When we got back, Grace hosted a party for her friends who were visiting her from Louisiana. At this party which featured gumbo and good company, Grace surprised me with an early birthday present: a cheesecake. If my future were decided on a balance between "Stay with JFA Forever" and "Go Back to College", Grace is stacking the first side expertly.
This fun evening was followed by 24 hours in Oklahoma where I met some wonderful Pokes and shared the gospel alongside Tammy, Jon, and David. OSU was a peaceful campus with many questions for us. "What is the point of the poll?" "Are you selling something?" "How do you think the world began?" You never know what you're going to get, but every conversation is an opportunity to build relationship, find common ground, and respect every person.
Nearly two whole office weeks filled the middle of my month. I turned 22 and used that day to start reading The Hiding Place and explore Wichita a bit more. In the office, David and I have been replying to poll emails from the various campuses we visit, sorting through old files of JFA history, and helping out with random tasks which help the organization to run smoothly. I am unofficially the temporary librarian in the office because I put all the books in order and will dragon-like keep them orderly for the next month.
I've been attending my host family's small group as faithfully as possible with my busy travel schedule. We discussed the 5 Solas of the faith this month and I greatly enjoyed bouncing Scripture references off the other members of the group. They are a delightful collection of young parents and singles. Lord willing, I will be able to meet with them three more times before going home in December.
Random October adventures include a corn maze with new church friends, ice cream with Grace, walking on THE Yellow Brick Road, and riding a roller coaster in the Mall of America! There has been more dancing, and if I haven't been working, I've probably been crocheting, knitting, or cross-stitching.
Grace on the Yellow Brick Road in Liberal, KS
This past week in New Mexico was filled with answered prayers and unexpected laughter. Another 10 hours in the car to and from Albuquerque meant fun word games, riddle puzzles, and lots of jokes. This outreach was peacefully protested by a group from the university who stood a few yards away from us holding signs. They had chalked our area the day before with sayings. They were nice enough to engage a few of our staff in conversation about abortion before leaving. When people are expecting a fight, our organization is a disappointment. In contrast to this mindset, those in need of help are welcomed and provided for. Hundreds of conversations were held at UNM, some of those continuing in email form.
The space for our exhibit was covered in chalk-slogans from the Student Alliance for Reproductive Justice when we arrived on Monday morning (10/23/17)
On Sunday, Grace and I leave for Atlanta, GA where we will join other members of the staff to hold a seminar and outreach at Kennesaw State University. That event will close out October and welcome November. The last event of the internship will be Oklahoma in the middle of November.
Thank you for your continued prayers. I experienced only one nightmare this month and my health has remained strong. The training program is so helpful, teaching me all sorts of pro-life details that have been invaluable in conversation, especially at UNM. I'm two-thirds of the way through my internship and the idea of leaving to go home is hard to grasp. Please pray that my mind will stay engaged in my work through this final month and that my friendships here will grow stronger in their reflection of the Savior.
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