Day One

Today started really early, I woke up at 6am to do laundry(because it'd be ridiculous to go to college with no clean clothes). After doing laundry, I did a bit of last minute packing and Rubi came over to say goodbye. We loaded the car with everything (yes, I admit, I forgot something), Adrianna drove me to say goodbye to Richard, Anthony, and Anna, then we were on the road to APU!

We pulled up to the campus and there were students in black I heart APU shirts. They were waving signs, being rowdy and screaming as loud as they could. I just had to roll down the windows to hear it full on, it was that awesome! We parked the car in front of Trinity Hall, the dorms I now live in. They unpacked my car and carried my stuff up to my room, which was really nice of them. I unpacked and set up my desk, then we went to check in for orientation!

The best part about checking into orientation had to be getting a free I heart APU shirt. We then went to the "Cougar Walk" and ate lunch. After we ate, we walked around to look at all of the booths. I took some fliers for different churches, I'm going to look them up and see what's close or at least walking distance. My counselor recognized me, walked up to me, hugged me, and asked how everything was going. I don't even think my high school counselor recognized/remembered me. It was incredibly heart warming that she came up to me.

We went to the Student and Family Welcome. The opening of that whole event was a guy wearing a shirt that says "I go to Biola," I was a bit on the edge about what might have been said, but he started sing "I wish I went to APU." He also claimed that when he sees the big bird (Biola Eagle) he feels like a loser. APU is obviously the best.;) 

I had to meet with a small group of students for Orientation Group Time. The group time was really nice, I know a few more students because of it. After we all got to know each other a bit we picked up candles and walked to the West Campus field with our groups. There was a stage in the middle of all of the students, President Jon Wallace lit the candles that surrounded the stage and the students passed back the flame to light everyone else's candles. There was a moment of silence, we sang, and the president told us that we would be doing this the week before graduation. He told us that as people of God we have to illuminate the world, make a difference.

This is amazing already.

It works.

Prayer has been the topic of summer for girl's group. I missed most of the girl's group meetings, but i made it to the last one that closed up the "series" that they were on. Amelia and I went and sat in front of the kitchen doors, we talked about what needed to be prayed for, closed our eyes, and prayed. We kept discussing what else could use prayer, so, in a sense, we were in and out of prayer because we'd think of more things to pray about. It was nice to pray with Amelia, because we're on the same page of never praying out loud.

I love prayer, I have learned to pray whole-heartedly. I pray knowing that God can and will do anything, knowing that if I ask He'll answer with His will. Prayer plays a huge role in my life. I pray everytime I'm in a car, that the drive is safe. I pray for little things and He'll show me He's there. I pray for years and He always answers, the answers may go according to a plan that I didn't think of, but it's always a reminder that He is in control, that I'm not.

Fellowship is another important asset of life. Last Wednesday, Jennifer (Hi, Jennifer) was at church in the nursery sick and with a fussy baby that just got shots. Jason brought Avery to the office with him, so I took her from him. She got happy and started dancing and smiling, so I went to go check on Jennifer. I walked into the nursery not really knowing what to say or do, but I did. I ended up sitting on the ground and just talking to Jennifer. We talked and it was nice to just sit in a quiet room and sort of catch up.

This past Tuesday, I received bad news about college finances, so I asked Rubi to Starbucks. We sat at Starbucks from 3:30pm-8pm, at first I had her read the first chapter of Captivating, while I added up the cost of books for my first semester at APU. After she was done reading, we sat and talked. We talked about the book, life, everything. She sent me a text the next day saying that she feels revived and loved, which was one of the issues.
I thank God for the people that I am blessed to spend time with. Fellowship, praying, seeking and listening to God works.