recklessly dreaming

I’ve got 4 gmail invites left if anyone wants to try it and hasn’t had a chance. I enjoy it. Some bloggers got a chance earlier (how I got mine) but not everyone. Just let me know.

Yes thats right we are currently in a flash flood (more than 6 inches had fallen an hour and a half ago) and a tornado watch. The tornado sirens were on earlier tonight- twice. I missed the tornado because I was in the elder’s meeting (no need to insert a comment here thank you very much). My mapquest atlas has come in handy tonight as I learned more about the geography of Kansas.

On a fun night - the road to my house here looked like a scene out of a horror movie - the windy road, trees (and no visible houses) lining both sides of the road and in front, rain falling hard on the windshield, and lightening crashing in front of my truck slightly lighting up the sky. It made me chuckle and double check the locks.

I promise not to double post things here that I post on my other site on a regular basis. However, it was easier to give the general update just this once (ok - well maybe it will happen again). But here is exclusive jenrogers.blogspot.com material: From reading the title you might have some questions or be scratching your head (and not because of head lice - which I hope you don’t have). This last week there were two dead pigs in our upstairs bathtub in preparation for the Luau. I am glad to say that they are no longer here - and we have leftover pork in multiple freezers in the campus center.

On another happy note Fraggle Rock has come to DVD! I found it at Wal-Mart last night ($9.97) and I got to watch part of it this morning. It contains the first two episodes (combined into one), a bonus FR episode, and a bonus non-FR episode. In even more exciting news - there are plans for even more to be arriving on DVD this October and then even more in the spring. I am excited and remember the days when HBO was free and you had to sneak additional Jell-o pudding pops from the freezer.

I am now a part of a congregation with a membership smaller than the size of my section at Highland. As the elder I am living with said it last night - their (Highland) contribution in 3-4 weeks is more than our entire annual budget. (He and his wife visited Highland while taking their youngest to ACU for his freshman year.) I am thinking through several things as I get accustomed to a shift in culture. I have been apart of some exciting dreaming for the future times. When my mind is less mush I will possibly reflect more on the church here and my role in it – but not today. For now there is an application to Harding to get complete online and Fraggle Rock to watch before the elders meeting at 7.

Thanks for all of your support as I have been transitioning from completing my Masters at ACU to moving to Manhattan, KS to work with the Cats for Christ campus ministry at K-State University. I have now been in Manhattan for nine days. Along the 600 mile trip, I went through 2 Abilenes, 2 Wichitas, several toll roads, and three states. I am still getting settled in here. I am living with a family (the Townsends) who ironically enough were taking their youngest son to ACU the same weekend I was coming into town.

This last week has been busy here with the start of classes this week. We have been going strong since last Wednesday. In addition to returning students, we have had almost twenty new students involved with our ministry. Our welcome back activities continue through this week.

Currently, I am taking a break from typing up my notes from my sessions at our small group training last week for a supplemental handout. I am also working on the next two bible studies that I will be leading with our women. This semester we are studying being a woman of influence – looking at the ways that Jesus influenced, taught, and mentored others. I am leading the first two weeks as we look at spending time alone with God – the first week will be spend on prayer and the second on solitude and silence.

Last night we had our Pizza, Planning, and Praise – a time of discussion about the upcoming year and ways that people can be involved both with the ministry and the church. It was the last thing on the agenda for my marathon day. (I was at the church of 11 hours and 45 minutes straight yesterday.)

Tonight I attend my first Manhattan elders meeting. There are six elders here plus the ministry staff (the preacher, campus minister, the two campus ministry apprentices, and the campus ministry intern). I will be the first woman to regularly attend these meetings.

Please be in prayer for our college students as they transition back into college life, more specifically pray for those students and families at KSU and colleges across the nation who are spending time on their own for the first time.

- Jen

I made it into Manhattan, KS after midnight last night. Today I have been sleeping, and moving, and eating, and sleeping some more. I drove around town to get myself familiar with the town and had dinner with some of the students and the other apprentice tonight. The family I am living with is now in Abilene dropping off their son who is now a freshman at ACU. I am tired but excited. K-State starts back up on Wednesday. I am currently looking to see when church starts tomorrow - I think it is at nine but i want to be sure I am going to catch up on the news of the day, shower and get some sleep.