest. However, it went very quickly! Next thing I know our time in Joplin was over and I was saying goodbye to Audrey who won’t be in Joplin when I get back. We went through something together this summer that neither of us will ever forget and I was blessed to have her family through that. Then it was time to leave the other teams once again as we all go to our separate locations. This summer has often felt like a season of goodbyes, some are for a short period and others I have no idea when I will see again. I realized though that goodbyes are not forever, they are more like a see you later!

This morning we are off to Tennessee. I am with the same four people from my team and then we will be working with a whole new crew as far as director, program coordinator, production crew, speakers, and Bible College reps go. I am looking forward to it! I will be in Tennessee for 3 weeks and while I will be doing the same job as I was in Colorado- it’s going to be completely different! I will definitely keep you all posted (:

My summer class is over as of yesterday, which is a huge blessing! I am anxious to have a chance to do my work and not have to worry about schoolwork. I am really glad I took the class though, I definitely learned a lot from it and the topics I did my papers and presentation on were very interesting to me. Maybe now I will have a chance to do some reading for fun!

As far as what God is doing in my life- I have talked to a lot of people and have just really been praying for His leading because I feel like He is calling me to something different than I am in now. This summer I have been full of joy and I have a sense of peace that I haven’t felt in quite a while- I absolutely love where I am at. God is so good and I am so thankful for the opportunities that He has placed before me. After lots of prayer and discussions as of yesterday I have switched my major. I am really excited about the path I am headed. I declared a major in marketing with a concentration in Public Relations. I decided that the job I have this summer is something I would like to pursue. I by no means have lost my interest in nutrition, but I decided that can be a hobby of mine and isn’t going to be my area of focus in school. There are many other minor reasons I came to this decision- I really enjoyed my business classes last semester and I did well in them, I don’t have to take any more science classes, and once I graduate I can start working- but the major reason is that I really feel God calling me to a position where I can work with details and administrative roles. With lots of prayer God has reassured me that I don’t have to major in ministry to do ministry. That is something that had been tugging on my heart, but I think God wants to use me in a different area to do ministry. With all of these changes my schedule for next year has changed significantly. I no longer have 4 labs a week or 7 AM classes every day! I am now taking these classes: Salesmanship, Management Information Systems, Intro to Journalism, Principles of Finance, and Business Law. I know this is quite a switch, but I am really excited about it and all I am going to learn this year!

Thank you for those of you who have been praying for me and continue to do so. Thank you for staying updated on my life- Sorry this is so long! I’ll try to update more often now that my class is over (:

Love
Jordan

First Week Synopsis

6/18
I've now been in Colorado for a week. The first week went really well. There were definitely some last minute things we had to do and some other things that came up, But it's been awesome seeing everyone work together to make it happen. I've been blessed with a great team! This week I've learned so much. I think I finally have a full grasp on
what all my job consists of. I've met so many people in a week and it's been awesome to talk to some of the leaders and to be encouraged and to encourage. All week I've been on call for any problems people had, I've made sure everyone has what they need, and I've set up and overseen the prayer room. I've done so many other things as well and I love every moment of it. It's been exhausting though as well but God has given me strength and energy to make it through. Ive seen so many incredible things happen in the lives of students this week. The students have used the prayer room a bunch and I am overwhelmed by the number of people that went through it during the week at some point. God has been working in my heart as well. I look
at what He is doing in my life and I am just beyond words. I see all He has done and it makes me so excited for what He is still going to do! Today we went hiking and it was just beautiful. We saw some falls and the canyons, had a picnic, and stopped at a few other neat places. It was a really fun day however I'm exhausted! I am running low on energy and my stress level is high. There is a lot to do before the next group comes as well as homework and sleep would be wonderful! But I'm
beyond grateful for the opportunity I have to be here and the people I've gotten to know. I'm so excited for the rest of the summer! It's hard not having any time to talk to family or friends, I really do miss everyone but there hasn't been much time for phone calls. It's tough because staying in contact is so important to me and over the past year God's really taught me the importance of balance and being all in wherever I'm at. He's shown me that sometimes best friends aren't
people you have to talk to everyday but when you do have a chance to talk to them you know you can start right where you left off. They are people who you lift up in prayer and who lift you up in prayer. They are there for you when you need them and you are there for them. But they understand you And support you in your goals and busy schedules. It’s a growth process and a journey that God has taken me on!

