InterVarsity CSUN (30 Days of Gratitude)

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 23

This is my fourth year on staff with InterVarsity CSUN. After four years of working with college students I can say I really do love my job. There are many days when things are really hard but there are many more days when things are great. And this year there is something uniquely great about the students and student leaders. We've always described InterVarsity CSUN as a family and I think this group of students really embodies this.

We gathered together to give thanks, to eat together, and to be in community with each other. Normally with any potluck or gathering event we prefer to have some planned activities but this year it just slipped us by. But as I looked around throughout the night ever person was engaged in conversation - meeting new people, laughing, telling stories, sharing their lives, and even having arm wrestling contests (yes that did happen).

I'm impressed and amazed by these students - their desire to see more of Jesus in their lives, their hope to see real change on campus, their longing for justice in the world, their hopefulness, their growing desire to commit, and their hospitality to welcome anyone into our family. They make every part of my job totally worth it and I love being a part of the family with you all.

Friendships Renewed (30 Days of Gratitude)

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 21

Lauren and I knew each other in college but briefly. The only time we really met in significance was my junior of college when we were in the same manuscript study of I Corinthians. We went to "sister" InterVarsity chapters (myself, Cal Poly SLO, her UCSB). We had many mutual friends and could recognize each other in a crowd.

But we didn't become friends until I started staff with CSUN. The first year I knew she was around the general area and it wasn't until my best friend went a wedding she was at and said - "you two NEED to hang out" and we got boba did we really become friends. I knew we'd be friends when our "boba" meet up turned into a 3 hour hang out or so.

I'm grateful for her understanding of InterVarsity staff life. We took "opposite" paths. She did staff first and then teaching. I did teaching first and then staff. She understands my world, my acronyms, my love of Myers-Briggs, my love of boba, my love of beer, and my love of working with college students. I'm so grateful for your friendship.

Intentionality (30 Days of Gratitude)

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 19

At Urbana 15 I get to help plan for and host the MENA (Middle Eastern North African Lounge). It's brand new and while I'm learning about my own identity as a Lebanese German Italian (sort of) Irish woman it feels a little intimidating to be on the planning team for an Urbana Lounge. But I'm immensely grateful for Layla, who reached out to me personally in addition to a group mass email (shows the power of individual emails). I'm excited to be hosting MENA students but also to be diving deeper into my identity as a multiracial person and a Lebanese person. I'm grateful for the intentional spaces InterVarsity provides for students to connect to their ethnic background and heritage. I'm grateful they are giving more spaces to more types of students to feel at home and welcome in a conference that may feel overwhelmingly white culture. But to have people in all aspects of the conference be thinking about how to celebrate and welcome all nations and all people feels so great to me. And what a picture of the gospel.

Supervision (30 Days of Gratitude)

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 17

Here is why I'm grateful for my supervisor Sam:

• He is intentional. 
• He asks really good questions. 
• He wants to know about my personal life as well as my ministry life. He sees that they are deeply connected and he helps guide me in both aspects. 
• He speaks words of wisdom. 
• He lets me dream and vision for the future. 
• He is detailed oriented (of which I am not) and helps me see details I may have overlooked or missed. 
• He values structures and relationships and how they can fit together. 
• He is willing to travel to Northridge to meet with me. 
• He his hospitable and welcoming all the time. 
• He pays attention to the small things that really matter. Like when my birthday is. 
• He is an exceptional listener. 
• He teaches me how to be better a coach, a better supervisor, and a better staff worker. I'm immensely grateful. 

Conversations About Race (30 Days of Gratitude)

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 16

Racial Reconciliation is a difficult topic to talk about. Having been introduced to the hard realities of race and racial inequality in our country as a freshmen in college, I realized how late into the game I was as a white person. I've written a few posts about my own journey through ethnic identity which are worth checking out.

But today I'm grateful for the good and hard and messy and kingdom centered conversations about race and ethnicity. It started with watching a sermon on Ephesians 2 and then we just dived into hard conversations. Sitting a room of black students I heard stories of pain. How they fear they can't share their grief about the things happening in the country because they'll be seen as just another angry black person. How so many people rush to show their support of Paris and grieve the terror but where was that concern when Ebola was raging through Africa? To be in a room where these black students let me into their struggle was a beautiful thing - to be let into their messiness and their frustrations and their fears and their hopes for more - that is the beginnings of racial reconciliation. To get to know each other stories.

So thank you to the many men and women of color who have let me into your world - into your hurt and pain - into your stories and see into your culture because I am forever grateful.

Artists (30 Days of Gratitude)

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 12

We had our first Arts Ministry worship night tonight. Our Arts Ministry was started very much on a whim - I asked a student leader if she wanted to lead in that capacity, its as something we had talked about briefly over the past year. I could not have imagined what would have come from it. This arts small group has met constantly throughout the year, visioning and creating together, and asking how does God celebrate our art and how do we celebrate our God?

Our first Arts Worship night was a beautiful display of dance, poetry, and song. I never could have pictured tap dancers coming up or even the artists that were in our community sharing their heart in front of all us. Even those who wouldn't call themselves "artists" got to paint and sing together. We were invited as a whole community to worship God through the arts and I am forever grateful.

