Back to School

Well, the summer is over and I have started my sophomore year at Southwestern College. I'm really looking forward to this year. I feel that it's gonna be amazing! At the end of school last year, I changed my major to math education. So this year for classes, I have calculus, intro to education, psychology, discipleship, and critical issues in health. And get this, my calculus class is at 8 o'clock every morning! O my gosh it's crazy. But so far I've been getting to bed decent time and haven't been too tired in the mornings. I also am done every day by noon except for monday and tuesday, so that's really nice for afternoon relaxing. It's time for me to buckle down now, and lucky for me, I have a little extra motivation to get my homework done on time. Sophomore year, here I come!

Random Thoughts

So since my dad and brother both have random thought blogs, I figured I could go ahead and join the trend as well. So here we go!

• Wireless internet is really nice to have (even though it can be a pain to get going)
• Cantaloupe stinks when it sits around
• My windshield gets COVERED in bugs on long road trips
• Football has started!!! Pre-season is pointless but still fun to watch
• I have a lot of songs. I mean a lot!!! I have over 2,000 on my iPod!
• Everybody Loves Raymond is a pretty funny show. And I can watch it with my parents haha
• MOSQUITO BITES DRIVE ME CRAZY!!!!
• K-State is going to be on College Gameday for basketball!!!!!!!!!!!!
• I love watching the guys on PTI argue. They go at it!
• I'm hungry ALL the time
  

The Big News

Alright, alright. So my last blog had mentioned some big news but I hadn't said what it was yet because I had to get permission first. Well here you go, the big news.

I LIKE PIE!!!!

Haha JUST kidding. I really do like pie, but the real news is that I now officially have a girlfriend. As of August 7th, 2009, I started dating the beautiful Molly Komlofske. Now I know what you're thinking, "Weren't you guys already dating?" Here's your answer. Molly and I were never OFFICIALLY dating throught the summer. We had decided that with me working at Project Transformation and her working at a church plant, we would concentrate on our relationship with God, then start dating when summer was over. So the summer is basically over and we are now officially dating. You all can put away your pitchforks and knives now. No need to threaten me for my big news. A congratulations would work out JUST fine

Not in Texas Anymore? Strange

Well, my time at PT has come to a close for the summer. I got back to Mulvane on Friday at about 5:30. Only had a 5 hour drive which was really nice because I was exhausted!!! Urban Camp completely took it out of me! I had a great time with our youth and older elementary playing football, swimming, worshiping, staying up late, and just enjoying each others presence. I was able to bond a little more with our youth which was nice since I only saw them every now and then during day camp. Camp was a blast and went by super fast! I didn't think a week could go by so fast! But it's nice to be back in Kansas once again. The weather feels nicer, I got to see my family again, and I even got to see Molly on Friday and Saturday! Awww, life is good. I get until the 22nd to relax at home until move in day. Wow, college is coming up fast! I'm looking forward to this year though. I feel that it will be another great experience for me. I do have one other anouncement, but I'm not sure if I'm able to post it yet. I need to make sure I have permission. So as of right now, let's just say that there's something new in my life right now :)

O How God is Good

Wow, this last week of PT before urban camp has been absolutely AMAZING!!! It all started on Tuesday when we had a messy/water day at our site. We had a peanut butter bread fight, where the kids and interns took a few pieces of bread with peanut butter layered on it and had a big ol battle! Then we had an egg toss which didn't last that long, but we had some leftover eggs so we broke them on the kids heads (the kids wanted it). So now, the kids AND interns have peanut butter and egg all over them. After that, we decided to award the kids with the most points for the week. We made whipped cream pies for them to pie an intern in the face. We each got a pie in the face and the kids absolutely LOVED that part. Then, go figure, we had leftover whipped cream so we decided to run around throwing whipped cream at the kids and rubbing it in their faces. We finally ran out of time so we sprayed off the kids so that their parents wouldn't be so unhappy about the mess. The kids left, and at that point, I noticed a weird smell. I was wondering where the heck it was coming from, and found out that it was me!!! I had peanut butter, egg, whipped cream, and water all mixed on my body and boy o boy, let me tell ya, I'm pretty sure I basically smelled like puke. It was disgusting!!! So we all cleaned up and got back to campus for a nice looooooooong shower. Man it felt good!!!