The joys of summer

Another week in the office down and only 3 days until my team leaves
for Colorado! This past week was very busy, but it was great. We had
training for customer service and have started housing for the events.
3 out of 4 trucks have been loaded and are headed to their locations.
We have been able to see some of the videos and programs that are part
of the event. It's all coming together and in less than a week we will
be setting up for our first week!!

The people I work with are all so sweet And it's been so fun getting
to know them. It will be wierd to all split up into our teams for the
summer, but coming back together at the end will be awesome!

This weekend has been random but full of fun. Yesterday part of the
group went to Lamberts. Then we stopped at a
souvenir shop on the side of the road. From there our trip got more
random. We went to the Precious Moments Chapel. It was so pretty and a
great addition to the day! If you can't tell, fitting homework in has
been a challenge! I have tried to work on my paper when I get the
chance. It's coming!

I still miss my family and friends, but this week I have found so much
joy and have been able to get to know some of the people here. It's
been so good and God has shown me so much already. I'm so thankful for
the opportunity I have his summer to work for CIY, I can't imagine
this summer any other way. I do miss everyone from school, but it just makes
me more excited to see them in the fall. Plus, being away doesn't mean we have to totally
be separated. I've gotten to spend some time with my friend who lives her and
then last weekend some of my friends were in town and we were able to hang out.
It's been awesome to catch up with others on the phone or to get mail.
I love you all and think of you often. I am praying for each of you and all you are doing
this summer!

Looking ahead

It's been a trying week, slowly things are getting better but there is still a long way to go. Our first week in the office was full of being flexible and doing whatever we were asked. It included everything from folding t shirts, packing supplies, and counting various materials. It all needs to be done and in just 2 weeks we will see the result of all the various tasks. We have decided to help Joplin as much as we can, but we also have 20,000 highschoolers that are depending on us this summer to put on these events and make them run smoothly. It's been hard trying to fit everything in- working all day, getting to know my teammates and the other staff here, hanging out with my friends that live here, finding time to workout, talking to friends and family from home/school. I am still so thankful i'm here this summer, I know God is at work. If you would be praying for Him to keep my heart open to His leading this summer and for Him to give me peace. Pray for Him to allow me to not allow fear to keep me from meeting new people and investing in their lives. It's hard to be away from my family after all that's happened here. Also knowing my sister is home makes me wish I could be closer. In spite of that, I am here and there is something here God wants to teach me. I'm pushing through. In my weakness He gives me strength. I will trust in Him.

God is faithful!

May 22

Today was an eye opening experience; I’ve never witnessed anything like it. There is destruction here like no other. In just a few minutes the whole town here was wiped out- this town that I just now got to. It isn’t my home, but it is going to be for 3 months and even though I didn’t grow up here it is still devastating. To see the place destroyed where my friends and family live. I am so thankful everyone is safe. It is strange to be in a place without my family, I think I am still in shock from today. I know God works for good in all situations and I trust that even in a literal storm that wipes out the homes of hundreds that He will use it for good. It’s hard to imagine how He is going to do that right now, but I trust that He won’t leave us. Devastations like this bring people closer together. They bring people to faith as well as away from their faith. When everything that people knew is gone, it really causes people to think about what there still is. It seems that in times like this that people understand the importance of certain people in their lives. It reminds us that we shouldn’t let a day pass without living it to its full capacity and letting all those in our lives know that we love them. In this life there will be trials, but greater is that which comes when we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ

May 23
My heart aches for the people here. So many are without homes and after seeing some of them, I am astounded. To see the destruction that people have lived through is absolutely incredible. Today was an emotional day, it is so hard to put into words what I am feeling. My heart aches and my stomach just churns . I can’t imagine being in a place where I didn’t know anyone; it’s been hard enough to go through this without my family but to have a family here to watch over me has been an absolute blessing.

