Dorm Wars

DORM WARS 2008

Simmons Hall, Victors

So last night I was involved in a campus-wide competition between the many dorms here at Lee. It was the craziest, most energetic, school-spirited event I've been to so far! Basically, every dorm has their own team, and they each choose a unique theme. Then they have to choreograph a dance, make decorations, design t-shirts and costumes, and prepare for the big night! (We actually went to a Walmart parking lot late at night to practice for the shopping cart race). Following the grand entrance (our dance....which by the way, was centred around our SIMMONS SPICE GIRLS theme!) there was an eating contest (cold hotdogs soaked in maple syrup), a shopping cart race, and an obstacle course. My knees are all bruised and rug-burned from diving through a 5-foot barrel. For the obstacle course we had to spin around 5 times with our forehead on a bat and then step through 4 pairs of tires (which is a very hilarious thing when you're super dizzy!), dive through the previously mentioned barrel, swing on a ropeswing from one platform to another, and then jump/propel yourself over a small wall. It was so fun! Our dorm ended up winning both awards that night....we got the Spirit Award and we won FIRST PLACE for female dormitories!!! Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We got medals, a trophy, and our hall will be put up on the Dorm Wars banner in the arena. Then, after the event, we all ran around campus military-style (in a line) shouting and screaming. It was crazy!! I attached a link so you can see more pictures. :0)

Other than that, I have been quite perplexed with life lately. Please pray for me as I try to make some adjustments to my life. I have also been tired a lot too. Plus, half the whole campus is sick (you think I'm joking - I am not!! Classes are bare, as so many students are sick in bed with the flu), so please pray for health for everyone. It's all about handwashing, just like my mother would say.

Well everyone, I love you all. It's supposed to snow here in Cleveland tonight (supposedly). Two days ago it was around 15 degrees Celcius. I don't do well with drastic weather changes like this. But anyways.... talk to you soon! Blessings in Christ! (p.s. my roommate is in the middle of the bottom picture; her name is Lindsey). 

Convocation

Hello everybody,
This week is Convocation Week at Lee; basically, we still have our regular schedule for classes, but profs are told not to assign exams/quizes/projects for us. We have 1-2 chapel services each day, and this 4-day event gives everyone on campus the opportunity to take time to focus on the Lord. It's great!

My parents are in Mexico, and, by the way, did not extend an invite to their favourite daughter who would looooove a break from school (no bitterness, honestly), and supposedly they're having fun soaking up the sun. I bet. Who wouldn't, eh?

The weather here is continually warming up, and it is really nice out today. On Saturday I almost fell asleep on a porch swing in the sun. Mmm..

Good news! Kyle submitted a photo he took in Mozambique to National Geographic, and it was featured in their "Daily Dozen" online! Isn't that great? You can check it out at: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/yourshot/daily-dozen/daily-dozen.html (it's January, Week 3...it's a Black and White picture of a child's eyes through a fence).

Anyways, I'm about to catch a quick nap, so I will talk to you all later!

Happy February!

- Chattanooga, TN -

I don't know if any of you can sympathize with me on this one, but can you believe it's February already? Sometimes I feel that time passes slowly, but it's like all of a sudden it's a new month. Hmmm.... just another sign that I'm getting old. Haha.

This week was pretty simple - a lot of work but a lot of learning. Also, last night I was able to learn how to play raquet-ball with some friends I met at the courts here on campus. What a great sport that is! I think if I'm going to play it on a regular basis I should invest in a good pair of eye goggles. If the ball can give you bruises on your body I wonder what it could do to your face/eyes. Scary thought.

It's been raining a lot here lately, and it's hard to beat the dreary winter blues. It could be worse I guess, as we usually have sunshine when it's not raining. No snow this week in Cleveland, TN.

I really don't know what more to say! If you could keep a few prayer requests in mind that would be greatly appreciated. First, there's a little girl in Kentucky (I don't know her personally) and doctors discovered two tumours in her brain a few weeks ago; she celebrated her 13th birthday last week. Also, my roommate Lindsey's dad back at home in North Carolina is having some severe health issues, and she's actually gone home this weekend to see him. So if you could just pray for God's hand to heal and restore, that would be amazing. I forget sometimes that in the Lord's prayer Jesus said, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." We, as Christians (if you are a Christian), are part of a revolution that needs to be praying for things to happen on earth instead of waiting for everything to be made perfect in heaven. Remember that God hears you when you pray, and that "nothing is impossible for God" (Luke 1:37).

Have a blessed weekend everybody! Drive safely and enjoy the snow while it lasts.

~ Caitlyn