So, I admit, it's been a while. I hope that this picture can be a good representation of what I've been doing with my time. It's not only this, (books) for sure, but sure is a good chunk of it. So, yes, I'm back at Wheaton as a full time student right now. I must say that it has been really good. I'm relaxing into a schedule (Imagine that!) and finding a bit of stability in structure which I didn't realize how much I missed.
A few highlight. Well, last week I spoke at WCF (World Christian Fellowship- a worship service focused on worship and Missions) Nara and I spoke together about what our experieces in Mongolia. It was very special to work with her, and jointly share what we've both experienced in Mongolia together. A real privilage to have a captive audience of a lot of Wheaton students, and to share with them my experiences. I told them specifically of Narengerel, of course, and again I was touched when I said "Nara's dream was the the people of the nations would hear her story and know how God worked in her life" Saying that gives me chills, for I'm realizing that my her dreams have mixed with my calling in the area of proclaiming what Jesus is up to around the world. God's dreams for her are so much different than she thought, but bigger.
It's a full semester with class every day, and 4 on Tuesdays!! The days are flying by and in some ways I feel like I'm taking classes a little more left brained which are reminding me of my undergrad experience here. So I'm feeling quite undergradlike lately which is kind of funny considering I'm in my last year of grad school.
Kim and Patrick are coming on Monday which is SO EXCITING for me. I'm really looking foward to seeing them, and to see them here in the middle of this experience. In a lot of ways I feel like Wheaton is in the center of connections in the world - especially the world of Christianity and missions. I met with a recruiter from China last night who does work in southern China and we ended up knowing a lot of the same people. The meeting was really encouraging as I shared what I loved about experiential education and the wilderness and they were thinking along the same lines in a holistic ministry/educational approach. It was encouraging to talk with them and to have some other connections.
I have my job position in China named, also a huge relief. Now I know what I'm really doing so I can get excited about it and really take classes to prepare. I'll be in the school, but helping with an experiential service education program that does a lot outside the school. I have a lot of ideas (of course, ideas are not usually in shortage in my brain) and am looking foward to get the chance to try a few out. I'll be back at honeyrock this summer in some capacity and am looking foward to that as well. It would be neat to have a chance to somehow work with people who want to go overseas (using the wilderness as a training ground) but I don't exactly know how to put that all together for this summer. We shall see what turns up. For now, I'm preparing for compentency exams and just barely hanging on with the sheer amount of reading required for class. Some is more taxing that other material, and I'm amazed that I can sit at a desk in the library and look up in surprise every hour to realize another has gone by. Time sure flies....
Definitely enjoying TIS kids here a bunch. They are so great. I beam every time I see any of them. :> Well. This is my brief update and will have to suffice at this as the books sitting next to me call ever so seductively.....
