RA Job

I got a RA job. I am going to work in the Safe Walk department, which is different than a floor RA. Basically it is the same pay and benefits with less work, which is good. I am going to be helping people around campus if they need help, basically. So, I am excited! I am going to live in the Cate dorms which is just north of where I am now at Walker.

Thanks for your prayers. This is something that I was really praying for a lot. I am really looking forward to it.

School

The last week or so I have been trying to focus on school. I have done well at times, but not so well at others. I feel like I have a ton to do. I have 2 papers for my history class do in the next 2 weeks. I have Greek homework and corrections to make, and I have a lot of reading I have to do. So the next 2 or 3 weeks probably won't be the most fun. But we will see. Hopefully I can do well.

I have also been trying to fix my financial situation here. I have not been able to take out a loan to pay off the rest of my schooling because FAFSA still hasn't sent my information through. I finally was able to just fix the problem over the phone and it should be here by tomorrow. Then I will be able to enroll for next fall.

I might take a class this summer. I know have to take at least one extra class next year, and if I can just get that done over the summer while working full time that would be nice.

I haven't found out about the RA job yet, but I am definately praying that will happen. Thanks for all of your prayers in that manner. I appreciate it. I know that whatever I end up doing next year it will be good. So, I am just trusting God there.

Other than school not a lot has happened. My 22nd birthday was last Wednesday, and it was good. It was different because it really wasn't any different than any other day besides all the messages on "Facebook" and phone calls I received. I did go to dinner with some friends, and that was a lot of fun. On Friday I went to dinner with the family and Lauren which was nice. We had a good time. God has been so good to me in the past year, and I just thank Him for that.

Thanks for the cards and money for those of you who sent me that. I appreciate it a lot. I haven't completely decided what I am going to do with it yet. But I am leaning towards using it to buy my seasong tickets for football next fall. Boomer Sooner!!

That's all for now.

Prayer Request

I don't know if you all know this but Gabriel Lyons mom passed away April 2, 2008. She was such a sweet lady, and an encouragement to everyone she came in contact with. Be praying for the Lyon family. Gabe is a good friend of mine, and you know Christina, and Caleb, also.

I talked to Gabe tonight at church they seem to be doing as well as they can considering the situaion. Her death was a complete shock, and it will take a long time to get over that shock.

I don't know all the details about her death, but I do know that not too long ago she had surgery on her back and had some complications. She was recovering from thoughs, however. She noticed something on her leg and was scheduled to go to the doctor the week she died. But that night Mr. Lyons was walking her to their room, and when he sat her down she closed her eyes never to wake up again. That is all I know, and I am sure that you are just as surprised as I.

So, be praying for them. They are such godly people, and I love them dearly, and I know you do too.

Sorry I had not mentioned this earlier. I had planned to, but things have been somewhat busy lately.

Remaining

Last week my good friend Chris Goree was fired from the BSU. We (the ministry team I am on and the rest of the students within the BSU) don't know why, and he says he doesn't know either. Only the people who were in that meeting with him last Wednesday seem to really know. So, I have been in a confused state of mind from that, among other things. We do know that he was not fired for anything immoral, illegal, or anything like that. We just know that he is fired, and I have to be content in that.

I have talked to Chris several times since this took place. And he is doing as well as he possibly could. He is obviously hurting because he really doesn't know why he is being fired. But God has been very faithful to he and his family by sending several messages of love to them, and people coming by and encouraging them and giving them gifts. So things seem to be fine there.

I love Chris, he is an amazing man and has encouraged me a lot over the course of the year. He was our ministry team leader. Almost like our dad on campus, especially for those who don't have any family here. So I love Chris Goree.

I also love the BSU ministry and those in leadership there. John Kelsey is our director, and I believe he is an incredibly godly man also. I talked to him yesterday, just wanting to know how I can pray for him and the staff. And this is emotionally taking a toll on him and the staff. So I am praying for them to have strength, and to continue following God's guidance in leading the BSU.

Trusting both of these men and one of the other men who was in that meeting makes things very difficult because I want to believe both of them. And, so that is kind of where I am at. I believe what Chris has told me, and I believe what Kels has told me. They both have different points of view on the situation, and I can see why they would say what they have. But there is still confusion because we still don't know why Chris was fired.

So, why is this titled "Remaining?" Because of the Scripture God has given me amongst all of this. John 15: 1-8 talks about remaining in Christ. It also talks about pruning people who are producing fruit and cutting off people who are not fruitful.

I step back and look at this situation, and I see pruning taking place. The ministry of the BSU is very fruitful. But so is Chris Goree's ministry. Both have touched several if not hundreds of students lives over the years. But for some reason, God has decided to take Chris and plant him somewhere else so that he can become more fruitful (vs. 2). I really do believe that is what is happening. And I believe the BSU is only going to become more fruitful out of all of this.

For me, this all stinks. I want Chris to be here and continue to invest in my life and the lives of the people in the BSU and OU. But I don't know if that is going to happen. Chris isn't exactly going to go away from Norman. He doesn't know where God is going to place him. But he is trusting God in that.

I am doing better than most people are with this. I am not mad anymore. I am not depressed any more. And I am not looking for any more answers. Some people are, and that is fine. They need them more than I do. But I have a huge advantage in that I have been through something like this before at church. In fact the situation at church was much worse than this. But I can look at that, and see an end result. And the result is that First Southern is now exploding, and the ministry of the church is absolutely taking off. But so has the ministry of the man who was fired. I heard from a friend that the people at his church are really being ministered to through him. And I am happy that that is happening.

I know that if that can come true from that situation, than it can become true of this situation even more.

I told my MT friends on Tuesday when we were together that I am praying that we all become more fruitful out of this. I told the same thing to Chris, and he was in complete agreement with me. I had to remember that I am not supposed to rely on Chris for ministry opportunities. I am supposed to rely and remain in Christ. I don't think people were necessarily relying on Chris, but I could see how that could be true. But I have learned to remain in Christ through this, and I still am.

I am also ready to move on. I won't forget what has happened, but there is nothing I can do about it. But it is still hard. I imagine the rest of the semester will be a little more difficult as a result of this. But if I can remain in Christ, and see what He has in store for me and my friends, God will continue to work.

God is so good. He is sovereign, faithful, and loving. And I can't help but praise him for that.

John 15:8- "My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples."