The Semester is Over!!!!

Last night as I sent my final exam that is worth 60% of my grade to my Professor I did a little happy dance and had a beer. It was a huge relief. Mostly because I was really stressed out out this exam. I've never taken a class where so much rides on one test. But it's over and now all i can do is wait for grades to come out. Which I am pretty excited about because for once I think I did fairly well. In my undergrad years I didn't really care to much about grades, this time around I have really put in the effort so I am hoping to do well.

I must say even with all the work and the complaining that I have done this semester it has been one of the best times of my life. I have meant some of the most amazing people. I have this immediate group of friends who are awesome. We have really intense discussions, we commiserate about why where are here, and we laugh A LOT! Then there are a lot of different people who I don't see as often but are fun, and supportive and just great.

The classes have been good too. I am one of the few people who liked my public practice of theology class. We had wonderful discussion in our precept. My old testament class was interesting. I realized that I really did learn a great deal. Research and writing I could have done with out but I did put together a bibliography of sources on postmodernism and somewhere done the line I think that will be helpful.

It has been an interesting time with the friends and family that came along prior to seminary. My parents I think have their ups and downs with what to d0 with this whole going to seminary and going into the ministry thing. Recently they have been great about it. I think they are starting ti get it. And most people who have been through this say they will never totally get that. Which is nothing new to me, my parents often don't fully get me. However, this time is very different. I think they are starting to understand more that this is more then just a job this is more then just a master's degree. My friends are having more of a struggle with it. Most of my friends are really religious so they aren't quite sure what this means. How they are supposed to act around me, etc. I in the beginning kept saying I'm still me. And I am, but I can feel the changes that are happening. I feel that the changes are really good. I just feel bad because I can the end of some of my friendships coming. Not that they will end completely just not be as strong or as present. I'm just not sure how mush of that has to do with seminary and how much of it has to do with just the passing of time. Don't get me wrong there have been some great times. And my church has been awesome with their support of me. I truly knows what it means to have a church family

My relationship with God just feels great. Sometimes to be honest I get caught up in school and strayed away, but getting back hasn't been a problem. I can feel God with me so much of the time. It's an amazing experience for me.

So far so good. This has just been an awesome semester!

Letter of the alphabet Meme

Melissa gave me the letter P so here are my 10 ferrite things begin with the Letter P. If you want to play drop me a comment and I'll give you a letter...

1. Paella.. best Spanish dish ever
2. Pillar candles
3. Peanut butter.. especially with chocolate
4. Pillows... trust me I use it as often as I can
5. Pizza... i can't wait for marino's pizza when I'm home
6. Pastors.. cause I have so many cool pastor types in my life
7. planes ... especially if I'm going someplace fun
8. phones.. my cell phone is great
9. presents.. both giving and receiving
10. pugs.. they are the only little dogs I like

Guatemala Trip

This is an e-mail I sent out to many of my friends and family if there are any out there in the cyber community who would like to contribute please leave me a message and I'll e-maill you the address where you can send contibutions.

Hi all,

Sorry for the mass e-mail but I wanted to tell you all about my mission trip to Guatemala and give you an opportunity to participate.

As part of my course requirements at Drew Theological school we have to have go on a cross cultural trip. I have chosen to go to Guatemala. I am excited to be able to use my Spanish skills and experience another culture.

This particular trip happens to be a United Methodist Volunteer in Mission trip (VIM). For those of you not familiar with the United Methodist Church VIM trips occur in many countries and in the Untied States. On these trips VIMs do work rebuilding or building in communities, working in schools, feeding/helping poverty stricken groups, etc. Often these trips take place in communities that are already Christian, and we do not go in with a goal of converting people and changing or destroying their culture, which is the vision some have of mission trips. We are just as willing to help non-Christians as we are Christians.

I have attached a list of items that we are brining with us to the orphanages and medical clinics that we will be visiting on the trip. The great thing is that we aren't just sending this stuff to some warehouse somewhere or to some organization where we hope it will get to the people that need it. I will be physically bringing the contributions to the facilities. If you can not donate the actual items and would like to send or give a monetary donation so that I may purchase items to contribute that would be great too.

I know it is the holidays and there are a lot of opportunities to give. If can not participate in this I fully understand.

Please feel free to pass this opportunity on to others who you think may wish to participate.

I will be leaving for the trip on Jan 6th. I will be willing to pick any items you may wish to contribute or you may send them to me.

Thank you so much in advance!

Happy Holidays

Peace and Blessing,

Kristen

Here is the wish list:

WISH LIST FOR GUATEMALA NOVEMBER 2006 TRIP:

Each time we visit the Guatemala National Methodist Church projects, we bring supplies and equipment for their use. Here are the items requested or useful for each project, which we would like to take with us when we leave in November:

I. Los Romeritos, Guatemala City (not a GMC project):

clown make-up, wigs, costumes etc

Children’s vitamins

Shampoo, tooth brushes, tooth paste.

Creme for scabies treatment

Tylenol for children

Digital thermometer

Cough medicine for children

Manual in Spanish for craft projects

II. Salud y Paz Medical Clinic in Camanchaj:

Visine or other over-the-counter for eyes

Anti-acids (tums etc)

Pepto Bismal

Monistat for vaginal yeast infections

Cough syrup for children and adults

Naproxine (Advil or Ibuprofen)

Metronidazol 500 mg. (flagel)

Pepsid

Antibiotic creme

Desitin

Diaper rash medication

underware small sizes for women

III. Juan Ixtan, Patalup Medical Clinic:

Diabetic test strips for Accu-Chek Advantage machine

Otoscope to examine ears

Bulk Vitamins, Kirkland from Costco: One-a-day, Vit. C.

IV. Hogar de Niños, San Sebastian de Lemoa

warm clothing for small children ages 0-17: underwear, socks, T-shirts and pants, jackets, sweaters, shoes (remember, 17-year-olds in Guatemala are the size of 13-year-olds in the US)

School supplies: pens, pencils, sharpeners, rulers, spiral notebooks, safety scissors, water colors, permanent markers, dry-erase markers, hole punches, folders, tape, tape holders, staple remover, stapler, staples, ruler, compass, protractor, tracing paper, Personal items: shampoo, tooth paste, soaps, tooth brushes, combs

Mixed emotions

So a couple of hours ago I finished my very last class of my first semester of Seminary. Now the only thing I have left to do school work wise for the rest of the semester is study and take my three hour old testament exam.

I really and truly have mixed emotion as this semester ends. I happy to get a break from all the reading and the paper writing. Yet it makes me realize just how fast this time really goes by. I keep thinking about how quickly I felt my four years of college when by ans seminary is only three years. I am already in that but I'm going to miss it stage. It's wired because sometimes we rush the semester along but honestly if I could go back and do it over again I think i would. I really am enjoying this. Not to say there aren't downs because there sure are. last wed I was talking about dropping out. But overall this experience has been everything i could have ever wished for.

blog thingy

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2 Done

Ok so two papers done and two to go.. and yes I'm on here procrastinating....

So any ideas of summer Jobs for the sem kid? I thought about doing camp but I don't think my summer classes end in time... suggestions will be appreciated


ok Two papers left to write I should leave the library at about 2am :-(

Stress...

SO I knew it was coming... Four papers due this week.. I got a good start on them this weekend, but I probably should have done more.

And I broke up with the long distance bf.. It was for the best but it doesn't make it any easier.

OK well I need to get to work... Prayers will be appreciated!