First of all, I feel like I should apologize for my lack of blogging. It's not that I haven't thought of you guys, but I just haven't been taking pictures and I am not sure how to express all that is going on here in my life and in my heart. My transition has been fun and amazing and I really feel like I am fitting in well here...however, I would be lieing if I wasn't struggling with culture shock and life in America. So here is some idea of "the what" I have been doing....
1. Last week was ash week...thanks to the Santa Anna winds and the dry weather conditions, Southern California was up in flames. I was pretty much surrounded by fires all around which created an off week for everyone. The air was soo smokey and most activities were canceled outside due to the poor air quality. But I am thankful that we were not one of the million that had to be evacuated. I am more convinced that it doesn't matter where you live...America or overseas...natural disaster and things will always find you.
2. I went to my first hockey game. It is a little unfortunate that my first game was to go and support a Cali team...the LA Kings to be specific... I would've much rather it have been a Texas team...like the Dallas Starts. The Kings did win...4 to 1.
3. I have been meeting lots and lots and lots of people. I think this weekend, I kind of hit my limit of meeting people and introducing myself. I have had lots of coffee dates with students who are interested in going overseas. Yay!
4. I worked at the Kaleo Conference which was hosted by CBU and put on by the North American Mission Board. I was able to dialogue and meet a lot of students.
5. I have sent lots of email trying to make networks with Baptists here in California...which I would say hasn't been too successful.
6. I spoke at my first Sunday night service in Hemet, California. Lovely little baptist church it was.
Well...I hope this gives you a better idea of what I have been up to. I took some pics today of my office and other co-workers. I will try post more pics soon. I am really trying to get better at this!
Love you guys!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Faces of New and Old Friends
I still haven't gotten really great at taking pictures in the moment here in California...but I am trying...here are some faces of new and old friends. I have been spending a lot of time with college students...especially at my new church...Sandals. Enjoy.
Brady and Stevie...this was at a Halloween party...so really Cruella Devil and Buddy Holly... Sandals friends.
Me and my amazing roomie...Coop! I love this girl!
My co-workers Kinsley and Kyle... other CBU grad assistants.
Me and Katelyn... a Sandals friend.
My friend Evan. He's an old friend I met from Sandals India Team. This was also a Halloween party...i don't usually wear b-ball jersey and he usually doesn't have a gun all the time...although I am sure he wishes he could.
Minnie Mouse and I...or my friend Natalie... a friend from Sandals.
My new friend Kiran! We were automatically bound because her name is Kiran (an indian name...her dad was pakastani) and she is from the DFW metroplex!! She is a freshman at CBU.
Kim and Derek Imai. Kim is my old friend from Indian but I finally got to meet the hubs. She is also amazing and my new accountability party...kelley...your accountability partner legends continues on...let's see if kim can live up to you...kidding.
Brady and Stevie...this was at a Halloween party...so really Cruella Devil and Buddy Holly... Sandals friends.
Me and my amazing roomie...Coop! I love this girl!
My co-workers Kinsley and Kyle... other CBU grad assistants.
Me and Katelyn... a Sandals friend.
My friend Evan. He's an old friend I met from Sandals India Team. This was also a Halloween party...i don't usually wear b-ball jersey and he usually doesn't have a gun all the time...although I am sure he wishes he could.
Minnie Mouse and I...or my friend Natalie... a friend from Sandals.
My new friend Kiran! We were automatically bound because her name is Kiran (an indian name...her dad was pakastani) and she is from the DFW metroplex!! She is a freshman at CBU.
Kim and Derek Imai. Kim is my old friend from Indian but I finally got to meet the hubs. She is also amazing and my new accountability party...kelley...your accountability partner legends continues on...let's see if kim can live up to you...kidding.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
My CBU bubble.
Here are some pictures of the campus of CBU. Notice the palm trees and mountains....umm...nice....
The Student Center
Academic building...
more academic buildings...
The Student Center
Academic building...
more academic buildings...
This is my favorite view from campus as I leave...notice the mountains and palm trees...again...beautiful....i love it!
The Cottages. I live in on the left side past the big tree in the middle. More detailed pics of my cottage to come...stay tuned.
If you want to see pictures of crazy Californians...here they are! Just kidding. This the staff in the Office of Spiritual Life where I work now. They are all great and have been sooo incredibly welcoming. The girl on the left is Kristen and she is my supervisor!!
If you want to see pictures of crazy Californians...here they are! Just kidding. This the staff in the Office of Spiritual Life where I work now. They are all great and have been sooo incredibly welcoming. The girl on the left is Kristen and she is my supervisor!!
More Cali pics to come!!!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
He's Got My Back
I would like to apologize for my lack of blogging. Sorry faithful readers. I really enjoy blogging in "the moment" and it seems like "the moment" came and then went before I got a chance to sit down and blog. What to do....? I can't ignore the blog feelings any longer! So here I go.....
Yesterday, I finally got my first full paycheck for my new job. Let me just say that it was slightly disappointing. It was about $50 less than I thought it would be and let me just say with how little I am making...that $50 was pretty important. I began to kind of slightly freak out and panic and this overwhelming amount of stress came over me. Then I felt the Holy Spirit very sweetly say to me... "Alicia I called you to this job and I know exactly how much you make and I am not concerned about it... you need to trust me." After that, He gave me peace and I was fine and just really understood that He was worthy of my trust.