May 24
Last night was one of the most straining emotionally, but today God has given me joy. It has still been hard, but He has given me strength to make it through today. Today was our first full day of interning. This morning we went to help with disaster relief. I was amazed at how much had been donated. God is so good. I helped a woman collect toiletries, clothes, food, blankets, water, ect for her family of 6. They have lost their home but they have been put up in a hotel until there is a house for them, which is incredible. They were so grateful and I was so thankful for the opportunity to help out. We worked there for about 5 hours and then went back to the office to shoot some videos for CIY camps. It definitely brought some lightheartedness to the last few days! It was definitely a long workday but I made it through. After work I was able to get moved into the dorms and finally organize my stuff so that I’m not living out of my car! It is taking longer than normal to get adjusted here, but I know that it will happen with a little more time. I am still grateful I am here and really looking forward to this summer even in the midst of all the many challenges that we are facing. I trust that God is going to continue to move and I know that I am here for a purpose. There may be some long days ahead, but through those God remains sovereign and he will continue to be faithful. Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to adjust here and pray that God would work in my heart so that I can focus on the work He has placed in front of me. There is still a lot to overcome but with His help I know that will happen.

Summer Schedule and Addresses:

May 23-June 8 Joplin, MO
June 9-July 2 Durango, Colorado
July 3-July 7 Joplin, MO
July 8-July 28 Cleveland, TN
July 29-August 12 Joplin, MO

Christ In Youth
attn Jordan Hedge
2201 N Main St
Joplin MO 64801

Fort Lewis College
Conference Services
attn Jordan Hedge
1000 Rim Dr.
Durango, CO 81301-3999

Lee University
Atnn Jordan Hedge
1120 N Ocoee St.
PO Box 3450
Cleveland, TN 37320

Mixed Emotions

Today is my last day at home and that will be devoted to packing and hanging out with my family. It's hard to believe my 2 1/2 weeks is already coming to an end. This time at home has been much different then most and I have really enjoyed being here. I have spent as much time as possible with my family. They have all been at work or in school, but that leaves me a few hours during the day to work on my classes, run, get organized, and catch up with friends. I've also loved seeing my cousins and grandparents a few times while I've been home.

It's hard to imagine what life is like for my family when me and my sister are both gone all school year. It definitely makes us value the times we are home together. Unfortunately it rarely happens when all 5 of us are home, having 4 of us at a time is considered a "special event!"

Tomorrow, I leave for Joplin, MO to start my internship. While it will be tough to say goodbye to my family for 3 months, I'm also ready to get started and see what God wants to do in and through me this summer. This is an incredible opportunity and I am praying we can help thousands of highschoolers across the country experience God in a personal way this summer.

Here is my summer schedule:

Joplin, MO May 23-June 8

Durango, CO June 9- July 2

Joplin, MO July 2-July 7

Cleveland, TN July 8-July 28

Joplin, MO July 29-August 12

I'll try and keep this updated for those of you who want to know what all I'm doing :)

"The Lord says, 'I will make you wise and show you where to go. I will guide you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8

Summer

I am officially finished with sophomore year. I have also switched my major back to dietetics. I am home but only for a short 2 weeks and then I will be off again to start my internship with CIY. I'll be in Joplin for part of the time as well as traveling to Colorado and Tennessee. It's an exciting summer and I'm looking forward to all God's doing and all the people I am going to have the opportunity to meet this summer!

The many adventures of winter

Over winter break I made a trip out to Nevada to visit friends. It was fun just hanging out doing some baking, playing games, watching movies, and going skiing. I really enjoyed my week out West. Then it was on to Houston to spend Christmas with my family on the beach. Unfortunately it was very cold on Christmas, so we had to move the party inside. It was by far a different Christmas, but we were all together which is what is important. Made the 16 hour trek back and spent a few days celebrating Christmas with everyone at home. For New Years, I went up to Michigan to visit a friend from school. Then I spent a week at home catching up with friends, enjoying time with my family, and just relaxing.
I have been back at school for a week now. It has been a great week and a great beginning to the semester! I have new classes: Managerial Accounting, Business Statistics, Christian Scriptures, Marketing, and Computer Apps in Business. So far I really like my classes and am getting oriented to a new schedule. I am still involved in the women's choir, which I really do enjoy. This will be my first semester without a science class, but I am loving it!
This past weekend we all went ice skating and bowling, saw Inception, and played a lot of games! It is good to be back and I am looking forward to this semester. God has a lot in store for the next few months and I am excited to be part of that journey!