The News You Have All Been Waiting On...

I am flying to Tennessee October 11, 2006 at 9 AM!!!

I fly out of Austin and into Nashville...then I will spend a 1 1/2 days in Jackson, the weekend with the fam (their stipulation, since it is in their joint effort that I get the tickets), then I will be at church and flying out of Memphis at 7:45 pm.

Mark your calendars and don't plan on going anywhere.

This is the best news I've heard since I found our I won't be going home for thanksgiving.

Thanks to AirTran and Southwest for providing cheaper flights.

An update is forthcoming....

Until my next update of live in the Lone Star State, I will tied you over with a picture and some questions.

The picture:
Me at move-in day. This is obviously a before picture; it was so HOT that day...triple
digits are still rampant here in Texas.

The questions:
What is the purpose for Higher Education? and Did your Alma Mater accomplish this?
Is Higher Ed a means to an end or a means in it and of itself?

There are no wrong answers...I hope you will comment your perspective.

Love you all...

Date Nite: Take 2

As you already know, every Tuesday is date nite for us in Waco, mainly due to 50 cent tickets at the local theatre. (I think any movie, no matter how terrible, is worth 50 cents.) Well this week we added a new friend to the mix: Tiffany (making her blogspot debut in the 2nd photo). Tiff is also in our cohort, and her GA is in University Ministries. We like her outlook on life; she is very honest, but accepting. BTW, she is hilarious.
This week the same as last: Tuesday nite Tacos at Rosa's and an exhilarating 2 hours of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Every week this theatre is PACKED OUT: old people, teens, toddlers, children, and babies. This makes for an interseting viewing experience; there is never silence. I love it, because it is so ridiculas.

The beauty of these movie nites should seemingly come in the fellowship shared with my peers and the inexpensive entertainment. While I do appreciate both these things and others for obvious reasons, there is something else about these experiences that satisfies my heart, or rather stirs it. When I am standing in the lobby of this theatre waiting for various friends to return from the bathroom or complete purchases from the snack bar, I am confronted with the vast cross section of individuals that come out of the cracks of my new community for a cheap movie nite. I am reminded that beyond the bubble of Baylor is the 16th poorest city in the United States. I am convinced of ample diversity (in race, socio-status, thought, even religion and denomination) that infiltrates the city of Waco. These movies nites hold me accountable to my call to be a global neighbor and to fight for social justice. I love Clarksville and Jackson, TN and I long to be a part of the body that resides there, but I am also called to this community, here and now. Waco is my town.

If you are in the habit of praying for me, please continue to do so. I am searching for a church and having to grasp many new things for my job. I am responsible for fostering the type of environment that allows 50 college freshmen to discover their holy discontent and provide them with resources in order to become life long change agents in whatever context that needs to be.

This is exciting and scary, whatever it is, I know is is right. I have confidence the Christ in me.

Long overdue Pics

Here are a few pictures from the sacred time that Stefi spent in Texas, or should I say, "God's Country?" Starting with the first pic: THat is my roomie Lyndsy in the apartment; me in the apartment; Stefi and I at the airport; the rest are explanatory. That week was very refreshing and carefree. I am grateful to have a good friend to sacrifce time just to spend it with me.

First Da(y)te Nite

So, last nite was "date nite" w/ my new triangle of friends. We went to Rosa's Mexican for Taco Tuesday (2.99 for 3 taco dinner), then we went to the dollar theatre for half price nite. Jonathan paid. (big spender) We watched R.V., which was fairly decent. I laughed a few times and didn't feel a complete waste of time. Date Nite turned out to be an excellent idea.

Yesterday was my first official day on the job. It was a great day on the whole, except that I found out my boss's boss wants me to change my hair. My boss cried when she had to tell me.

I love Becky, my imediate supervisor! Everyone in my office is great, but Becky is who with which I will be working the closest. She is very interested in social justice and community reform, a point on which we bonded. She took me on a tour of Waco, which is the 16th poorest city in the U.S. I was fascinated to learn about all the initiatives she is taking in the area. I am looking forward to the next two years with her, because she talks about creative freedom and making me her right hand girl.

Today I was left alone in the office to find things on my own to do. This was hard at first but very liberating to realize that I have responsibility and control over decisions. This position will be very challenging at times, but I am excited to do it...and equally intimidated.

In the morning we are going to start our departmental retreat and I have to report on a couple chapters of a book. This should be fun, but I can't wait until I have my bearings on things.

Some closing reflections: Baylor is bigger than Union...obviously.

I cannot forget to skip my coffee in the morning.

I will never know everyone in Waco.