(students where invited to draw, write, and create together)

(we had tap dancers join us)

Growth Cohort (30 Days of Thankfulness)

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 10 

This year I am able to be a part of a "Growth Cohort" with several of my InterVarsity Staff colleagues. Together we are discussing, visioning, and receiving training on how to grow our chapters. The is some of the best training I have received as a staff to date. I love working with these people and hearing their stories, their visions, their ideas, and their disappointments. I am grateful for the technology that allows us to talk with each other while we live in different places.

Halloween

I'm not a big fan of Halloween, but this year some of my students and I decided to dress up as characters from Star Wars. We got $3 Chipotle Burritos, had kids in my apartment complex compliment us, and even some teenagers said we "slayed her night!" We then proceeded to watch the first Star Wars movie.

Chewbacca, Han Solo, and Princess Leia. 

Fall Con 2015

Here are some pictures from our most recent trip to CBS for Fall Conference 2015.

Our tradition of wearing plaid on the way to Catalina.

Sunset on the boat ride over.

Darin is one of the emcees for the weekend.

Our 90's dance party. 

CBS

Greek Staff, Kristina Crosetto was our speaker for the weekend.

CSUN!

Kayaking. 

During free time.

The beautiful island.

Our group again.

Small Groups

Small Groups

Small Groups

Small Groups

Small Groups

Small Groups

Small Groups

Our 14 international students and 3 leaders. They represented half of camp!

Leadership team.

Preparing to go home.

Boat ride home was a little bumpy.

Luke's Fall Con Testimony

For those who got the snapshot of this story through the ministry update or just want to hear an amazing story of what happened at Fall Conference, one of our seniors, Luke, shared this me to share with you about how God spoke to him at Fall Conference:

I have always had a strong "one-on-one" or "pocket God" relationship with The Lord. I was always selfish with MY God and the things that He could do for me. I was oblivious to the fact that by sustaining my relationship in the state it was in that it wasn't really a relationship at all.

A turning point for me was at Fall Con 2015. Before the trip I was feeling a little lost spiritually and was anxious to see what the weekend had in store. I went to Fall Con the year before and said that after my amazing weekend that my life would change permanently. We all know a camp high when we see one and that is exactly what this was. Within a week I was back to my selfish ways once again.

I was not forcing change in my life at Fall Con 2015 but man did it happen! All weekend I felt like Kristina was speaking directly to me. Everything she said resonated with me greatly. It was going so well for me so far, but it was not until the last night of worship and prayer that my faith took off.

Everyone around me was so FULL of the Lord. People were accepting Jesus into their lives for the first time. People that I didn't even know were praying over me. It was then that I realized how selfish I was. I was so focused on what God could do for me instead of what He could have me do for others. This realization really tore me apart and tears began to fall. I closed my eyes and just asked God, "What do you want from me?"

I have never really been one to believe that God could speak directly to someone until that moment. God and I were standing on the rocky beach of Catalina and He picked up a rock. He handed me the rock and said, "Look at this rock. These are all of your flaws and imperfections that I know that you struggle with. Now throw the rock." I did what He had asked and I threw the rock. He then said to me, "Now go find your rock." I looked out over the shore and there were thousands of other rocks that looked just like mine and there was no way of finding mine. God said, "All of these other rocks are the rest of the world. The same insecurities that you have are within a lot of others."

As I sat in tears listening to what He was saying I realized that God was speaking directly to me and I immediately jumped out of my seat, lifted my hands to the sky, and began to praise the wonderful name of God with all of my imperfect brothers and sisters of Christ.

My vision or meeting with God left me with a little interpretation of what should be done with what was shown to me. That night before I went to sleep I laid in bed and thought if there was more to what God was telling me than just "I love you for you." It dawned on me that God was sending me on a mission. By sending me out to find my rock I would be bound to pick up other rocks that looked similar to mine. Instead of realizing that they aren't my rock and just throwing them aside, He wants me to gather them and show them the love that He showed me. God wants me to go out and find the people that struggle with insecurities and self identity and let them know that He loves us and that His Son died on the cross for us.

God was trying to get me to see that eventually I will find my rock but He has other plans for me first before I find it.

What I've Learned from Parks and Rec

In the midst of New Student Outreach and the craziness of work, I've found relaxation in watching Parks and Rec. Here are some the profound lessons that I have learned from the show.

1) Sometimes it's ok to treat yo' self

2) Appreciate your assets.

3) Care deeply about things. Your town, your friends, your waffles.

4) Breakfast is the best. Always.

5) It's ok to admit your weaknesses and take naps.

6) Female empowerment is a good thing.

7) It's important to encourage your friends.

8) As well as to encourage yourself.

9) You don't have to understand everything. 

10) Always, always carry s'mores rations in your car. You never know when you'll need them.

11) What's important in life is friends, waffles, and work. Or waffles, friends, work. The order doesn't matter. But work comes third.

12) And just when you think you can't take a risk, you're more ready than you think you are. 

And Bonus: Voldemort was probably born in Eagleton. 

