Baptisims + Root beer floats = Last XA for the year

I am about to GRADUATE!!! 8 days and counting!!!My friend Crystal Thomas took some pictures for me, this one is fun!

80 students completed Chi Alpha's Leadership Training this week!
Here are some pics/videos from the last Chi Alpha service of the semester



Leslie with Cynthia and Megan, 2 girls that came up from Lamar!


Leslie, me and Megan


Taylor, Michelle and me drinkin the awesome root beer floats we had after the service


Me and Katy Bridges, one my girls I met last year, she is doing amazing this for the Lord!


The Band


Me, Allison, and Janette


Amanda baptizing Beth



Tyler baptizing Jake, on of the guys from Lamar



Lastly, a sweet video of everyone rejoicing

Recently ...

Here are some pics from what has been going on recently:


Our Resource group after Amanda's Play
From left to right: Allison, Lorie, Molly, Courtney, Amanda, and Lauren

It has been such a blessed experience getting to know each one of them and to grow together. We just recently realized that we all will be in Huntsville this summer so we don’t have to say goodbye quite yet! It has been awesome seeing each girl grow and have a real brokenness for our campus and also the world.
Please be praying for:

Allison - she is is going on a 3 week mission trip to Uganda in July. Pray for her safety and health.

Molly - she is going on a 2 week mission trip in May to Tenerife. Pray that the Lord will do miraculous things through her despite the language barrier.

Amanda - she is going on a 2 week mission trip in May to Chile. Pray the Lord will speak through their skits and presentations.

Lauren - is going on a 2 week mission trip to The Netherlands in May. Pray that she will have favor with the students through the cultural differences.

Duncan & Lorie, Jake & me - as we prepare to move to Colorado and raise our budget for the added expenses

Allison and I went to see our friend Amy's Art show in Fort Worth


We were so blessed to get to share this exciting time with her!
Sara met up with us!







We went on a camping trip with UofH, UTSA, and Sam Houston Chi Alpha students at Enchanted Rock. Seven guys from Beaumont came, so it was great to introduce them to our brothers and sisters in other Chi Alphas!

Pnut even came!


Jake has grown to love the guys in Beaumont more than he could have imagined. Just being there two days a week has not affected the brotherhood they have fallen in love with there. The Pastor at the church there, Pastor Flippo, has been so awesome, helping them out and even giving them a house to live in while they are there. He has such a heart for the campus, and we are excited to see what the Lord has planned next for Beaumont!

Mexico City

Jake and I with our good friends Carlos and Carrie (missionaries in Mexico City)
Jake and I with Josh Amiot (missionary to Costa Rica) he is such a blessing to us



Danny (one of the guys from Beaumont) preaching in Espanol!
Taylor, Michelle, and Christopher
Eating at the awesome chicken place!
Our view from the tower

Man the harvest is plentiful in Mexico City! The Lord was totally using EVERY skit, EVERY testimony, EVERY conversation, and EVEN simply the color of our skin! It is so strange when people want to talk to you and take pictures with you simply because you look different than they do. But hey, we are down to be used however the Lord wants us to. The whole trip was so amazing.

We started out Sunday taking a trip to a cathedral and to a tower that goes up above the city (40 stories i think?). It was a great way to begin the trip because it gives you an idea of what kind of religion is dominant there and also how many souls are at stake. In the cathedral there were images of Jesus that were just heart breaking. Every image was bloody, sad and weak. There was even Jesus still in a coffin. I just wanted to yell, "HEY! JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD!" To me it was a huge symbol of how their religion is based on rituals and traditions, and NOT that Jesus is ALIVE and here with us to be our friend, to guide us, to comfort us, and to push us if need be. One conversation I had with a guy named Alberto was about just that, and it was so refreshing to be able to share that with him, and for him to really understand and see what I was talking about. (Not to mention the fact that he spoke great English, so there was no language barrier problem!) The view from the tower was incredible. There were buildings farther than you could see (the smog didn't help) and it really put something in our hearts that cried out for all the people of the city.

