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Yesterday Joe and I helped move freshmen into their residence halls at UVM. We had three people who helped: Abbey Ranney, and Nate and Casey Butler. While about 2400 freshmen were moving in at UVM, Champlain College and St. Mike’s were also welcoming their first-year students. We were so glad to help at UVM, and we met tons of people.
Joe noticed that in one of the halls an RA had designed a bulletin board called “Got Faith” which highlighted all the campus ministries at UVM. A couple of weeks back, during our presentation to the directors of residential life, Joe and I had specifically mentioned this idea as a way for res life to become an advocate of spiritual life on campus.
The afternoon of move-in day can be one of the loneliest times for a first-year student. They’ve said their goodbye’s to parents and old friends , and now they’re just hanging out in their rooms. There’s really nothing to do until dinner with their RA and floor.
Our hope is that one day the Chi Alpha community at UVM would become a real presence of friendship during times like these. Today we’ll be representing Chi Alpha at the Class of 2012 picnic! We’ll have free Karibiners and a chance to win a guitar + lessons. We’ll also be promoting our Mug Shots party that’s taking place tomorrow. Please pray that above all else, students will experience the amazing love of Christ through the accepting friendship of Chi Alpha at UVM.
Joe Lifting a Body Bag
Chi Alpa Move-In Crew
This week marks a first for Chi Alpha in Vermont. We’re having our first team meeting on Wednesday night to make signs and talk about Chi Alpha’s upcoming events. Then on August 29th, Chi Alpha will help with freshmen move-in at UVM. August 30th is Class of 2012 picnic at UVM and we’ll have a table there and a chance to win a new guitar plus lessons. We have aluminum Chi Alpha water bottles and Karabiners to give out. And on Sunday, August 31st we’ll sponsor a party called Mug Shots in the Davis Student Center. So exciting!
On Thursday, August 21st Chi Alpha participated in a Scavenger hunt for all 129ish Residential Advisers at UVM. Residential Advisers (aka RA’s) are college students who work in the residence halls and have the awesome yet challenging job of being camp counselor types to their residents. Both Joe and I (Rachel) served as RA’s during our undergrad years and it’s definitely lots of fun, but it’s also quite the responsibility. The RA’s arrive at the beginning of the semester before other students to decorate their halls, catch up with their supervisors and colleagues, and receive job training. RA’s tend to be highly motivated, people oriented, and compassionate. Two of the hardest aspects of the job are disciplining your residents and the planning and executing of hall programs.
Joe worked really hard to network with the Residential Life department so that the campus ministries could participate in this scavenger hunt which familiarizes RA’s with the campus resources which they can refer to their residents. It was great fun meeting all of the RA’s and giving them information about Chi Alpha. We especially let them know about hall programming topics that we could help with. We also gave them Chi Alpha “mood magnets” because it seemed like something an RA would appreciate. They loved it!
We were encouraged that several RA’s had heard about Chi Alpha. That’s no small thing seeing as that we’re a new group on campus! Also, some RA’s seemed really open to posting information about spiritual life programs on campus. One RA told me, “I know for sure that I’m going to post at least one Religion poster on my floor!” It may seem like a small thing, but an RA willing to post a “Religion” poster becomes an advocate for students seeking spiritual life during their college years. With 80% of churched youth falling away from Christ in college, every little bit can help.
Last week Joe and I found out that we are going to have a girl! The mid-pregnancy ultrasound was pretty amazing to see. We got some snapshots of her profile and little limbs, hands and feet. Happily, she has all 20 digits!
August marks our official launch at the University of Vermont. We will do everything we can to offer hope, meaning, and belonging to these future teachers, politicians, doctors, writers, filmmakers, and businessmen. Will you pray with us and for us? Will you pray for Chi Alpha during this strategic time of the school year? Pray that a foundation is laid so students will be reached at UVM for generations to come. Here are some highlights of the coming month:
August 6th: We met with all residence hall directors and their administrators to present during their day of diversity and equity training. We shared about the mission of Chi Alpha, the spiritual needs of today’s students, and how they could be an ally in their spiritual development. This was a strategic meeting, as the residence halls are in many ways the center of campus life.
August 21st: We will participate in Resident Advisor (peer counselors in the residence halls) training to share about Chi Alpha and to raise awareness of resources for the spiritual needs of their students. We hope relationships will be built that will allow for future dorm talks, parties, and opportunities to meet and care for students.
August 29th: Move-in Day! Chi Alpha will be helping students move into their residence halls. We’ll be carrying boxes, unloading cars, and welcoming thousands of freshmen to UVM.
August 30th: Freshman Picnic. We’ll be hosting a table, raffling off a guitar, handing out Chi Alpha swag, meeting
students, and inviting anyone and everyone to Chi Alpha.
September 2nd: The first day of classes and our opening year party called “Mug Shots.” There will be free food (served in mugs, of course), live music, wacky games, and the opportunity to begin friendships that we hope will last for years.
September 8th: Our first worship gathering of the year. There will be a free meal, a short talk, and good discussion. This semester we will be focusing on ‘Big Questions’ – the life-forming questions we ask God and that God asks us.
September 10th: Student Activities Fair. We’ll be joining all of UVM’s student clubs as we get the word out about our community. We’ll be handing out free pizza, more Chi Alpha swag, and sharing our hearts and mission with all of UVM’s students.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and financial support. You have made this new beginning possible! Together we are impacting the campuses of New England.
