Note: I don't normally post my monthly e-mail update to my blog, but I haven't been able to access the RUF database in a while, so I decided to copy this to my blog as well. If you want a once a month e-mail update, just let me know! Sorry for no photos — I promise I'll get some posted soon!
It is hard to believe that it’s already November — I can’t believe I’ve been here for three months. It has been a busy fall semester, and we’ve still got a lot of things ahead of us.
Let me give a quick catch up on some of our events: We’ve continued with weekly large group, and average about 75 students each Tuesday night. It has been so encouraging to see the great group of freshman boys that are coming, as well as the group of juniors and seniors who come faithfully every week. We have freshman/new student Bible study on Psalms every week, and we’ve got about 10 coming to that. It’s a great time of discussion and fellowship, and the group loves to go eat wings and BBQ after Bible study! Last week, we went to Paul and Rachel’s house for dinner, and it was great to have everyone hang out and enjoy a home cooked meal.
Over our fall break, we loaded up a 12-passenger van and headed to St. Louis for a missions trip. We really got to know one another (close quarters in a large van tend to do that!), and had a great mix of students. On Saturday, we visited New City Fellowship (PCA) and learned how they’re ministering to their community, which includes African refugees, Middle Eastern families, women trying to get out of prostitution, and others. We spent our Saturday playing soccer, tag, hide and seek, and other playground activities with about 40 kids, many who are African refugees. It was great to see our students bond with the kids, and none of us wanted to leave! We attended church there, and spent the rest of Sunday seeing the sites in St. Louis, including the zoo and the arch. On Monday, we visited Covenant Theological Seminary, where we got a tour of the campus, learned about the various degrees offered there, and got to sit in on two classes of our choice. (I actually got to hear Jerram Barrs teach!) Several of the students on the trip are thinking about seminary, so it was a blessing to see them excited about possibly attending Covenant.
We also had our eighth annual barn dance on October 22, and it turned out great! We had about 100 people attend, and we partnered with Trinity (the local PCA church). We had several students who don’t attend large group or Bible studies show up, so that was also a huge encouragement.
I attended RUF intern training last week in Atlanta, and was pleasantly surprised at how much it meant to be surrounded by a group that knows exactly what you’re trying to do and how you sometimes feel like you’re failing miserably! It was a great time of teaching, encouragement, and refreshment. The RUF staff does a wonderful job of ministering to its campus staff, and it was great to rejoice over how the Lord is working on campuses across the US.
Other interns echoed how I’ve often felt this semester — frustrated. It has been a learning experience (to say the least) to pursue girls (particularly freshman girls) who often times don’t show up when they promise to come, ignore your calls, aren’t interested in campus ministry, or fill their time with other things. I often find myself wondering if I’m not suitable for this job. The truth is that I’m not adequate and nothing I do will bring them to Bible study, large group, or church — that’s the Lord’s job. My job is to love on them and pursue them, even if they don’t come. I’ve been reminded so often this semester that this must be a small taste of how our Heavenly Father pursues us — most of the time, we’re running away as fast as we can, yet He is faithful and doesn’t give up on us. That is what I have been reminded most while doing this job: I have a Heavenly Father who is in charge, loves me despite my failures, and never stops pursing me!
As we close up this semester, we are looking forward to several events, including the RUF Wrestling Tournament (more on that in the next e-mail or blog post!), parents brunch (a time for parents to learn about RUF and consider supporting MTSU), the Thanksgiving service (a large group where students share what they’re thankful for), more Bible studies and large groups, and the Christmas party! Please pray that the Lord will bless these events and continue to bring more students to know and love Him.
I am so thankful for your prayers and support — I could not do this job without each of you. I will be home in Memphis for Thanksgiving, and I look forward to catching up with many of you then!
