strangers like me

40 college students, a director and his son, a preacher, and a bus driver--this is Chambers Tour 2008. At 8 am on Saturday, March 8th we packed our suitcases under the bus and headed out for our two week tour from Illinois to Maine. It was an exciting trip filled with laughs, music (lots & lots of music), long bus rides, and relaxing walks. We were able to visit new places, experience new tastes, and meet new faces. But I had one thing in common with each family I met: we were all Christians. They are strangers like me.

Every night for 14 nights I stayed with a different family from a different state. In two weeks time I stayed in 8 different states: Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and Illinois. Each house was fun and a special blessing. I enjoyed everything about staying with these fellow believers in Christ: whether it was playing a family game, talking with the family about their involvement in the local church & responding to their questions about our ministry, playing with the dogs, watching a movie, or holding a miniature music concert.

Not only was I staying in the homes of people who I never met, but also was staying with different girls in the choir each night and during the long bus rides during the day our seats were assigned so we could get to know other students in the choir. Each day we were asked a "getting to know you" question that we were to discuss with your seat partner. Some of the questions were: What is your dream date? How do you like your pork chops cooked? What was your favorite childhood story? What dream or nightmare do you remember being scared of as a child? It was a fun way to learn some interesting & weird facts about others on tour.

While staying with strangers like me all across the North East, I was able to visit places I have always wanted to visit. While in New York we drove up to Niagara Falls and walked over into Canada--I have now crossed both of the USA's borders! On St. Patrick's Day we visited the most photographed lighthouse in the world in Portland, ME. While in Massachusetts we visited Boston. Sadly, I was not able to visit Harvard, but I was able to see many of the historical landmarks in Boston. It was cool to see buildings over two hundred years old surrounded by 20th Century glass skyscrapers. While in Boston we visited the famous Mike's Bakery, and yes, it lives up to its name. Before our last concert in Romeoville, IL, we were able to explore Chicago for 2 hours. This was my third visit to the Windy City, my first when I was 9 months old and my second in late February. Jarid and I and 5 guys ate dinner at Pizano's--possibly the best pizza I have had in my life.

The Lord used more than the people that I met or got to know better over tour in my life. Each night before our concert Dr. Ledge encouraged us to think about the words of each song as we ministered to the church. Those words really spoke to me and I believe I understand more about Christ's love for me.

I can't wait to go on another tour, but for now I am glad to be back at college. But I will always look forward to the opportunities that God will give me to meet more strangers like me.

i won't say i'm in love

Love may have been in the air, but not romantic love. Artist Series-the one time a year that girls spend hours primping & getting ready for an event that they may or may not have a date to. Those that do have a date find the event to be an extention of Valentine's Day. Couples can be found everywhere--some who have been going steady for a while, some who are just friends, & some who were set up by others. This year's Artist series was a dramatic presentation of the life of Davd: A Man After God's Own Heart. It was amazing--the best dramatic performance that I have ever heard. Did I have a date, not really, thoughI enjoyed going with my three girl friends Jarid & Tim.

As soon as classes were let out the girls ran back to my room to get ready for Artist Series. Kat & I did Kristin's hair, then I did Kat's. At 5 we ran to the dining hall to enjoy wonderful steak & mashed potatoes. We ate in 20 minutes then headed back to my room to do my hair and get dressed. When Tim & Jarid ushured the four of us ladies to our seats we were surprised to find a rose for each of us. After the performance we took fun & crazy pictures together before going back to our dorms to change for late night skate from 10-1.

Late night skate, like always, was a fun and crazy time with friends. Whether we were participationg in the crazy games run by the rink or just chilling out by skating or talking with friends. Yes, I did skate in one couple skate, but not because I'm in love--far from it. Tim & I just really wanted to skate.

I am perfectly content with where the Lord has me right now. I can have fun & joke with friends. No, I won't say I'm in love.

so this is love

Valentine's Day. To each person it means something different. I have a friend who despises Valentine's simply because nothing good has never happened for her on this day of love. Personally, I love Valentine's Day. I don't think it should be wrapped up in flowers, chocolate, & singing valentine's. The focus of the day is LOVE: love between my parents & I, love between Crys, Jarid, Craig, & I, the love I show my friends and extended family. Valentine's Day isn't just about spending special time with that "special someone", though it is a good excuse. Valentine's Day should be about showing those you love that you care. But each year Valentine's Day is soaked in chocolate, flowers, candle-lit dinners, & gifts that are often more expensive than the giver could afford. This Valentine's Day I pose to you a question:

What is love?

