Homework :)

So now having a blog is an assignment for my Journalism & Mass Media class. And I don't mind one bit! Our assignment this evening is to just write. Write about anything. Small to big. So here I go :)

How do you respond when you are pushed out of the normalcy of the world you live in and are forced into another you've never even touched? For me, all I've ever known is the private school world. All my friends proclaim to be Christians, most of my teachers pray prior to class starting, and I can be consoled by a spiritual mentor if I just ask. Here, it's different.

Throughout this GSP process I've already gone through slight homesickness and issues with boys, and yes, I have new friends here I can talk about it with; but no, none of them know me well enough or have the age experience to talk with me about what the best way to handle each situation is.

I walk into my General Studies class, and my teacher reminds me so much of my mentors at home. Wise. And all I want to do is sit down with her, talk to her, and let her pour her life experiences into me like so many women do at home. Although she doesn't proclaim to have faith in Christ, I'm not just asking for spiritual console. I can see it through how she carries herself, and by the way she treats others that she has so much to share, and I just want to talk life with her.

But how do I do that? Say, "Hey, Alaina, I was wondering if you could just talk with me about a situation." No. I don't currently feel comfortable asking for that because 1. I don't know her very well and B. It's not exactly a direct question.

Maybe (hopefully) time will change that. Or maybe God's just testing my faith and trust in Him. Either way, it is definitely hard right now walking through each day without someone physically here to guide me through life situations almost every teenage girl deals with.

Tonight

So I'm just typing this on my iPod real quick before I turn in, so bear with me with grammatical errors.

Tonight at first FCA meeting for GSP, my friend Matthew and I had to lead the group. We were scheduled to talk about Joy, my favorite fruit of the spirit. We had it all planned out, and pretty much stuck yo' the plan, but whAt God did was incredible.

I didn't plan on talking much, but I ended up speaking for at least 5-10 minutes. NomLly when I speak I get nervous. And I mean REALLY nervous, but tonight words were just flowing. The holy spirit led me to say things with such conviction I'd never experienced, it just blew me away!!

Afterwards we were gonna end with a song, so we asked for suggestions and got "mighty to save". Great song! Well, Shaela started us off becUse we didn't have any music.. So all occapella or w/e and singing is not my deal, especially in front of 100 people. But we sang, and she encouraged us to keep praising our Lord. It was beautiful!!

Well, the times came during the next 3 songs when no one really knew how to start it off. Except me. So, with my horrible singing voice, I belted it out.

Except it wasn't half bad.

Anyone who knows me knows I can't sing well, and in no way am I saying it was good, but it didn't hurt everyone's ears.

The spirit showed Hiself tonight, and I got goose bumps. People were telling hearwrenching stories, crying, and making challenges and suggestions for the next 4 weeks. Gods doing something big y'all.

GSP [[3 days in]]

So, I'm here! A week ago, I was bummed about spending 5 weeks away, but when all my best friends went to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip I was DYING to go on, and I was stuck in Louisville, I thought to myself, "Well, I might as well go to GSP now..."

When I first arrived on campus, I was nervous as heck. Since I only knew one person, my reputation I'd spent 17 years building had no effect. I was starting over, and I wasn't sure if I'd make friends easily. Since middle school, it's always been a struggle for me.

But.. I DID! I met great friends, Christian and non. My two closest friends right now are Elizabeth and Amanda. They're wonderful Christian women, and I'm glad to be walking this journey alongside them.

I joined many clubs... Swing Dancing, Spanish, Step Team, FCA/Bible Study. Not sure how many I'm gonna stick with, but new things are wonderful!

My focus area is Journalism and Mass Media, and I like it so far. All we've done up until now is name games, watch the US vs. Algeria, and watch "All the President's Men". I like it!

My seminar just has done ice-breaker games, but we'll be debating about things such as homosexual marriage, abortion, and other BIG topics. It's my chance to defend and argue my faith, and I'm praying for the right words to say and the right way to approach topics... God is my guide.

General studies, we're learning about civilizations. For the first week we'll focus on the first civilizations, and after that we'll build our own! Own laws, own capital, own flat.. I'm kind of excited :) I hope I grow to like it more and more!

So that's all for now.. Gotta get back to the amigos ♥

P.S. No boys!