Been a while...

Wow, I haven't written on here for 2 & 1/2 months!!! Guess life has been pretty busy. First of all, guess those "coming soon" posts will never be written, but if you want to hear any of those stories or life lessons- I'd love to talk and tell ya! Let's see, my fourth semester of college is now over, I am hopefully over 1/2 way done with my college career!!! This semester really took it's toll, and I have never been so excited to not be writing papers and studying!!! I realize the work will not get any easier, but I am very grateful for a break from it all. My studies become consuming when so many things are constantly hanging over me; I hate the pressure. I hope that my mental power this summer will be used to read and study things not of this world. Reading daily planned passages of Scripture is a great thing, but I want to go way above and beyond that level or reading to truly learning and studying the Word. [don't have a particular direction, so any suggestions would be sweet!] Memorization is also a part of my goal; my summer plan is to memorize Matthew chapters 5 & 6. Please anybody who reads this, keep me accountable and check with me to make sure I am making progress in this goal. In the past I have only done around 20 vs, this is close to 80 verses-definitely won't be doing this by my own strength!
Also, outside books have been a part of my agenda; part of preparing for Kenya included reading a few books about missionaries to Kenya and to Zambia. The first book was about Ernie Steury who was the first doctor at Tenwek Hospital (the compound I will be living on) and a lot of the history of Tenwek, as well as the Steury family and live story. This book definitely made me fall in love with the vision and actions of this ministry. Christ and the Gospel are always in the proper place of supremacy. Every patient who enters the hospital will be prayed with and will hear the Gospel in their stay. Many proper actions in reguard to educating the community and reaching anyone in need has led to a ton of ministries and programs stemming from Tenwek. For example, they have a nursing school, a chaplain training school, and community health programs. Anyway, I will write more on here with pictures and real explainations when I am actually there in a little over one month from now. :)
Well, just for sakes of a life update- like I said, finished my sophomore year of college and now off for summer break. I am working at Bair Lake Bible Camp again this summer; I stayed out there this past week just to help out along with the company of Natalie and had a great week. We worked hard but also were able to enjoy things like bottling homemade root beer, the game of Life, Pig Pong, fishing, volleyball, and other fun "camp" things like Bag-o. I am very excited for our staff this summer and cannot wait will everyone moves in on June 5th! Also, the Retreat Center has had a makeover! It's sooo sweet; Lori Wickes (and family & friends) has total repainted and decorated and the whole building is starting to have so much more potential. I am soo excited to see returning staffers' reactions when they move in!!! But yup, camp, uhh basically working in the kitchen and then like one week of counselling in August this summer. I am missing most of the bulk of true camp time though with my trip to Kenya-which of course will be totally worth it!
I fly out June 27th and will be back, I believe, August 2nd!
Other things in life include seeing lots of transition in life for many people I know, and mostly all of it is exciting but sometimes change can be really hard. Sometimes change isn't even as hard for the people experiencing it as it is for those around them who must adjust to the new normal.
oh & random but I got rid of facebook since I have last written; such a good choice! I will probably get back on in not too long, but not having the need to spend time on it or use it in class or who knows-I was just on it all the time! Now, I will write people on it, occasionally look at pictures, ect but the whole perspective has changed after not being on facebook and also being at camp away from tv and easily accessible internet. Basically, as Christians we are to strive to be people of excellence and the time spend on facebook was not doing what was best with the time given to me. Also, I want to really stop focusing soo much on things of this world! Entertainment of all sorts is so bad for me, and I can say that something isn't bad (necesarily sinful) but what is it hindering me from doing instead? I love country music, but I am really trying to not listen to secular music right now because if I am thinking about the things in the songs or humming/singing country songs-than my mind is consumed by things of this world, not by prayer or worship or a potentially uplifting conversation. In Hebrews 12, talking about throwing off everything that hinders-these are the things that hinder, things like facebook or country music that aren't evil but are not spurring me on to grow in Christ or accomplishing anything valuable in my life. Just working through a lot of similar thoughts, sorry for rambling rather than saying anything to intelligent sounding or having a good conclusion to this update.
Life is good. I am enjoying lots of summer outtings like rock climbing and Lake Michigan!
Peace and Love in Christ!!!