From the desk of VTice at Messiah

Hey everyone! So I was thinking I definitely need to give everyone an update on everything awesome that happened in Africa and how things are with the transition to college. soo…

My trip to Africa, was basically one of the best things I have ever experienced. As the plane landed and we were driven to our compound, I could not believe that we were actually in Liberia. We met tons of people, including the Bishop! We became his special guests at many different events, very cool. Meeting the staff, teachers, and students of the school was really awesome. I loved being able to sign with them and learning new signs and different styles. Totally cool!! The kids were all such great participants in VBS, they loved the simple things like coloring. We tried to play soccer with them, but they were ridiculously good! We introduced frisbee to them, they picked it up quite well and had fun with it. They loved getting their pictures taken with us. We all became very attached to them and were sad to leave them. We all came back with plenty of pictures, souvenirs, and stories. Gods love was felt so strongly over there, these kids who struggled everyday just to survive were so thankful for us coming. And how hard they were working to help with their school was unbelievable, I can never take the things I have for granted. Someday I hope to go back and see these people again.

After coming back home, the first stop was a BK for the hungry travelers who wanted anything that didn’t have rice in it. I then spent a day home getting ready to leave for college. Wow, what a turn around! I was running on auto-pilot it seemed, I couldn’t really believe everything that was happening. But, it was all so amazing. I moved into my dorm finally, with no worries of my roommate, I knew she would be awesome. I was worried about what I would forget, where and when I was going to put everything in my room. How I was going to fight jet lag, how everything flowed here, who I was going to hang out with…I felt like I knew no one. The school threw us into Welcome Week activities and somewhere in all the fun I caught up on sleep, managed to buy most of my text books, settle in and find some great friends. As classes started, everyone was freaking out, there was no routine yet and all those syllabi…slightly overwhelming. I almost lost my sight of God in some of this my focus wasn’t on him, It was on myself. I was struggling through the week, not getting enough sleep and not having focus on anything. So I finally decided to go for a run, then I attended worship with my dorm, and went to the FCA meeting. It all brought me back, straight back to God. I had finally slowed my life down enough to hear God.

Here’s some questions and thoughts to think about:

Why do we seem to lose our focus so many times? What can you do to keep your focus on God? Take time to STOP and listen to what God may be trying to tell you.

I miss you all and will be writing again soon…hopefully!

P.S. wow, sorry that was long people, kudoos to those who stuck it out and read that whole thing!