Setting Sail: Wishful Thinking

Hallo meine Freunden!

Where do I start...?

I am done with rowing!
Rowing is in the past.
"My list" is now more relaxing and I can handle it.
It is one less, and priorities are being set straight.
The experience was fantastic, the people were even better.
But when I prayed to God about North Park, rowing was not in the ultimate plan.

God has something in store for me here and I am way excited about it!
I have joined a great "family" called Prayer Team.
You guessed it, we pray.
My prayer life is weak, I struggle with it.
I can never express myself in day-to-day conversations, let alone in prayer.
So I joined the one group I knew I would struggle with the most because I have been struggling with it.
And I am pumped to see how prayer can change the world!
I meet with this small group of people Wednesday nights at 10:15, I did not get back last night until just before twelve.
[Without rowing, this is possible.]

There are several occasions in the week I can meet with them.
Tuesdays a group of people fast, whether it is food, internet, cellphones, etc.
And they meet at seven to start the day with prayer.
One guy has people to his apartment for snacks/devotionals/prayer/music on Tuesday nights.
It goes on.

The prayer team is going to start to go into different groups, or two different focuses.
One-prayer for North Park: students, professors, current events, upcoming events, ailments
Two-the world, for our Global Partnerships, current events, crisis'
I have opt for team One, because this past week I found myself while walking in campus praying for the campus, and just thinking about North Park as a whole.

I have also joined a small group!
This is Wednesday nights at 7:30.
So far, great.
The girls who are in it are such random matches...
Which is I s'pose a part of the power of the concept of "small group".
Saturday, Kelly (our leader) and I are going to breakfast on Clark street.
And next Wednesday I get to "tell my story".

CollegeLife and chapel are still the highlights of my week.
They make each day brighter.
Wednesday a man name Samuel Bedonze [sp?] spoke.
I can sum it up with a couple quick notes:

Authority vs. power, authority wins.. always.
Examples: David & Goliath, Esther & Mordecai, Rosa Park vs. Segregation, MLK vs. Segregation.
"You can kill the messenger, but you cannot kill the dream."
" 'How can you forgive those who have enslaved you for 27 years?' -reporter, 'If I did not forgive them I would still be their prisoner.' -Nelson Mandella "
Voting gives you authority.

Okay, those were not so quick.
But quick for the 45 minutes he talked.
He was fabulous man, I went and talked with him afterwards in what we call "chapel chat".
He has worked along side three presidents, works with the Naval Academy, speaks to all sorts of schools/institutions.

Another thing be brought up was how he believes there are two things the world/young generation are consumed by: "Naughty ploys and high tech toys."
Sex and texting.
He just gave a different spin on it, and I was enlightened.
And proceeded to grow frustrated with people in class who text and are confused with their poor grades and lack of social skills.

Funny story..
"Do you text?"
"No."
"Why not? Texting is cool."

Haha, true story.
Today around 4:30.
I thought he was joking but he had a completely serious look on his face.

I have been introduced to types of students in class that are seven weeks into the semester of their freshman year and believe that they are already more intelligent than the professors.
That creates a good time.

Nico comes to Chicago in twenty days!
And I am looking forward to it.
Now I just have to get my friends from Kansas who keep saying "Yeah, we will come soon." "We want to come visit."
To actually follow through.
Just the idea of having people here who have known me for more than two months just makes me real excited!

I have a big weekend planned.
Wheaton, then attending the Chicago Marathon.

Quick set of pictures.