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; & every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, & sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."
I John 4:7-11

So this is love: that we love one another as God loved us--when we were so unlovely.
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So This is Love

Mack David, Al Hoffman, & Jerry Livingstone

from the Cinderella soundtrack

So this is love, mmm

So this is love

So this is what makes life divine

I'm all aglow, mmm

And now I know (& now I know)

The key to all heaven is mine

My heart has wings, mmm

And I can fly

I'll touch every star in the sky

So this is the miracle

That I've been dreaming of

Mmm . . . mmm . . .

So this is love

what's this?

What's this? What's this?

There's color everywhere

What's this?

There's white things in the air

What's this?

I can't believe my eyes

I must be dreaming

What's this?

There's children throwing snowballs

There's frost on every window

Oh, I can't believe my eyes

And in my bones I feel the warmth

That's coming from inside

Today was somewhat of a nightmare with strong, biting winds, but it was also a blessing. Outside is white and windy--it has been all day. Drifts along the building are close to 3 feet & the total accumulation for the day was between 8 & 12 inches! For the first time in 20 years, Maranatha cancelled classes and chapel all day! The girls were allowed to wear pants *gasp*. The campus was full of students running between Old Main and the dining commons, girls and guys running, playing, & snowball fighting in the snow, & cars getting stuck in drifts and parking lots.

The only bad thing that happened was the cancellation of the high school basketball tournament, which means I won't get to see my parents until April. I cried when I found out that the bus full of friends and family was turning around and heading back to Kansas City--I miss everyone very much!

What am I doing to close such an exciting day? Going to a movie on campus, of course! The student body officers are showing Toy Story for the leisure of all of their snowed in classmates.

Days like these go by far to fast. It won't be too long before I'll be saying, "What's this? The day is over?" And then grudgingly go to bed knowing that there will be classes, homework, and work to tackle tomorrow.

the best of friends

Second semester is in full swing. That means tests & quizzes, work, exercise, & fun with friends. Bowling has turned into somewhat of a tradition with my friends & I, but really, we have fun doing just about anything--going to Mullen's for the world's best ice cream, hanging out in Johnson Creek "window" shopping, grabbing dinner at Culver's or Applebee's just to get off campus, or just chill in the student center playing round robin or Catch Phrase.

Honestly, anything is fun when "you're the best of friends."

following the leader

I can't begin to describe how the Lord has worked in my life so far this semester. He has taken circumstances that I never would have chosen for myself and used them in an amazing way. God has shown me in three ways that the best things in life come when I follow the leader.

Control of my Body: God grabbed my attention at the beginning of this semester. Though I would like to say that I trusted God thru the entire situation, I wasn't. Once or twice I wanted to ask God why. Why me? Why now? God reminded me that, "my grace is sufficient for thee" & "all things work together for good." God has a plan, & though I cannot see how He is going to use this situation in my life, I know He allowed it to happen.

Control of my Ministry: After much prayer and consideration, I switched my college church this semester. I am now attending Windsor Baptist Church in Love's Park, Illinois. The ministry that the Lord has opened for me at Windsor is worth the hour and fifteen minute drive every Sunday and Wednesday. On Sunday morning I help with either 2 & 3 year-olds or 4 & 5 year-olds (they are so much fun). Sunday afternoons are spent at one of the church members' homes or in the Prophet's Chamber at church. Sunday evening Kat & I accompany congregational singing with our flutes. This semester, the college students began helping the church with AWANA on Wednesday nights (sorry Auntie M, we've tried to convince them to change to K4T, but...). Kat & I assist Cubbies (3 & 4 year-olds), so I see some of the same kids twice a week. The Lord has just shown me this semester that there is always somewhere to serve & that serving Him is worth everything you give. I really can't see myself at any other church--I can't wait to see how the Lord is going to use me in the future.

