Another semester of college has ended. Though I am glad to be done with classes, home, & looking forward to the fun & excitement of summer, I know I will greatly miss 3 girls that the Lord has brought into my life. My life has radically changed since meeting them, because in everything they did, I saw Christ. 
I entered my sophomore year of college with both excitement & reservations--just as you would do if you knew you were going to spend the next 9 months with three other girls. I didn't know what to expect. I had prayed all summer that the Lord would put me into the room that I needed most; God answered my prayer. What an awesome room I was placed in! Definitely the best room on Maranatha's campus (I dare someone to dispute that). Christ was preeminent in everything. I was put in a room where I can say, to each of my roommates, "I saw Jesus in you."
Kristin, my PC, is a junior nursing student. Kris is dedicated in every area of her life: grades, friends, prayer, & devotions. No matter how busy Kris seemed to be (as a nursing student, she was always busy) she would take the time to laugh, cry, pray, or just talk. I don't know how she did it. My only hope is that someday I can be like her. Just when my day looked the darkest, just when I needed encouragement the most, Kris would tell me either verbally or through a note that she was praying for me. Kristin's life challenged me. How selfish had I become over the year! I was constantly thinking only of myself & Kris gave the little time she had to listen, love, & pray for me! Kris, I saw Jesus in you!
Kris had quite a task before her--Elle, Mandy, & I aren't exactly the quiet, reserved type like Kris. But, she handled us quite well. Kristin's focus for our room was prayer. She constantly challenged me, through word & deed, to talk to God about EVERYTHING. When Elle joined us in January, we began a prayer chain; every request that we saw the Lord answer was put on a construction paper ring & hung outside our door for all of our dormmates to see. After white glove, we all took a picture with the ring that nearly covered our door posts. God is so good!
I remember the first time Mandy & her mom walked into Weeks 109--boy she had alot of stuff! It didn't take long for Mandy & I to realize that we were going to get along just fine. Throughout the semester we would talk & would not be suprised when the other would say, "that's how I feel too!" Mandy was definitely a blessing . . . just like Kristin. Mandy & Kristin prayed for me in ways I am sure I will never completely understand. I am so lucky to have had such great friends as roommates. Whenever I needed help, Mandy was there . . . even when I volunteered her & her truck to help collect clothing for a ministry garage sale. She simply smiled & told me that is what friends are for. Fun was always right around the corner with Mandy . . . even when she would be dutifully studying for her classes. Though I am "deaf" ("If you need me, leave me a note") I am thankful for the nights that she talked loud enough to keep me awake & listen to her talk about the Lord & her life. Whether we were talking in the room, studying, going on a random walk, or talking to Dave, Mandy was always the friend I needed & could read my every emotion. There is no doubt, Mandy, that I saw Jesus in you.
The spring semester brough a great surprise . . . Elle. Elle's outspoken passion for Christ ignited a fire in our room. I was constantly humbled by Elle's enthusiasm in serving Christ. Her life's focus is to be in the center of God's will (which will eventually lead her to Kenya) & her every action shows that God's will is neither boring nor terrifying: it's simply wonderful. Though Elle & I may have disagreed in a few areas (two, no three, opinionated people in one room will bring little conflicts at times) we never held grudges & would soon find ourselves laughing or pulling a prank on someone. Always armed with her mace, Elle & I had some great walks ("we're rwalking, that's what they do in rwanda") & even more awesome talks. One of the first weekends Elle & I were alone in the room & we talked for 2 hours about our dreams. There is no doubt that the Lord had a purpose for bringing Elle into my life last semester. 
There is so much more I could say about these 3 wonderful girls. So many talks, prayer requests, praises, room parties, & quotes, but those things are not as important as the spiritual impact they all had on my life this year. The fun times have ended for now, but I'm sure we will add to them in the future. God was so good to give me such wonderful roommates; I truly was not worthy of such a wonderful gift. Though I will never again share a room with these wonderful girls, there is no doubt that they have been added to a list of people that have been brought into my life that I proudly say (& give them a BIG hug), "I saw Jesus in you."
