Activities are now in full-swing this week, as classes at UNM began on Monday. It has been a really busy, but encouraging week. We started off the week with a prayer walk finale, walking around campus 7 times just like on the 7th day of Jericho. It was such a great time of prayer, despite the awful heat! We had a couple staff meetings in the beginning of the week, planning events for the semester. On Monday, we had a kick-off event for returning students. It was great to meet many returning students, as well as new freshmen. We kicked off the semester with Ultimate Frisbee and Kickball – fun! This next one is of Monica, a blind student, Me, Annie, a sweet student leader, Kim, and Leigh Ann (Clint's wife): This last one is a fun one of Kim and I. We had a really long day on Thursday - on campus from 8:45am - 9pm, with an hour break at Barnes and Noble in the afternoon. Though we look quite serious in this picture, Kim and I had a great time in the children's section - I think we increased our life spans by many years after laughing so hard at children's books that we read to each other!
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Here is my mailing address through October 1st: I'm here! Finally beginning the journey of EDGE Corps! My parents and I had a great drive down here, and arrived on Friday. Since then, it's been a whirlwind of activities each day...how do I even begin filling you in on everything?! I'm living with John and DJ, a couple in their 60s, in an INCREDIBLE home. Here's the place I get to call home for the next 6 weeks (until we have to move somewhere else): What a beautiful sight!! ABQ. is a huge city, but their home is in a really quiet neighborhood in the valley, near the Rio Grande, so it's much quieter with more green landscape than the rest of the city. Kim and I sure couldn't have a better place to stay. It's been such a blessing so far to be with John and DJ. They are a hilarious couple! They call us their foster children, and we've spent many hours playing board games and Wii together! So fun! Oh, and the weather here is amazing...a little on the warm side, but hardly an humidity, and chilly mornings! Couldn't be better! Well, that's all for now. Thank you so much for all your prayers - I couldn't do this without them! I just drove home from an appointment in Des Moines, and as I drove up the hill to our development, reality finally struck. I will be leaving in less than two days. That path that I drive home so often will soon only be a memory. With this realization of saying goodbye, a flood of tears has come. I love home so dearly, and everything that comes with being home. I've been so excited to head out on this new journey that I haven't stopped to reflect on how difficult it will be to leave until today, as packing is now in full-swing. But, even in the midst of the teary goodbyes, I have a great peace that passes all understanding because I know that the safest, most rewarding, best place to be is smack-dab in the middle of God's will. And I believe beyond a doubt that the University of New Mexico is exactly where God wills me to be. Because of that, I know He will grant me the strength and steadfast-ness to say goodbye with a joyful heart. Today I am clinging to Deuteronomy 31:8: "The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." So crazy that I will be heading to Albuquerque in a week!! The past couple weeks have been such a whirlwind, but so good! God has proven His faithfulness to provide over and over, and I am so excited and grateful to say that I am fully funded for this next year! Praise God! I'm so thankful for this process of fundraising, for having to completely place my trust in Him to provide. I realized how easy it is for me to trust in people, and forget that God is the one who is ultimately providing for me, not people. Each funding appointment I had was another confirmation that I am right where God wants me to be. Thank you for all your encouragement, support and prayers! I am truly blessed by such a wonderful team of supporters! |