So often, our tendency is to want to help people immediately after a tragedy, and then our interest wanes. Men of S.W.A.G. however, provided us wit a reminder tonight that Haiti still needs our help.

I have a few good friends from Haiti, and as such, when the Men of S.W.A.G asked me to write a poem for this event, I agreed. The resulting poem was an exploration of my own feelings as well as an invitation for people to explore their own.

The concert was a benefit concert, and one of the musical groups on campus called Persona had already sold about 200 cds and donated half the profits from cds to Haiti relief efforts. Tonight though, they presented the audience with a song specifically about Haiti. It was beautiful to see people giving of their time and effort to take time out and recognize that the country is not yet rebuilt and to help others realize that there is work to do still.

My schedule is always chaotic. I operate well under pressure so I tend to schedule myself tightly that I might add some tension in my schedule. Monday’s schedule, however, was downright ridiculous! I had dance practice, a poem to write and rehearse for a performance the next day, an interview to conduct, a book to read, work to do, working out to do…I felt a little overwhelmed. And then the sun came out.

And rather than a pathetic fallacy (when the environment/weather mirrors the moods of an individual), my mood changed. In fact, I took some time to lay out in the sun with friends and to play around at dinner. And it was good. It was exactly what I needed to de-stress on that Magnificent Monday. Sometimes, I realize that in the midst of things, college is just as much about the people you meet and the friendships you build as it is about the projects you hand in and the speakers you hear. It’s a journey. Enjoy the ride!

I’ve never really been in trouble, and so when the state trooper signaled for me to pull over, I panicked. I pulled over, but with a few friends in the car I went through a range of reactions. I swore first, something I rarely do. Then I prayed. Then I decided that even if I got a speeding ticket, I deserved it. I’d known I was speeding, and it came from a desire similar to that of most students-get home quick!

Well, $127 later, I’ve learned a valuable lesson. I got home even later than I’d planned, but it didn’t matter. I was happy to be home. I always miss my family terribly when I’m away, and it was so good to see them.

Friday morning, I relaxed, watched movies, went to renew my license in lieu of my upcoming 21st birthday, and hung out with one of my best friends. Saturday, I got a haircut and did homework.

Sunday was my favorite. I returned to Friendship Mennonite Church, my home church, and got to see all of the people I miss so much. One of my pastors is pregnant with she and her husband’s third child, and one of my favorite couples is also expecting. It was such a joy to see new life on its way for Easter.

Christ’s resurrection is about the new life that we as Christians can have in him. The new life growing inside the wombs of women I love is about God’s creative ability, and the way in which he always seems to be able to offer new birth and new life. Christ is risen. Indeed.

Goshen College’s own Voices in Harmony Gospel Choir (of which I am a member) will participate in the event. We will be singing four selections. I’m pretty excited. I am promising to take pictures (not only of our singing) but of the greater First Friday event.

Also taking place tomorrow is dance practice for the rapidly approaching International Student Coffeehouse. Coffeehouse is definitely a “must attend” event. The group I’m in is dancing to “The Lord’s Prayer” based on the movie “Sarafina”.

This weekend will prove to be a busy one, but a great one nonetheless. My friends and I have made plans to go see Alice in Wonderland in 3D, and the forecast is calling for a few more days of warm, sunny weather-the kind that’s well-missed in gloomy Goshen.

With that, my friends and I decided that we should enjoy the weather-even if we have to study in it. Granted, this is no outdoor volleyball or basketball, no Frisbee match nor anything anywhere near as fun, but the sun will improve our moods, as well as maybe motivate us to continue our homework…or provide us with a needed distraction

At any rate, I hope your weather is as great as ours (or better), and your homework load is lighter.

On every college campus there are problems with drugs or alcohol. GC isn’t like most schools, but there are still the occasional slip ups and lapses in judgment. My advice as a college student: Don’t do it. My advice as a Christian: don’t do it. My advice as someone who has been to parties and who has seen many of her friends mess up their lives: DON’T DO IT.

The reality of alcohol is this: it impairs your judgment, makes you do things that you will later regret, and is completely unnecessary to have a good time. It’s not what you see on Gossip Girl, nor is it what you see on almost anything else. It’s dangerous, and it’s addictive.

