MTSU RUF in pictures

To make up for the lack of updates, here's our semester so far...in pictures! More to come soon. :)

Leadership retreat: Nineteen of us (our campus minister, the three interns, and fifteen junior and senior students) enjoyed two days and two nights in Smithville, Tennessee, at a lake house. We got to plan our semester, spent a lot of time in prayer and the Word, and played. :) It was great to get to know the leadership team – they were so friendly and welcoming.

One of the intern duties includes cooking at events (which I’m actually really excited to do!). Courtney was very sweet to help me with these cookies (she was probably making sure that I wasn’t going to eat all of them).

Paul got RUF cups for our ice cream party – the senior guys had fun playing with them.

A couple of our students brought their Eno hammocks. See the blue one? – that’s the one I want to get for my new porch. ;)

We split into teams and played the video camera game. My group had to film a sitcom on the porch – we called it “Sitcommunism” (a made-up sitcom about a family in the 1950s). When our camera died, I filmed the rest on the trusty iPhone 4! It was a lot of fun, but I don’t think any of us will be winning an Academy Award any time soon...

Ice cream party: Rob and I passed out flyers and suckers on campus advertising free ice cream. RUF students told their friends. Rob even told the Walmart ladies when we went to buy ice cream. Hey, people came! :) It was a great time to meet new students, enjoy fellowship, and share information about RUF.

Two of our juniors, Taylor and Courtney, served 35 gallons of ice cream to over 100 students!

We got good use out of our RUF cups – three dishwasher loads later, they’re good as new!

MTSU football: Rob and I ventured into Peck Forest and passed out RUF cups and magnets to tailgaters before the first game. We attended the game with our students – and hey, MTSU almost won!

After wearing maroon and white to football games for four years, it feels strange to be wearing blue…but it won’t take long for me to get used it to it!

Trinity Presbyterian Church: This is where we have our staff meetings, attend church on Sundays and Wednesdays, and even get some occasional study time.

These are my great co-interns, Heather and Rob. They’re so great that when I insisted we take a picture at church so I could include it in my newsletter, they didn’t protest one bit!

Low country boil: We shopped, others cooked, people came. Shrimp + sausage + potatoes + corn + lemonade + cornbread + homemade desserts + cornhole + ladderball + 95 degree heat + fellowship = success!

If you feed them, they will come!

The guys playing cornhole at the shrimp boil.

What else have we done this semester? Large group meetings, small group Bible studies, prayer groups, freshman dinner, freshman and new student Bible study, lots of staff meetings, and RUF lunch! (Sorry, I guess I’ve been a little lazy with my camera.)

What’s left this semester? Film and theology nights, our fall break missions trip to St. Louis, more large groups and small groups and prayer groups, more freshman/new student Bible studies, more RUF lunches, the annual barn dance, service projects, the annual RWF event (I’ll explain that in a later post – it needs a post all to itself), more staff meetings, a Thanksgiving service, the Christmas party, and probably lots of other things! Stay tuned.

Whoops

A couple of nights ago, I sat down to write a blog update and e-mail update to everyone — I've done a terrible job of keeping everyone updated! I wrote for about an hour, then saved it in Microsoft Word since I don't have Internet at my new apartment yet (yep, I got the apartment!). Over the past few days, I've been several places, hoping to upload the blog post and send out the e-mail update, but I've had some Internet issues. I finally decided to make the trek out to Panera this afternoon to send the e-mail update and the blog post.

But alas, I goofed. I wrote all the updates three nights ago on my old PowerBook (because Word didn't work on my new MacBook Pro). I spent last night getting Word to work properly on the MacBook. Forgetting that I wrote everything on my old computer, I loaded up the nice and shiny MacBook, all excited about using it at Panera with fast Internet and a FINALLY functioning Word...lo and behold, my files aren't there.

Sigh. The Lord has funny ways of keeping me humble. :) As I just told my mom over the phone, this morning I put together my bookcase (this is the second or third one I've put together) and COMPLETELY goofed it up...maybe if I'm brave, I'll post a photo so y'all can laugh!