Control of my future (career): He works in miraculous ways. I wanted so much to be taking at least 15 credits this semester, but the Lord only allowed me to have 13.5. Every time I tried to add a class worth 2 credits, the Lord shut the door. Now I am so thankful. I am in the college play & practice 3 times a week--added to classes and work, I don't have a lot of time to do homework and just relax. I can see the Lord preparing me for teaching. I am so glad He lead me to Maranatha. I can see His handywork as He prepares me for a future in teaching English and drama & as He prepares me to be a wife & mother.

I can't wait to see what else God has in store for me this semester, but I know that I can never go wrong if I am following the leader.

once upon a time--second semester

The first day of a new semester. I was excited to be back on campus. I was ready to conquor the next step & see friends once again. Have you ever heard the saying "Don't plan on tomorrow, because you don't know what tomorrow holds?" Well, it's true.

I arrived safely back on campus on Sunday evening. After unpacking all of my things, After meeting my new roommate, I talked to Kristin, Kim, Michelle, and Bekah, made plans for the following day (registration) and then headed for bed. Life was great.

Monday morning I woke up feeling fine. As I began getting ready to head up to Old Main to register I began having the most immense back pain. I tried to ignore the pain, but it hurt soo bad. After talking to Jarid & Mom on the phone, I was considering waiting until later in the afternoon to register. Instead of waiting, I determined that getting registration done early meant I could relax the rest of the afternoon. So, I forced myself to ignore the pain & went to registration at 8 am. I could not hide the pain I was in. I completed registration as quickly as possible, then headed back to my dorm room to sleep--after all, every time you are sick that's what your mom tells you to do, right? I could not sleep. Lying down only made the pain worse. At noon, Kat convinced me to go to the health center--it was closed until 1:30 pm. I groaned and asked her to have Jarid pick me up and take me to the health center again at 1:30. I went back to my room and tried to sleep--no luck. By 1:15 the pain was worse than before and I watched my cell phone count off the minutes until 1:30. Jarid was late, as usual. I waited for four minutes and then walked myself to the health center. I was tired of waiting in pain.


The school nurse, Mrs. Muse, was back in the health center when I arrived about twenty til one. I explained my pain to her and she sent me to the girls' beds in the basement of the building. She followed me down about five minutes later. She thought I had a kidney stone & wanted to take me to ER immediately. I called Mom & Jarid to let them know what was going on & headed to Watertown Hospital. After filling out of the medical history blah bla blah...I was taken to a room and Dr. Smith (no joke) came to check on me. He asked many of the same questions as Mrs. Muse, and like her believed that I had a kidney stone, but he wanted to take a CT scan to be sure. As I waited to be taken to get the CT scan, Jarid & Kat arrived and Mrs. Muse left. I was told after the CT scan that they did not find what they were looking for & that they needed to take a second CT scan. Before the second scan, Jarid & Kat had to leave to attend the special (required) services on campus, so my dorm supervisor, Hayley came to wait with me. The results of the second CT scan showed that I had internal bleeding in my lower abdomen and needed to have surgery ASAP. Most of the day I had been entirely calm. I joked with everybody & anticipated being back on campus later that evening, now I was slightly worried, but I still had fun (especially as 3 different nurses each tried twice to start a second IV--I was actually cheering them on: "Get that IV in there!!"). Hayley was working on making sure Jarid would be able to see me before I headed in for surgery. Five minutes before the nurses wheeled me out to the OR, Jarid & Dr. & Mrs. Brown came in to see me. The Browns prayed with me & I immediately felt the Lord's strength and knew that everything was in His hands. Kim, Kris Lloyd, Bekah, Michelle, & Sarah saw me in the hallway as I headed to surgery.

The surgery was successful & I am thankful for the friends who came and visited me & the doctors and nurses who took special care of me. It was the first time in my life I have gone to the doctor without my mother. The surgery was on Monday evening (January 7) & I was back in classes on Thursday--I don't like staying off of my feet for too long. I am doing much better now, though I am still find myself getting tired as my body continues to heal. I have a back to school story unlike anybody else. From pain to the health center to the ER to the OR--yeah, I'd have to say that was a very exciting first day.