Many Firsts

Hey everybody!
I am preparing for my first classes, which start tomorrow! I have General Chem, Intro to Psychology, and First Year Seminar. It’s a pretty full schedule, but I am really excited to meet some new people in my class and begin learning new things.
Today Laura and I checked out a new church in town and had a great time. It was great to be in the presence of the Lord and other believers. We actually met three upperclassmen who also go to school with us. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to have great fellowship with them over lunch at Godfather’s Pizza! (Now I have leftovers for two more meals) The pastor and his wife were very kind, and took us out for lunch. We also found out that the church is sponsoring a weekly “Don’t Lose Faith in College” discussion, on campus. I am so excited to soon be able to get together and keep strong in the Lord with other Christians here.
Over lunch, we all got to talk about the pressures of campus, the feeling of being some of the only Christians, and how to encourage others who are looking for the truth. Even though it’s been hard to stand against the college “norm,” I’ve been realizing that God is with me through it all, and He is all I need to lean on. I guess I’m in kind of the same situation that Queen Esther was in. She had to confront the king, risking the life of her and her people. Haman wanted to kill all of the Jews in the city, and Mordecai asked her to go to the king, so that the Jews would live. Esther was scared…but you know what Mordecai said? He said, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" God placed her as queen for “such a time as this.” Although I’m not sure what God has planned for me here, I do believe that He’s placed me here for a reason. And He has a great plan for each and every one of us…no matter where you are...God can and will use us if we let Him.
I am just so thankful that God has brought me here and I can’t wait to see what he’s got on the “agenda!” Just spending time in prayer, reading God’s word, and fellowship with believers, has really encouraged me. I’m very excited for what’s ahead and I can’t wait to share more with you. May God bless you and keep you strong. Here are some pictures from move-in: