BStudy!

Just a quick update to let you all know I had Bible study last night and there was 11 girls there - and it was just soooo much fun. I love them so much! I even stayed like 40 minutes afterward just talking to them as they sat on their beds telling me about the latest crushes. ; ) We talked about Mark 4:1-20 and it was such a good discussion. Gotta run!

Autumn Love.

Last night, spontaneously I had two of my girls over for dinner! One, it was fun to cook for them (chicken, sweet potatoes and salad...mmmm...) and two, it was fun to have them in an informal setting. Not at Bible study, not at Starbucks for a meeting or not at some Nav event...just sitting around my dining room table with candles lit and talking about all sorts of things. It was so fun! They stayed for almost 3 hours which was totally unexpected. I just love how this year it didn't feel like "work" to have these girls over. Not that it felt like work last year, but because the relationships were so new it would have felt harder to have them over for a long dinner...now it felt like having my friends over and just talking and enjoying each other's company. That was so nice!

Last friday we had our first Nav night - here is a photo - there were about 200 students there!



We have another Nav night tonight. One of my girls wanted to host a "sophomore girl hangout" tonight. So 20 or so sophomore girls are going over to one of the girl's houses and we're having pizza and then walking to Nav night together. I'm so thankful God has provided a large sophomore class for our ministry. It gives a lot of energy when there are so many girls (and guys) who are enthusiastic about getting to know each other and learning to pursue God together.

Tomorrow night we have the Barn Dance...I'm excited for that and am in charge of a "Ring Toss" booth. We will begin setup at 1pm and the event won't be over till after cleanup, probably 11pm...it'll be a long long long day!

A couple weekends ago I went with my roommate Lauren (on the left) and one of our students, Lauren (the girl who was in Colorado this summer that I hung out with a lot) to an Augustana concert FOR FREE at Penn State's Spike's stadium. It was so much fun, they're one of my favvvvorite bands so it was quite a treat for me...I just love that I know some of these girls now and this year feels sooooo much more emotionally easier for me because I already have established relationships. Praise God for this....Our fingers our in the "one" postition because we basically were in the first row for the concert!



And here is a special tribute to my dear boyfriend Nathan. I saw him two weekends ago (we went to a wedding together and hung out...see photos...) and now he is coming tonight for the weekend again! He'll go to the Barn Dance also. I'm so excited to see him again.









Well that's about all...

AHHHHH

So the title of this blog is AHHH because that is how I feel - in a good way! Things are CRAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZYYYYYY here. But I am excited about all that is going on.

Brief recap, tonight we have our first Nav Night, Next Saturday we have the traditional Barn Dance! Here's a flier I made for it - don't worry we're not really having a kissing booth - although I think that'd be hilarious. Ha ha.



I had my first Bible study this last Tuesday night and I think 8 girls showed which was wonderful! Its the same girls I worked with last year - and they are very excited for this year. We're studying the book of Mark this semester and I think it's going to be a great study because they're all open to being more vulnerable now that they know each other better.

And the really cool thing is God has brought even more girls! Like there are a few new girls that are interested in coming. One who I don't think is a believer but is searching for "faith" and wants to hear more about Christ - she was a girl who filled out a survey at this year's tables, and I called her, and we've been in touch since! She's coming to Nav Night tonight and she asked me if I could give her a Bible (is there ever a better gift for her to ask me to give?! love it...) Another girl is a transfer student from another college and she wants to be in our study - and what is so exciting for me to see is that the girls in my study have a heart to include new girls. They have already facebooked these girls and are even offering to pick them up to bring them to study and Nav Night so they don't have to go alone. Another new girl is also from China! She is rooming wtih one of the girls in my study and so this girl invited her to come, and now she wants to be involved! It sounds like she accepted Christ last year but hasn't known what to do - her dad is an athiest and her mom is Buddhist so she has been at a loss for what it looks like to know God more. So hopefully she will be able to meet up and we can talk about that.

So there have been some very exciting things going on here! And a blessing for me personally is that I haven't felt as under stress as last year when I had to recruit all the girls from scratch - now I have relationships already, so it makes things so much more socially comfortable. = )

I need to go now...have to print the Barn Dance fliers to hand out tonight and need to go meet up with two girls. Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. I can't wait to see what all God has in store this year.

Oh and on a personal note I am loving my house and my roommates, the weather has been awesome and sunny, and I am looking forward to a restful weekend.

And for those of you who aren't making much money, know that the YMCA offers financial help (basically hands it out! seriously take advantage of it)...like its ridiculous - I filled out some paperwork and now they pay 80% of my monthly membership...I pay $6/mo to attend the Y! How crazy. Perks of being poor. hahahaha