I was going to sit here and try to recall everything I've wrote three nights ago, but I've decided against that — probably not a wise use of my time. I'll go find wireless at the church or somewhere else tomorrow, so be looking for a real post with real information within the next few days! :) Oh, and if you want added to my e-mail list, please drop me an e-mail (aubra.whitten@ruf.org) or tell me via the blog.

Hooray for Murfreesboro!

Exactly one week ago, I moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Thanks to everyone who has prayed for me and supported me - I could not have reached my 85% goal without each one of you!

I have been blessed to move in with a sweet host family from the PCA church, who took me in on very short notice. I moved much earlier than I anticipated, so I didn't have time to find an apartment. I traveled all around the city today and am turning in an application tomorrow - pray that if it's the Lord's will, He'll give me the apartment.

One of my furry roommates snoozing :)

School starts here on August 30, and I am really ready to start meeting freshmen and transfer students! My co-intern Rob took me around campus today, and it got me really excited about being in a new place with lots of new faces.

The view from the lake house's porch - lovely!

Last week, MTSU's RUF had its leadership team retreat at a lake house in Smithville, Tennessee. I had a great time getting to know about 20 of the juniors and seniors who help lead RUF. They were such a blessing to me and were quick to introduce themselves and ask me questions. They made me feel so welcome! MTSU is blessed to have each one of them.

My teammates in our video filming competition: David, Taylor, and Julian

As we prepare to start this semester, please be praying for the following things:
1. Pray that God will give the leadership team and the staff direction this semester in all areas: mercy ministries, large group, small groups, Bible studies, prayer groups, parties, etc. We have a busy semester ahead, so please pray for energy and stamina.
2. Pray that the Lord will work in the lives of each of the staff members: Paul (the campus minister), Heather (a part-time intern & the church administrator), Rob (an intern), and myself. Heather will be focusing on the older girls in RUF, while Rob and I will be working primarily with freshmen and transfer students. Pray that the Lord will give us boldness to approach students about RUF!
3. Pray for the local PCA church, Trinity Presbyterian Church. The church is currently looking for a pastor and undergoing several transitions.
4. Pray for encouragement for Paul and Rachel (my campus minister and his wife) as their youngest son, Jake, faces another severe heart surgery in the near future.
5. Most importantly, pray for conversions! There are thousands of students here (it's the largest university in Tennessee), and each one of them needs the gospel!

Thank you for your support and prayers!

Green light!

By the grace of God, I got a phone call Monday saying I've got the green light to move to campus. Praise the Lord! This means I've hit 85% of my budget and will raise the remaining 15% over the next few months (I'd love to have it raised by December, but we'll see.)

I am so excited about moving and also a little nervous - I leave town Friday (we're moving my sister to Nashville on Saturday), then I'm moving in either Sunday or Monday. It's a totally new place, and I really don't know anyone, but I am excited about meeting new people and beginning work. The MTSU students don't start until August 28, so this gives me a little time to settle in and get adjusted.

Please continue praying that the Lord will prepare me for this year. I am so excited and am so very thankful for everyone who has prayed for and supported me. I love y'all dearly!

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow

I went to Starkville for 24 hours and enjoyed hanging out with my former roommate Annalissa at her new house. It was so encouraging to see her (and other dear friends), even if it was only a short while. This morning, six of us (the six girls staying at the house for that weekend) gathered around and Annalissa took scripture requests and read them out loud. This was mine:
"I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, He who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
The LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore."
- Psalm 121

I simply love this psalm. Susan Ashton recorded it a few years back (it's worth a listen - it helped me memorize the entire psalm very quickly!). This has been one of the psalms that I turn to over and over again. It is such a comfort and brings such peace to know that our Heavenly Father watches over us and keeps us safe.

The past 24 hours in Starkville were also bittersweet. I went there to celebrate the life of my friend Adam, who died in February. A friend of his threw a film festival in honor of him, and so about 100 or so of us crowded into Old Venice last night. We raised $435 for the hospital that helped Adam so much (he suffered from Crohn's disease), enjoyed looking at some of his photography, and laughed as we watched him on screen with some of his friends (they made a hilarious silent film about a man with no hands). It made me smile to watch him on screen being his goofy self. As the night progressed, I couldn't help but think about how much Adam would have enjoyed being there. As the night wrapped up, I went outside and talked to Adam's mom, where we found ourselves right next to a black Nissan truck — almost just like Adam's (except a little smaller). We both shared the same smile and got a little quiet — it reminded us of Adam. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him in some form or fashion. It was great to see everyone last night, and I know Adam would be happy that we had a good time watching the films, listening to the bands, and enjoying fellowship.

