So with all of this opportunity, comes a lot less free time… my first rehearsal for the musical is tonight and these will happen about three times a week from now till March. The concert choir also has the big Christmas concert coming up soon, along with the collegians big concert. The ministry team is also starting to get more gigs. Sooo now all of a sudden, all of the groups that I’m a part of have all amped up their work load and I’m looking at a VERY busy month ahead of me before Christmas break. But I really do love what I do and love this season (it is the most wonderful time of the year after all). I’m just hoping that all of this stuff doesn’t hurt my grades too much.

That’s all for now

God bless

-Nate

We fought hard, but we lost to Goshen.

During the season, I would often wish it were over…but now it really is. Don’t get me wrong, I love my team, but my body has had enough! The seniors had an awesome game last night. We played our best and gave everything we had. I love the feeling of finishing well with no regrets.

Even though our record may not reflect it, I think this was the best season I have had out of the past 4 years. No, we didn’t win National’s like we did my sophomore year, but that doesn’t always make the best season. The relationships built and the lessons learned are what truly make a season.

Thanks for a great 4 years, BCVB!  Always be there for each other and live with no regrets!

1. Leaf Party! Two weeks ago, Bethel College was literally enveloped in leaves. (Well, still is but in a more manageable way). So, first, my friend Katie, Amber, and I ended up hanging outside in the leaves, building huge piles of leaves, and tackling each other into the said piles. How old can we act, you ask? Yes, I know, it was incredible immature — but acting like a little kid is oh-so-worth-it sometimes! Later that night, I ended up with my friends Erika and Hannah along with my great roomies Amanda and Kelsey doing the exact same thing. This time we built bigger piles of leaves and proceeded to jump, roll, and dive into the piles. Oh the joys of college.

2. Tip-off Madness! Hurrah for basketball season. It’s going to be fun! My friend Kristen and I went to Tip-off madness where the guy dorms had the famous mattress race! Congratulations, Oakwood for your victory!

3. Trip to Chicago! Yup, thats right. Block classes are awesome. For prospective students, you all should try to get into Block 3! Its the best block ever! Anyways, we traveled to Chicago for a day to see the Shakespearean play “Richard III.” I love Shakespeare so I enjoyed the play and we got to hang out in Chicago for quite a bit beforehand. We ended up taking lots of crazy pictures (I can’t upload them all… they’ll be on facebook in a month or so. Haha). It was a blast. The friendships I have formed in block are great.
4. Photo shoot around campus! My friend Mercy, roomie Kelsey, and I found ourselves outside one gorgeous fall day on Bethel’s campus. Perhaps I am biased, but Bethel has a beautiful campus in the fall! We decided to take lots of photos and be lame college freshmen.

5. Ok, ok, only one more highlight (although I have a lot more!) of my already long post! This past Friday I just decided that I really needed to go home. I love, love, love Bethel. But I needed a break. So I called my mom up and asked (perhaps begged) to come home for just a day. So on Saturday I was home. It was so wonderful to be with my family, get out of the “Bethel Bubble,” and not do homework (don’t tell my profs.. shhh…). My sisters and mom and I wandered around the nature trail near our house and found a “pretty sort of wilderness” to quote one of my favorite movies. It was a nice relaxing day and refreshed me for the final stretch of this semester!

As we drove to the couples home, I could feel God nudging me and softening my heart. It shouldn’t matter whether the couple is deaf or not. They needed help raking their leaves and providing that service is all that I need to do to show them I care. It didn’t matter how well I could communicate with them. We arrived and after a short introduction, started raking.

The next 2 hours flew by and we piled up 27 bags of leaves out by the curb. We were then invited inside for a slice of spice cake and apple cider. The couple was so thankful to us for having raked all their leaves. When I signed my name for the man, his wife said it was a beautiful name. I don’t know what it was about that comment, but it was definitely a bright spot in my day. We learned that the couple had been married for 57 years and had been through some rough times. Some of the signs I couldn’t understand due to my lack of vocabulary, but the other girls were able to understand most of it and later conveyed to me the parts I missed.

Now, in deaf culture, throwing around the “I LOVE YOU” sign is a big no no. You don’t sign it unless you mean it. As I put my coat on, I told the old man that it was nice to have met him and that I hoped to see him again sometime. He smiled back at me and signed  “I LOVE YOU”. I smiled and nodded not wanting to sign it back and offend him. He nodded at me and signed again, “I LOVE YOU”, meaning he truly meant it. My heart melted. I signed it back to him and wished him and his wife a good night.

On the way home, all of us girls decided we wanted to go back sometime and play games or just visit. It was such a blessing to be invited into their home and to be able to serve them in such a small way as raking leaves. I am so thankful I was given that opportunity and followed through with it. I will never forget it.

