Time and Distance Change You

The end of February is fast approaching. I can't believe I've been here for a month. I must say it has approved from how I was feeling in January. On a daily basis I feel as if nothing has happened, but looking back things have changed. I have grown up, for one. I have learned that I can't put my full dependence on other people, because people can't fix everything. I truly see that I seek the Lord on a daily basis, and not just the community He provides me, but Him alone. I've learned that I am fully capable of spending time alone and being happy.

I have some new friends. I love my roommates. Lexi ( my Mizzou rival) is fantastic!! Love her. She's a bit crazy, but eh who isn't? Jessi, from California is another awesome CP! Lexi and I are currently trying to get her to watch our favorite show... she's not going for it. I work with some really great CP's as well (CP= College Program-er). I work with Jessica, Jessica is my new friend from Australia, man does that girl have some energy. Working at the Grand is so different from working in the Magic Kingdom, but I like it. I don't know which I prefer. The hours aren't as crazy as this summer. I get sleep! Which is a lot different from project.

My staff is amazing. I don't see them as often as I thought I would, but they're a blessing all the same. My discipler Adrienne is great. :) And my director Joshua and his wife Rose are incredibly sweet. (I lovelovelove their children!) Babysitting them is a great change of pace and escape from the college program. Plus they're Minnesotans! hehe.

So I'm still not sure what Kyle, Michelle,and I have gotten ourselves into, but I think it's good and getting better. Soon I will be completely comfortable and happy in Orlando, and then it will be time to head back to the midwest, but I will be changed, and so will the people around me. I was miserable and confused, but with much needed time in the Word and prayer, and some encouraging talks from Adrienne, and Michelle Patrick (Cru Staff- future Disney Team member) I don't feel as afraid of the unknown. I already took the step of faith to come here, I may as well give it all up to Him and see what He does with it. My time here is limited and I don't want any regrets.

WEEK #2 on project

Second week on project, first week as a CP. I could ramble on about things, but really there isn't much to say. I'm busy as a bee training in my new locations and picking up lots of new friends along the way. I'm always tired, but I'm starting to get use to being back in Orlando.

Michelle and I, we are at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

:)

My roommates and I and a few of our new CP friends! This is our first trip to Disney World together, where the new year of Disney has kicked off "Let the memories begin!" ... I couldn't have said it better myself.

First ever Semester Project. (from left to right. Lindsey (director), Michelle, ME, Joshua (director), and Kyle is in the back!

Just Keep Swimming

"Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim, swim...are you my conscience?" - Dory, Finding Nemo

I think Dory here just sums up my life right now. I don't really know what lay ahead, and I may not be comfortable with it, but I'm going to keep going anyway and trust in the Lord to guide me.

First off, I completed my spring training!! No, not for my baseball team. :P The first ever Semester Project! It has been a long, challenging week. My emotions about being here have been all along the scale of crying for 3 hours the night before I left and being so excited to be in Disney I couldn’t stand it. Luckily my emotions don’t dictate my decisions, because here I am sitting in my new apartment. My team and I consist of the 3 of us interns Kyle, Michelle, and I who are actually in the College Program here at Disney. The rest of the missional team consists of 2 fantastic young women, Adrienne, and Cate and our two directors Lindsey and Joshua, who also has a wife Rose and her 2 super cute kids, and of course the director of the whole team Kevin! It has been encouraging getting to know them and hearing and sharing our stories. It’s great the different ways the Lord has brought our team together.

I still have my hesitations and a lot of anxiety about being here, but I’m here and I’m not going anywhere for a few months. I will be working at the Grand Floridian.. Oooh ahhhh. For those of you who don’t know much about Disney, it is a resort here. Disney resorts are detailed and perfect, and the Grand Floridian is the most expensive of them all. Perfect doesn’t even work. It is all white, think a Mary Poppins theme. Very high class resort, often people get married there. It’s very different from where I worked last summer, but I think it will be a fun new experience.

I have 3 roommates, and sadly Michelle isn’t one of them. They’re very strict on rooming underage and overage students together. But the girls are great.

I don’t start work until Saturday, because I don’t have to go through much training. (: but then the madness of ministry and work begin.

Anyway that’s a small update on what life looks like for me right now. I’d appreciate prayers for my roommates and I, that we would all connect well. Also that I find time to rest in the weeks to come as life gets crazy.

Love from Disney,

Jamie

Jamie Vigen

8136 Chatham Manor Blvd. Apt #24301

Orlando FL 32821

put GOD in the center and everything will come together

In about 36 hours I will be boarding a plane to Orlando, Florida. Whoa.

WORRY implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.

STRESS says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace towards others, or our tight grip

of control.

Why am I so quick to forget God is in control? I am not moving across the country because I don't want to be with the ones I love. I just desire to know God more and to be a laborer of His kingdom, and for me right now that means packing up my life in 2 measly suitcases and moving to Orlando. I've been there, I've done this. Only this time it's going to be longer and harder and I have no doubt that I will grow closer to Him through this. My support will eventually come in full and with my paying job from Disney I will slowly pay my K-State tuition.