Spring Con Testimonies

After coming back from Spring Con we are often flooded with a mix set of emotions: happiness to have our own beds and regular showers, exhaustion and in desperate need of a nap, and but also nostalgia for the amazing times we just had. We brought a total of 32 students with us to Catalina.

I taught Mark I (the first half of the gospel of Mark) and my former staff from IVSLO came and taught Mark II. It being my second time teaching Mark I, I was so impressed with this group of students for their deep desire to study the word. They engaged with some really difficult texts and sought to see more of who Jesus was during this week. It was an amazing and full week.

Now that we've been home a couple of weeks and have settled back into school and work routines, I asked my students to share with me (and you) there stories of how Spring Con 2015 impacted them. It was great to hear how many of them are still wrestling with what God challenged them in while they were studying the gospel of Mark.

Here are stories from our Mark I class. They began with Jesus' baptism and ended with Peter declaring Jesus is the Christ. 

"Spring Con for me provided one of the most intimate experiences I ever had with Jesus. As we dug through the scriptures he revealed himself and his character to me constantly. One of the things that stuck with me is how much God cares for us to understand what he is about, in not just an intellectual way but in a way that screams intimacy and personal relationships. He just wants us to be able to recognize his goodness during the storms of our lives and when we miss things we are supposed to learn, he is not too busy to repeat the whole process again just like he did with the disciples until we can clearly see what is he is trying to teach us." - Umu (sophomore)

"Spring Con helped me see how Jesus moved and how he ministered to his disciples and people of all backgrounds. I feel so much closer to God now, and I am inspired to do more in His name." - David (senior)

"Growing up in the church, I was raised knowing who Jesus was, but it wasn't until Spring Con that I realized that I knew about Jesus, but I didn't know him. Mark I ignited a longing to seek Jesus that I didn't know I had. Therefore, I can honestly say that Mark I is a turning point in my life. My outlook on being a follower of Jesus has forever been changed." - Karla (freshman)

"I have begun my understanding and delve into the life of Jesus starting from the baptism of Jesus. I couldn't say that I understood Jesus yet since I only scratched the surface of his teachings but I gained  insight into his method of teaching through not only his words, but also through his healing of people with all kinds of ailments." - Armand (Junior)

"God wants you to understand. When a prayer does not get answered soon, a reason could be that we have not understood what God's purpose is for our lives. Waiting and finding that purpose could be a frustration, but God is always by our side, opening new ways to find it. If we seek, we will find. god works at his time, and we just need to learn to be patient and have faith." - Miguel (sophomore)

"Like the bleeding woman, Jesus took me back to my childhood to heal me from my past." - Angel (junior)

"There is a difference between belief and faith. It is not enough to just believe. What will you do with your beliefs? You must walk in faith, even when you don't believe." - Corey (senior)

I also asked our Mark II students (since I had many of them in Mark I last year). They began with Jesus calling us to deny our selves, take up our cross, and follow up him and ended with Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. 

"Spring Con was life changing. My relationship with God was powerfully challenged after witnessing his love and presence in my life through the manuscript study." - Jonathan (sophomore)

"It's never been any question about how much Jesus love us, but hearing in detail what he wen through on the cross really gave me a new perspective. That's what impacted me the most on the trip. God really opened my eyes to how much love and compassion and grace that He has for us." - Perri (sophomore)

"I definitely experience a realization that art can speak volumes and that God uses art to reach out to people in different was. I was so touched to hear from people that when I would draw images that came to mind about scripture and Jesus that it touched them on a deeper level. And hearing those affirmations from people I could see that artwork brings his people closer to him." - Joanna (senior)

"Mark II made me aware of how undeserving I am, and that everything I have is a gift. To reciprocate this gift, God showed me I need to begin giving more sacrificially to him. Jesus asks people multiple times to follow him in difficult capacities, which opened up my eyes to what he may ask me to do in the future. I felt holes in my knowledge of the context of Jesus' coming to Earth - why he came and at that time - be filled; I feel like I now I have a solid foundational knowledge God can now further build upon." - Sean (sophomore)

Spring Con Photos

Here are some of the pictures from Spring Con. There were a lot from the week but I chose some that highlighted the craziness of that week.

Our Mark 1 room for the whole week. We loved being the boat house!

Going snorkeling was a highlight for many of our students who had never been.

After an intense basketball game

Students prepare to walk up the cross. 

Abby, Perri, and Jessica are all a part of the Frosh/Soph small group.

Miguel and Raquel 

22 students went through the first half of the gospel of Mark. They were all so engaged in the word and bonded as a community.

Students prepare to hike several miles around camp. 

Luis, Kaylon, Abby, and Karla

The Mark 1 class frequently asked us questions during free time and break time. 

Jessica, Angel, Jeremy, and Abby

The island is beautiful. 

Kelcey, Angel, Umu, and Karla

This was my second time teaching Mark 1 and this year I co-taught with one of my graduating seniors, Jenel. 

Our Mark group also enjoys joking around with each other. 

We read the parable of the 4 Soils to them by the sea, as Jesus did.

Our Mark 1 class. 

Our Mark 2 students. 

All of CSUN! There were 32 students total this year!