You are currently browsing the monthly archive for September 2008.
On Wednesday, September 17 Chi Alpha hosted its first contact table in UVM’s Student Union. Our theme was “Stupid Human Tricks.” People could stop by the table to show off their special talent for a video camera and enter for a chance to win movie tickets for two. I was amazed by some of the things that people came up with! It was quite entertaining, and a great chance to meet more students. We’ll be posting the footage on Chi Alpha’s website at chialphavt.com by the end of this week.
On Thursday, September 18 we hosted our second “Theology on Tap” study group at Brennan’s Pub in the Student Union. The turn-out for the first one on the 11th was a bit disappointing since only two people, a student and a non-student, showed up. Ironically, just down the hall from us the very popular UVM Outdoors Club had at least 200 students in attendance at their first and only Thursday meeting of the semester.
So, we decided to give Theology on Tap one more chance and worked on spreading the word a bit more with people we’d already met. Well, last week five freshmen guys showed up and actively participated in group discussion. We’d personally invited four of the five guys, and the fifth guy came because he’s friends with the other guys. The guys enjoyed the gathering, and by the end of the night it was agreed that Theology on Tap would become a men’s only gathering every Thursday night.
One of the guys who is becoming a consistent face in Chi Alpha is a Christian who is originally from Nigeria. He relocated with his family to New York just a couple of years ago, and this is his first semester at UVM. Last week at Theology on Tap he told the group that since moving to UVM he hasn’t been praying as much as he used to. He realized this when he had to go to the UVM health clinic. At one point the doctor said he might need surgery for his condition. The doctor left the room and our friend immediately called his dad and they started praying. When the doctor came back in, he told our friend that the condition wasn’t as serious as was first thought and prescribed medicine instead. Our friend took the experience as a lesson to not forget the importance prayer now that he’s at UVM.
This Friday night I’m (Rachel) planning to do a little banana bread baking in the dorms with a gal I’ve met. It’s been a bit of a challenge so far to connect the gals I’ve met with each other. Please pray that friendships would begin to form, and community would be created.
A couple days back in talking with good friends Chris & Akari Dollard, I realized that we hadn’t posted any news on our baby’s gender. We’re having a girl! So exciting! I’m currently taking prenatal aerobics classes at the Burlington YMCA. I’m meeting a lot of other expectant moms through the class, which is really nice. Most of the other ladies are due just a month or so after me, but one lady in the class is overdue by a week. She’s still coming to class and hoping all the movement will get that baby going!
On Sept 8, 08 Chi Alpha hosted its first Renaissance meeting of the semester with 11 students attending with a total of 15 present. Most of the students who came were people Joe and I had met during opening weekend at UVM, plus 3 students from Champlain College. Champlain college is a small private college of 3,000 next door to UVM. Yesterday, Sept 15 Chi Alpha hosted its second Renaissance of the semester with 9 students, with a total of 14 attending. 4 of the students who came on the 15th were visiting for the first time!
At Renaissance we give everyone a free copy of Brian McLaren’s book A Search for What is Real, which is the first part of a two part book series that provides a guide in learning how to believe. There’s a freshman who’s come to both of these meetings and has already read through the entire book! He was asking us last night if we could give him the second part!
Joe and I are finding that our biggest challenge isn’t getting the attention of students- the real challenge is spreading ourselves out enough to relationally connect and follow-up with everyone we’re meeting. At points we have to remind ourselves that there’s only so much that 2 people can do!
Last Saturday, Sept 13 Joe led a hike with 4 gal students up Camel’s Hump. The hike was too intense for me, so I did some other work instead. Joe loved the hike, although he was pretty worn out afterwards! He’s not the spring chicken he used to be.
Overall, we are encouraged by the progress that we’re making. Chi Alpha is well on its way to having enough students involved to become an officially recognized SGA student club at UVM.
Joe and I are both working long hours to really be as present as possible on campus. Sometimes we get a bit tired and overwhelmed by all the things that we could do. There’s so many great opportunities to connect with students here! Yet, we’re constantly feeling the constraints of just being at the very beginning where we don’t have tons of “helpers” yet.
I’m so thankful that God’s given us help with worship at Renaissance through our friend Scott Ranney. I can’t even imagine having to facilitate worship at Renaissance on top of everything else:-). It wouldn’t be (sound) pretty!
