many pieces

Ok...now we are returning from IVLI, and coming back to Morgantown!

I know I tend to be long winded in my posts...it's so hard to pear it down, especially when I don't update weekly like I'm supposed to *cough cough*

Anyway...I will attempt to be more succinct in my dialogue, and if you feel I've left anything out...well luckily there's a comment box ^_^

So far the semester is continuing to be a fabulous one. Leaders are taking on initiatives in their part of IV; new students and freshmen are wanting to get involved more than I have ever seen, and God is continuing to show His faithfulness as we have been seeking him out in prayer at least 5x a week in our designated prayer meetings. It is such an amazing thing to show up at towers and see 7-9 students (and occasionally IV volunteers) gathering together to pray at 7AM! That is just unheard of!Just last year a stuent suggested praying just like this, and the majority grumbled and gave reasons why we shouldn't, and that they will not be there. Is this alone not a testament to what God has been doing in our chapter life? So awesome!

Well my role with IV will be shifting quite a bit for, hopefully, a small amount of time. I am so thankful to be working for InterVarsity and getting to serve students and faculty through the ministry. There are so many aspects many people don't see that's involved, each a piece of ministry, each touching someone in some way and helping them to encounter God in diverse avenues. One of which is funding.

Now many people see fund raising as this horrible burden, something that just must be done to get to the real ministry. Confession: I've thought that, and I still catch myself thinking, "what if I just worked in a church that just paid me?" Funding can be a bumpy road, but one of great significance for not only the missionary, but the donor as well. I have the privileged of meeting many new people from all walks of life, reconnect with acquaintances and old friends, and renew that relationship to a better status. Most importantly, I get to invite folks to "go" to places they can not physically go through their giving; allowing them to be a part of the spiritual movement that's growing on college campuses. yes it is tough work, yes it takes ALOT of energy, and knowing how to restore and care for myself as an introvert; but for the sake of getting to invite people alongside me, and through working together, seeing the lives of students, our future leaders, forever transformed and renewed by God, and being an agent of change and forwarding His kingdom on earth...in the here and now...it's all worth it!

That said...

I am taking the next month or so away from campus for the most part to solely focus on building new relationships, caring for old friends and acquaintances, making connections to churches and their congregation, so that I may be able to ask them to join in the work God is doing at WVU through my work in IV's ministry. At the moment I am at about 50% of my budget, and will be working hard to get it up to where it needs to be, so I can return to the other part of the ministry, my students :)

Please be praying for me and future partners of ministry as I seek to grow my support. Also, If you have ideas of folks you could help me connect with, or you yourself would like to join the team in giving, please let me know, and I would be glad to talk more about it.

Thank you all for your prayers for this ministry.

Ok so this was a taaaaaad long winded...but it's progress from the last few posts :p