Ohio

I sat back today and realized we're about half way through the semester....Yikes!

Last week, J.V. and I got to take a last-minute trip to Ohio for a couple of college fairs. This little endeavor ended up being one of the most interesting trips I've ever been on. Between getting "hit-on" at a Steak n' Shake at 10:30 at night, to having our fire alarm sound in the middle of the night at our hotel, it was quite an adventure to experience all for the cause of Boyce College.....

Be Still, My Soul

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
bear patiently the cross of grief and pain;
leave to thy God to order and provide;
in every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be stil, my soul; thy God doth undertake
to guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
and all is darkened in the vale of tears,
then shalt thou better know his love, his heart,
who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still my soul: thy Jesus can repay
from His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hast'ning on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love's purest joy restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

by Katarina Von Schlegel, 1700's

Ladies 80s Night

This past Friday night the ladies of Boyce College dressed up for our Ladies 80s Night.
From a Scavenger Hunt that sent us flying through the area, to playing Twister, the night was a flare of tacky 80s color.

Ambassador Activities

Dan treated all the Ambassadors to a little bonding event this past Thursday night. We all piled into the DeWitt's newly purchased minivan and headed over to IN for some food and fun. Pictured to the left is J.V. and myself with our new friend, Pumpkin Head...He's the silent type.

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou has given commandment to save me; for thou are my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteousness and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth...I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honor all the day....But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

Some of Psalm 71

Autumn

I woke up this morning and discovered a new text message on my phone, with a number I didn't recognize. Opening it, I found it was from one of my best friend's, Autumn.

We have been friends for probably 17 years, since the age of 3 or so. In fact, I was so young, I couldn't even pronounce, "Autumn," and instead her name resembled, "Olive." I can remember preschool choir, family activities, and swimming lessons with my dear friend, Olive.

We were both homeschooled growing up, our parents worked in middle school, and her family used to live on some acres of land that our Church owned for fun functions. I can remember spending hours on end with Autumn at Church events running around on a big field, walking on the nature trails surrounding her house, and watching our favorite movies, the Anne of Green Gables series. We were in orchestra together, missions trips together, ensemble together, leadership events together, and even got to see a rattle snake killed....as we clung to each other in terror. People at church would be used to seeing Autumn and Lauren....a trademark duo.

About two and a half years ago, Autumn called me and told me her parents were in the process of praying about going to New Zealand for missions for two years. After we hung up, I sat in silence in my dorm room thinking about one of my dearest friends being in a foreign country for the next couple of years. About six months later, I remember telling Autumn goodbye face to face for the last time. Her family basically sold everything they had, got on a plane, and are in New Zealand faithfully serving God. Our friendship entered a new stage of growth as we learned the distance of our separation. E-mails, phone calls, and 1 text message thus far, are our ways of communication...With the miles between us being felt throughout our catching up. Just today, as I sat in Panera, I got to read two e-mails from her and the tears welled up in my eyes as I thought about the times we had sat in Panera over sandwiches and talked about life.

She'll hopefully be back within next year, and I know that that reunion with be one filled with tears of joy...

Wide-Eyed-And-Bushy-Tailed

My first semester at Boyce I took a Youth Ministry class with Dr. Dave Adams. As he would enter class every morning, he would proclaim in his booming voice, "Arrive early, stay late, work hard, look good, and have fun." This past week I have found myself chanting that when my alarm clock goes off at 5:55 am in the mornings. This semester is requiring work, sucking it up, and a lack of sleep. I've come to the point in life that getting up early is the "right thing to do," and being cheerful about it will make it more pleasant for everyone who must endure me for the day. Coffee and Coke have become my steadfast companions, and Dr. Adam's quote has become my life's story.