Missions Trip to Chicago!

As many of you know, I am very involved with Campus Crusade for Christ here at Tech. Campus Crusade has 2 missions trips going on over our spring break, one to New Orleans and one to Chicago.

Well, I am heading to the windy city next week! We will arrive on Sunday the 11th and leave on Saturday the 17th of March. What's on the agenda you may ask? We have contacts with full time Campus Crusade Staffers that live in Chicago and we are going to be "campus quailifying". Essentially what that means is we will be talking to people at a university (that does not currently have a campus ministry set up) for 2 purposes: 1- sharing the good news of Jesus with non-believers and 2- finding christian students that would be interested in starting and leading a campus ministry. Then we will get those potential leaders working with our CCC contacts in Chicago and they will help these people set up the frame work to get a campus ministry going.
In addition, we will be doing some demolition for a pastor in chicago and a homeless ministry outreach as well as a prostitute outreach through some shelters that run programs for this.

I am so excited for what God is doing in the lives of those going on this trip and for how He is preparing us for His work. I ask that you would keep my team and I in your prayers. Please pray however the holy spirit leads you. Here are some specific things that the team is praying for: To get through this crazy week of exams and deadlines and still be able to spiritually prepare for next week, Saftey in travels and while we are there, Opening and softening of the hearts of those that we will talk and interact with, the God's love and grace would pour out of us to those that do not know God personally and to those that need encouragement in their faith, that those going will receive the financial support they need to make this happen, and for team unity and an ability to overcome any sort of adveristy, and anything else you feel we may need.

I am so thankful that I have family like you all; It is very much a blessing to witness how God rules in all of your lives. I appreciate your prayer support. Please feel free to comment with any questions you may have. I will try to keep you updated on more information as time goes on. Thank you again for all your love and support.

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of sound judgement."

I got Pranked!

I come back from class last tuesday to find this: 3 of my friend s had duct taped my door so it didnt close and they snuck in.

Charity

Mike and Logan

800 dixie cups all over my floor

....and in my shower

even a little tribute to the egyptians on my bathroom floor

The ariel view

All of them were filled with water....It made for a great laugh. They just love to prank the RA....I was also recently pranked with silly string and syran wrap :-)

Great start to a 2nd year at Tech

Here I am, once again, in the wonderful town of Houghton. This Fall has been filled with new experiences and adventures. This year I am a Resident Assistant (RA). This means I live in a dorm, monitor, plan socials for, and form community in the hall. I have 34 Residents and its been really cool getting to know them. Thus far it has been a great experience. I have met a ton of new people and really enjoy the friendships I have formed with the staff I work with.
My second job this year is a Math Learning Center Coach. Basically, I'm utilizing my nerdiness to the extent of getting payed for it. I tutor other students in Functions, College Algebra, Calculus 1,2 and 3, Linear Algerbra, and Differential Equtions. I get to work one on one with people. It's been really awesome to have this opportunity of encouragement, and I get so happy when I see their success and improvement.

My plate this year is stuffed full. I'm loving it though. This summer really had an impact on me and God has blessed me with these awesome opportunities. God is my number one priority this year and I am really relying on Him to carry me through. :-)

This is me during Orientation Week, welcoming all the freshman to campus

I went camping with some other RAs in the Porcupine Mountains. This is the lake we camped by. It was so beautiful.

Here is a view of campus from the top of the snowless ski hill.
Believe it or not but we had about 6 inches of snow stuck to the ground on Oct. 12th. It only stayed a couple od days but it was cool.

For Homecoming my hall and I constructed a cardboard boat entirely of cardboard, duct tape, and paint. The boat fit 8 people.
s.s. bubbles

A bunch of halls and frats and sororities participate in this tradition. Many of the boats sink immediatly but a lot make it out around the bucket and back. .... We only made it about half way back...there I am still above water in the front of the boat.

It was the coldest swim and of us have ever had. It was totally worth it though...I had a blast

Even though I have a full plate I did get out and explore some of the fall colors. It's gorgeous.

Believe it or not, I do actually study. This is one of the most interesting semesters so far. I love all my classes and I'm doing pretty well in them too. I'm disecting a cat in my Anatomy and Physiology Lab. I'm conducting an expereiment to find out the actual nerve related affects of energy drinks on the average college student. I'm learning a ton.

