I just sent my very first support letter. Although they are common place I don't like it much. It kind of made me feel like I was begging and I didn't like it. Not because of a humbling factor, but because I look at my four bedroom apartment, my college education, my friends, my family, my church, my God. I look at my neighbors, little Esther that I haven't seen since the beginning of summer, Francis and her son Steven. They have so much less than I, at least materialistic speaking (who is to say they don't have more in more important ways?) I guess... I just feel like, who am I to be asking for money? But our midwest American institutionalized church would much rather give someone like me money to do missions overseas than to just give the money directly to the family across the street.

How can people so easily just throw everything away for the sake of irrationality. At least it seems to me to be irrational. Am I too rational? I've never thought of myself as rational.

Here's a really deep post. It's supposed to rain all day because of Katrina and I don't know what box my umbrella is in.

I give this new found desire to You. Mold it, shape it, break it if You must. Direct me, in Your own time, and give me grace when I am not patient with it.

Currently Reading
The Missing Person
By Alix Ohlin
see related

Okay now that (very unlike my apartment) I have my xanga looking the way I want it... time for a (semi)real update.

First off, I love coffee, hence the new look. Especially in the fall and winter it's easier to appreciate this fine hot beverage. The tagline, "bittersweet" is twofold: 1) It is bittersweet to me that this is my last year at AU. Bitter because I have very much enjoyed my time at AU and college life in general, the friends I have made and am making still, the dependant/independant balance, etc. Sweet because at the same time I am very much looking forward to what lies beyond. Although it's my last year and I have had my major picked out the whole time, I have no idea what I'll be doing, let alone what I WANT to be doing. I've had thoughts of all kinds - Boston church plant, London coffee house, anywhere anything... I really have no idea. I sweetly embrace my journey...

2) This reason is much less personal. Espresso is bitter and steamed milk is sweet.

And yes, as you can tell this summer I developed a liking of country music. This song is called "Something More" and it's by Sugarland - listen to the lyrics or look them up and read them - they kind of describe part of what I already mentioned.

And to Mallory - yes, I have taken a picture of a driv thru, but that's not what the profile pic is if that's what you thought. Profile pic - 14th & Madison. The driv thru is Nichol and John.

To anyone - if you don't know where Nichol and John are then you need to discover more than Scatterfield. There is a west side to Anderson, embrace it's culture.

So I decided I should add a list of the books I read this summer, including above said "currently reading". The list is not as long as I would like, however if it were as long as I would like then that would have taken away many hours I spent gaining incredible relationships with some very special and important people in my life. Here's my list:

- "Cities: Mission's New Frontier" Roger S Greenway, Timothy M Mosma
- *"Theirs Is The Kingdom: Celebrating The Gospel In Urban America" Robert D Lupton
- *"The Radical Reformission: Reaching Out Without Selling Out" Mark Driscoll
- *"No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green" Melody Green
- *"An Unstoppable Force: Daring To Become The Church God Had In Mind" Erwin McManus
- *"Searching For God Knows What" Don Miller
- *"The Magicians Nephew" (Chronicles of Narnia) C.S. Lewis
- *"The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe" (Chronicles of Narnia) C.S. Lewis
- *"The Horse And His Boy" (Chronicles of Narnia) C.S. Lewis
- "Hat Trick" (A Novel) Lisa Kusel
- "He Drown She In The Sea" (A Novel) Shani Mootoo
- *"Red Leaves" (A Novel) Thomas H Cook

That's the list... while I was pleased with each book, the ones with astricks I found better than the others and would recomend to others. During the next month or so I would like to finish the novel I'm currently on, as well as finish the Chronicles of Narnia, then I have a whole other list to work on, but with school and stuff I probably won't get to those.

I have this amazing opportunity to go to ITALY in DECEMBER! BUT... I need $800 by October... SO... any monetary donations are welcome!

It's true. I'm taking 5 classes - only 16 credit hours. I have 20 freaking books.

Slowly working on unpacking and everything... real updates will happen once I get into my routine.

Tradition strikes - I'm home (st joe) and am eating a mint chip ice cream cone at the chocolate cafe.

I'm going back to anderson tomorrow to move into east campus. "fair commons" - or as stacy and I call it - carnival commons

So last night I realized that Friday I move in on campus... for the last time.



Oh yeah and since I'm updating this on my lunch break, I should add some quotes from the kids at work...

"Hey guess what! I have underwear on!" - Zane, age 3

My first day in the particular classroom... first thing I did was go up to two kids who were coloring. Here's the convo:

"Hi! What's your name?" - Me
"I'm Gracie." - Grace, age 4
"I'm Chandler. What's your name?" - Chandler, age 4
"Holly." - Me
"Are you our teacher?" - Chandler
"I am for today." - Me
"Are you coming back tomorrow?" - Chandler
"No.. I'm going to be in a different classroom tomorrow." - Me
"Oh. Well I hope you come back sometime." - Chandler

maybe that didn't sound so funny... but it made me laugh that he wanted be to come back 2 seconds after meeting me for the first time.

One more week and I'll be on campus with FULL TIME INTERNET again! Yay! Okay... and also for anyone who cares I will be going home (st. joe) on Thursday the 18th - I'll be there around 10 or 10:30 pm and will be there just for that night... if you wanna hang out one last time. Okay... that's all for now!

Okay so the ending retreat in Goshen - AMAZING

Weekend at home - AMAZING (and found out that my best friend is engaged!)

Warner Camp - AMAZING even though some of my campers were snotty and disrespectful

Weekend at home - AMAZING

Wedding of Chris and Katie - AMAZING

There... I tried to keep it short b/c otherwise it would be way too long.