Tribeca Summer Project 2009!

Hey, Friends!

I'll be using this blog to keep you all updated on my trip to New York City this summer. For those of you that don't know yet, I'm going on another summer project. I'll be spending five weeks in New York City learning how to use my art to glorify God and sharing my faith with other students in the area. While preparing for this trip, I have been able to see God working in so many ways!

I guess a quick update about my year would be good to catch all of you up on my life. I just finished my sophomore year at UConn...I can't believe how quickly time passes and how old I'm getting! My time there has been so incredible, so I'm a little sad that I'm already half way done. I'm majoring in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Art History. I haven't quite decided what I want to do with that yet, but the world is my oyster. I've always wanted to be a grief counselor or an art therapist, but lately I've been looking into pursuing a career where I can actually use my art. I think a storyboard artist or an illustrator would be perfect! But, I still have plenty of time to decide what I want to do :)

I was a little nervous coming back into school after leaving Vail. I knew I really wanted to take steps in my faith, but I was really unsure of whether or not I had the confidence to do so. Looking back on the year, I can really say it was one filled with spiritual growth. I had the absolute blessing of co-leading a Bible study with my friend, Carlee. At first, I was so apprehensive about it because I didn't think I had the skills I needed to do it. However, in the end, I'm so glad I did. I was able to develop some close friendships with the girls in my study, and I was able to see how God was working in their lives. Now I'm at the point where I'm leading a Bible study next year! So exciting!

I also pursued my heart for prison ministry. I feel like I have so many things I want to accomplish, but rarely take the steps needed to actually accomplish them. God has definitely been putting prison ministry on my heart for awhile, so I decided to pursue that interest. I joined a Bible study that meets at a local prison every Sunday. Getting involved in this was truly a life changing experience. Just hearing the insight the prisoners had to offer on so many things was incredible. I also got to meet some awesome girls :) This is something I definitely want to stay involved in until I graduate.

This past year has just been such an incredible experience. I think I'm finally becoming secure in my identity in Christ and really just loving every moment that God is giving me. I'm very content with where I am in life :)

So where does this leave me in regards to Tribeca Summer Project? I'm currently raising the last bit of my support, which has been such a blessing. Its amazing just seeing how the Lord provides! Im just spending some time trying to get in the right mindset before leaving. I really just want to be able to focus on the Lord wholeheartedly and really just spend my time in the city glorifying Him. I'm also trying to hang out with my friends that are home before I leave :)

So with that, I'll leave you all with a verse that has been on my heart for awhile. I've been focusing a lot on God as a light source, and this one really stuck out to me:

"You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." - Psalm 18:28