A Whirlwind Week +

Tubing the Ichetucknee River

Tabling in the Plaza and Freshman Lunch

RUF Large Group

Wow... a week and a half has passed since my last update. A thousand thoughts, where to begin? On the 24th of August, 2009, classes started at UF. RUF was already in full swing and the first week was a blur of tabling and handing out flyers, the first large group meeting, ultimate fruit (fruit instead of a frisbee), a game night, flamingo football (guys on one leg), a movie night, tubing the Ichetucknee River, and freshman lunch after church. It was a week of organized chaos, learning dozens (hundreds?) of new names, and connecting students to each other and to RUF.

On Monday and Wednesday of this week, the two freshman guys small groups that I am participating in started; we had our first morning ministry team meeting today and tonight I am excited to go to Manland: a night for the guys to watch the first college football game, battle each other in ping-pong, foosball, and pool, all while consuming large quantities of meat. Awesome.

God has been good to me. In the midst of the chaos there has been rest; through the challenge of learning new names and faces, I am building friendships; despite being new and unfamiliar, I have been welcomed with open arms and appreciated; although so much of my life is changing, the "Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." (Psalm 18:2)

There have been and will be hard times, times of pain and hurt as I try as a broken, wandering son to lead other hurting, fallen children to the table of the Father. But I know that He is faithful to provide the daily bread of grace to sustain, nourish, and strengthen me to his work on this campus. I have seen his hand already at work in so many ways and am excited to see where he will lead in the coming months. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. I need them more than I know. Thank you so much for supporting me financially that I may be a part of this ministry at UF. God is doing great things in the lives of these students and in me, I'll keep you updated!



For more pics you can check out my facebook album The RUF Life of a Gator - Fall 09