Also, I have been very fortunate to have visitors this fall. My Mom, Dad, Brother and Grandma and Grandpa Willett were here to visit just 2 weekends ago. I really enjoyed seeing them and showing them around my world of up here in the U.P.
Also, I had 2 of my close girl-friends from high school come and visit me last weekend (Liz and Tara). It was a blast to see them too.

Love you all very much. Thanks for your prayers and support.

My ADDventurous Summer

This summer I worked at Trout Lake Camp (near brainerd) and counseled at Mink Lake Camp (on the Gunflint trail north of Grand Marais). I was on Adventure staff and it was amazing. Heres a window into some of my summer highlights. I hope you enjoy. Sorry this post is kind of overdue but I'm swamped at school right now...so better late than never.

On the bus ride up to Mink

Jeremiah, the mountain man being a monkey

I had a run in with some graduation cake in the bike shack (adventure staff hang out).

Tinder fungis starts nice fires. Ben, Katie, and Jer found some on the Superior hiking trail

JD has an amazing camera and got some really incredible shots of things.

Junior High 1- we take 32 kids and 6 staff up to Mink Lake wilderness camp.

So the bus rides get a little long and I get a little goofy

This is my boss Steve, He likes guns

Massive raft war

Some of the ADDventure staff: Phil, Katie, Me, Jonathan

Jeremiah is an avid climber and hes pretty much crazy

Fourth of July Fireworks with JD's camera

Mink Lake Moonlight

My Senior High girls. That was an awesome cabin and God did a lot of cool things in their hearts.

Mink Lake

Spider's Web Initiative...yay for team builders

The wonderful bus...this was our motto...we didnt have electricity or showers at Mink...and thats part of wilderness camp

My Junior High #1 Girls cabin...they make me smile :-)

Silent Hike...this was my favorite activity...so beautiful in the Superior National Forest

Fire Building during "The Challenge"..Flint and Magnesium Starter blocks and knifes...forget matches

How many people can you fit in a canoe?

Sometimes the 7 hour bus rides got a little entertaining

Devotions in the Quarry on Carelton Peak (its by the temperance river park)

Climbing on Carelton Peak...there I am belaying in my tie-dye t-shirt

The repel

Slacklining...one of my new favorite hobbies and obsessions

All of the ADDventure staff:
JD, Phil, Me, Kim, Jonathan, Katie, Jeremiah, Steve, Ben

Kadunce River Hike...oh how I miss it

Luke doing the Leap of Faith...you climb up a telephone pole (26 ft) stand on top of it and leap to a hanging trapezee bar. You are wearing a full-body harness and attached to a rope...its cool.

Mom and Luke came to visit so of course I sent Mom off the zipline...I dont think she enjoyed it too much...but here she is..what a trooper :-)

So this summer I learned a lot about guns and instructed riflery. Here I am shooting a 38-caliber revolver with Katie

My Junior high #2 Girls. It was a great week.

Cookout on Superior shore after the river hike.

First Year Finished

The First year of college is over, and it was great!

Its been fun, hard, stressful, exciting and every thing else imaginable.
I have learned a ton not only in the books but about people and life.
I declared my major...I'm going to be a Biomedical Engineer!
As far as next year goes: I'm going to be a Resident Assistant (RA) in the dorms and I'll be tutoring in the Math Learning Center!

SO Lets recap on some of the things I have learned:

Roommates and be Horrible or Great and if you get a Great one hold on to 'em

Exercise is important and mud fights are a great stress reliever

Take time to smell the flowers...you'll be more efficient and enjoy things more

I officially understand the true meaning of overwhelming stress..haha

Some college students can live off of Ramen for weeks...but I learned that I think its disgusting

Dress up and be silly when you get older you'll feel "too mature"

Build snow forts...and hang out with a lot of random people

I play broomball and can make my own broomball stick
Play new sports that you've never heard of

Support your school...You will the rest of your life

Take funny pictures of wierd plaes you go...like chicago

Make cool friends...it makes you happy :-)

Watch the sunset

Do random things on your study breaks

Once again, Play in the mud whenever given the opportunity

Say Goodbye for the summer and smile :-)