New Great Danes!

You should have seen the sight! Music blasting, tons of people in gold and purple, cars everywhere, bins of suitcases and clothes, crying parents, excited students...this is what Indian Quad (the freshman quad at UAlbany) looked like the past two days. I had the opportunity to serve the freshman by helping them move into their new rooms. It was a great time for me to meet students and connect with them. When I wasn't talking with students or parents, much of my time was spent thinking and praying about the great purpose God has for each of those students. It was an encouraging time.

Tonight, we embark on a new semester as a region. We'll be joining together (at the church that Jen and I attend) for an overnight kick-off event. This will be a time for Real Life students in the Capital Region to connect with each other, hear from the Lord and plan for a new semester. It should be a great time. Please pray for us!

Sunday, I'll return to Indian Quad for the annual freshman Block Party. From 3:30-5:30, all of the clubs and organizations on campus will set up tables around the quad. This is a great time to connect with the freshman. We will be handing out water bottles and asking students to take a "spiritual interest questionnaire." From these surveys, we will be able to gauge what students are interested in talking more about God...and those who aren't. Please pray for this time. Pray that we'll get many students that we can follow-up with after the event. Its gonna be a great afternoon!

Please also pray for Jen and I. There is a lot going on and it can get overwhelming. We need to continue to rest in the Lord and his perfect plan. Thanks for running alongside us.

Prayer Under a Haystack

Today, our staff team visited a significant place for a prayer movement- Williams College in Williamstown, MA. In 1806, 5 men were praying for world missions. While praying in the middle of a thunderstorm, God put it on their heart to GO to the world. Read more about the beginning of this movement here.

Our staff team in front of the monument

Abby enjoying the day!

We're back!

Its been more than a month since I last wrote on this blog. Just wanted to update everyone on a few things going on here. We've had a challenging, but good month of raising support. Thank you to everyone who has given us names of people who you think might be interested in partnering with us. We've seen some people join our team as monthly financial supporters, others have increased their support. Thank you to everyone for praying for us during this important time.

Students in Wildwood are wrapping up their summers today. Tuesday, they finished their summer working at their ministry site. Tomorrow, they head back home and then shortly back to school. This is an important time to keep them in prayer as they face this good, but often difficult transition. One of our students wrote in his blog about his time at McDonalds building relationships with international students:

I'm gonna miss those guys like crazy! There are just so many nations represented...Slovakia, Russia, China, Mongolia, Jamaica, Macedonia...God is just amazing for bringing us all together! I've become sooo close with those guys too. Seriously, any group of people that allow me to survive a summer at McDonald's are just flatout awesome and are going to be missed big time! They're some of my closest friends and I really want to keep in contact with them as I go back to my home and they return to their native country. Tonight is the last International Cafe and honestly, I might cry. I love those guys that much. Only ten days are left of being here and I want to flatout make the best of them and enjoy what God has blessed me with.

So yes, there are times I hate just hearing the word "McDonald's" and yes I never want to work there ever again and I'm counting the days (five) until I'm done there forever, and yes it's often been miserable and always exhausting. But I'm lovin' it! I love the people, I love the memories, and I'm so glad God put me there this summer and grateful to have gone through what I have. This is a summer job I will never forget. Thank you McDonald's!

Thank you Dan, and the rest of the students at Wildwood for trusting God with your summer and allowing Him to use you to impact the world!

Monday, we head back into focusing on a new semester and year. I am entering my sixth year serving with Campus Crusade for Christ and the fall/return of students still excites me! We'll start planning for the fall launch next week. We'll be back in full swing in about two weeks. Here we go!