And these three things define college to you, to me.

-Back home again from BSC feeling exhausted, yes, but energized in ways not physical. It was so refreshing to reconnect with one of my best friends from back home, we share the same mindset on basically everything and are going through a lot of the same things right now. It was so relieving to be able to instantly reconnect and meant a lot to be able to. The fact that even though we only talk once or twice a month but anytime we see each other it’s like we haven’t been apart is invaluable to me. Growing up in church and maturing in Christ together we are in similar stages in our walks with Christ and because of that and build each other up so much and just having that reconnect refueled my passion for why I live the life I do.

The three words/terms we decided define college are these: “identity, throw it all out the window, and doing the little things”

Identity: coming into college we are trained to try to prove ourselves to everyone around us, it’s simply human nature and an easy way to do this is to fill you time and schedule with things that you can call say, “I’m a part of ___________, __________, and ___________.” But, as time progresses the people who accepted you for the things you are a part of and that reason only drift out of your life. The only way to define yourself is through Christ. Everything else is merely an asset. You really learn a lot about how you view yourself and how everyone else does as well. Identity.

Throw it out the window: This is a kind of direct spawn from the point of “identity” how you think you are defined, how you think about the world , how you judge others and think you will be judged as well. Just throw it ALL out the window. College is not the same for any two people, but it is not at all what you have preconceived in your mind. It is a wonderful incredible experience but it is like being dunked in cold water, your eyes are opened and it’s up to you if you ignore them being opened or if you accept the world for what it is and learn to live “in the world but not of it” What you think is bad what is good, what is sin, what is ok, where to draw the line, You will be stretched and challenged, but if you know who you are and how you define yourself, you will be fine. Cling to the word and hold fast to the cross and especially your friendships.

Doing the little things: This is how you can prove you know who you are, this is how you show others your identity, this is how you throw it all out the window, this is how you find yourself and how you fulfill the Great Commission at this stage in life. It is as simple as being the sober person at the parties, repeatedly. Easy as inviting other to church every Sunday again and again. Easy as living for others more than yourself and dying to your selfish needs. It’s doing the little things. Even if they don’t affect people in the here and now who knows how God can use these actions in the years to come. Don’t you want to be able to say ‘I used every moment as a chance to lead others to Christ, I had fun, I lived fully, War Eagle.’ That’s my goal, and to achieve it I try to keep the little things in check and somehow the big things seem less important and everything falls into place. All really is in God’s hands.

Desires

"I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out" Romans 7:18

Why does this verse stick to the core of what I feel. Every aspect of life can be defined as such and the comfort I glean from the fact Paul felt this same emotion all those years ago when he wrote this letter to the Romans is irreplaceable. I want to do big things, I want to bring change, I want to affect people. I want to live daily for adventure, a princess to rescue, a cause to rally and fight for. I have been given these things and I know all the pieces of the puzzle will fall in place as life progresses but I find myself impatient. I need to pray more constantly for God's peace and assurance that where I am is where I need to be, I hate being at unrest but in my mind it is a daily question I ask, 'am I doing the right thing?' I do believe the answer is yes, I feel more reassured since switching my major to kinesiology in the college of Education and every day I go to Spanish I am reassured that I am meant to minor in it so I can fulfill my hearts thirst for medical missions. I feel God calling me to the mission field so strongly it's hard to idly sit in class learning about kinetoplastids and xylem and phloem. But I know if I am to let myself be used by God to my fullest extent I need to continue to pursue my goals of achieving acceptance into Physical Therapy School at USA or UAB and to do that I need to just slow down and push through these classes. But every day that passes is one class closer to being able to be in Peru and Mexico and Haiti and Tunis and the other places I feel God had put on my heart to share his love through medical missions. Paul, your words hold such power to me, thank you for continuing to tell us that the reason we have the desire is because of our desire for Christ and the reason we can not fulfill that desire is because on our own we are helpless, we, I, MUST rely wholeheartedly on Christ and Christ alone.

"In Christ alone, my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song.

This cornerstone, this solid ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, What depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease.

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand"

Swift Providence

Quiet. Quick. Rapid. Loud. Painful. Dark. Death. Still. Numb. A little over a week ago these words described the lives of my friends in Urubamba. Already those words whispered and touched the ears of the boys who reside at that home but Casa Grisoles was their one safe haven, the one chance that had at a life that was more than drugs and pain they previously knew on the streets of Peru. Hector took the boys to see the beach because there was not one of them that had ever seen the ocean before. It just happened to be the weekend of the flood that destroyed their home that the boys and Hector left for the coast. I absolutely believe it was God's absolute divine will and almighty providential hand that led them to the coast that specific weekend. If they had been in Casa Grisoles who knows how much worse things would have had been. Lives would have been lost and you cant just rebuild that. I think about what they must be going through even right now. Are they still mourning? Are they rejoicing at the lives that were saved from destruction by the sea? What little they had in the world was swept away without their even knowing. But in some senses is that not a biblical concept made tangible? Matthew 6:19-20 says

19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

These boys, Hector, Maritza, they have nothing left here on Earth but i know that in heaven their rooms are filled with treasures untold. But what does this say about us? If a great flood swept into our lives taking literally every single earthly possession we own save the clothes on our backs how would we react? Would there be any Joy in the realization all turns to dust anyways? Of course there would be mourning and of course it would be horrendous but at the same time would we be able to look past what we lost to see the riches we still have? The true riches of this world can not be measured using and factor in the SI unit system. They can not be detected by taste, touch, smell, sight, or hearing. The true treasures of this world lie in the relationships we make and the memories we share with others. But here in America, here in Alabama, here at Auburn University can we accept that as truth. Easier said than done no? I want to strive towards making this realization evident in my life. I am blessed daily more than i take into count for.

In the end its about the love you've shared and people you've grown with not the car or iphone or fraternity or sorority or SGA position. Its about what you have done to share in love with others. Please keep my friends at Casa Grisoles in your prayers

Big Event 2009

Incredible day with 1700 volunteers braving the cold, wind, and rain all for some selfless giving back to the incredible community we are luck enough to be a part of. My three job site I was in charge of all did incredible jobs! I was blessed not only with incredible owners of the sites we worked at, (Campus Church, Hardy's Children's day-care center, and the Veterans Brick Memorial task 2010) but also three incredible groups of volunteers. We finished the data base for the bricks in a record breaking hour and a half, had the Campus Church site's walls scrubbed, floors mopped and swept, and touch ups done in two hours, and accomplished the large task of re-mulching and cleaning the children's play ground area in four hours. The best part of being a part of this is the feeling you get when one of the owners starts crying tears of gratitude and another asks where the children can write thank you notes to because now they can actually play outside. The credit for this belongs entirely to Auburn SGA and specifically the Big Event Staff. Being in charge of these three sites was hard work but they were only three sites, and forty volunteers of of 1700 total. That is was Auburn is all about, and that is exactly why I love it. War Eagle BE2010!

So we call ourselves Christins, teachers

Being a teacher holds you to a higher standard. So this means we will be judged to a higher extent because we know others are watching us trying to learn from our actions as we are trying to follow in Christ's footsteps. It's what we are called to do, even during Jesus's time on earth the disciples were held to higher standards by the pharasies, "When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath." Matthew 12:2

So this is a challenge to those of us who call ourselves Christians: Live for Christ and challenge yourself so you can motivate others.

PS School is kicking my butt. Organismal is disgusting.

WDE