One week down....A LOT to go!

well I have officially made it a week in Tucson.  I feel like I have lived down here forever!  it is so crazy.  this whole experience has been so different then I thought it would be.  I wanted to be so open to new things and get involved in a lot of different activities and so far i love it!  I have met some really cool people and some pretty crazy ones too!  

the week has been filled with classes, a lot of homework, hanging out with the boys, being "anti-social," and eating an enormous amount of food.  basically me and the roomie never come out of our dorm unless it is for food.  :)  

I have gone to Christian Challenge twice in the past week and I went to church at First Southern Baptist Church Tucson on Sunday.  I really liked it but it is so different from Cornerstone which is a nice thing.  i am going to a church called Second Mile on Sunday night.  check it out it is an amazing church!! www.secondmi.org 

the freedoms that i have experienced here are none like i have ever had before.  its a weird feeling to know that you are really in control of your whole life and no one can tell you what to do.  but with freedom comes responsibility!  i have been learning time management and trying to balance my schedule.  

the temptations here are also insane!  I mean when I left Tempe I was like "Satan, bring on the temptations" and boy is he bringing them.  People are drinking every night and going to frat parties all the time.  It is so hard to resist the temptations but so far so good.  Right now I am sitting in my dorm room by myself because the roomie is off at a party.  She is super respectful about me not wanting to drink and stuff which I am so thankful for but it still isn't easy.  I hate sitting here by myself but I know that this is where I should be.  I made it through four years of high school without ever going to a party or ever getting drunk and I intend to keep it that way at U of A.  I feel this overwhelming responsibility for my roommates salvation.  I know that I cannot save her but I am constantly aware of the way that she is looking at me because I want her to see Jesus through me.  If I go out and do the same things that she does, that doesn't set a very good example of what Christians should really act like.  I don't know how to describe this feeling but I feel like I want to cry but not really.  I don't know its weird.  I miss everyone from home so much.  They were my rocks; people that I could stand by when things got rough and I don't have anyone like that down here.  I am by myself to take on the world and that is a ridiculous feeling.  But thankfully, God is teaching me so much.  My quiet times have been amazing!  its weird because i don't feel obligated to read my Bible in the morning, I just do it.  I am constantly being reminded of how I am suppose to live my life as a follower of Christ.  I never want to be just a believer or lukewarm or anything like that.  I want to be a good and faithful servant and that is the bottom line.  I have also been having some amazing conversations with some amazing people from home; Chris especially.  He inspires me by his devotion to Christ and we have been getting really deep into what it means to follow the whole Bible; not just the parts that are comfortable.  Our hearts desires are to be uncomfortable and God is constantly putting us in situations where we have to be.  

I had a really cool experience on Wednesday afternoon.  I signed up for a class called Global Economics and Management because I needed one extra credit hour.  So I get to class and there is about 20 people there.  My professor stands up and says that he changed the course but it never got changed in the registration system.  So now I am taking Global Hunger and Poverty which is so cool.  With everything that has happened in the last 2 months, I couldn't be in a better class.  Everyday I feel like I want to be apart of the solution to global poverty.  So many people talk about it but no one ever does anything about it.  Oh and my professor is a devout Christian and he said his faith defines him so he is going to incorporate Christianity into our course.  God definitely blessed me!  I can't wait for the stuff that I am going to learn!  

I look forward to everything that U of A is going to bring.  Next week I am doing Christian Challenge and Campus Crusade!  I can't wait!  

(and to Kev - I promise I will be better about updating this! don't you worry your little head)

Destination: Tucson

As I prepare to make the journey down to Tucson today I look back at the past year and wonder how I got to this place.  So many people have asked me "Why U of A?" "What made you want to go there?"  To be completely honest, I have no idea!  I have seen God at work for sure over this past year and I have finally hopped on board with his plan!

