So I'm a pretty terrible blogger. Oh well. 2nd post of 2011 and we're not halfway through the year yet so I'm doing alright.

I am now a K-State graduate. Hooray! Actually, it's kind of bizarre. I had no idea that so much could happen in 4 years or that it could go so quickly. College has been awesome. I had some of the highest and lowest points of my life so far but have learned so much and hopefully grown. Now I'm feeling kind of sentimental so I'mgoing to do a little college collage.

Freshman Year:

Rooming with the lovely Anna Corey was wonderful and we had SO many great nights full of laughter, way too much junk food, and minimal studying. Freshman year was also when I met Diana and the three of us hung out ALL the time. Here is just one example.

I think it was around this time that some girl knocked on our door and told us to shut up.

Anyway, we had a blast. And I definitely learned so much about friendship and loving people well. These two definitely had the most impact on my life that year.

Sophomore Year:

Sophomore year I became an RA at West Hall which was wonderful. I had an incredible floor and made some close bonds with the rest of the staff. This year was also really hard for me. I struggled with depression more than I ever have and was at one of my lowest points. Thankfully, I serve a God who does not abandon and He used people in my life to get me through and teach me more about depending on Him. Diana played a huge role in that, as did my dear friend Meg who I became closeto this year. I also started going to Ichthus sophomore year which had a huge effect on my Junior and Senior years.

A little taste of Sophomore year:

One of the many walks we took on the Konza.

Junior Year:

Junior year started out with me as the RA in the basement of Smurthwaite for overflow students. I had been praying all summer that Jesus would really use me in my RA job, and boy did he. The issues and challenges that my residents were facing was overwhelming to say the least. That basement was one of the most spiritually oppressed places I have ever been in. But I think that Jesus did use me as a light and I was able to help the girls. Second semester I went back to West and that was wonderful. That semester I really got close to a lot of the staff, especially my good friend Joel. We had some really great conversations about life and everything that goes with it during the course of that semester. But truly the whole staff was incredible and I loved each of them so much.

Hanging on the Bluestem patio.

Senior Year:

This year I moved out of the Residence Halls and got a house with 6 of the most incredible gals ever. I also led an Ichthus Lifegroup that's missional focus was Ogden, where I also did my Family Studies internship. I feel like I'm still processing this year so I won't say too much about it. What I will say is that I don't think God has ever put more wonderful, encouraging, genuine people in my life all at the same time.

The ballin' ladies of 1511worth. Best.Lifegroup.Ever. Before the Ichthus Banquet.

So that is 4 years in a very small nutshell without any previous thought to what I would include. I'm really excited for the future and for my new job, which I will *try* to remember to blog about in the near future.

Ogden

Ogden, KS.

Population: Around 2,000.

People below thePoverty Level: Around 23%, about double the state average.

There is need in Ogden. Lots of it.

I am growing to love Ogden. God is putting a passion for it in my heart - for its people. Especially for its children. Some of them don't really have a chance. The odds are stacked against them. Their parents are drug and alcohol users and abusers. Or just unemployed and uneducated and doing their best to put food on the table. They've been shuffled around the state and country so that when they wind up [back] in Ogden for 5th grade, they've already gone to 5 0r 6 different schools.
They are starved for attention. After I've talked with them once, maybe twice, they cling to me, they hang on me, they hug me, they hold my hand - they tell me that I'm their best friend. Sometimes I can't even remember their names - but they always remember my name. They light up when I smile at them. They burst with pride if I compliment them on a job well done.

Jesus loves Ogden. I know He does. He loves the children and he loves the parents - the parents that I have a hard time not judging. They have a story. Somehow along the way in their story, they've gotten to the point where they neglect their children or develop a drug or alcohol addiction. I don't know their stories. I can't judge them. I need to love them, like Jesus loves them.

I'm trying to figure out what God wants me to do next in Ogden. How do I get people excited about it? How do I make people understand that by going and hanging out with the kids they're bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth? How do I help cultivate fertile soil in the heart's of the people I interact with? Am I supposed to move to Ogden? Does God want me to stay in Manhattan/Ogden after graduation? Will my work there be finished in May or does He have something more in store for me? These are my questions. I have faith that He will make the way clear. In the mean time, I'm just doing my best to obey and to love.