The Class Behind Me the Sea Before Me

Wow! That's all I can say, I can't believe I have only been here for 3 and half weeks. What's even scarier is that I finished all of the lecture component of a course in one week. It just seems like time stands still here. There is a sense that time just goes and I could care less what day it is or what time it is, as long as I get to spend it with the spectacular people around me and learn all that I can through the various activities we have been involved in. Speaking of activities there have been a few very cool things happen this week....

Our first class was.... PHENOMENAL!! It was definitely the best course I've taken - ever. It almost didn't feel like a class at all. It was a very personal course with a lot of discussion and digging inside of ourselves. The course was Spiritual Formation with Marv Penner. We learned a lot of different things while sitting in our classroom. Lots of things about Spiritual Disciplines like Lectio Divina(Study of Scripture), fasting, prayer, and meditation. We also defined Spiritual Formation - The Spirit-driven process that the human self is becoming increasingly like Christ. We were also split into 3 teams and each team had to lead chapel on a different day. One team led a chapel on joy and joyously graced us with a pretty sweet rap, courtesy of Claire(left) and Emma(right).

One of the best times that we had was definitely our 'final exam'. We had to go out in solitude for two and a half hours to contemplate and hang out with God. We ended it with a communion service on the dock. It's hard to describe so I hope these pictures speak to these two experiences.


Ellie(Left)

















Jeremy, James, and Jim(Right)

Youth Group was awesome this week too. We went to a corn maze and then got to hang out around a fire for an hour afterward. It was just a chill time where we got to chat and meet a lot of the teens that weren't there last week. Also Jess, Matthew, and I have been asked to do a Bible Study sometime during one of the week nights. It would be really sweet if you would be able to pray for guidance in what to teach as well as picking a suitable time.

Though of course just like any other college students we did manage to get a little bit of fun this week with a Kaleo Dance off where every got assigned teams and different styles of music that we had to choreograph. Which was a fun time.

Well I think that's all I have for you guys right now. Except that I won't be able to contact anyone this week as I grab my pirate gear and we head to go sailing with SALTS (Sail and Life Training Society). So when I get back I'll tell you all about swabbing the poopdeck and manning the crow's nest but for now I want to go and call my Mom,

Love ya all
Nick VanSnick