Last summer, U of A was not even on my radar.  I never planned on going there and I never really wanted to.  Not because I don't like U of A but because I never really thought that I would go there.  I was convinced that Colorado College would be my home but that definitely did not work out.  ($36,000 a year. I don't think so!)  My dad came home and told me that he thought I should apply to U of A because he heard it was a good school and it would just be a back up if my other schools did not work out.  I thought nothing of it because I didn't think it would ever happen.  If Colorado College wasn't for me, I knew that the University of Tennessee would be.  But God is funny and that didn't work out either.  (How in the world do I not qualify for financial aid?)  So everyday it seemed like ASU or U of A would be where I ended up.  If it came down to the two, ASU was for me.  My blood ran maroon and gold.  It was close to family, I could stay at Cornerstone and I wouldn't have to leave any of my friends.  When it came down to it, my financial aid was better at U of A and overall it really is a better school. (no offense to anyone that goes to ASU)  

Everything fell into place and my parents decided, with little help from me, that U of A would be where I spent the next four years of my life.  At first I was excited but then the reality of it really hit me.  My world was about to be turned upside down.  I hate everything about change, so this whole U of A thing was so not going to work out.  I cried about it a lot but my parents wouldn't sway in their decision because they knew it was what was best for me.  

I accepted the admission to the University of Arizona and I was officially apart of the class of 2012.  I went to orientation and was so mad that I was going there my parents started to get upset.  They started to worry about me because they knew I wasn't happy.  I had come to the conclusion that even if this was God's plan for me, I didn't want to have any part in it.  I would rather go against the will of God than go down to Tucson.  I mean there is nothing there!  

As the summer went on, I started reading  A LOT!  Irresistible Revolution, Jesus for President, Mere Christianity, Screwtape Letters, Soul Cravings, Cold Tangerines.  My view on everything in this world changed drastically.  As I began to read God's Word it was so evident to me that this life is not about me; it was never about me and it never will be.  I exist to bring honor and glory to my heavenly Father.  If I am going to call my self a follower of Christ, then I need to follow.  If that means moving to Tucson and shining my light to my peers then that means moving to Tucson.  If I expect to live in unity with Christ, then I can only be in His will.  As I began to pray about God's will for my life, it became so clear to me that what was once my parents choice was really His will.  My attitude has really changed towards Tucson, it hasn't gotten any easier thinking about leaving everything that I know, but the joy that comes with following Christ is much greater.  2 Corinthians 12:9 has constantly been on my mind.  "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  I am excited that God is giving me a second chance to shine for Him.  I am excited that He has found me worthy is go.  I am excited that I will no longer be in Jerusalem but that I am moving on to Judea (Acts 1:8).  I am excited to show my roommate how amazing Christ's love is.   

This is a wild journey but I will keep you all updated.  To those who I leave, it's more of a see ya later than a good-bye!  (Breanna reminded me of that).  

Everyday I remember the truths of Galatians 2:20.  Please pray that Christ lives and shines through me.  

I love you all more than you know!

September 12th - my first trip home because I will be apart of Keira's welcoming committee!  

Wow a Whole Month!

It has literally been like a month since I have blogged last...sure doesn't seem that long.

Well, life has been crazy! I got done nannying a few weeks ago because the kids went back to school. Honestly, this job was a totaly gift from God. Every chance I got, I took my kids to get "free ice cream" from the church and it sparked some amazing conversations! They asked questions about God and we got to talk about how important it is to have a relationship with Jesus. We even had a whole day devoted to watching VeggieTales which my kids asked to do. I loved it! I hope that all of our conversation sparks some interest in them to search deeper for God. We will see!

I have spent the last few weeks working like crazy! The cafe has seen my pretty face almost everyday. But, it has given me a lot of time to read. Right now I am reading "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis. Amazing! thats all I have to say. It is so eye opening to the evil side of the good vs. evil battle.

I had a "going away" party last Saturday at my house and it was a lot of fun. We ate some good food, played guitar hero, swam and watched a UFC fight on HBO. Yep I like cage fighting. I realized how much I love my friends and how much I am going to miss them.

This Sunday is my last Sunday teaching my precious 4 year olds. I don't think that words could ever describe how much I love those kids. They are my life. It has been such a journey seeing all of them grow a little bit and see them start to understand how much God loves them. I am blessed and feel so honored to be apart of that. I am definitely going to get involved with children's ministry in Tucson .

It is officially 7 days til I move to Tucson. Part of me is so ready; the emotional and spiritual side. As far as all of my stuff, it is definitely NOT ready. I still have packing to do and general straightening up of my room. I know that it will get done though so I am not stressing about it. I am going to miss everyone so much but I have to keep reminding myself that this life isn't about me. It's about spreading the gospel and being lights for this world. God never asked me to be comfortable where I am at. He wants me to be uncomfortable so that I truly rely on Him. I am looking forward to that journey. Thank you to everyone who has been such an encouragement to me and to everyone who has been praying for me.

I will be better about updating this blog when I get down to Tucson and start school so don't any of you worry!