This conference is where all the rebound, outbound, and inbound students meet and exchange information, tips, hints, warnings, and encouragement! We're also going to be meeting with our travel agents (who hopefully will have everything figured out), and our correspondent (who is your go-to-guy!) There's also fun activities for us teens, and we'll be having a blast!
I first came here a day early to go on a college visit to Calvin College, which looked amazing, and was the meat and potatoes college I've been looking for. But I can't settle until I go visit IWU, IU, and DePauw. It was a beautiful campus, a beautiful visit, and so many awesome conversations.
For this weekend, I'm not stressed at all, not worried a bit, but a bit excited. There is going to be so much to learn, which i love to do, and so many things to see. You could say I'm nervous about being around so many foreign exchange students, since this is the first time it seems bigger than myself, since my trip to Indonesia seems to only be running from my house and efforts, but it's so much bigger!!
My mindset going into it, is to take down as many notes as possible, talk little (unless it's with friends!), ask questions, and take it one step at a time. Which is the exact mindset I had in swimming... except I talked more to encourage the girls.
This morning I read a devotion to get my mind centered on God before this conference starts, because if I don't, I could get sucked into my day and forget God is the one who's directing it (and his fingerprints in my day are proof of that!). I read that when all hope seems to be gone, it's not (from Acts 27:1-20) and that God is just and looks to your heart! (Psalm 7:9-10).
Okay, you know what's amazing? Hebrews 4:13-- "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before him, and it is Him to whom we are accountable."
That's amazing! Anything I think, anytime I breathe, anywhere I go- God knows. God is in everything. And when I realize this and have that mindset, when I am seeing the world from God's eyes knowing that He is thoroughly aware and in everything I do: it changes everything.
That is the mindset i'm going into this conference with. God is at the center, and He has brought me this far!!! His Will, will be done at this conference, and I'm completely open to anything, any changes, any mess ups, any interesting hints that I learn. He is at the center.
Now you may be easily noticing that as much as I talk about the trip, I will be talking about my relationship with God, because He is so entangled in this. So hopefully you don't mind that as i document my experience. I will also be documenting how I am with God here too. Because prayers are as much necessary as monetary donations. And my effort to raise money is just as needed as my effort to stay in the Word and keep open to God.
This is will be amazing!
I also found out, thanks to Alan, that it will be very humid in Indonesia, and as i can recall : 85-95 degrees F when it hits september-may.
crazy. Bring it on!!
Kind of reminds me of how the weather is now here at Calvin, it's so humid, and my hair is not helping that much- you need a lot of clips for it- but it's all good! :)
We'll we're going to get going, so hope you are all having an amazing day, and your weekend is good! I will definitely be coming back to you, to update you on what I learned and saw in these next two days!!
Love you all :)