It's almost Thanksgiving so the anticipation of going home and seeing my parents and extended family is welling up inside me. HOORAY i'm so excited. I'm traveling home with two guys from my brother house and one of my housemates... and i'm terribly excited to see one of my brothers step foot on a mountain for the first time! It was fun enough to see him experience snow fall for the first time but i can't wait to see his face when he sees an entire mountain (he's from an island near Jamaica).
CHRISTMAS has already arrived at our home in Spokane. It's been snowing for about a week and the four Christmas trees in our house are set up... i repeat... FOUR! I got a head start on Christmas gifts and i officially can mark off the person who is THE hardest to shop for.
I'm super excited about my new church and the fact that we are going through Romans! WooHoo! My new PCM is beginning in about two months which is really exciting and nerve recking all at the same time.
My classes are coming to an end in about 3 weeks (what the heck... weird). I have finals Dec. 12th-15th and i'm pretty nervous because i know they are going to be hard.
I'm starting to read How to be Free from Bitterness... wish me luck
Learning to pray scripture because it just seems better... call me crazy. Psalm 139" Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." When you ask God to show you the offenses in your heart... He actually does and then you have to deal with them.
I need new tights.
The End
Monday, November 21, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Life Services!
It's encouraging to know that there are well over 500 students in Spokane serving in some way every week. Thank-you Moody Bible Institute for reminding us Bible students that it isn't enough to read books about serving, talk about serving, encourage other people to serve, and wait for the day when we can "really" serve.
Each semester at Moody, a student must be actively serving in our Practical Christian Ministry (PCM). This first semester i spent visiting churches and listening to pastors and teachers tell us all the ways we could serve. I was slightly discouraged at first when i didn't find a church that i fell in love with BUT... i've begun to go to a small church called Sunrise Bible that i adore (brownie points that my favorite professor goes there). Due to the fact that they are relatively small, there wasn't a lot of places to serve aside from children's ministry.
Hope was not lost. I started looking into a ministry called Life Services which is a free clinic for mothers with unexpected pregnancies. Most of the young women are in their teens and are weighing the options between abortion and keeping their babies to term. I fell in love with the ministry this place has.
Did you know:
Materials i am devouring:
Each semester at Moody, a student must be actively serving in our Practical Christian Ministry (PCM). This first semester i spent visiting churches and listening to pastors and teachers tell us all the ways we could serve. I was slightly discouraged at first when i didn't find a church that i fell in love with BUT... i've begun to go to a small church called Sunrise Bible that i adore (brownie points that my favorite professor goes there). Due to the fact that they are relatively small, there wasn't a lot of places to serve aside from children's ministry.
Hope was not lost. I started looking into a ministry called Life Services which is a free clinic for mothers with unexpected pregnancies. Most of the young women are in their teens and are weighing the options between abortion and keeping their babies to term. I fell in love with the ministry this place has.
Did you know:
- It is legal in Washington for a girl of any age to get an abortion without her parent's consent...
- BUT it is illegal to give a girl under 14 treatment for an STD
- Since 1973's Roe vs Wade, 53 MILLION lives have been lost to abortion. That is equivalent to killing every person in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana,and Utah today.
- In 1997, Norma McCorvey (known as Jane Roe) became a born again believer and recanted her involvement from having anything to do with the tragedy of abortion.
- The abortion rate for children with down-syndrome is 95%
- 65% of women who have abortions claim to be protestant or Catholic
Materials i am devouring:
- Why Pro-Life? Caring for the un-born and their mothers by Randy Alcorn
- 180 Movie
- Anything about Margaret Sangers (founder of Planned Parenthood)
- Guttmacher Institute (Guttmacher took over Planned Parenthood when Sangers died. Read the information and take it with a grain of salt)
- Dr. Peter Singer (this man makes my skin crawl... ugh)
Monday, October 31, 2011
Autumn
Last weekend my housemates and i traveled to a Greenbluff which was reminiscent of my lovely home near Snohomish. It was perfect for a lovely fall day with Apple Orchards and "pick your own pumpkin" fields!