And for a quick rewind: I spent the last week of July in Atlanta for week two of RUF staff training. It was wonderful to see my fellow interns, meet some older interns (the cool second year kids!), and visit with campus ministers. Paul (my new campus minister) preached on Tuesday night at our worship service, and he is GREAT! I am so excited about being under his teaching this year. I loved the fellowship throughout the week, and the teaching and seminars were excellent. What an encouraging week with new, dear friends. I got to wrap it up with a quick trip the lake with some high school friends - also very fun. It was my last chance to hit the lake this summer, so I'm glad it finally happened!

And now back to last week: I got great news on Friday afternoon about my RUF internship — I am $1,003 away from reaching my "move to Murfreesboro" goal of 85%, which means I need $5,774 to be 100% fully funded. Praise the Lord! Thank you to all who have prayed for me and supported me. The Lord has been so gracious and faithful, and all of this has been from Him — not anything that I have done! Please join me in praying that the Lord will continue to provide and will be preparing me to move to Murfreesboro.

An RUF update

Most of you know that I am currently raising support to be an RUF intern at MTSU. While I am definitely nervous, I am really excited about this opportunity and can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for this next year.

My budget for this year (June 2010-May 2011) is $31,804. (By the way, if anyone would like a copy of my actual budget - to see where your donations go - I would be happy to mail or e-mail you one! Just ask!) I have to raise 85% of that ($27,033) before I can move to campus. By the grace of God, I only need $5,473 to move to campus. After I get that, I will only need $4,771 to be completely funded. Praise the Lord!

I am so thankful for everyone who has contributed to my account and has been praying for me. I covet your prayers and ask that you would continue praying and continue supporting me throughout this year. I'll be sending out prayer postcards soon, so if you're on my mailing list, be looking for those. (If you're not on my mailing list, please send me an e-mail at aubra.whitten@ruf.org and I'll be happy to add you!)

A couple of things that I would love for y'all to join me in praying about:
1. I still need to reach 85% support in order to move to campus. I would love to be moved there by the time school starts (which is late August). I also would love to have 100% of my support raised by the end of August so that I can focus on being at MTSU. Pray that the Lord would give me patience, diligence, and willingness.
2. RUF staff training (week two) is next week in Atlanta, Monday through Friday. Pray that God would make me willing and open to what we'll be learning. Pray for encouragement and stamina - it's a great week, but long!
3. Please pray that God will open my heart and help me to be teachable and flexible this year. Pray that I'll really seek Him and be willing to go below the surface with students.
4. Pray for Paul and Rachel (my campus minister and his wife) and their three boys. I am really excited about working with them! Pray for my co-interns Rob and Heather.
5. Most importantly, pray that the gospel will go forth and that there will be conversions at MTSU!

Thank you for your support and prayers - they mean so much! I would love to sit down and talk with any of you before I leave - please call me, shoot me an e-mail, grab me at church - whatever!

Fasting

This morning, I sat down and talking to my mom about my new job with RUF. She and I both expressed concern over my support coming in, and I revealed that I really haven't been seeking the Lord as much as I should on things, nor have I been spending hours in prayer about this internship. She also mentioned fasting, and I realized I've never really done that before. I've given up a meal here and there to pray instead of eat, but never truly fasted. So, having said that, I think I'm going to try to fast once a week. (If anyone out there wants to keep me accountable, I'd love it — you don't have to fast with me!) I need to set a specific day of the week to do it...but for now, it's TBA.

Please do pray that I'll trust the Lord in all of this and really seek His face. Pray that I'll be wise and intentional with my time this summer. Pray that I'll fight discouragement and rest in what He provides. Above all, pray that He will make His way known to me, and that I'll accept it with a ready and willing spirit. Thank you for your prayers and support!