Summer decisions are starting to set in place and I feel like as of now that God is bringing me back to Myrtle Beach this summer! I'm really excited to be back at LP and experience his love with a bunch of college students again. It was truly the best summer of my life and I'm anxious to be back again. The application process is simple and the early application is due February 19 (so soon!) so I will most likely apply before then. 6 months ago I would have never guessed that I'd be back so soon but it really was a great experience and not much bad to say about my experience there.
I think I have my summer class figured out as well. I talked to the head of the math department at Piedmont Tech and they are offering a stats class online this summer so I'm definitely going to jump on that! I am nervous about getting into the course and being prepared for the work I'll be doing this summer. I know I will have to be disciplined and spend most of my free time studying. It is going to be hard to balance work, ADP, a class, and the other LP activities but with motivation from my roommates and from God, I know this is something that I can handle.
On another note, Monday night at practice I injured my knee. It doesn't seem too serious but tomorrow morning I have a doctors appointment at home to get it checked out. It doesn't always hurt but after being on it for awhile, it throbs a little and often feels stuck. I have a feeling it might be my meniscus because I've already torn this meniscus once before and had it repaired with my ACL. I really want to be back out on the field but we will see if that's where God will put me this spring or if he wants me more as a supporter on the sidelines. I have to keep in mind of 1 Timothy 4:8: "For physical training is of some importance, godliness has value of all things, holding promise both for the present life and the life to come." Say some prayers, friends!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Summer 2013 Plans
Where is the Lord leading me this summer? I ask myself this question tens of times each day. Recently it has become very stressful for me to think about what I want to do in my life this summer, and more importantly, what is God wanting to do in my life this summer? I originally had 4 options but I'm down to 3 options. I plan on explaining all of them to you, even the one that is crossed off my list. There are also some notes I would like to make prior to explaining each choice. First of all, I HAVE to take a summer class. I am trying not to take more than one math class per semester as much as possible so if I take one this summer, I will only have one semester with 2 math courses at a single time. And basically it's too late now because I'm short 3 hours in order to keep my scholarships. Also, my mom's number one issue is that she wants me to get a job where I will be making money. And for the final note, I need access to as much soccer, weights facilities, and encouragement to work out as possible.So here we go...
1. Internship at Church Back Home
With this opportunity I would be leading children all summer and planning activities for them during their break away from school. I would also be helping with Vacation Bible School which I attended growing up and have assisted with in the past. However, the job is not a done deal; I have to apply and be interviewed and who knows, someone might get the job offer versus me. I am not 100% but I'm pretty sure it's a paid internship. Since I need to take a course I would commute to PC during summer session 1 every weekday morning. There I would have limited access to a weight room (I think) and I would be able to get out on the field and play some and get some fitness in on the actual field where our fitness test is run. Too add, I may also be able to help with our PC soccer camp in the summer and maybe even get paid.
Benefits: well paid job, fitness/weights/fields, accessible class with familiar professor
Disadvantages: not much actual soccer, lots of early morning travel for commuting, low spiritual growth
2. CCP (Cross Cultural Project)
I was offered from the Campus Outreach staff at PC to participate in a 2 week long trip/mission in Brazil. It is a $5,000+ trip but the core of that money would be from support raising from family, friends, and neighbors. I would still be able to take a class at PC in one of the summer sessions but I probably would have to find a job in Greenwood (which is difficult). And I'm also already going to Scotland, England, and Wales for soccer in May. It was just a lot. But the trip was canceled because there wasn't enough interest.
3. UP (Urban Project)
Again, I was offered to participate in another project taking place in San Diego for all of June. A girl on my team went last summer and I have spent a good time discussing it with her. This project is around $4,000 which is also support raising. I would most likely be able to take a class at PC during the second summer session however, I would most likely not have a job. In San Diego, we spend the mornings in designated quiet time with God and then there is some form of training. Then from 11am-5pm we go out and build relationships with the students at San Diego State University. At SDSU, there are gyms available and some, but not many, soccer playing opportunities. This project would definitely stretch me more than I have ever been stretched in my faith. I don't know many girls that have been given this opportunity but I know 4 guys (probably 4 of my best guy friends I have) who were asked to go.
Benefits: fitness/weights/fields, class back home most likely at PC, extreme spiritual growth, living in Cali with some of my best guy friends
Disadvantages: minimum-some soccer, lots of support raising (this is difficult to do 2 years in a row... I'm not saying it's bad to support raise), no job
4. LP (Leadership Project)
This is the same project I participated in Myrtle Beach last summer and as I've said before, I had the best summer of my entire life. This year my friend Sara was asked to be a Team Leader and Steph, who was there with me last year, was asked to be a room leader. I wasn't asked to be anything because of my other opportunities I was offered so I would get to be a disciple again! Of course I would have designated time to work out each day at ADP and be able to play soccer with girls from my team. I could either take a class online (this may be super hard to do) and I would probably need to get a job. This project is $1,700 in support raising but food and gas is not included unlike the other projects so it typically is around $2,000. I would have some form of training every day as before and I would be alongside some of my best friends growing in my faith. The other option with this is to only go the first half of the summer and then return home to take the class but this is not advised by the CO staff.
Benefits: high levels of access to athletic facilities and fitness opportunities, growing with my best friends, high level of spiritual growth, low paying job
Disadvantages: some support raising (I could probably handle this a lot better than $4,000 but truly, it's all in God's hands), difficult schedule with class to take
So that's about it. They're all great options and over the past few weeks I have just felt led in so many ways and it's so confusing and I still have no clue. I know the Lord has it all under control and I just have to leave it with Him to control. After all, whatever I do, I am doing it all for his glory! Say some prayers as I begin to make decisions in February!