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| Can you eat Indian corn?? |
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| A couple Housemates on an autumn day |
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| ONLY 50 cents... one of these sweet babies turned into a pipe for my pumpkin |
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Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Thoughts on arrival
This week i begin my 10th week at Moody Bible Institute. There is a strange feeling that i have been here for years, and yet at the same time that i only got here yesterday. I have had time to settle in, begin to make friends, create a persona that i wish others would see, and fall into routine. I can't believe all that God has done for me and im reminded of how i felt when i started this journey.
When i first got accepted to Moody-SPOKANE, you couldn't imagine the disappointment. I had spent the past 6 months dreaming about how life would be in Chicago and what my life was going to be like in a big city. The worst part about reading that letter was getting excited when in congratulated me on my acceptance, but then halfway down the letter realizing they didn't have "room" for me in Chicago and they were sending me to Spokane. My heart sank and the next 5 hours at work felt like a lump was in my throat followed by a car ride home filled with tears. I learned a lot from that one experience with the major lesson being that i was prideful and arrogant. I have seen a lot of prideful people fall hard and i thank God that he corrected me early so that i wouldn't have to be humiliated later on.
I got hit hard that summer with things going on around me and i was really distracted. Before i knew it August had rolled around and all of a sudden i was leaving in 2 weeks. The moment i came to that realization was on a mission trip in Mexico when my friend started to make plans to say goodbye to me. I stiffened up and i started to get really scared. One of my good friends asked me if i was okay and i remember saying, "I'm not ready for this. I can't move out and go to school... I'm too little." He then proceeded to look at me and awkwardly try to comfort me but i was a little too overwhelmed.
Two nights before i was going to leave, i started to pack all of my things. I had put off the lengthly process because when you begin, it becomes real. I remember sitting in my room, folding clothes, and crying my eyes out because i was so scared. I prayed so much that night and i was so nervous. I didn't want to say goodbye to anyone because it was embarrassing to cry in front of them and admit i wasn't as strong as i had pretended.
The morning i left it was a warm and sunny and i had a lump in my throat all day. I started to cry when i put my bags in the car and throughout the five and a half hour car ride, i felt guilty as i drifted in and out of sleep while my Mom drove. That afternoon was terrifying as i clumsily met a few of my house mates and a boy next door with a nice southern accent while texting people from home i was sorry that i hadn't gotten to say goodbye. My room was big which made me feel a little bit better but i still felt extremely unprepared. I spent the night with my parents in the hotel so that we could get up early and begin shopping.
Shopping with my parents when everyone is stressed out is really NOT fun. We argued a lot because i didn't want to hate my room and they didn't want to spend a million dollars. I met my roommate that day and slept in my room for the first time. I was SO scared and SO uncomfortable and just wanted to go home to Seattle. I spent the next 3 days at New Student Orientation which is where you are forced to uncomfortably meet people who are uncomfortable. The dedication ceremony was nice and it reminded me and my parents that i was not here by mistake and that although i had thought that Chicago was where i was suppose to be, God had a different and better plan for me.
P.F Changs was the last dinner i had with my parents and it was nice to sit down and relax for a second. They bought A LOT of extra food so i could have all the leftovers. We went back to my new house and we prayed, hugged, said goodbye, and cried. I can't tell you how uncertain the future felt, how scared i was, or how unaware i was of God's plan.
I'm still trying to understand God's plans for me and i still feel uncertain and afraid at times but i know that this is where i am suppose to be right now. I have met a lot of really great students out here who have told me about their disappointments about not getting into the Chicago campus and i can see that God is still good. I'm not the only one who gets scared and confused at times but i need to trust in God at all times.
I'm learning a lot and excited about God's plans for me.
