Thanks to You.. I Still Remember .. My Favourite Book ..

Hola!

Well, it's been an entire week since my last post. Time is starting to fly by.. finally. It still feels like I've been here for months, but at the same time, every week is over in a heartbeat. I think that is because I am starting to find myself getting pretty busy. I have swim team conditioning practices (hundreds of push-ups and thousands of lengths... roughly) every day for two hours. So that keeps me occupied.. and sore. Then there is Men's Ensemble, evening meetings for different clubs, lots of new friendships, and schoolwork. I also had the privilege of playing at a First-Year Chapel service this past Thursday morning! They threw together a little crew of First-Year students (freshman is no longer politically correct) including me on guitar and another girl on piano. We played a few hymns and a rousing anthem of "They'll know we are Christians by our love." Ha ha it was pretty nice to 'get my foot in the door,' so to speak.

Actually, something interesting did happen as a result of that. Right before the service, I got approached by the guy who heads up all the first-year activities. He told me that they are having a bonfire for all first-years on Sunday night with some worship. He then asked me to lead it. Well, suffice it to say that I was simultaneously thrilled and shocked. I mean, I was completely honoured .. er.. honored ... to have been asked, but shocked that I was asked. No one here has ever even heard me sing apart from one coffeehouse 3 weeks ago. But, regardless, I've picked some songs and practiced a little for a campfire worship service with potentially 500 people later this evening. If you read this before then, I'd appreciate some prayers!

In other news, there has been a major remodelling in Witmer B317. My roommate, Austin, and I spent hours yesterday cleaning and moving furniture. Frustrated with the lack of creativity in our default room set-up we went on an interior decorating rampage. We honestly tried every combination of furniture arrangements possible. Finally we settled on something that, quite inexplicably, just fit. Here's a picture of the room on the day we moved in:

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the room now. Feast your eyes:

I need to clarify: the picture does not do the room justice at all. The desks are in a prime location now, my stereo has a place of prominence (on my desk), the T.V. can be seen easily from both of our beds, the fridge is out of the way yet accessible, we bought a lamp for $8.99 from Target, and the beds are ... well, they are 'one.' Perfect for watching a movie with company, slumber parties with the boys, and those chilly winter nights! Ha ha and perhaps best of all, we got a new roommate!

Everybody, meet Leonidus the Betta fish:

He's hiding under the tree. Don't worry, he's well taken care of, he's just a little bit self-conscious (his face looks sort of squished.. we assume he was in a bad fight in his childhood. Little rascal.)

Hmm.. so this has taken a long time to write. I need to move on with some other work that is substantially less significant to me, but also terribly necessary. Right now I am listening to a mix CD from my lovely girlfriend in another country. That's right, she sent me a package in the mail with pictures and stickers and a novel-letter and two CDs of music special to us! So yeah, if any of you are privileged enough to see her any time soon, please give her a big hug from me.

In closing, things are amazing here. It's great to feel valued as more than just a number or a name, and I'm starting to feel like I sort of matter. I've been really encouraged this week hearing talks about the Philadelphia Campus and Study Abroad opportunities available to us here. I'm spending a semester (maybe two) in Philly, and another semester (maybe two) abroad somewhere. Ha.. but I can't very easily spend four semesters away from main campus when I'm getting so involved here. hmm.. oh well. There are worse predicaments to face.

Once again, thanks for the support and prayers. Feel free to tell your friends about this little blog. I have no idea who reads this, so I would like to send a shout-out to my two most loyal readers: Mom and Dad. :)

Love love love love!
J.M.B.