a thankful heart

This Saturday morning I woke up full of joy and thankfulness. God has been so good to me! He has been so gracious in answering so many prayers, in comforting me, in providing for me, and in surrounding me with the goodness of new friends and family.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go on an all-school retreat with Regent College. We traveled down to a Christian camp in Washington state and spent three days together listening to some great talks, eating some delicious food, and getting to know one another. We played soccer, danced the "kalie" (a Scottish dance done with a large group of people), worshipped, got to know the professors, enjoyed a talent show, stayed up until 1:30am talking about lots of random topics, and other things. It was a great time of bonding, making new friends, and getting a clearer vision of the next year.

This week has also been great. I am really enjoying all the new people I'm meeting. I have a number of friends that are second generation Chinese, as well as a few from Ireland. I also have met a few people from Latin America and as it turns out they are organizing a party for Spanish/Portuguese speaking people for every weekend over the next three months, and I was invited! I've also started getting to know a couple of the professors here - they really are wonderful, down to earth, approachable individuals. I am also making progress on getting to know some churches that I'd like to scope out as my potential home over the next fear years as well as places where I could possibly do my supervised ministry.

Praise God for his goodness and faithfulness! He's brought me to a place where there is so much to soak in, so much to learn, so many questions to ask, and where I can be myself, struggle, search, be formed, and learn to think more clearly and seek more fully our God.

Below are a few pictures of Regent's retreat....