When i first got accepted to Moody-SPOKANE, you couldn't imagine the disappointment. I had spent the past 6 months dreaming about how life would be in Chicago and what my life was going to be like in a big city. The worst part about reading that letter was getting excited when in congratulated me on my acceptance, but then halfway down the letter realizing they didn't have "room" for me in Chicago and they were sending me to Spokane. My heart sank and the next 5 hours at work felt like a lump was in my throat followed by a car ride home filled with tears. I learned a lot from that one experience with the major lesson being that i was prideful and arrogant. I have seen a lot of prideful people fall hard and i thank God that he corrected me early so that i wouldn't have to be humiliated later on.
I got hit hard that summer with things going on around me and i was really distracted. Before i knew it August had rolled around and all of a sudden i was leaving in 2 weeks. The moment i came to that realization was on a mission trip in Mexico when my friend started to make plans to say goodbye to me. I stiffened up and i started to get really scared. One of my good friends asked me if i was okay and i remember saying, "I'm not ready for this. I can't move out and go to school... I'm too little." He then proceeded to look at me and awkwardly try to comfort me but i was a little too overwhelmed.
Two nights before i was going to leave, i started to pack all of my things. I had put off the lengthly process because when you begin, it becomes real. I remember sitting in my room, folding clothes, and crying my eyes out because i was so scared. I prayed so much that night and i was so nervous. I didn't want to say goodbye to anyone because it was embarrassing to cry in front of them and admit i wasn't as strong as i had pretended.
The morning i left it was a warm and sunny and i had a lump in my throat all day. I started to cry when i put my bags in the car and throughout the five and a half hour car ride, i felt guilty as i drifted in and out of sleep while my Mom drove. That afternoon was terrifying as i clumsily met a few of my house mates and a boy next door with a nice southern accent while texting people from home i was sorry that i hadn't gotten to say goodbye. My room was big which made me feel a little bit better but i still felt extremely unprepared. I spent the night with my parents in the hotel so that we could get up early and begin shopping.
Shopping with my parents when everyone is stressed out is really NOT fun. We argued a lot because i didn't want to hate my room and they didn't want to spend a million dollars. I met my roommate that day and slept in my room for the first time. I was SO scared and SO uncomfortable and just wanted to go home to Seattle. I spent the next 3 days at New Student Orientation which is where you are forced to uncomfortably meet people who are uncomfortable. The dedication ceremony was nice and it reminded me and my parents that i was not here by mistake and that although i had thought that Chicago was where i was suppose to be, God had a different and better plan for me.
P.F Changs was the last dinner i had with my parents and it was nice to sit down and relax for a second. They bought A LOT of extra food so i could have all the leftovers. We went back to my new house and we prayed, hugged, said goodbye, and cried. I can't tell you how uncertain the future felt, how scared i was, or how unaware i was of God's plan.
I'm still trying to understand God's plans for me and i still feel uncertain and afraid at times but i know that this is where i am suppose to be right now. I have met a lot of really great students out here who have told me about their disappointments about not getting into the Chicago campus and i can see that God is still good. I'm not the only one who gets scared and confused at times but i need to trust in God at all times.
I'm learning a lot and excited about God's plans for me.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
College Life
I have only been a college student for seven and a half weeks but i feel like im taking nicely to the life of one.
- I'm drinking cold Folger's coffee and unsalted Saltines (does that make them ines?)
- There is a package of 48 toilet paper rolls sitting at the foot of my bed because it doesn't fit in our quaint bathroom.
- I've never had so many peanut butter tortillas in my life... why are they all of a sudden so good?
- I feel like all i do nowadays is read blogs. They are perfectly sweet.
- I picked some lavender the other day from a restaurant garden as i walked by (is that legal?) I can't really tell a difference in my room but sometimes i imagine that i can.
- I'm feeling really DIY-ey lately. I can see the possibilities in everything!
- I can't believe that i ACTUALLY like my classes. They can feel long at times but im no longer learning about chemistry and the history of Russia (things that i really don't care about). I love actually going to class and wanting to remember every bit of every detail im taught!