Hiking Camel's Hump
Some Folks at Renaissance
After Chi Alpha’s Mug Shots event on Sunday, Aug 31st, Joe and I (Rachel) spent most of the rest of the week seeking to follow-up with all of the students who wanted to know more about Chi Alpha. This was a challenge since we started with only three contacts with students living in the dorms who were willing to escort us around as we made some visits to people’s rooms. At UVM, as on most campuses, all the dorms are locked for security purposes, and visitors must be escorted by dorm residents. Gladly, as the week progressed we met other students who were willing to escort us so that we could follow-up on people. This was a definite blessing!
I started my Student Affairs class on Tuesday, which is called “The (Un)Changing Academy.” There are many Residence Hall directors in my class and it’s very interactive. I’m enjoying making knew connections as well as the coursework! I’m a bit concerned that I won’t be able to fit in my desk by December!
Last Friday we took a group of UVM students to Church St. for Ice Cream. We stopped at two shops and then went down to Lake Champlain for awhile. We really enjoyed the chance to facilitate a little group bonding as people began opening up and letting there guard down. It was lots of fun.
Tonight marks the start of our weekly worship gathering with a meal. It’ll go from 7:00-8:30pm on UVM’s campus at Dewey Lounge in Old Mill. A local Christian owned pizza parlor has cut us a good deal on pizza for the semester. Area churches will be providing the side items such as salad, beverages, and dessert to go with the pizza. Tonight, Rilda Corriveau of United Christian Assembly in Jericho, VT will be providing those items.
Please pray for tonight- most of all that students would feel welcomed and accepted. Secondly, that all the details would work together for God’s glorious purposes.
Joe and I are both really tired and really happy about all that took place this last weekend! As mentioned below, on Friday we helped with Freshmen Move-In day at UVM. We had three others helping us and we spent all of our time on the Athletic Campus. On Saturday Chi Alpha hosted a table at UVM’s Class of 2012 picnic. We gave away Chi Alpha Karibiners and a chance to enter to win a free Kona acoustic guitar plus lessons that would be given away at our Sunday Night party called Mug Shots. Some Christian business owners in New Hampshire donated the guitar to us. 40 students signed up for more information about Chi Alpha. A couple of students told us that we had the best (looking) table at the picnic!
Saturday night found us asking two students who we already knew if they would be willing to help us visit those that signed up. Joe and Alma visited students in the dorm region called Trinity Campus. Katherine and I visited students in the dorm region called Redstone. We gave everyone we visited a free Chi Alpha Sigg style water bottle, Chi Alpha flier, and a personal card written by us. We have yet to follow-up on students who live in the dorm regions called Central and Athletic Campus!
On Sunday morning we brought an exchange student from South Africa to church with us, and met another UVM student named Lee who was sitting behind us. We got to hang out with them for a bit after service, and then preparations began for Chi Alpha’s Mug Shots party that night in the Student Union at UVM.
I’ve got to say how thankful we are for our volunteers! John and Elvia Atherton of Community Bible Church were gracious enough to help us with set-up and facilitating all the yummy food stuff that went in the mugs. Steve Bent also helped with set-up and was just his usual friendly self with everyone. Abbie and Scott Ranney also helped with transporting stuff to the event and set-up. Scott also contributed his Guitar Hero game for entertainment and Abbey helped facilitate the giving away of mugs.
We received donations for the event from Coca-Cola, New Moon cafe, and Starbucks.
There were about 150 students who passed through our event, and the mood was really festive. Some of the students that we had visited the night before brought a bunch of friends along with them to the party. We had free food, free mugs donated by area-wide churches, give-aways including a Kona guitar, games including guitar hero, pool tables, Fooz Ball, and a chance to make new friends. As one guy was leaving, he came up to me and said, “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I can’t think of anything else to say but thank you! Words cannot express how I feel right now!”
A gal told Abbie that she was her new best friend for giving her a mug. One student told Joe that it’s been hard for him to meet people, and he was so appreciative of this chance to get out of his room and get to know some other students. About ten new students signed up for more info on Chi Alpha.
So now it’s Monday and the next step for us is to visit all the students who expressed interest in Chi Alpha! Please pray for us as we think creatively about how to effectively follow-up on all the connections we’ve made. We’re so thankful for your prayers and encouraging words that have been with us through it all.
The Chi Alpha Table at UVM
Mug Shots Guitar Winner
Fun at Mug Shots
