High Country Adventure

Each year Cru takes our students on a Fall Retreat. This year we had the opportunity to partner with UNM's Cru, and come together as one large group. It was wonderful! We met at the Glorieta Retreat Center, just North of Santa Fe, New Mexico. I believe we had about 30 students from NMSU and UNM had 25 or so (because NMSU is better.) ;) As our keynote speaker we had a gentleman from the Missouri staff team fly in, and he did just an amazing job. His name was Justin, and he spoke on the importance of good Godly community, and how that is only achieved by genuine, vulnerable accountability. We were there Friday until Sunday, and during that weekend, Justin challenged the students with some difficult discussions. After each talk, the students would break up into groups and answer a set of questions. Doing a specific discussion (which was separated by gender) the students were asked to be vulnerable with each other, and to share their life story, the good and the ugly. You could just see the transformation in the students hearts as they started to understand their peers better. By catching a glimpse of their background, the facades came off, and there was nothing left to hide. I joked to a friend that "when all of the girls start crying, you know God is doing something." Seriously though, there is nothing more true or necessary in a Christian community than vulnerability. Without it, people will just play their parts, and do the status quo.

The worship team we pieced together out of our NMSU students did an awesome job, even in the higher altitude! During our time at HCA, we were able to have a men's/women's time. Holly Hoppe, one of our staff women, taught on the intimacy we were created to have with God. She shared that the only place we will find our satisfaction, self-worth, or identity has to be in God, otherwise we will be disappointed every time. It seems like an obvious statement, but this is something that women young and old battle all of their lives. Whether it is our accomplishments, popularity, money, men, intellect, ability, love from a parent, friend or companion, outward appearance, etc...we always try to put our worth in tangible things...but they always fail us. Even being a staff person, I could feel the Spirit moving in my own heart, along with the students. We are never to old or to wise to be convicted by the Lord of something else He needs to refine.

This weekend getaway was tremendously influential on our students, and such a refreshing blessing on us staff. We have been running at such a high speed to keep up with the semester and accomplish all we can within our limits, and it was so needed to just sit back and spend time with Jesus. He and the Spirit are the ones who accomplish anything good in this ministry, we are just the vessels...and it is so wonderful to be reminded of that. HCA was a success, thank you for your prayers.

Learning Can Be Tough

We are now a month into school and a month into my experience of being on staff with Cru. I will be the first person to admit that this is harder than I thought it would be. 

This is my first experience raising support in such a personal, hands on way. It is such a good challenge for me to learn how to be attentive to my supporters and to find ways to show them my appreciation.

Our staff team has wonderful men and women, working full time to spread the Gospel and reach the students on our campus. This year, God has allowed for us to be spread very thin. By thin I mean, I am the only female staff on campus. Holly Hoppe is getting ready to give birth to her and Vince's 3rd baby. Mandy and Brandon gave birth to their 2nd son Jude a 3 weeks ago, and you can pray for him and read about his incredible story at Mandy's blog.

So instead of our usual 3 full time women and 3 full time male staff members; there is Vince Hoppe, a male intern and myself. It is a blessing to have so little ability, because it give the Holy Spirit so much room to move! :)

We have such huge hopes and dreams for the students at NMSU, and the impact Jesus could make with enough momentum. There is so much I want to see happen, so much that God has laid on my heart. 

->We want to see Cru serving the campus and in turn, our campus serving the Las Cruces community. 
->We want us to live out the Gospel by bringing Kingdom to others like in Matthew 25. 

->Injustice issues way heavily on the hearts of our students and we desire to raise awareness amongst   the other on campus. 

->Living missional lifestyles by doing life and creating friendships with students on campus, different then ourselves. 

There is so much to do, so few people and so little time. The work is great, and the workers are few...but our numbers are growing and God is faithful!

When Seeds Fall On Good Soil

I am so joyful right now, I cannot even fully explain how stoked I am to share this with you!

I have a friend, named Mayra, who I used to work with before I came on staff with Cru. She is my age (mid 20's) and like myself, received her Bachelors Degree at NMSU. Mayra hopes to one day return to NMSU and get her Master's Degree. She is very bright and so sweet; I would dare say that she is the nicest girl I have ever met. In getting to know her, I have come to appreciate her heart even more. While Mayra has attended Catholic and Christian churches before, in Mexico, she is not a believer. We have had wonderful conversations about faith, but that was all they were, casual conversations...until a month ago.

About a month ago, I randomly asked Mayra if she wanted to go to church with me and she said yes. So to church we went, and afterwards she shared that she really liked it. To my surprise she came with me the next week, and the week after. :) Once school had started, I invited Mayra to come to campus Thursday night, to see our Revolve Meeting... so she could see what I do, and why I quit my job. :)  She came to Revolve and was met by many young women so excited to meet her acquaintance. Mayra loved Cru!

Needless to say, the Holy Spirit is so amazing, and has been drawing Mayra to himself all this time. I had NO idea! Last week God completely rocked me. We were eating Greek food after Revolve with a huge group of students, when Mayra turns to me and asks the following questions:
"How do you become a Christian?"
"How do you know when you are saved?"
"If I come to Cru just to get to know God better, and could care less if anyone else was there...is that God calling me?" :)

I tried to pick my jaw up off the floor, and smiled, and prayed silently that God would help me share the Gospel clearly. She listened, took it all in, and said she would think about it more when she reads her new Bible (the one that some Cru girls bought for her earlier that day). I cannot wait to share with you in a couple of days when Mayra excepts the Lord and steps foot into the Kingdom of God. Praise God, for He is so GOOD!