So a bit of time has past...

...and many have commented that I haven't updated my blog in ages.

At this point I don't even know where to begin. Perhaps I should clear up any misconceptions of my brother being in the CIA...or wait, is he? He is coming to visit this weekend and I am excited to get some quality family time in before I head back to Tucson. After all, he is my favorite Euchre partner.

I can't believe that I am already at the start of my 2nd year in EDGE. I have started praying Hebrews 13:21 for this year. That God would equip me for doing His will and may He work in me what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
I have really latched on to the idea of Him working in me what is pleasing to Him. I so often think that I know what needs to be worked on in my life and am finding it quite difficult to have open hands to what He desires. Ahhh, but I have always known Him to be a good and gentle Father and I have set my heart on glorifying Him alone.

Who knows, perhaps this year He'll teach me to be more faithful in blog posting??

What has God been saying to you???

I spent the past weekend in Gilbert, Arizona with about 65 students from our ministry. It was a great time to enjoy one another's company in a beautiful home, grow closer to the heart of Jesus and even spend some time jumping into huge mounds of cotton seed!



And here is my scavenger hunt team wearing Burger King hats in a McDonalds. Even though we lost, we had such a great time!

We had the privilege of having Mike Jordahl, the Navigators Collegiate president, with us for the weekend. Each morning he shared with us from the Word and pointed our eyes toward Jesus. His key question of the weekend was "What is God saying to you today?" It was so good to have opportunities to slow down long enough to really ponder the question...and then discuss what we were hearing with those around us. How beautifully refreshing.

I am so glad to serve a God that invites us into His holy dwelling and speaks individually to each of our hearts. And I was so grateful to have that reminder as I found out on Wednesday that my house had been broken into.

Our house was only empty for 45 minutes, but apparently that is just enough time for someone to kick the door in and steal 3 laptop computers and Lori's purse. While we are sad to have lost those possessions, what we find to be the most disconcerting issue is that they must have been watching our home to know when we were all gone. Please be praying for our safety and for the peace of God to guard our hearts and our minds.

God has given us such a great gift in the 5 men from our ministry that live just down the street. They were immediately at our side and stayed with us through out the day. Within a half hour a trip to Home Depot had been made and our door repair had begun. Below is a picture of the many hands that worked on restoring our door and sense of safety.

In the midst of this we were able to hear Steven's upcoming talk on Joy. How timely it was to hear of how our true Joy is found in the knowledge of our salvation and the immeasurable goodness that God offers us. Isn't it true that He is Good???

This morning I was reading in Hebrews and came across these verses...yet another gift.

"Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecutions; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and
joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."
~ Hebrews 10: 32-36 ~

Today, we will choose joy. We will choose thanksgiving. We will choose to say, "Thy will be done."

It's Been Awhile...

I am amazed that it is already January 12th and I am back in Tucson. My time at home was wonderful, but I have to admit, I was glad to return to my life here. Tucson has become a place that holds such dear friends and things that I love. It's been delightful to be back.

Things I am looking forward to this semester:

1. Studying Romans with the girls in my Bible study
2. Mastering tennis on Krista's new wii (this one may take longer than just 1 semester)
3. Hanging out with some pretty sweet freshman girls
4. Introducing people to the One through whom we may draw near to God
5. Roadtrips
6. Quality time with my fellow staff members

Pretty much, I am thrilled with what this semester has to offer. I think God is going to move in some powerful ways.

Some pictures from the Navs Christmas Ho Ho Hoedown (planned by our stellar freshman class!)

Desiring Abundant Life

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." ~ Jesus (John 10:10)

In the last few days I have become increasingly aware of the attacks of the enemy. Conversations with students have consistently revealed how enemy is seeking to destroy them, to make them ineffective, depressed and to distract them from the Truth of the Gospel. It breaks my heart.

The good news is that they verse doesn't end with destruction, but rather the life that Jesus has to offer. In the midst of their struggling I have loved reminding the students of the beautiful mystery of the Gospel. I love bringing the truth that once we are "in Christ" God sees us as holy and blameless, He cannot love us any more or any less than He does at this moment. This is a wonder too beautiful for words!

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

~ In Christ Alone

Mexico Road Rally

Diana and I with just some of the food for our trip

This past weekend we took 151 people to Rocky Point, Mexico to build 3 houses and participate in a children's outreach. I was in charge of the food. I have never before shopped or cooked for 150 people...using a single camp stove. I am tempted to say it was quite a challenge, but really I had an amazing team of women that rose to the various dilemmas that faces us and made the food preparation a joy. Below are some pictures from the weekend.

some girls from my Bible study at their house site

preparing lunches for our hungry house builders

It was an amazing trip, full of precious faith-building moments. Everyday there seemed to be story after story of how God came through in incredible ways. We saw Him in providing tow trucks for 12 passenger vans stuck in the sand, giving us water at exactly the right moment, the much needed layer of stucco finished on all 3 houses just as the sun went down, no major injuries, cars protect, easy crossing of the border each way and the list goes on and on. I am so grateful to know and serve this God. I just love Him.

After a week in St. Louis for the Navigators National Conference and then camping in Mexico, I am exhausted, but God is good and I am thrilled to be His daughter.

Refreshment in the Midst of Chaos

It has been quite an interesting week. Our weekend was spent hosting a dessert and breakfast for our students' parents. I loved having the opportunity to get to know these parents and tell them how we are rooting for them in their kids lives.

Unfortunately Sunday also brought the realization that my car had been broken into the night before, leaving me without a c.d. player and most of my c.d's. On Thursday morning my house was woken up to two police officers informing us that my roommate Diana's car had also been broken into. No major damage was done to either of our cars, but it is still just scary that within 5 days 2 cars sitting directly in front of our house were robbed. We are trying to determine how we can improve the security for our house and be more conscientious of our surrounding environment.

In the midst of calling insurance companies and replacing windows we have also been getting ready to head out to St. Louis for the Navigators National Conference. As I have been preparing to go I have been reminded that it really is autumn in other parts of the country. Below is a picture of some fall leaves that were sent to my house from some dear friends in State college.

krista arranged them so beautifully on our kitchen table

This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to go swing dancing with some of the students that have become dear friends of mine. The dancing was almost as fun as listening to the live 12 piece band! Below is a picture of some of the seniors having a bit of fun :)

You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling

some of the freshman girls with their roses

Tonight our nav ministry had a men's/women's night instead of our normal large group meeting. We split the women into 5 groups and then sent each group out to 5 different restaurants around town while the men headed to Steven and Dustin's house for a barbeque and time of learning about how to honor the women in our ministry. It was a great time for women of various classes to connect with each other! After dinner the women headed back to the Strudel (my house!) for dessert and a dance party.

The guys surprised us by sneaking into our backyard, cutting our power and then inviting us to join them in the back yard. They then serenaded us with "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" and gave each of us a rose. Then they sang a special rendition of "My Girl" in which they re-wrote the lyrics to fit the Nav Girls. I have included some of their lyrics below:

Your God's sunshine on a cloudy day
Reflect Gods glory in the sweetest way
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
Nav girls (nav girls)
Talkin' bout my Nav girls (nav girls)

We don't need no half dressed women, thanks for dressing modestly
You're the greatest bunch of women, honestly
I guess you'd say
What can make you feel this way?
Nav girls (nave girls, nave girls)
Talkin' 'bout my nav girls (nav girls)

As you can tell, we've got a great group of men! They brought tears to a few of the girls eyes. Some of these women have never been treated sweetly by men and have no idea that they deserve to be treated as someone of great value. I am so grateful that the leaders of this ministry are committed to training men and women to live as God has created them.