We're in Full Swing!

After about a month of being in Raleigh, things with RUF are in full swing!

What's been going on so far:

Through large group meetings, freshman bible study, ministry team meetings, staff meetings, Friday girls’ lunch, coffee dates, lunch dates, rollerblading outings, and planning upcoming events I think I’m starting to get the hang of intern life... actually I probably don't have the hang of it, just wishful thinking.  At NC State, we have large group every Tuesday night.  This time of worship is filled with music and a message from Chuck (this semester he is preaching on relationships).  Large group has always been my favorite part of RUF and I’ve found myself forgetting I’m an intern and feeling like a student while I’m there listening!  It was awesome to see about 110-120 students come out.  Although Tuesday nights are pretty draining for my introverted self, I find it to be the day that I look forward to most. 

Leslie, Elisha, and I doing some blading

a slightly awkward picture of Friday girls' lunch

TWINTERNS! Ian (co-intern) and I accidentally matched at the first Large Group. I loved it but I think he hated it.

I’ve been getting to know freshmen girls through different RUF events and through other people.  Some have agreed to meet with me and others have been kind of reluctant.  There are some girls who understand my role as an intern with RUF and then there are others who are a bit skeptical or just uninformed.  For example, in one conversation this week a girl said to me... "so are you a junior or a senior?" umm neither.  Another... "So what year are you?"...uhh I don't go here. "Oh, so where do you go?"...uhh I don't go.  And then I explain further.  It's not my intention for them to not know that I'm an intern and not a student, but sometimes that just how the ball rolls.  I've enjoyed so much getting to know these girls and their backgrounds.  Although I'm just in the beginning of developing relationships with them, I'm excited to see how God works in them in this semester! Please pray that Jesus is at the center of all of these relationships and that I trust that He is guiding my words pouring out His grace as I talk to them!

Last weekend we had a cookout to welcome the back students and reach out to new ones. The afternoon was full of food, desserts, sand volleyball, frisbee, and giant jenga! Thankfully the rain held off!

What's coming up:

-Dyeday Friday (Sept 7): This will be an event for girls to get together and fellowship over tie-dye!  We will be reaching in to find our inner hippie and indulging in some tiedye pancakes as well :) Pics are sure to come!

-RUF Beach Trip (Sept 8): Chuck and his family decided to invite all of RUF to come along with them for a day at Wilmington.  Pray for good weather! (sidenote: this will be my very first NC beach experience!)

-FALL CONFERENCE! (Sept 14-16): NC State will be joining UNC, Western Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest, and Wofford for a weekend at Camp Greystone in Tuxedo, NC.  

-Every week we will be having freshman bible study on Monday nights, large group on Tuesday nights, other bible studies and fellowship groups throughout the week, and girls lunch on Fridays!

Life in General:

Sheesh starting life in a new city sure is hard.  I’ve never had to do it before and I sure am glad.  Don’t get me wrong, exploring Raleigh and finding my way around has been a blast, but I do miss home and familiarity.  Hopefully I will continue to get more established in Raleigh as time goes on aka find community and FRIENDS (if you are reading this and currently reside in the Raleigh area... Let's be friends!).  I still could not be thankful enough that I have a loving aunt, uncle, and cousins here who are such a big help to making this new city feel more like home.  Also, a few weeks ago I had my first visitors… which is weird to say because I feel like I’m still a visitor in a way.  These three great guys (see pic below) and I explored together, because I am clearly not well equipped (yet) to play hostess, and it was so good to see some familiar faces!  

Brian, Perry, Niles, and me

 Well, folks, God is surely already at work in the hearts of students all over this campus and I cannot wait to for Him to reveal His presence throughout the semester!

Thank you for all your prayers and support!

GIANT JENGA

Chuck, Ian, and me

And so it BEGINS!

I've MOVED! Because of YOUR prayers and support, I was able to move up to Raleigh last Saturday!  My dad and I made the trek up to Raleigh and unpacked all of my stuff into my apartment before he flew back home that evening.  I spent last week getting settled into my apartment, finding my way around Raleigh, getting lost, finding my way again, and hanging out with (a few) new friends.  Just for the record: I LOVE RALEIGH.  This city is the perfect size and I'm looking forward to finding all the hot spots and hidden treasures!  I've enjoyed going to church at Christ the King these past 2 Sundays and have met some great people there.  I'd really appreciate your prayers for finding a church, settling in there, and finding community through that here in Raleigh!

My dad and I after the day of moving!

I have felt SO welcomed since I got here, especially by Ian and Chuck('s family)... and also by some of my own family who is thankfully only about 15 mins away.  It has definitely been hard to be away from my family back home, including my 2 beautiful nieces (see below), but the Lord has surrounded me with some great people already who have helped this transition to go smoothly so far!

I couldn't resist sharing their cuteness.

What has been going on with RUF so far?
-We helped with Freshman Move-In this past Saturday.  We took lots of stuff up lots of stairs and met lots of freshmen and their families.  They were so thankful for the help and it was encouraging to get the chance to serve them in this way!
-Yesterday and today we had a Ministry Team retreat.  Chuck, Ian, and I along with 12-15 current students met to discuss, plan, prepare, and pray for the upcoming semester.  It was great to meet and get to know these students.  They are such a fun group and I am looking forward to hanging out with them more!

Bowling with the ministry team

Me, Sarah, and Meredith

Some upcoming dates you can be praying for:
-Wednesday (tomorrow): Campus Crawl. This is a time where clubs and organizations set up tables on campus and the freshmen can walk around and check things out! Then we are having a cookout at Chuck's house that evening where returning students will be able to hang out and catch up before the semester begins!
-Thursday: Classes start!
-Tuesday (Aug 21), and every Tuesday from now on: FIRST RUF LARGE GROUP MEETING!  We will get together on campus at 7:30pm to worship and hear a message from Chuck.  The theme for this semester is relationships (dating, siblings, parents, friendships, etc), so he will be preaching on that topic all semester long.
-Saturday (Aug 25): Kickball Cookout. We will get together for some fellowship around kickball, games, hamburgers, and hotdogs!


Financial Update:
I am currently at 93% of my total $28,470 for this year! THANK YOU SO MUCH for your contributions and partnership! I have been so incredibly overwhelmed by the way that the Lord has provided.  If you would like to still give, you surely can do so!  Once I hit 100% for this year, the donations will roll over to start filling next year's budget.  Just go to www.ruf.org/donate and find my name under "staff member".  THANK YOU!

I am so excited that this journey is beginning and am thrilled to get the chance to be here serving these students at NC State! Thanks for keeping up with what God is doing on this campus and I'm excited to update you all throughout the semester about what He is doing in the hearts of students here!

I'm so thankful for your support and prayers and want you to know that this would not be possible without YOU.

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; 

I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; 

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be all over the earth.

Psalm 57:9-11