Oh Texas!

Oh boy, oh boy! Its been so long since I've given an update! I'm sorry!

Let's see, first things first.
I love Texas! It is so beautiful on this campus!! Its like over 400 acres! And we really only use about 5! the back 40 (which is deceiving because its actually the back 400) has obstacle courses, fire pits, a huge area for bonfires! We have a pool with water slide, a cafeteria with food that is slowly getting better :), and lots of lounge areas for hanging out! Plus our auditorium is designed after an Indiana Jones movie!

The town is really small! The total population is like the population of Summerfield! But we stay on campus most times since hardly anyone has a car, and the population on campus is like 700 or something!

I room with 4 other girls, part of my core; Adriana, Alee, Amy, and Chantelle. The rest of my core lives next door; Emily, Jasmine, Karina, Lyndsey, and Tauri. And then our core advisor or CA, Sarah who lives across the hall. We also have our brother core, James, Chris, Landon, Elliot, Eli, Steve, Evan, Richie, Josh, Auston and Sam, who already quit the HA. Our brother core is a core of young men who we go through this year with. We do family parties, movie nights, dinner, trips to Wal-mart....everything. At the HA, This is our family.

My schedule has been super packed! For the first 5 weeks we got up before the sun @ 4:30am for corporate exercise 4-5 days a week. We have classes Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, plus home work. Work Monday-Friday. Church off-campus on Sunday and on-campus on Wednesday, and then special events whenever we can fit them in!


We just finished ESOAL, which should be a completely different post but I'll say what I have to say. First lemme break somethings down so you will understand the language! :)

ESOAL- Emotionally, Stretching, Opportunity of, A, Lifetime.

Ring-out- Quit, leave, finish... You ring a large bell to let everyone know that you are ending your ESOAL. It could be because it was too hard, because you feel like God is telling you to stop, or for a medical issue.

Platoon- group of 5-10 interns who stick together and hold each other accountable during ESOAL

Company- 5-7 Platoons, who stick together and work together during ESOAL.

BAR- Burial and Resurrection, when you bury your flesh and the feelings of sadness and self-pity and are resurrected with Joy and the desire to help others

ESOAL was THE hardest thing I have ever done! I was only able to stay for about 29 hours because of my back but it is very emotional! I cried....a lot. About everything! Lol. At first I cried because I felt like I was holding my platoon back, then I cried because I realized I wasn't, then because people were telling me that I was an inspiration because I was giving my all. And then I cried the most when I had to ring-out. I wanted so bad to finish! And I know I would have if I didn't have the injury to my back! But it was hard because I had just reached BAR the point where I had joy, I did everything with joy, not that it was all fun, but I had joy in my heart and I could encourage others and then I had to stop. It was wise because of the problems I have with my back but it was still hard. Definitely rewarding.. and I learned that God WILL carry you! I wanted to quit, I was in pain, I wanted sleep, I wanted to talk to my mom! :) But God gave me the strength! He used people to encourage me the way I needed to be encouraged. It was intense knowing everything that was happening, everything that God was showing me.

I miss you all! So much! I'll be home for Christmas and I'm looking forward to home cooked food! :)
I have so many people I want to see! I cant wait!

Welllllll, There's so much more but I've been sitting here for 2 hours trying to write this...of course facebook is a big distraction which took up most of my time but still...

Next time I get a chance I want to tell you about my ministry placement (job) and my classes!


-Danielle
xoxo