Today, I was sharing with a friend my financial struggle and what the Holy Spirit spoke to me. In the same breath of that conversation, I got a text message from a friend asking me if I was interested in babysitting weekly for an extra $30 a week!
Sometimes the Holy Spirit is really romantic. What I mean by that is He knows my deepest desires and my concerns and seems to always find ways to remind me that He knows them and that He's got my back. He is soo sweet to love us and to show it in the most unique ways.
I feel this is just one of so many small testimonies of how God has showed me his faithfulness to me in this new transition. I freak out about something and the Holy Spirit combats it with something small and thoughtful. He's got my back.
I have never been so confident in my calling to be in a place as I do here in Southern California right now! Hmm...I wonder what God has for me here....
Yesterday, I finally got my first full paycheck for my new job. Let me just say that it was slightly disappointing. It was about $50 less than I thought it would be and let me just say with how little I am making...that $50 was pretty important. I began to kind of slightly freak out and panic and this overwhelming amount of stress came over me. Then I felt the Holy Spirit very sweetly say to me... "Alicia I called you to this job and I know exactly how much you make and I am not concerned about it... you need to trust me." After that, He gave me peace and I was fine and just really understood that He was worthy of my trust.
Today, I was sharing with a friend my financial struggle and what the Holy Spirit spoke to me. In the same breath of that conversation, I got a text message from a friend asking me if I was interested in babysitting weekly for an extra $30 a week!
Sometimes the Holy Spirit is really romantic. What I mean by that is He knows my deepest desires and my concerns and seems to always find ways to remind me that He knows them and that He's got my back. He is soo sweet to love us and to show it in the most unique ways.
I feel this is just one of so many small testimonies of how God has showed me his faithfulness to me in this new transition. I freak out about something and the Holy Spirit combats it with something small and thoughtful. He's got my back.
I have never been so confident in my calling to be in a place as I do here in Southern California right now! Hmm...I wonder what God has for me here....
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Alicia "the California resident"
Today marks my two weeks of being a California resident. Here are some random pics of my time in Cali so far. I honestly haven't taken hardly any pictures...I will work on that.
Hunnington Beach
The famous In and Out burger joint.
My cousin Erica and her husband nick.
Shanny and I freezing our butts off at Hunnington Beach. It was sooo stinkin' cold!
Malibu Beach
It was so amazing having shanny here for my first week! It's also great knowing that she is the one who knows my life here!! She is a blessing!!!
Hunnington Beach
The famous In and Out burger joint.
My cousin Erica and her husband nick.
Shanny and I freezing our butts off at Hunnington Beach. It was sooo stinkin' cold!
Malibu Beach
It was so amazing having shanny here for my first week! It's also great knowing that she is the one who knows my life here!! She is a blessing!!!
Monday, October 01, 2007
California Bound....
I returned back to San Antonio this afternoon after spending the past 4 days debriefing my time in India in Richmond, Virginia. There were about 55 of us (some new friends, some familiar friends, and of course my India family) from all over the world who came together to fellowship, debrief, share stories, and try to understand our time overseas. The best part for me personally was the fellowship... (shocking i know).
I will have to say that today has been a pretty emotional day. I got on the plane today and felt so sad. It was the same feeling I had when I drove my car off campus from DBU for the very last time...ending my college career. The only difference this time was that I was on a plane full of other passengers and I couldn't let my tears flow in the way I wanted to. Man, it's so hard to say goodbye to such an amazing season in life. So hard. I am no longer a journeyman and I honestly don't know when I will see my India family again. (maybe future weddings?)
As one door is closed today, I will walk through a new door tomorrow. Tomorrow, I will be driving to my new home, ministry, life, community, and culture in Riverside, California. I couldn't be more excited about this new, fresh and completely God orchestrated season in my life. But I would also be honest and say that this transition is a little rough. So if you would please pray for me, I would give you a huge hug and huge word of thanks!!
Please pray for:
Safety travel the next couple of days
Transition to a new job, school, community, and church
Discipline in schedules, health, time in the Word, and time in prayer
A new passion and vision for my students in Southern California
For the leadership of the Holy Spirit
Some of my best friends that I met along this journey...sisters really.
I will have to say that today has been a pretty emotional day. I got on the plane today and felt so sad. It was the same feeling I had when I drove my car off campus from DBU for the very last time...ending my college career. The only difference this time was that I was on a plane full of other passengers and I couldn't let my tears flow in the way I wanted to. Man, it's so hard to say goodbye to such an amazing season in life. So hard. I am no longer a journeyman and I honestly don't know when I will see my India family again. (maybe future weddings?)
As one door is closed today, I will walk through a new door tomorrow. Tomorrow, I will be driving to my new home, ministry, life, community, and culture in Riverside, California. I couldn't be more excited about this new, fresh and completely God orchestrated season in my life. But I would also be honest and say that this transition is a little rough. So if you would please pray for me, I would give you a huge hug and huge word of thanks!!
Please pray for:
Safety travel the next couple of days
Transition to a new job, school, community, and church
Discipline in schedules, health, time in the Word, and time in prayer
A new passion and vision for my students in Southern California
For the leadership of the Holy Spirit
Some of my best friends that I met along this journey...sisters really.
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