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I can’t believe February is already over! This month I have had two main focuses - campus activities and planning various trips. We had Winter Retreat, our fourth annual Galentine’s Day celebration, and I got to cheer on some students in bowling tournaments. In addition, much of my time this month went towards planning two trips - spring break and Summer Missions.
Every spring break, college students go all over the world trusting God to work through them to meet people’s physical needs, while also sharing the hope only found in Jesus. This spring break, I will have the exciting opportunity to take some of our IUP students to Detroit where we will join IUP Cru graduates, Nate and Lissy, in inner-city ministry for the week. Please join me in praying for our trip as well as the trips happening across the world. Over these next few weeks, we will have 72 staff and students from our region traveling to Puerto Rico, as well as to places in the Middle East (Noah, my boyfriend, is leading one of those trips).
Spring break trips aren’t the only thing I have been planning this past month. Much of my time has been dedicated to planning the Providence Summer Mission. Summer Missions are unparalleled opportunities students have to spend their summer in deep Christian community where they are encouraged, equipped, and challenged in their faith. Many factors vary from mission to mission - length, location, ministry focus, etc; but one thing remains the same - transformed lives. I have witnessed this firsthand both as a student and a staff member. I have made lifelong friends and have been encouraged to trust the Lord in the unknowns like never before.
I loved going as a student so much that now one of my new favorite aspects of my job is helping to plan and execute these missions for my students. From the moment I first receive a student’s application to my last day with them, getting to journey so closely alongside students on Summer Mission (as they seek the Lord and what He has planned) is one of my very favorite parts of my job.
This summer, I’m going to a new location (Providence, RI) and stepping into a new role (Operations Team Leader). This role focuses more on logistics like housing and budgeting, instead of actual content and planning. While I love Puerto Rico and logistics aren’t usually my first choice, I am excited to go to one of the least Biblically minded places in the US and to fill a much needed role. This summer, in Providence, we will have three specific ministry focuses - workplace ministry, launching on new campuses, and (my personal favorite) sharing the love of God with children from a low-income communities through a summer camp program. Please pray for my co-leaders and I as we seek the Lord for what He has planned for this summer.
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