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Published: April 26th 2008
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Texas
It only took being back in Minnesota for a couple of weeks in the winter until I was ready to leave again....to a much warmer place! I went to Texas for a few days. Got to see my mom's new place, hang out with friends, and my dad came in town from Enid. Then my mom, nana & I headed down to Houston to see my bro. He recently moved there. Was so fun! We ate out at some amazing restaurants. We cooked out at my bro's place & my cousin Cody, Aunt Lyn & KD came over. I got to see one of my good friends from college, Jill (Willard), it was so good seeing & catching up with her!!
Belize
Then I headed to Belize...last time I'll be there for awhile 😞 We had an AMAZING trip! The group was from Oregon & it was a high school mission class. They were awesome! Some of them had been last year, to the same village, Ladyville. Vickie & Bruce were the leaders & I loved them! They lived in Tanzania for 12 years & Papa New Guniea for 2 years. I loved hearing their missionary stories...makes me want
Ladyville Baptist Church
great church, led by Pastor Marice Westby to move to Africa!! They raised their family in Africa! We went hiking one day at St. Herman's Cave...the hardest, most intense hike I've ever done!! But it was awesome! One of the girls, Sarah, who is only 17 years old gave the message at the Sunday church service. She had that place on fire!! You can tell she has truly been called to be a pastor!
New York
After Belize I went back to Dallas for one night. A night of sushi & laundry...then the next morning I went to New York to check out
Alliance Theological Seminary for my masters. I really liked it! It's located in Nyack, NY...right by the Hudson. It is a cute, quaint town, close enough yet far enough away from the city. It's in the rolling hills with tons of trees. I met some really cool people there that are considering ATS as well. They have an amazing Intercultural Studies program, which is what I would study & also a really good Counseling Program. The school was small though, I'm used to a HUGE school. But I really felt comfortable & like I'd known the staff forever. We got to sit in on a
New York Friends
Fellow ATS applicants...touring around nyc. class tought by the main Intercultural Studies Professor, so interesting! Dr. Bailey, he was a missionary in Cambodia for many years. I loved hearing his stories! It was a great trip, they took us out to eat, put us in a hotel, drove us around, etc. The visiting group went in to the city to tour around but I didn't make that part because I had an early flight.
So, I've been really prayerful about this whole situation. Going back to school to get my masters, which school to go to, where to live, stay in MN, move off, etc?? Should I go to Alliance? Bethel in MN? Fuller? So many things! I've really been praying for clarity & direction, & once I get that...for a sense of peace about the whole thing. I've been praying that God would close a door. And he did.
When I got back from New York I sat down with my boss & good friend, Jason. We talked for a long time. And since we are opening a new office in Minneapolis, it's just not good timing to move & go off to school full-time. So, looks like I'll be here in
MN in & out for awhile longer. I was only suppose to be here for 3 months....it's been a bit longer than that. It'll be 1 year in September! Granted, I'm really not here all that much. So, now I'm praying for peace about this. I've applied to
Bethel & I know it's an AMAZING school! If accepted, I'm going to do the
Global & Contextual Studies Program , which seems SO interesting to me! Studying other cultures, world religions, the bible, etc. So, we'll see. New York....I'm still so drawn to it! It fascinates me! But it's probably my own selfish desires that draw me to NY. Maybe later.
The good thing about Bethel is that they have campuses all over the
east coast; in NYC, New England, Philly, D.C. They even have a campus in San Diego. So, hopefully I'll start by taking some classes here in MN & help get our new office up & running. And then, in about a year or so, move to NY....I can continue working there & take classes. At least for a season. Nothing is permanent....at least that's what I tell myself. I tend to get a little freaked out if I start to feel stationary.
VBS Kids
THe kids at vbs in ladyville with one of the participants, Andrew. So, that's my plan. We'll see what God has planned. I would really appreciate your prayers in this next chapter in my life. With starting school, etc. I've been out of school for 3 years now! I'm nervous about going back. But super excited too!!
Let's see, what else is going on....A couple of my friends & I are looking for a house right now. So, if anyone wants to come & visit, let me know! MN is really pretty in the spring, summer & fall! I'm planning a trip this spring to go & visit Bruna in Chile! I'm either going there b/c she's temporarily living there, or we're going to meet somewhere in between; Panama, Columbia, etc. I haven't seen her in over 2 years! I can't wait!!! Then, off to Jamaica for the summer!!! Prayers for that too!
As always, I love & miss you!! Please let me know what's going on in your life, how I can be praying for you. Call/email me. If anyone wants to meet up, take a trip, etc., let me know. I'm always down for a trip!
Speaking of road trips, some friends & I are going
to Mount Rushmore in a couple of weeks....never been before so should be cool. Also, I'm currently training for a 1/2 marathon with Emily. It's at the end of May in the cities. So we've been running a lot lately...love it! A couple of us are still planning on going sky-diving this spring. We have our spring retreat for work next week, about 2 hours north of the cities. 2 years ago we only had about 10 people at our retreat, this year we will have about 40 people! Including people from Belize! We're growing so much.
I'm heading down to Texas at the end of May. Will stay in Dallas for a week or so. Hopefully my mom & I will head down to Austin & Fredricksburg for a couple of days. Hopefully my bro will be able to join us. And Adrian just moved back there to Austin so it will be great to see & hang out with him...adry bear. Then...off to Jamaica.
4/26/08
I just got my acceptance letter to Bethel! I'm excited! I'll be starting either distant courses this summer or start the traditional classes this fall. Thanks to JP, Amy, Swartz
Snorkeling
caye caulker... & Becky for helping with my recommendation letters!
Side note...it's the end of April, should be well in to spring by now. But no, it's snowing today in MN! GRRRRRRRRR!
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Jennifer
non-member comment
belize!
i just found your blog and i noticed that you had gone to belize. i just went on the same trip with bruce and we did some more work on the church and the kids were amazing! it was the best week of my life! but i just thought i would leave you a comment since we both had a chance to do some amazing things in belize! God Bless!