Works out perfectly... as if He had a plan all along... and I am just too WORRIED and STRESSED to see that.

Praise be to God for being sovereign, forgiving, and loving.

(quotes from "Crazy Love" By Francis Chan)

From One Adventure to the Next

It has been a long month. If I never have to live out of a suitcase again.. I would be so happy. That’s of course unrealistic because I will be staying in a hotel all next week. Ha it’s okay though, it’s all things I choose to do.

First off Minnesota was great. It was so nice to see my family and best friend Ally. It had been almost a year. Minnesota greeted me with 3 feet of snow and continued counting when I got there. It was a traditional Vigen Christmas, too many people, too much food, and enough drama to hold me over until next year. As much as I love my family I was relieved to head out to Colorado.

DCC was my first stop and it was as good as it is said to be. I got to see all my summer project friends and meet my directors for this upcoming semester. God realigned my heart for Disney and pointed me back to the place I’ve agreed to spend my semester.

Next stop on the adventure was Colorado Springs; a roadtrip with my closest friends. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my winter break. It was a good time to just chill out and spend some quality time with them.

I spent a few weeks in Manhattan spending some quality time with Isaac as well as my other friends. It was hard to be there once classes started and even harder to say goodbye. Luckily Isaac took me to my parents house in Iowa and spent the weekend with me. Although that didn’t make it any easier to say goodbye to him either.

Now I’m alone at my parents house, playing the waiting and praying game. Waiting and praying that I will reach full support. Waiting and praying that I will get the plane ticket I need. Waiting and praying that my new loan will go through. Waiting and praying that I will be able to pack everything I need. Waiting and praying about how God will use me in Orlando. Waiting and praying that I will make friends. Waiting and praying that I will allow Him to take care of everything I’m worried about.

Friday is the day I start my new adventure, I’m worried, but trying not to be. I’m a little uneasy about my support raising. My parents are still indifferent about the whole thing. And I already miss Manhattan. PRAYERS PLEASE.

Love from Iowa.

Wildcat Forever

Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos.

That’s it I’m done. I’m am no longer a student at Kansas State University. My contracts have been ended and I have passed my finals. A year and a half later and I’m moving on. Not because I’m ready, not because I want to, but because I need to. This was what God had planned for me. Three life changing semesters. 16 months ago I was in my dorm room crying, I wanted to be anywhere accept the state of Kansas. I hated my first month of school. It was hard not to have friends, but now not only do I have the best friends ever, I have a family here in Kansas. I have people who will be a part of my life forever, and people who may fade out with time, but I’m okay with that. It’s how life happens. It isn’t because we aren’t great friends, but God will bring us to different places and we will find new friends, it’s part of change. There are those people though, I’ve found them everywhere I’ve ever lived, friends that will last. Friends who become your family. Friends who would travel the country to see you. Friends that shed tears when you leave and tears when you return. The friends that make saying goodbye so hard. The ones that will hold you at the car door, airport terminal, bus stop, or front door and let you say goodbye a few more times than necessary. The ones that text you before you’re out of site and remind you that you’re loved. The ones that will laugh with you up until the moment you hug them goodbye. The ones that will spend hours on the phone with you. You talk about your new life and theirs. It doesn’t matter when you hear a name you don’t recognize, you listen and laugh, because you know they’re happy. You know you’re happy. You know everything is the way it’s suppose to be.

If you hadn’t guessed by now I’m very familiar with goodbyes. Each time seems easier, I handle it with a little more dignity, maybe even a little less tears, but each time breaks my heart a little more, because I know how it goes. I know most people will fade from my life, I know most people won’t really miss me, and I won’t really miss them. I know I won’t visit as often as I say I will, and I know they won’t visit either. We’ll write a few postcards and send a few emails. The days will pass and life will move on, just the way it was meant to. It’s not as sad as I make it sound, it’s more the anticipation of it all. You tend to ponder if it will ever be this good again. Will you ever find friends like this? Will you be happy there like you are here? The answer is yes. It will never be the same, that is true, but then again tomorrow is never the same as yesterday. But I will be happy. It unfortunately doesn’t hurt less to say goodbye knowing that tomorrow will be okay, but maybe I will look back and laugh when it turns out saying goodbye to Manhattan felt just how I thought it would.

… but anyway, school is out, it’s Christmas time, and we’re alive! Let’s Praise God!

Make Believe For You

My hands are shaking

fighting back tears that aren't there

Choked up with words I refuse to say

for you, I act indifferent

for you, I seem so strong

I remember when you held me,

if you could just do that now

Take away my fear,

tell me it'll be okay

I want to believe you will make it,

At least help me make believe it's true

I'll hold your hands, they're shaking

you can cry, I'll wipe your tears

Say what you need, I'll listen

know that I've been praying

Through the Lord I will stay strong

If you need me to, I'll hold you

it's my turn to care for you

There's no need to be afraid

it will all turn out okay

I know that you will make it,

at least I'll make believe it's true.