I'm taking nicely to this... i might have to be in school for a long time.
Sorry Mom and Dad!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Church Visits
After 7 weeks and 7 churches.... i have come to realize and appreciate my home church.
NOT to say there aren't some great churches out here but oh how i miss Alderwood! So far i have visited:
The MOST interesting church by far has been the Greek Orthodox church. For my music class we needed to go to a worship service that is opposite of what we are use to and OH my goodness was it opposite! We went at 9:00am for the Orthros worship Service where they sing through a number of Psalms. We decided not to stay for the Divine Liturgy Service in which they partake in the Eucharist. It was an hour long service in which 5 other people attended plus the 6 people i had driven with. We stuck out like a sore thumb. The Bishop very kindly explained to us how the service worked and i was so kindly deemed "the talker" by my housemates. I had to explain why we had been frantically pulling on the latch to what we thought was the front door and why we had no idea what was going on. It was slightly embarrassing and i felt so awkward. The service was extremely traditional, stagnant, and passionless. There was nothing about the service other than the monotonous routine that would cause you to fall in love with our Lord. It made me sad and i felt like i needed to actually read my Bible instead of listen to the two Bishops in their monotone voices recite the Psalms.
We decided to sneak out as the Bishop stated burning incense and before the Eucharist started because we couldn't even partake in the service. It was an interesting Sunday to say the least.
I finished my Sunday by watching Dan in Real Life, taking a nap, writing a Anthropology paper, eating 2 pieces of cake, skyping with my sister and friend, watching EverAfter, and then reading for my class the next day (in that order).
I'm still praying that God would lead me to a church that teaches the Word and where i can serve.
NOT to say there aren't some great churches out here but oh how i miss Alderwood! So far i have visited:
- 1 Foursquare church (didn't realize it was foursquare until i got there)
- 1 Acts 29 church
- 1 plant church
- 3 Non-denominational churches
- and 1 Greek Orthodox Church for the fun of it!
The MOST interesting church by far has been the Greek Orthodox church. For my music class we needed to go to a worship service that is opposite of what we are use to and OH my goodness was it opposite! We went at 9:00am for the Orthros worship Service where they sing through a number of Psalms. We decided not to stay for the Divine Liturgy Service in which they partake in the Eucharist. It was an hour long service in which 5 other people attended plus the 6 people i had driven with. We stuck out like a sore thumb. The Bishop very kindly explained to us how the service worked and i was so kindly deemed "the talker" by my housemates. I had to explain why we had been frantically pulling on the latch to what we thought was the front door and why we had no idea what was going on. It was slightly embarrassing and i felt so awkward. The service was extremely traditional, stagnant, and passionless. There was nothing about the service other than the monotonous routine that would cause you to fall in love with our Lord. It made me sad and i felt like i needed to actually read my Bible instead of listen to the two Bishops in their monotone voices recite the Psalms.
We decided to sneak out as the Bishop stated burning incense and before the Eucharist started because we couldn't even partake in the service. It was an interesting Sunday to say the least.
I finished my Sunday by watching Dan in Real Life, taking a nap, writing a Anthropology paper, eating 2 pieces of cake, skyping with my sister and friend, watching EverAfter, and then reading for my class the next day (in that order).
I'm still praying that God would lead me to a church that teaches the Word and where i can serve.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Home... let me go hooooome!
Not that i don't love school out here and all the people i get to meet and learn from but... there is no place like home.
I'm so excited for Thanksgiving! I wasn't quite sure how or when i was going to be able to get home due to the fact that "Big Blue" the truck isn't really reliable. One of my house mates is visiting the better side of WA for Thanksgiving and a few guys from my brother house want to see Seattle and visit friends in Enumclaw!
With her little car and $25 bucks from each of us for gas... I'll be home to eat turkey, ski ( i vow to get my family up on that mountain), and visit friends and family!
Yeah!!! I'm coming home soon!
p.s.
I'm currently listening to "Home" by Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros hence the blog post title...
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