August 2007

A Summer of Preparation

The summer is always a time of training in preparation for reaching the students on the campuses of southeast Michigan. For me this meant getting training in my new role as campus director.

The training I received was excellent and I feel much more equipped and ready to lead my staff team and these campuses this year!

The most important thing I learned about this role is that I need to make the role fit me and my unique strengths. I cannot try to do it like other directors might do it. I need to lead according to the way God has gifted me.

The other significant point coming out of the summer is the necessity for us to focus our energy and time as staff on building into students who are committed to being a part of Win, Build, Send. That is, of all the things we teach our students, the unique thing we, as Campus Crusade for Christ, can impart to them is the ability to win people to Christ, build them up in their faith and send them as laborers for Christ. By focusing on these things we can best prepare them to have an effective ministry in their churches, their workplaces or in full-time ministry.

As I was receiving training, many of our students were being equipped on summer projects. From Virginia Beach, to Ocean City, NJ to Pusan, South Korea, to Budapest, Hungary over 25 of our students were learning how to share their faith and walk with God. We have already heard some fantastic stories of how God used these students this summer and they are very excited to see how God will work this coming school year!

The U-M Crew on the Virginia Beach summer project, including a number of men from my area of campus

Personal News

House Update

Our house has not sold yet. We have had over 50 showings since we put it on the market and have had a couple seriously interested people, but no serious offers. Our current house is obviously still working fine, it is just that once you do the work to get it ready to show and the work to sell it, you want to see it actually sell! Be praying that God would sell our house in his timing and that we would be content in our current house for as long as it takes.

Marathon Update

I ran my marathon in Traverse City on May 26. In spite of extensive training, it was much harder than I expected! My goals were (a) to finish, (b) to have fun and (c) to finish in under four hours. Well, I finished, I had “fun” (if any sane person can truly call a marathon fun), and my finishing time was 3:59:42 giving me a spare 18 seconds under my goal! It took a full month to feel normal running again, but I’m back at it and looking to do another half-marathon later this fall.

Daddy and his cheering section at the Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City, Michigan

At a falls in Colorado Springs

Kids' Column

We started some school this week. I am going to learn about a lot of different countries this year. I like maps and geography a lot so this should be a fun year.

It was fun to room with Caleb this summer, so I decided I was ready to switch roommates and move back to my original bedroom.

I am glad to be home and have all of favorite doll’s toys for her to play with. Lindsey and I are sharing a room now and I get to be on the top bunk. I am excited about learning how to read better this year.

Our little climbers in Rocky Mountain National Park

All of my toys were still here when we got home! I thought for sure they were gone. My new roommate is great—she doesn’t cry during the night like Caleb did. (But Mom says I slept through most of his crying!)

Lindsey and Caleb braving the pony ride at a staff carnival

The gates are down. Freedom! It is great to be able to go down the stairs now and not just up them. I am getting faster, too. It is so fun to have Andrew in my room with me. He makes me laugh a lot and he sometimes gets me out of bed in the morning. Since Andrew can tell time he knows exactly when we can get up.

Caleb

Caleb “hiking” with Daddy

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