Training: Week 2

On Sunday, we spent the afternoon playing in the snow...so fun! On the way to the giant hill (which the pictures do not do justice), a minor snowball fight broke out. We had to stop, though, because they weren't so much nice, fluffy "snowballs" as they were hard, painful "ice chunks."

Then we got to the (giant & steep) hill, but there were no sleds! Well, my genius of a roommate decided to try sledding down on her jacket, which was kind of slick. It worked beautifully even though it kind of looked like a diaper. Eventually a legitimate sled disc showed up, but the best of all was a huge inner tube! And as if sledding wasn't just fun, it's also a pretty good workout (did I mention the hill was giant AND steep?)

I'm having the time of my life...it's a lot like camp and we all know how much I love camp. I've gotten to know some really great, fun, godly, and hilarious people and we're all in the same boat. I've learned SO MUCH more than I even thought possible and I absolutely cannot WAIT to get overseas. I'm also learning a lot about how much I need to grow in my faith and how much closer my walk with God needs to be. I listened to Brett's sermon from Malachi on the refiner's fire and launderer's soap the other day and then my quiet time was in 2 Timothy 3 talking about how a man must cleanse himself in order to be used as an instrument for noble purposes and prepared to do any good work. I want that!!! I want so badly to be...just...wildly effective for the kingdom, ready to be used by God for WHATEVER He chooses. And God's showing me that I've got some cleaning up to do first...but His glory is completely worth it.


And now, for some pictures:

Training: Week 1

Well, I've been in Virginia for a full week and so far it has been pretty incredible...complete with about 17 inches of snow! I have learned countless new things every day, but the highlight of my week was a "personal spiritual retreat." On Friday, they scheduled 3 hours (!) for us to just be quiet and spend time with God. We could go anywhere on campus and do whatever we wanted to do in order to accomplish that quality time. I went to my room, turned on iTunes, got my Bible, a commentary, a notebook, and a pen and just started pouring my heart out. I think the key part of this time...for me, anyway...is that with 3 hours, you really have time to listen. And God had lots to say. Pretty cool.

Also...and if you know me well, you think this is funny...I'm on the Library Team. I barely even know how to use a library. Emsy-Pants and I decided that they must have heard about the sizable donation I made to the library at seminary in the form of overdue fees. The duties are: reshelving books (I get to work in the kids' libary...score!), setting up weekly book displays for whatever the theme is that week, and distributing free books from awesome speakers (free books are always fantastic). All in all it's a pretty sweet gig.

There is so, so, SO much to do and learn (including a whole, new, crazy language), but I am beyond excited for what the next 7 weeks hold. I am growing more and more eager by the minute to get to Africa and start putting some of these things into practice, but I know my time here will be of more value than I probably even realize.

And now for some pictures:

My quad. There are 4 apartments. I share an apartment with another girl, and the quad with a young couple and their 2 little girls, and another couple.

My bedroom

Saturday morning snow from the safety of my kitchen.

After lunch photo shoot.

More photo shoot.