For me, this fall has been quite different than last year, when I was dying to get out of high school and unsure of what was ahead. These last couple of months, I have learned so much. I now have a new sense of independence and a better view and knowledge of myself. I have made so many friends and maybe lost touch with some old ones. Different things have come in and out of my life. I am so glad that God has me where He wants me and that He has a specific plan for my life. It makes living so much easier when I know that someone as loving, powerful, and gracious as my God, is looking out for me. I am very thankful for where I am at this stage in my life, and I can’t wait to see where I will be next year.

Well I just got an e-mail from her and it was really good. It resonated with some things I’ve gone through and things I am currently dealing with. I think it is relevent to all of us in our everyday lives, so here is a shout out to my mom and a copy of the e-mail.

       My name is Pride.  I am a cheater.
 
   I cheat you of your God-given destiny…because you demand your own way.
 
   I cheat you of contentment…because you “deserve better than this.”
 
   I cheat you of knowledge…because you already know it all.
 
   I cheat you of healing…because you’re too full of me to forgive.
 
   I cheat you of holiness…because you refuse to admit when you’re wrong.
 
   I cheat you of vision…because you’d rather look in the mirror than out a window.
  
   I cheat you of genuine friendship…because nobody’s going to know the real you.
 
   I cheat you of love…because real romance demands a sacrifice.
 
   I cheat you of greatness in heaven…because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.
 
   I cheat you of God’s glory…because I convince you to seek your own.
 
   My name is Pride.  I am a cheater.
 
   You like me because you think I’m always looking out for you.  Untrue.
 
          I’m looking to make a fool of you.
 
   God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry… If you stick with me
         you’ll never know.
 
    from  Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore, p. 59-60.
 
 
    Matthew 5: 3  Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
    Matthew 5: 5  Blessed are the meek (teachable, willing to listen, humble) for they
                             shall inherit the earth.

Before you read this, please know that the Bethel volleyball team really is a NICE group of girls…we just like to have fun and pull some pranks on each other!

Well, I just returned from my last weekend in the gym. My last weekend volleyball tournament was at Calumet near Illinios. We knew it was our last, so we made it a lot of fun!

After playing Friday night, we planned some activities back at the hotel. One event, “Annie”, is something we do to welcome in new members of the team. It’s really nothing too scary, we just introduce freshman and transfers to our friend, Annie! Below is a candid shot from a freshman meeting Annie.

Following our time with Annie, we played some other games in the hotel while one member of the team dressed up as a clown. With perfect timing, we scared another teammate by having the clown jump out at her! As you can see below, she doesn’t really care for clowns!

Even though we may seem scary, the volleyball team loves to laugh and will always be there for each other!

Well, last weekend was my chance!  A group of us went to a friend’s house not too far from Bethel. We enjoyed a bonfire, barn ball, hot chocolate, treats, and hayride. It was nice to hang out with Bethel friends in a different setting.

The night did turn out to be an interesting one, though! In the barn, the guys made up their own version of barn ball and attempted to make baskets using only their heads and feet-a few of them made it in, too! The hayride was no ordinary hayride…we all sang songs and there were piles of guys stuffing straw in each other’s clothes! After returning from the cold hayride, it was nice to sit around the fire, where we enjoyed hearing some funny stories.

It was a great night of hanging out with friends and enjoying the fall season. I can’t wait to see what events winter will bring!

Since my sister Emma’s birthday is so close to Halloween, we decided to have a costume party. Here are the results…

The kids...we enjoyed dressing up...

Now the adults...well, these people really got into it :)

Dad, Brad, and mom are definitely in the team spirit.

Well, Max is a mad scientist...can't you tell? And you can just call me Agent 99.

The birthday girl, princess Emma and her lovely puppy-in-waiting, Misha.

Yes, I know you want to see my whole costume...I look pretty sneaky right? My briefcase actually shoots darts too - beware.

This is our other dog, the pumpkin :D

This was the outcome of our pumpkin painting contest...I got the prize for the manliest... probably because of all the stubble and the patch.

So if you can’t tell by the pictures, we had a lot of fun. Hope you enjoyed

I also live with a new family, which I love! I have a new mom, two brothers and a sister. It has already been such a blessing living with them AND I think I get to kill a chicken soon! It may sound gross but I think it will make for a good story. Since travel week is over we are back to rice almost every day, which has taken a toll on some people (having regular bowel movements seems to be a problem throughout our group with the lack of fiber we get).

Next week we have a ministry class so we will be taking a break from our ministry sites, but I still need to finish all of my homework for it! Actually, I think a lot of people will be scrambling to get everything done, so please keep us in your prayers. Well, until next time…

A bull we found in Santo Domingo on travel week

In Samana Bay when we went to a little island for the day.

Lunch with the group in Santo Domingo.

One of the MANY caves we saw.

Last, but not least, the sweet mustache that Eric decided to grow….Mark’s was much worse.