AUTHOR: Sandi TITLE: What's gone on so Far DATE: 9/02/2009 02:14:00 PM ----- BODY:

Ok, I don’t even know where to begin. The past two weeks have been the busiest and most radical change of my life. So in order to remember it all I’m going to have to reference my calendar. I got here on Wednesday, August 19 with my lovely entourage of Gramma, Stacie and Ms. Robin and found out that the room it said I was in online was completely wrong, which is cool because I love my roommates. One is local and one is an mk from France. Our room is sort of messy but we’re getting the hang of decorating, we have a rug and a sheet we made into curtains so it’s starting to come together. The first week here was “welcome week” pretty much full of random getting to know you activities and talks on how CIU works. Once we got passed all of that, classes started on Tuesday the 25th. I have five classes, CIU 101 its required, its basically there to make sure I go to church, don’t get too depressed, know my strengths. Then Old Testament Survey every day, that’s my most favorite class, the teacher is cool and really excited about his subject, the prof. is also single handedly bringing back hymns, beware you never know when one could happen! I also have gen. psych which I’ve already had but not with a Christian perspective so I get to take it again, it’s not gonna be too bad though, the teacher reminds me of what Cpt. Ahab or the ancient mariner or somebody should look like I dunno something to do with the tan and the white beard. My last two classes are ICS, intercultural studies classes, one is Intro. To the World Christian Movement which is somewhat interesting, we’re reading Peace Child for that class right now which is good. The other is technically called Foundations of Missions but it could be titled, “If you want an easy life, be a systematic theologian: An introduction to missiology and why you need to know a little bit of everything” it’s really interesting! So yeah, um, we have chapel everyday at 10:45, its mandatory which is cool. We have some sweet speakers lined up for this year. Um, o the food is good, baked potato bar is gonna get me in trouble though! So yes, we’ve had some interesting adventures, there’s a rule that at least 3 students from CIU must be at every walmart in the Columbia area at all times and we've done our fair share of shifts. Sunday my roommate and I went to a community church about ten minutes away. It was a fairly cozy building, the sanctuary looking more than half full with about 75 people. They congregation was really friendly, there were a few CIU students and staff there. The music was similar to our church back home with a sprinkling of 1 or 2 hymns and 3ish praise songs. They do communion every Sunday which is weird for me personally but they use real bread, which is a plus. The service wasn’t really liturgical, but there were some readings that were call and response with the pastor that took me back to my elementary days. As far as the sermon, it was basically verse by verse through psalm 73 with commentary by the pastor. It was interesting but not really teaching, we’ve decided to go back at some point to see if he’s like that every week. When we got back, I locked my keys in my car, but luckily one of our new church friends and his pal were mks in Africa and were able to use a door wedge and coat hanger to unlock the doors (yes there are pictures on facebook). I think you’re pretty much caught up now, o Monday roomie and I made about 60 muffins to give to our hall and just walk around randomly handing to people, and it was awesome! So yes that’s the brief version, more detail in future as my life unfolds before your very computer screen!

----- --------