1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God!"
1. Internship at Church Back Home
With this opportunity I would be leading children all summer and planning activities for them during their break away from school. I would also be helping with Vacation Bible School which I attended growing up and have assisted with in the past. However, the job is not a done deal; I have to apply and be interviewed and who knows, someone might get the job offer versus me. I am not 100% but I'm pretty sure it's a paid internship. Since I need to take a course I would commute to PC during summer session 1 every weekday morning. There I would have limited access to a weight room (I think) and I would be able to get out on the field and play some and get some fitness in on the actual field where our fitness test is run. Too add, I may also be able to help with our PC soccer camp in the summer and maybe even get paid.
Benefits: well paid job, fitness/weights/fields, accessible class with familiar professor
Disadvantages: not much actual soccer, lots of early morning travel for commuting, low spiritual growth
I was offered from the Campus Outreach staff at PC to participate in a 2 week long trip/mission in Brazil. It is a $5,000+ trip but the core of that money would be from support raising from family, friends, and neighbors. I would still be able to take a class at PC in one of the summer sessions but I probably would have to find a job in Greenwood (which is difficult). And I'm also already going to Scotland, England, and Wales for soccer in May. It was just a lot. But the trip was canceled because there wasn't enough interest.
3. UP (Urban Project)
Again, I was offered to participate in another project taking place in San Diego for all of June. A girl on my team went last summer and I have spent a good time discussing it with her. This project is around $4,000 which is also support raising. I would most likely be able to take a class at PC during the second summer session however, I would most likely not have a job. In San Diego, we spend the mornings in designated quiet time with God and then there is some form of training. Then from 11am-5pm we go out and build relationships with the students at San Diego State University. At SDSU, there are gyms available and some, but not many, soccer playing opportunities. This project would definitely stretch me more than I have ever been stretched in my faith. I don't know many girls that have been given this opportunity but I know 4 guys (probably 4 of my best guy friends I have) who were asked to go.
Benefits: fitness/weights/fields, class back home most likely at PC, extreme spiritual growth, living in Cali with some of my best guy friends
Disadvantages: minimum-some soccer, lots of support raising (this is difficult to do 2 years in a row... I'm not saying it's bad to support raise), no job
4. LP (Leadership Project)
This is the same project I participated in Myrtle Beach last summer and as I've said before, I had the best summer of my entire life. This year my friend Sara was asked to be a Team Leader and Steph, who was there with me last year, was asked to be a room leader. I wasn't asked to be anything because of my other opportunities I was offered so I would get to be a disciple again! Of course I would have designated time to work out each day at ADP and be able to play soccer with girls from my team. I could either take a class online (this may be super hard to do) and I would probably need to get a job. This project is $1,700 in support raising but food and gas is not included unlike the other projects so it typically is around $2,000. I would have some form of training every day as before and I would be alongside some of my best friends growing in my faith. The other option with this is to only go the first half of the summer and then return home to take the class but this is not advised by the CO staff.
Benefits: high levels of access to athletic facilities and fitness opportunities, growing with my best friends, high level of spiritual growth, low paying job
Disadvantages: some support raising (I could probably handle this a lot better than $4,000 but truly, it's all in God's hands), difficult schedule with class to take
So that's about it. They're all great options and over the past few weeks I have just felt led in so many ways and it's so confusing and I still have no clue. I know the Lord has it all under control and I just have to leave it with Him to control. After all, whatever I do, I am doing it all for his glory! Say some prayers as I begin to make decisions in February!
1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God!"
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
JAX2012
Yesterday I returned home from Jacksonville, FL from the Campus Outreach New Years Conference. To say that I learned a lot is an understatement. A lot of the time after big conferences with a bunch of messages, devotions, and seminars, it becomes difficult to answer the question, 'what did you learn at conference' because everything I learned/reminded of was jam-packed into 5 days! Here are just some points that really hit me:
-Galatians 2:20-21 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing."
-God has never been surprised by what he got for what he paid for. Even in our crappiest crap days, he knew he was getting us. And really, we are far worse than we even know but he loves us and believes we are worth it!
-As an athlete there are 3 key points: I, myself, need to walk with the Lord, speak for the mystery of the gospel and pray for opportunities, and multiply my life.
-Psalm 19:7-10 The value of God's Word is more valuable than gold and sweeter than honey.
-We believe we are smarter than God and we fail to acknowledge Him. He gets the credit when bad things happen (i.e. "why did He let this happen?!") but rarely the good (i.e. "I am so thankful for the Lord keeping me safe today").
-God is powerful enough to transform anyone even at their worst. He invites our unbelief.
-Don't pray for strength in something that hasn't happened yet. GOD WILL GIVE YOU STRENGTH WHEN AND IF IT EVEN HAPPENS!
-Are you using someone in a friendship or looking through them to Christ? To love someone more, need them less. To need them less, love Jesus more.
-We need to be in brotherly relationships with other believers.
This week at Jax was amazing. I really learned so much and have pages of notes I've just been going through. It was great to have fellowship with friends from LP and also spend time with some other students from PC. We are a growing Christian campus and I can't wait to see the soccer team in years to come. Pray for me over the next few weeks as I make decisions about my summer plans. I know that God will work things out the way he has planned whether I'm at Myrtle again, Greenwood with an internship, or in San Diego for Urban Project. Who knows! Excited for the upcoming semester because I know God has some crazy plans up His sleeve and he is gonna do BIG things!
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