Many people have wondered about my commitment to live a life without alcohol, but few people have truly understood it-at least not until they’ve had a few huge slip ups. Understand me. Be real. Alcohol is a drug, it is not cool, it is not something to toy with. For some people, drinking in moderation will lead to much more. For others, maybe not. But why take the risk? Is it worth the lost night? Is it worth the damage you can do to another person? Is it worth a life? Live a life without alcohol. Realize that people do it. There’s fun without it, and that if you need alcohol to have a good time, the activity that you’re engaging in probably isn’t any good for you.

Make smart decisions because sometimes, you only get one chance. I am tired of seeing people get hurt by the liquid demon that plagues colleges across the U.S. I don’t want you to join that number.

GC has a commitment to community standards-one of which is to remain alcohol free. Take that seriously. If you can’t abide by it, don’t sign on the dotted line of the application. Get real about it. I’d encourage you all to have some serious talks with the people around you and figure out where you stand, lest you fall. Get real about your bodies. Get real about your lives. Get real about alcohol.

Grace and Peace

Jenn

As a college student, it’s easy to get busy and forget to seek God. At a Christian college, it’s easy to expect the work to be easier, but I’d venture to say that it’s even harder because your guard is down. There ARE opportunities for spiritual growth at Goshen, but it is up to us as individuals to take them.

As an MIP-er, I preached last Sunday, and I will be worship leading the next two Sundays. This is an awesome experience, one that I encourage you to consider!

I owe you guys lots of pictures. But first, I have to take some. Oh, and see you lovely people at convention in 2 weeks!!!

It’s May term! Birds are singing, the campus is glowing and the sun is warming the both the plants and the people of Goshen College. I love it. There’s something special about GC all year long, but May term magnifies its magnificence!

Things are going well. I had my first perfect academic semester at GC, and for May term, I’m taking astronomy. Astronomy is pretty sweet. I like the idea of star gazing for our homework, and our labs are super cool.

Since May term, I’ve been hanging out with friends, playing Dutch Blitz, frisbee, catch, volleyball, basketball, bike riding, and just laying out in the sun. In short, it’s been sweet. May term rocks the house.

I think belief and faith go hand in hand, and for that reason, I am appalled at the recent lack of faith that my peers have had in themselves and in others. The Bible says that with the faith of a mustard seed we can move mountains, and at times, assignments seem mountainous, especially when a low grade in that course could mean the end of a college career. I believe in my friends, and I will hope against hope that they will persevere. Goshen College is about change, it’s about making a difference, and I have watched these people change and grow in ways that can’t even be imagined. They are experiencing the joy of the journey in a way that is a little unorthodox, but they are, nevertheless, experiencing it.

With that said, allow me to update everyone on what’s going on in my life. My five courses are brutal, and with the end of semester, life is more difficult. I guess I need to apply some of that aforementioned faith to my own case. I now work in the Goshen College Library- what better place for the English major?

This summer, I am planning on exploring my faith and my spiritual gifts through Goshen’s Minsitry Inquiry Program. I will be completing a formal inquiry program through my home church-Friendship Mennonite, in Bedford Heights, OH. GC has a lot of different opportunities for students, so many, in fact, that I am continuously confused and pushed to challenge my decision making abilities as I learn how to say no to some things so that I can say yes to others.

I believe that there is value in learning difficult lessons, so I am doing my best not to complain as my successes and failures teach me different, but very important things, just like everyone else.

This Easter, my parents will be in Goshen with me celebrating the resurrection, I am exremely excited, as I haven’t seen them in over three months. I am also excited for this Easter because my birthday falls shortly afterward, and my friend has promised to try to change for my birthday. I believe that people can change, and that people want to change-but that they need the chance-or several chances to do so. I believe in the God of second, third, fourth, and hundreth chances. And as someone who is striving to imitate Christ, I believe that I need to extend that same grace. Praise be to the God of multiple chances, who loves us though we sin, but loves us too much to leave us there.

I didn’t finish all of the work I wanted to get done, but I did make a decent dent in it. I could finish it by the time school starts on Monday, but I will be in DC! Myself, several GC students and Paul Steury of GC’s nature oasis Merry Lea, will be going to D.C. for an environmental conference and protest. For anyone who believes that “going green” is the way, this event is not an option, it’s a must attend. We are destroying our planet at an alarming rate and Powershift ‘09 is a gathering of about 10-12000 people who care about the environment and the energy crisis and want to encourage the government to make a change. I am stoked-for lack of a better word. I am (supposed to be) cleaning and packing, but I had to stop and let you guys know. I will post pictures as soon as possible.