3 Months Away

Allow me to show you what's next in my life

Dear My College Family,

It has been almost exactly a year ago that I joined this mostly crazy, but dependable, and most important absolutely in love with God group of great friends. The community I've found in Cru over the last year is uncomparable to any other group of friends I've ever called mine. These are the kind of people who overflow with the love of Christ. Whether we are hosting some crazy dance party, studying the word of God, spending time together on retreats such as Fall Getaway or DCC, or just merely hanging out as the best friends that we've all become, these people are always representing Christ. They make me laugh, they make me cry, they've been there for me, and done some incredible things on my behalf. They support each other and stretch each other. We get real and we hold one another accountable. We work hard together and play even harder. College here at K-State wouldn't be the same without Sunday night Family nights, our weekly meetings, planning events to reach out to our fellow students, driving ridiculous hours for donuts, driving ridiculous hours for Red Robin, studying together in Hale, playing volleyball and ultimate frisbee, showing up at each others places unannounced and uninvited, watching Glee, and way too many movies, game nights and puzzle nights, afternights at Bluestem, spending holidays together, my growth group girls, weekend retreats, dance parties.. some planned.. some spontaneous, and just being friends.. best friends.I don't know where I would be without this community. I'm glad this group of people was God's plan for me. I'm excited to spend the rest of the semester with all of you! Let's laugh, cry, laugh some more, and glorify God. I love all of you, thanks for being my college family. :)

Poem I wrote to you all last semester :)

Merely a freshmen

No one to depend on, no one to turn to

Broken from my own mistakes

New city, new state, new lie, new game

You don’t deserve this and it just doesn’t seem fair

My face washed white with fear

But a simple smile hides it all

You saw through me, I almost felt guilty

Through obligation to Him or rather to myself I showed up

A step of faith

The love overwhelmed me and in just weeks my attitude changed

No longer afraid, no longer a lie, no longer fake

I now have You to depend on, I have You to turn to

I am broken for You

New city, new state, new love, new life

I don’t deserve this and it just doesn’t seem fair

My face flushed with joy

A simple smile says it all

You saw through me, and for that I was saved.

Love, Jamie

A Weekend Away

I've been back in Manhattan for nearly 6 weeks now. I've settled back into Kansas and found a schedule I am pleased with. I do the same thing every Monday.. and then the same thing every Tuesday.. and coincidentally every Wednesday seems to be quite routine as well. There is nothing wrong with routine.. in fact in can be somewhat comforting. I know what to expect, and I know what is expected of me. Unfortunately with that comes falling back into bad habits, or simply just going through the motions. The weeks have passed me by. I need a recharge, or a refresh button on life would be nice... Anyway God must realize this because Cru has an anual Fall Getaway, and this year it's come early.. or in my case, just on time.
I'm ready to get away. I'm ready to recharge and refocus. I want to spend a few days surrounded with my Christian community and really spend some quality time with Jesus.

I'm looking forward to connecting with new and old friends. Sharing giggles, and possbily tears. I'm ready for Bible Studies and a great speaker. S'mores and sleeping bags. Worship, and prayer. All in all just enjoying the change in season far from the noise and chaos of a college town. I want to .. well... getaway with Jesus. :)

We are living at a Defining Moment

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Twenty years old and no direction. I know everything I'm expected to do and everything I can't do. I know what I don't want to do, but as far as what I should do or where I should do it... I've always kind of been lost. I would have remained lost had I not scooted out of the drivers seat and let the Lord take control of my life. In the past year my life has made some drastic changes. I have grown as a daughter, as a friend, as a student, as a girlfriend, and ultimately as a Christian. I was led to a school I'd never heard of, in a state I'd never been to. I've been fortunate enough to find a community of brothers and sisters in Christ that will continue to be a huge part of my life. I discovered ministry is something I am passionate about. I went on a Summer Project in Walt Disney World for 10 weeks this past summer. I trusted God to allow the gospel to change my life and the lives around me, and He blew past my expectations. Since then I have returned back to Manhattan, Kansas... to most people just another state on my list of places lived, but to me it's home. Sometimes in life though, home isn't where you're suppose to be. God calls us out of our comfort zones and into the world. For me it has been made near impossible to stay in Kansas. At first I was angry, but I've come to see it was only because the Lord has made bigger plans for me.

Next semester I will not be returning to school at Kansas State, but instead returning to Lake Buena Vista Florida, or more commonly known around the globe as Walt Disney World. Campus Crusade for Christ, the ministry I am a part of, is launching a year round movement in the college program at WDW. The program has upwards of 8,000 students, from every state in the US and 52 different countries. This semester 6 staff members are planning how to get this movement started. Launching a movement in a college with no college students to help you is as you can imagine a little difficult, which is where me and my team come in. We will be joining the college program at Disney. We will live, learn, and work alongside these 8,000 students.

We are living at a defining moment. We can choose to follow Him, or we can choose to follow ourselves. Living on the otherside of the country is a huge step of faith, whether it's in the "happiest place on earth" or not. But for me the decision didn't take long, we are the most unreached generation, and yet we are the most reachable. Students who take part in the Disney College Program aren't generally students who have everything figured out. They come to Disney World looking for something bigger than themselves, they come looking for community, and ultimate joy. I would only guess that God will use us to show them they can have all that with a relationship with Jesus Christ.