I entered my sophomore year of college with both excitement & reservations--just as you would do if you knew you were going to spend the next 9 months with three other girls. I didn't know what to expect. I had prayed all summer that the Lord would put me into the room that I needed most; God answered my prayer. What an awesome room I was placed in! Definitely the best room on Maranatha's campus (I dare someone to dispute that). Christ was preeminent in everything. I was put in a room where I can say, to each of my roommates, "I saw Jesus in you."
Kristin, my PC, is a junior nursing student. Kris is dedicated in every area of her life: grades, friends, prayer, & devotions. No matter how busy Kris seemed to be (as a nursing student, she was always busy) she would take the time to laugh, cry, pray, or just talk. I don't know how she did it. My only hope is that someday I can be like her. Just when my day looked the darkest, just when I needed encouragement the most, Kris would tell me either verbally or through a note that she was praying for me. Kristin's life challenged me. How selfish had I become over the year! I was constantly thinking only of myself & Kris gave the little time she had to listen, love, & pray for me! Kris, I saw Jesus in you!
Kris had quite a task before her--Elle, Mandy, & I aren't exactly the quiet, reserved type like Kris. But, she handled us quite well. Kristin's focus for our room was prayer. She constantly challenged me, through word & deed, to talk to God about EVERYTHING. When Elle joined us in January, we began a prayer chain; every request that we saw the Lord answer was put on a construction paper ring & hung outside our door for all of our dormmates to see. After white glove, we all took a picture with the ring that nearly covered our door posts. God is so good!
I remember the first time Mandy & her mom walked into Weeks 109--boy she had alot of stuff! It didn't take long for Mandy & I to realize that we were going to get along just fine. Throughout the semester we would talk & would not be suprised when the other would say, "that's how I feel too!" Mandy was definitely a blessing . . . just like Kristin. Mandy & Kristin prayed for me in ways I am sure I will never completely understand. I am so lucky to have had such great friends as roommates. Whenever I needed help, Mandy was there . . . even when I volunteered her & her truck to help collect clothing for a ministry garage sale. She simply smiled & told me that is what friends are for. Fun was always right around the corner with Mandy . . . even when she would be dutifully studying for her classes. Though I am "deaf" ("If you need me, leave me a note") I am thankful for the nights that she talked loud enough to keep me awake & listen to her talk about the Lord & her life. Whether we were talking in the room, studying, going on a random walk, or talking to Dave, Mandy was always the friend I needed & could read my every emotion. There is no doubt, Mandy, that I saw Jesus in you.
The spring semester brough a great surprise . . . Elle. Elle's outspoken passion for Christ ignited a fire in our room. I was constantly humbled by Elle's enthusiasm in serving Christ. Her life's focus is to be in the center of God's will (which will eventually lead her to Kenya) & her every action shows that God's will is neither boring nor terrifying: it's simply wonderful. Though Elle & I may have disagreed in a few areas (two, no three, opinionated people in one room will bring little conflicts at times) we never held grudges & would soon find ourselves laughing or pulling a prank on someone. Always armed with her mace, Elle & I had some great walks ("we're rwalking, that's what they do in rwanda") & even more awesome talks. One of the first weekends Elle & I were alone in the room & we talked for 2 hours about our dreams. There is no doubt that the Lord had a purpose for bringing Elle into my life last semester. 
There is so much more I could say about these 3 wonderful girls. So many talks, prayer requests, praises, room parties, & quotes, but those things are not as important as the spiritual impact they all had on my life this year. The fun times have ended for now, but I'm sure we will add to them in the future. God was so good to give me such wonderful roommates; I truly was not worthy of such a wonderful gift. Though I will never again share a room with these wonderful girls, there is no doubt that they have been added to a list of people that have been brought into my life that I proudly say (& give them a BIG hug), "I saw Jesus in you."