After cleanup, we had our last chapel service for the year. I wasn't expecting a whole lot out of it besides speakers and singing, but boy was I wrong. A few of the interns shared their testimony for the summer and everybody had a little different perspective of it. It was really interesting. We had our usual songs, which is always really great. However, what was next really hit me. A group performed the Everything skit with the girl being loved by Jesus but then falling to sin. I have no idea why, but during the skit, God started tugging on my heart like no other and I started balling my eyes out. I was completely broken down. I have seen that skit so many times before but for some reason, this time it was sooooooo much more powerful! The skit was finished and I was still really teary eyed. We then went into a time of prayer and I just really had a good prayer with God. I basically thanked Him for EVERYTHING. I thanked Him for the work He's done this summer, for our kids, for the interns, for the staff, for food, shelter, family, friends, role models, just anything I could think of that has been in my life. The worship team was playing a song and I was really listening to the words which made me break down even more. I cried my eyes out that night. I was so touched by God and really had my eyes opened.

Wednesday came along, and that was our last day at site. Everybody really wasn't looking forward to leaving the kids but we wanted to enjoy our last day with them. We had another water day in the morning and then basically let the kids pick between going to the gym for games, doing arts and crafts, reading, or playing board games for the afternoon. We gathered them up for the last half hour off the day to say our last goodbyes. We received homemade cards from some of the kids that which was really hard for us. The kids started leaving, and by the time the last one had left, it was kinda one of those feelings of "wow, I can't believe they're gone." It was hard letting them go, but we knew that we couldn't do anything more. We had done our work and knew that it was done. I felt as though I had done what I needed and had no feelings of "why didn't I do this/that?" Camp was over, and we had finished our work. It was time to let them move on.

So we are now finished with day camp and urban camp is just around the corner. God has really been at work this summer and He has accomplished great things. We have one last week to make a difference in the youth's lives. I know it will be a great week and we will have an absolute blast. O how God is good!!!

Coming to a close

Goodness, this is nuts! I'm getting ready to begin my last two weeks of PT! We are running the church service tomorrow, I have 3 days left of day camp with the kids, site cleanup day, the Celebration Banquet (end of the year banquet), then Urban Camp with the youth. It's gonna be a busy, yet very exciting last two weeks.

We had our last Friday experience yesterday, where we all came together for a instructions for the next couple weeks and for some reflection. The reflection part was pretty cool. We had a few different stations set up for us to go to and we had an hour to either use the stations, or just have some time for prayer. I went to the four stations, which were a couple of prayer stations, a station that had us write down how we saw our summer, and a station that had us illustrate how God had used us this summer. I felt that the station that allowed us to write about our summer was really cool. I began writing, and had a good full page worth of reflection. I read it over and realized how much I've grown over this past month. I feel that God really took me to PT for a reason. God has used me in so many ways with the kids and has helped me grow through it all as well. I guess in a way, you could say I'm becoming more "mature."

So as the last couple weeks take place, I just ask that you would pray that I be able to finish on a strong note. I have 3 days left with the kids, plus 5 days left with the youth. I'm definitely going to need strength and patience to get through it all. So here we go! The last two weeks!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Where is it going?!?!

O my gosh!!! It is July 14th and I am over halfway done with PT! Where is the time going? It seemed like just the other week I was in training! I only have this week to finish, plus three more full weeks until I'm officially done. Wow, it's crazy!

I really couldn't have asked for a better summer job. This has truly been an amazing experience! I have made such a connection with both the kids AND my fellow interns. I've heard that people pretty much ball their eyes out on the last day, so I'm pretty sure I may tear up a bit.

So as I'm finishing out the summer, please keep praying for strength, patience, and guidance for me. I appreciate the prayers from all of you! I know that God has worked through us in many different ways, and I want to be able to finish on a strong, positive note. In the words of one of our house pastors, "GO GOD!!!"