So, I was going to post my December/January Newsletter, but I saved over by accident while I was finishing my more recent newsletter. So until I find it and re-type it, it's lost to all. That being told, I'm going to use my January/February newsletter as a base instead.
So, back to the beginning of January.
This Term is the longest of the three terms we have here in Lubbock. We call it "Mission Term." Now that we have been spit into teams, we have been reassigned in nearly every aspect so we can spend as much time as possible with our team. The first major change was moving apartments. I no longer get the pleasure of living with Hannah and Sarah, but I have been blessed with my new room/ team mates Erin Joy(EJ for short) and Jordan T. We live on the other side of the AIM apartments from where I was previously. It is a whole lot more quite here, which is good because it's easier to get more sleep, but also a little bad because it's hard to tell when everyone is outside playing. Also, I get my own room this term which is a totally different experience from the cramped room I shared with Hannah last semester.
Mission term also comes with a set of new rules. We can't use our computers except on Saturday(which is still strictly limited) and for homework. We are not to watch TV or play video games. Also, we can't drive our cars with out permission(and not to school or grocery shopping) or eat out at restaurants(coffee and desserts are still ok). These rules are to help us get a taste of what it's like for people in other countries where these daily convinces that we take for granted may not be available.
With out our old forms of video entertainment, we have to come up with new methods of staving off boredom. Nowadays we do homework, play board games, exercise, talk to each other, ride the city buses, play instruments, sleep, read, and other activities that we forgot existed. This is the kind of thing that you apparently get used to quickly and tired of soon after. And that's where submission and integrity kick in.
We had predetermined that this term was destined for more exercise last term(those days when we said "I can eat this, it's almost mission term") but we were surprised to find an extra source was in store for us. After a couple weeks being back, it was told to us that we could start playing roller hockey for free Thursday night a a local rink! This is great! We all love it despite the fact most of us can't skate and have no hand-eye coordination with a hockey stick. We get lots laughs falling down and running into each other and we've managed to avoid major injury so far!
"One of my favorite blessing this year has been the abundance of snow that has graced us
twice now. At this point, everyone else who lives here in Lubbock to see these falling of snow
would be laughing, however for me the accumulative two inches we have received are more than
I've ever lived in! In fact, I've now been able to experience my first ever snow day(and if the
weather holds, maybe even a second)! I've had a grand time of exchanging snowballs with my
classmates, despite the fact I am far from a natural in this skill set." (A quote from my newsletter)
Our darling little apartments in the snow!
We also got to host the yearly Camp Adventure Weekend here in Lubbock! My team was graced with the opportunity to team up with Team Brazil to host the first Cultural breakfast that took place during Camp Adventure. Of course, my team had never been to a cultural breakfast before, so we made a mad scramble to get it prepared in just a week(the schedule of the year's cultural breakfasts has been published, so everyone else has gotten at least two weeks noticed.) It all came together great, and many people were impressed with our presentation. You can find a copy of the video we made here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aYB6nuyGuU
Christmas came late for me this year and I just received my Christmas gift from my Dad! It was a brand new camera, so hopefully there will be lots of photos on this blog now!
Now we're off to Mexico City for a week. While there, we'll experience the culture, help the local churches, and maybe get an idea of why this world needs missionaries like we're training to be. Keep us in your prayers for a safe trip!
Thank you for all your love, prayers, and support!
