Samson & Delilah

This is Delilah. She (it's actually a he...but don't tell him that!) is named Delilah and she is very pretty and blue! She has a little castle in her tank that she loves to swim under! My room mate Kate also has a beta fish (in a different tank of course) who is very handsome and red! His name...is can you guess? Oh ya I told you in the title...it's Samson!

Silver Creek Falls

The Montana girls! Left to Right: Kyra Brown (from Conrad), me (obviously), and Emilee Grubb (from Bozeman)

These are pictures from when our Core Group went to Silver Creek Falls during orientation (so a couple of weeks ago) It was SO BEAUTIFUL!

"God Most High is stunning, astride land and ocean... The powers of earth are God's- He soars over all." Psalm 47:2, 9

If you would like to comment with a piece of scripture or song that looking at these pictures of God's wonderful creation makes you think of, I would love that!!

I Met a Drug Dealer

Today I went to the Church in the Park for with homeless. Nika, this girl across the hall from me went too. It was totally...different...than anything I expected.

People smoking and doing drugs at church.

A guy with a mo-hawk of dreads who introduced himself as "Horse Sh**."

He also had his name (as well as other things) tattooed on his face.

A cute lady in a wheelchair admitting she is a drug addict and was a dealer.

People broken and needing the love of God poured out into their lives.

Pray that I can be a vessel of God's love poured out for these people. That I won't be afraid to let God use me. That I can have the words to say, words that just build relationship and bring dignity. That I can have the heart and compassion Jesus had for the lost, broken hearted, and poor in spirit.

It was a very eye opening experience. But I can't wait to go back! To go back and talk to Misty, Tammy, Brett, Caroline, & Steu and all the others. To learn the rest of their names, and their story, and their needs. To love them like Jesus does.

Lewis & Clark Invitational, Estacada OR

Well we had our second cross-country meet today and this one was a 6k! I ran a 26:22 (which is actually not that great...averaging 7:04 minute miles...but ya...) and I was 3rd on the team and 69/107 girls. Our Corban girls team was 8th and we beat George Fox (ha Monz!) Speaking of Monz, she was there!! That was such a nice surprise! And I'll get to see her tomorrow too at the beach party!!

Tonight I'm going to Salem Alliance Church with Kate and Sunshine and tomorrow I'll go to "Church at the Park." It's this service that the Church of Emmaus puts on for the homeless and they also serve a meal. And starting next week I'll be helping lead worship for them! So I'm excited about that ministry! They basically just try to build relationships and give the people dignity...and love them like Jesus would!

"...for to love and live beloved is the soul's paradise..." John Winthrop

I was reading this for my American Thought & Culture class, and it fits so perfectly with what God has been teaching me- to love and serve people! The whole article Winthrop wrote was really challenging and good!

From left to right: Kate Tracy (my room mate), me!, and Sunshine (aka: Katerina Nilo, she's from Greece!!) All of us are friends and we all play basketball =) This picture is from the volleyball game the other night =)

God...this is my prayer...

"And I want to add to the beauty

To tell a better story

I want to shine with the light

That's burning up inside

This is grace, an invitation to be beautiful"

(borrowed from Sara Groves)