It’s been a most magical combination of rest and stretching, strengthening and pruning.

So, classes are good. I really like 4 out of 5 of them.
– My first class is financial math. This was an elective that i choose to support my growth in financial self control. kind of not surprisingly, there is no new to me information being shared. It is forcing me to build a budget and track my expenses though which has supported my efforts by increasing awareness/consciousness. I’m getting a 92% in this class.
– My favourite is Spiritual Formation. Using the book “celebration of discipline” by Richard foster. It’s really really good. I’m getting 100% because it’s just “read the chapter and share your ideas”. Ha, I have the book on audible, so that’s easy, and we know i love sharing my ideas. The book discusses 12 spiritual disciplines that are foundational to the health of all aspects of life. It has blessed me to review these, and blessed me also to realize that it was in fact review. My wise big brother has been sneaky teaching and training these things in my life ever since he took the same course 17 years ago! I am so blessed to have such a rich heritage, from him, and my family and community at large, as foundation for my educational journey.
– Basic Christian Beliefs seems like a simple title, the course is far more interesting and at times complex. The course works to sorts through what IS foundational to ALL christian belief, versus what is seen differently in different groups, and what do we culturally add that is actually not evidenced in scripture or the early church. There is a lot of peer discussion in that class and its been really fun to sort through. My grade is 92%. Fun fact, my teacher in that class also taught the same course to Brock (Brother) and Kim(SIL)!
– That same prof also teaches Biblical Literature II (New Testament). We discuss one of the new testament books in each class session, which means we read one new testament book and write a response, in advance of each class session. I am thankful to start with the much shorter new testament as the same system will be in place next semester for Biblical Literature I (the MUCH longer, Old testament). My grade is 97%.
– My last course is General Psychology. So far none of this course is new information due to my college education, hobby research, and work history. It has been fun to continue investigating how spiritual health ties into mental and emotional health and the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach in treating illness or maintaining health. It is always fascinating to me when science catches up to what scripture has always said (ie. epigenetics and generational curses, ask me if you want to know) I’m also getting 100% in this class.

Church life,
– I go to a church is Quispamsis (40 minutes away) called “Kings Church”. I go there with my friends Mathias and Mathapelo (went to their wedding in Africa at Christmas) I am starting to really like it there. Mathias is one of the worship leaders, so on the weeks he sings we have to go really early. Mathapelo and i have been using the time to sit in Starbucks. We do a little chatting and a little homework and its so nice. Right now the sermon series is on spiritual warfare. This lines up really well with my independent research study project for Gen Psych.
– On Monday nights, Matt has started a short contemplative service, he sings one song, reads one scripture, and then we all hang out in silence and listen for God. then after about 15 minutes we share what we feel like God is talking to our hearts about.
– On Tuesday mornings all of campus splits into small groups for “Spiritual Formation Cohorts” these are assigned groups that have a staff member to facilitate. Usually in that staff’s home. we meet together for one hour to discuss our week, to pray, and to encourage one another. I’ve built some really wonderful connections with the girls in my cohort. Cass (Tannen Fritz’ wife) is in my cohort, I really appreciated having a good buddy there with me when getting comfortable and I’ve loved getting the extra moments with her each week. <3 – – On Tuesday nights we do a students only, optional service that we take turns leading. It’s called EvenSong. About 20 students show up usually. Im leading that the end of march. It’s usually a great time of worship together and the teaching is often so vulnerable and honest and relevant for us all. God is doing really good things to build the spiritual health of this campus.
– A couple Wednesdays per month we have “family meeting” (optional). This is a small group of student who are contending for the spiritual health of the campus via purifying our lives through fasting and prayer and accountability together (about 5-10 students)
– Ever Wednesday afternoon, I’ve started “power hour” in the building on the far side of campus by the sports complex. This is an opportunity to offer praise to God, LOUDLY and ACTIVELY (like how the music would be blasting in the sanctuary at home sometimes if you came in for morning prayer) the goal of this is not receiving from God, but offering to him. A few students have expressed interest, but So far only I show up to that and I love it.
– Saturday mornings is Java with Jireh. (Student lead bible study) about 5 people come to that. It looks different every time. We take turns leading, sometimes it is very liturgical, sometimes very conversational, sometimes elements of creativity.
– Some Saturday nights we have another student lead worship set. Mathapelo organizes some singing together, and we prayer or read scripture to the group as we feel lead to do so.
I do all of these most weeks. I love all the different opportunities and formates to engage the heart of God. It is so encouraging to be here in this little incubator with all these people who want to worship God together in our free time. This isn’t the whole campus. And there are more “normal” group activities like movie nights. But I am encouraged that we do have a pretty solid core of students who consistently choose to dive in and drink of the refreshing living water found in His presence.

Other Stuff:
– our church is pretty close to Saint John, so sometimes we go there for lunch and a value village or costco trip after church. Mathapelo loves to shop, Mathias and I not so much so we usually find a value village couch to chat on, or get silly testing samples in Costco.
– Hiking the bluffs is fun, and cold. I discovered that Zula has taught herself to pull me when im starting to struggle, that was really helpful, I got her an appropriate harness for that so that she isn’t hurting her neck trying to help. Also some of the students are pretty afraid of dogs, so having Zula on campus has been cool, one student said during the bluffs hike, “She is so well trained, I feel fine with her running around free.” which was so fun for me! proud moment for her good behaviour, and happy that I could help someone else be able to break out of a pretty normal fear a little bit.
– Zula is the healthiest she has been in a year. She isn’t on any mediations, only taking one supplement per day, and is up to 4 different types of meat! Greg Mann, the campus cook, has graciously allowed me to keep 2 5Gal pales of food in the walk in freezer because I couldn’t afford to buy a freezer big enough to store it all.
– I’ve gone to Moncton one time, family day weekend, to visit Monica Cronkhite. We made all sorts of grand plans to do all kinds of fun things, and instead, we laid in bed and watched murder documentaries and napped and played with Ivy. It was so nice to have a low pressure catch up and chill day, as usual.
– I’ve gone to Angel’s in Fredericton twice. We also have very chill vibes in activity, watching movies, cooking, laying around, but we do not have chill hearts. We spend most time together yelling over each other discuss everything with extreme passion. I love it. a great place to process things that get stuck in my mind or heart.

Grace and Peace,
Monoak.


PS- ill post another update separately with some of the ideas that God has been talking to me about.

Pics:
Jess, is our residence Director, we are a lot alike, right down to the brain injuries, I’ve really enjoyed getting to spend more time with her and her sister Drew (also a first year) the past couple weeks.
Mathapelo, the most tender love for Jesus flows from her lungs when she leads her peers in worship, i am so blessed by her friendship. her vibe is like Steffany Gretzinger. The same loving, humble surrender to Jesus.
Kels, being here with her has been so so cool. To see how much she has grown and surrendered and been built up in this place is so encouraging. She brings an extra dose of peace with the ridiculous giggling we get into and her care for me and Zubie.
Cass, she’s always prepped for a cuddle. Her and Tan have been an NB soft spot to land for years, and I’m so glad I get to see them whenever I want now! <3
(More pics and people next time)