It was so refreshing to see all of the Sam Houston students so fired up to share the gospel, too! Even the freshman that had never been on a mission trip were ready to get out there and do the work of the Lord. This next generation really is stepping up and getting ready to do some amazing things! It was great to get to know new students, to encourage them, and to gain new brothers and sisters in Christ. This trip changed all of our lives, and helped us grow to have more of a heart for the nations. It was so awesome too to encourage the missionaries and the student leaders there. It was great to come back again this year and see how their groups have grown and their vision for the campuses has grown even more. They are doing an awesome job incorporating discipleship into their ministry; something that was near impossible last time we were there because of the lack of leaders for so many campuses. We were even able to be a part of one of the campus' first introduction to their ministry. We are so humbled and honored to be able to be used for something so great for the Kingdom. We could tell you every story, every conversation, every testimony, but I think their faces tell it better than we would. (Plus, that would take forever and I'm not into writing whole novels) The Lord moved in more ways than we could imagine, and it was an amazing and life changing experience for everyone involved. Thank you so much for your prayers, love, and support!




praying for each other and lifting each other's hands (Exodus 17:11,12)

There is a light in this city!!!!This was a guy doing some Aztec ritual and covering this lady in smoke

Waves

So my friend Crystal and I went to Galveston this past weekend. It was a random, spontaneous trip, and when we were leaving at 4am so that we could see the sunrise I wondered why in the world we thought this was a good idea. It was a great time, though, and spent with an equally as
great friend! I was reminded today of another reason for our trip, though. The Lord showed me something that I was supposed to share with my friend today!

Our trip to Galveston was early, and we didn't even see the sunrise because it was so foggy, but it was amazing to see a part of history. There were some buildings that were completely restored and back to normal but some that were missing whole walls or even just the stairs left leading up to a non-existent beach house. What a terrible disaster. Crystal and I made the most of it though, and tried to take some cool pictures for my graduation invitations but it was insanely windy! We were walking on the beach just far enough into the ocean that only an inch or two covers your feet, or the occasional bigger wave that goes up to your shins. I ran a little ahead with Pnut trying to get her to exercise and I sensed the kind of peace that only comes upon you when you're thinking about the Lord. (I imagine this is a lame worldly version of what it was like for Adam and Eve to walk and talk with God in the cool of the evening) Then I looked out in the ocean and in my heart I said, "Lord, thank you for making such an amazing world! It is so beautiful! (yes, even Galveston! -- I didn't think the Galveston comment then, but just now I did) Show me something about you! I am here!" And at that moment I felt refreshed by the water on my feet and I was reminded of how the Lord molds us and teaches us.
It is like the waves! The ocean is so huge, and just this little bit at a time is coming up to the surface. If He threw it all at us at once, we wouldn't be able to handle it! It would be way too overwhelming, and the results would be catastrophic! It would be a HURRICANE! Man! The Lord really knows what he's doing, eh? Almost everyday I'm remdinded of how glad I am that God is WAYYYYYY smarter than me. I mean, there's no way I could have come up with giraffes! ;)

Spring Break: Mexico City!!

Sorry it has been a while (to the three people that are our "followers") haha. Anyways, we just have been getting ready for our spring break missions trip to Mexico City! We are excited to go back and see the same students and missionaries again. One missionary Josh Amiot, is even making a trip down there for us even though he is in the states with his family. There just must be something about that Sam Houston Chi Alpha!
Some info about Mexico City:
Mexico City is the most important economic, industrial, and cultural center in the country, and the most populous city. It is the largest metropolitan area in the western hemisphere and the third largest in the world by population (19.2 Million people). The main religion is Roman Catholicism, which is heavily influenced by the Aztec cult beliefs. Instead of staying true to the Spanish Catholicism, they combined the faiths creating a gothic, dark religion.
There are over 3 MILLION university students! The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) is the second oldest university in the Americas, established in 1551. Three Nobel laureates, several Mexican entrepreneurs and most of Mexico’s modern-day presidents are among its former students. This means that the college campus is the most influential place in the whole city. What an amazing opportunity to meet the most influential people in the country!
For many Chi Alpha students, this is their first mission trip. We will be serving with the already established ministry called Jovenes con Decision (Youth with a decision) through relational evangelism and school assemblies. It is always amazing the friendships we make and the lives that are changed each year. It is very eye opening to go to a city with so many people, and realizing that God really is after each and every one of their hearts. No soul is insignificant.
Please be praying for divine appointments and spirit lead conversations next week! We are leaving early Sunday the 8th and coming back the following Saturday.
Here are some pics from our trip last year:Praying over the city ... while over the city :)Our whole team the last day. We got to visit some pyramids!The best looking couple in Mexico!Hanging with some studentsSome of the gals