January: Freezing on Campus

 I hope y'all are staying warm out there! It's cold in Denton for sure! 

The start of the semester has gone so so well. We've really been heating up the importance of evangelism/outreach and of community building. And there's been a great response! I've played a lot of volleyball (poorly, without any real rules) over the last couple of weeks with our students and random students we meet on campus. That's been such a fun and easy way to meet people and invite them to take a break from their studies for a few minutes!

We also got to get a couple of cores together to hang out at the Denton Square!

What a fun time! 

Here's the final installment of introducing my peer team!

Meet Taylor! Many of you know her or you might remember she was actually in my peer team two years ago during my first year on staff! She's a senior this year, about to graduate and move to Boston to go to law school. Taylor has been such a blessing to me and a sweet friend. She is a steady presence in our community and she actively serves the people around her. We have the kind of relationship where we get to joke around and be mean to each other, all in good fun. Taylor has been growing so much in perseverance, in walking through hard things by turning to the Lord for help. I know the fruit God cultivates there will bless her for the rest of her life.

And here's Katelyne! Taylor and Kate lead core together. Kate was actually in my core last year and I got to study the Bible with her! Her heart for God and for people is so evident in how she thinks about the world and looks for what's best for the people around her. She is also graduating this year, looking to teach, and is getting married this summer. The Lord has been teaching her a lot about obedience and abiding in him; she is learning to obey him without overcomplicating things and trust him to provide for the details. We can't remember which one of us said it but something we've talked about is looking more to the painter than the painting, meaning that we shouldn't get distracted by creation but would instead look for the artist behind everything. Kate has also become a sweet friend, I'm so glad I've gotten to spend the last couple of years with her.

Here's a few other fun pictures for your entertainment!

This is my new favorite picture of Blue Belle.

I'm praying for you all! Your thoughts, prayers, and encouragements mean so much to me. Thank you for continuing to support God's work on college campuses. If there is any way I can be praying for you, please let me know!

Love y'all,