For such a time as this...

It has been a long while! It has been a busy few weeks...so busy!

First off, school is so consuming. This has definitely been the hardest semester. I am not sure if I have had more/harder work or it's just that there have been a few other things taking up my time. I have thoroughly enjoyed my classes this semester though. Each has been super interesting and I have been learning so much.

This semester I was given the opportunity to write four sermons and preach two to my class. That was quite an experience. A great experience. I had the opportunity to debate hot topics in my Philosophy class. That was also quite an experience, not the best one. I am not that comfortable with speaking in front of people without being prepared. I managed to do this without crying and fleeing the scene so I did overcome the expectations I had =)! I got to spend three hours a week learning a million new things about counseling. That class has been wonderful. I got to spend three hours a week learning about the way different social and ethnic groups interpret the Bible... also looking at the history of interpretation. So interesting! I also spent one night a week learning about the many different topics that women struggle with and how to minister to them in their times of crisis. I learned so much and definitely feel more prepared for situations that could arise in my future and in the future of those around me.

The Jason Mraz concert was this week. That was so awesome! It was so awesome to get to go and spend a night out with Lydia and my mom. It was their first time to see him live, I am glad I got to witness it. He is such an amazing musician. It has been four years since he has been to Tulsa... hopefully it won't be another four years for him to return

The last really tiring thing that has happened as of late was the Girls Retreat. We spent all semester preparing and praying for the high school girls at College Heights Christian Church. I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know if it would be incredible or just okay. I knew our plans were great, but would everything come together? It sure did. The team of women that I got to work with was amazing. I'll tell you what, even being a leader this weekend, I needed so much of it. Being consumed with school, working, raising money, preparing to go to Cambodia, preparing to end this school year and leave all of my friends for months has been so tiring. I just spent 24 hours with 40 high school girls and probably 15ish amazing women. I have said/thought this so many times in the past semester: why did I get to take part in something so great with women so great? I am a 20 year old girl who doesn't have life figured out. Why could I be chosen to minister to girls who think that when you are 20 you do know what's going on and what life is. Well I don't. But something I learned this weekend was that it wasn't an accident. It wasn't an accident that I got to help plan, that I was placed in the group of girls I was placed with, that I spent last night at Julie's house and got a little refreshing moment of talking about things that don't get talked about in my life.

God gave me a lot of surprises in the past week in preparation for this weekend and all of them were perfect. It wasn't an accident. As tiring as it was to staying up past 3:00 AM, play last night at House of Bounce, and wake up at 8 AM and do Zumba... it was worth the truth sessions and the Royal Party where the girls were treated as they should be. We had a beautiful banquet and were served by wonderful women. I can catch up on sleep. I wouldn't have missed this for the world.

A certain song became the theme, so if you don't mind, I'll be sharing some lyrics.

Captivate us, Lord Jesus
Set our eyes on You
Devastate us with Your presence
Falling down
And rushing river, draw us nearer
Holy fountain consume us with You
Captivate us Lord Jesus, with You