Fall 2014 Prayer Update

"Consecration of St. Augustine"
Cathedral Basilica, St. Augustine
St Augustine, Florida

It seemed like my summer went by at a blinding pace. And here’s why:

I kicked off my summer two days after my Hebrew final exam by visiting St. Simon Island in Georgia, attending a wedding in Jacksonville, FL, and catching up with a friend in Pensacola Beach, FL. After a week of traveling, I returned to Maryland from Birmingham within a few days and was in Salisbury, MD soon afterwards for ten weeks with Rev. Stephen Hause at In His Hands Deaf Ministry with Cross Pointe Church of Nazarene (explore its awesome Facebook page too!) to complete my final credit for Ministry Leadership Practicum (a.k.a. internship). During the course of my internship, I traveled to Louisville, KY for the 21st Century Deaf Church Colloquium and was also able to spend some quality time with my family and friends (much more compared to the previous two summers).

Summer 2014 Prayer Update

What has God accomplished in my life, and what will He do with in the next few months? Read my summer prayer update letter to find out!

Back in the land of sweet tea, barbecue, and football…

The past nine months has been, quite frankly, overwhelmingly busy (although amazing)! I took ten classes this past year (five per semester – for a total of 28 credits, or almost 1/3 of all credits to complete my M.Div. degree!) in addition to completing a 10-weeks summer internship in Cleveland, OH with Grace Christian & Missionary Alliance Church’s Signs of Grace Deaf ministry. While I passed all of my classes (I got the highest semester GPA ever this past Spring, and I was elated!) and completed my internship on a great note (here are some pictures from Signs of Grace’s Classic Car Show, Soul Surfer Dinner Night, Deaf Chat & Beach Party, and Summer Family Fun Night events, and also Signs of Grace’s first-ever Deaf Worship service), I was worn out by the time August rolled around and needed a bit of vacation. I was happy to see my family for a short time before heading back to the Deep South to start my third year at Beeson Divinity School. The picture on the left was taken on my first day of classes; as you can see, it was a drop-dead gorgeous (but hot) day!

March Prayer Update

I am on my Spring Break right now, but I'm nowhere near a beach! I'm staying in town because I need to finish several papers for my classes due next week. It is hard to believe that I am halfway through my semester, and it has been a busy one! In fact, so busy that I have not been able to find time to update you on what’s happening in my life through this blog. But here's my prayer update letter for you, my readers and prayer warriors!

Winter Prayer Update

At this moment, I am home sitting in my parents’ house’s family room under a blanket, surrounded by Christmas lights, as I happily write this prayer update letter to you, my valued readers.

Fall Prayer Update

Rest assured: I am still alive, and I know it has been a while since my last update. Since this is the first day of my thanksgiving break, I think it is probably time for me to let you know how things have been over the past few months.

Summer Prayer Update

Summertime has officially begun for me, and things are just starting to heat up in the Deep South! My first year of seminary is officially over, and I survived it! I even had the opportunity to show a piece of Birmingham to my sister who flew in town for a couple of days after my finals was done (see picture on the right taken at the Peanut Depot where they roast simply amazing peanuts). I just got back in town after a week-long vacation with my family in North Myrtle Beach, and my time with the family was a sweet one.

Turkey: Ministry and Missions in an Ancient Land

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I am almost finished with my first year at Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, AL (only 4 weeks remain until my final exams begin), and this past year has been an amazing one for me! I thank God daily for your constant prayers and words of encouragement as I dedicate this portion of my life to studies for future ministry to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

March Prayer Update

Tweet

Flowers are beginning to bloom in Birmingham, and spring is just around the corner! Although I didn’t take the picture on the left, this was taken by someone at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, a place I have visited on several occasions. I love to take a walk around the park and always find this time to be spiritually refreshing!

I am settled down with my studying habits at Beeson right now and have been enjoying all of my classes and a relatively mild winter weather common in the “the heart of Dixie”! While I do miss snow and cold winter weather, I have found this weather extremely beneficial for me to maintain my running and cycling hobbies. Not intending to draw any ire from my Northern friends, but I have not wore my winter coat once this winter in Alabama to this date and I am thrilled! :)

February Prayer Update

Tweet

My first semester is well underway, and I find myself in a familiar place once again: buried in my books. Since I am taking Old Testament (OT) Theology and New Testament (NT) Theology classes in addition to Greek Syntax and Translation and Reformation History and Doctrine this semester, I have to read every book of the Bible from Genesis to Revelations (66 books in 15 weeks is not a bad thing but is not a small feat!), in addition to new paradigms and verb tenses for Greek. Things are getting a lot harder (who said it would get easier?!), but rest assured: I am still loving seminary and the mild weather in the South! :)

I thought I would update y’all about two things: 1) what I have been thankful about over the past month and 2) how you can continue to pray for me in the near future.

January Prayer Update

I just arrived in Birmingham a couple of days ago after my four-week hiatus over Christmas, and I am refreshed and renewed to begin my new semester next Tuesday! In fact, I am looking forward to studying in Samford University’s Library once again.