First week is OVER.

Whew. That was a fast week. Last week was crazy busy, and I feel like I covered a lot of ground. Every night last week RUF hosted an event designed to welcome back old students and welcome into RUF new students.

Two Saturdays ago we moved freshmen into the dorms. We went up and down 8, 9, and 10 flights of stairs carrying all sorts of things- including things like couches, that no freshmen should ever be allowed to bring in to a dorm! It was a lot of fun and a great time to meet new students, but we were exhausted afterwards.

Tuesday we had a table set up on Bowman field along with all the other campus organizations, where students could come by and check us out. Then we headed over to RUF Snow Cone night. We had lots or people come over to get a free snow cone on such a hot day!

Wednesday we hosted a Game Night on campus. We had probably 60 or 70 students come by to play games like Apples to Apples, Settlers of Catan, cards, and Wii with us!

Thursday we had a big BBQ on the intramural fields. The women from Clemson Presbyterian made us all sorts of delicious sides. It was quite a feast! Our students did a great job of mingling with freshmen and welcoming them into our group.

Friday we all dressed in tacky 80s clothes and then went roller skating! It was a blast.

Saturday we all hung out on Bowman field and played soccer, frisbee, and even had a water balloon toss. That night I had about 15 freshmen girls over to my house (my NEW, FINISHED house!) to hang out, eat good food, and watch a movie! Some upperclassmen girls came to hang out, and it went really well! It was a wonderful way to get the freshmen girls acquainted with each other and to simultaneously connect them to upperclassmen girls. We had a blast!

Sunday I met a lot of girls at church and then Clemson Pres had a welcome back church picnic!

Overall, it was a fantastic week! Lots of new people checked us out, and I feel like we did a good job of connecting with them and making them feel welcome. Here are some pictures from the past week or two.

 

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T minus 6 days

Classes start in less than a week. Returning students have started pulling in. Freshman arrive Saturday. There is a buzz in the air, and people are, to state it simply, READY. The whole community seems to have just sucked in a huge breath of air and is now waiting to exhale come August 22nd.

My house is 93% ready. Here is a picture of my parents SCRUBBING the floors on hands and knees, helping me get things in order. They were sweet to make the trip up merely to bring me a washer and dryer and to clean for 24 hrs then return to Birmingham the next day.

                                

As for support, I am $4,150 away now from the finish line! That puts me at 87%.

 

Here are some things you can pray for for the first couple of weeks of class:

1. That freshman and new students would come to our RUF “First Week” events.

2. That RUFers would invite new people and that they would welcome new people into the RUF community

3. That I would get connected to lots of freshmen girls- getting names, numbers, remembering faces, following up, initiating times to hang out.

4. That lots of students would come to Large Group and that they would plug into our Bible studies.

5. That our freshman dorm Bible studies (new this year!) would go well and that the upperclassmen who lead them would be able to reach out to students who might not come to RUF or church on their own

6. That my Bible study on idolatry (using Tim Keller’s Counterfeit Gods study) would go well- people would come, I would do well leading it

7. That Stephen would bring the Gospel clearly and boldly every Tuesday at Large Group

8. That we would have lots of students sign up for Fall Conference in September

9. That this semester’s Dating and Relationships series at Large Group would stir up good conversations, repentance, and growth in Christ amongst students

10. That Stephen and I would both get rest and take breaks when we need them and that I would not stress out over details

11. That nonbelieving students would be converted

12. That I would meet lots of nonbelieving students on campus this year and that I would be able to share the Gospel with them

 

Thanks and peace to you all,

A

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A year ago today…

Today is my 1 year anniversary of moving to Clemson!

I have grown more than I could have imagined and I have leaned so much. Here are some of the highlights of my year so far:

1. Fall conference in the mountains on North Carolina with students

2. Exploring the area- Greenville, Asheville, hiking

3. Contra dancing with students at River Falls in the mountains

4. Going to Tuscaloosa to do tornado relief with the juniors

5. Spring Break in Chicago working with Sunshine Gospel Ministries

6. Summer Conference at Panama City Beach

7. Moving into my new house

8. Tuesday nights at Large Group

9. RUF trainings

10. Spending time on walks with students, having coffee, and watching movies with them

 

I can say that I have been truly blessed to be in Clemson this year, surrounded by such wonderful people. I can also say that I believe the Gospel and trust Jesus more than I did before I started RUF. I am very excited to be here again for another year of loving on students and growing in Christ.

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$4,870 left to raise for the year!

If you are interested in supporting me you can send a check to:

Reformed University Ministries

1700 North Brown Road

Suite 104

Lawrenceville, GA 30043

or

give online @ http://www.ruf.org

 

thanks!

-a

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House!

Here are some pictures of my new house. It sits on church property, and the church is fixing it up for me and another girl to live in. It will be a ministry staff/college ministry house from now on!

 we started off with some previous termite damage that had to be fixed

 the front porch also needed work. I got some guy students to knock it down for me!

 my bedroom, prior to refinished floors

kitchen…

 den…in the works (that’s a sunroom through the door)

 finished den, now with refinished floors, fresh paint, and no termites!

 home sweet home….98 Brook Street

 

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