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An Overwhelming Blessing

Mallory Monday, October 17th, 2011

Hey everyone! This is my first blog post of this school year and it’s about time if I do say so myself!

Well I’m not a freshman anymore! (Not that there is anything wrong with being one..) It’s just that reflecting on “last year” (or 5 months ago), it was about time to be called a Sophomore! :)

Looking back at my Freshman experience, I am amazed. My last blog post included some of the events that we did throughout the year! To be honest, I do not know how I did it all! Freshman year is just like the one in high school, yet you are 5 years older and 5 years more experienced! You come trying to figure out where you best fit, trying to gain every single person as your best friend, and of course trying to find that “man” so you could get a ring by spring! Oh and of course, trying to balance that all with academics! But somehow I did it all… Except the ring! Still trying to work on that.. :P Looking back even know, I realized a lot of things I took for grantide. If I could give you advice, I would definitely recommend this. Engage in your classes. Make your fifty five minute to an hour and a half classes worth something to you. The pain of waking up for a 7:15AM or 8:05AM class will only last the semester.. but there could be worse! I engaged in some yet I regret not in others. So please take this advice to heart! Be eager to go to each and every one of your classes! Want to learn! Your brain is a powerful tool, utilize it!

So summer has come and gone as well as 5 or 6 (?) weeks of school!

I’m going to be really honest with you. I wish to be a Freshman again. I thought I would never want to say that! This semester is CHAOS! To start with.. I have enrolled myself in 6  classes (17 units) and I have a job on campus! And that’s pretty normal for a student around here! The problem I did was giving myself 4 BACK TO BACK classes on Tues/Thurs. I am in demanding lecture classes from 8:05AM-2:30PM.

-_________-

The piles of homework stack up each and every week. And it’s not just “busy work, it’s WORK WORK! Reflection journals, exegetical papers, business presentation, statistical analysis experiments, and of course just plain ‘ol health class! I truely am amazed with how I am handling myself. But to be honest, my roommate has the best cure for overwhelming stress, besides screaming out loud.. The best cure for stress is laughter :) And I could not be in a better place than my apartment with some of the funniest gals in the whole school!

Even though life is chaotic and it seems never ending, there is something much more important to look forward too. My focus on God has changed from year to year. Ever since I’ve come to APUit has been for the better! I truely can say that I see God working in each and every moment of my life. My faith has strengthened beyond ways that I never could have imagined! But I am no where even near perfect, or even have a “normal” faith; I still struggle everyday.

-Mal

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A Necessary Blog Post.

Megan Monday, October 3rd, 2011

If you want to get technical, my run as an APU blogger ‘ended’ over four(ish) months ago when our summer break began. However, after the life changing eight weeks I spent this summer in Tanzania I felt that this post was entirely necessary after talking so much about this trip in my previous blogs.

I don’t really know where to begin, that seems to always be the toughest part about talking about a trip that had as big of an impact as this one had on me. I traveled to Tanzania (South-Eastern Africa) and spent two months there with a team put together by both the Office of World Missions and more importantly, God. (He hand picked this team perfectly, might I add.)

Three of my favorite beautiful girls of Nkungi.

We spent about 5 weeks in Nkungi village where we did work assigned by the village leaders, taught at both a primary and secondary school, installed water filters, distributed food packets, built blocks for a teachers home at one of the primary schools, and loved like crazy on the beautiful kids that we spent endless time with.

The new playground we build in Singida Town, the primary (elementary) school kids were so excited. It was the first of its kind.

Then we spent about 2 weeks in Singida Town where we worked at a childrens community center where food was distributed to the children that couldn’t afford it (in exchange for them being educated). We had the blessing of constructing a playground which was unheard of there and also repainted and fixing up the entire building. The other 1 week of the trip was spent in travel time and debriefing on a safari.

Babuu. One of the amazing things we got to witness on this trip was his hatred and aggression toward us in the beginning, that in time turned to love and admiration.

I think that the most present things that God taught me during that time was that (1) fears are petty when compared to life lessons that can be learned. We think our fears are justified, until God uses those fears to bring himself glory. (2) Statistics on poverty, lack of clean water, hiv/aids, prostitution, and disease are REAL, not only are their faces behind them but there are stories and names behind them. (3) Love and grace speak infinitely louder than words. Just because you can’t speak fluently in a language doesn’t mean your impact is less valid. (4) Stepping out of your comfort zone is always worth it. (5) The Holy Spirit is as as REAL and ALIVE as God and Jesus are, pray for the Holy Spirit to work through you because He most definitely desires to and WILL. (6) We cannot be strong and we cannot spread God’s perfect love without the power of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Seek it.

All of our friends that we grew to be SO close with in Nkungi village. Blessed beyond words to know these people and call them my Nkungi family.

Basically, the point of this post is not to boast about what I was blessed enough to do this summer but rather to encourage you and to point the glory to God and let you know that He has great things in store for you! A year ago I would have never imagined that going into APU God would call me to this mission trip and this mission trip would lead to so many convictions and blessings. Trust God and trust that His plan is infinitely greater then your own. Allow your life to look differently then you thought it would.

Also, while I know that world mission trips are obviously not in God’s calling for everyone, I DO encourage you to seek out Focus International mission trips at APU and see if God is calling you to one. We are all called to be missionaries, some in their hometowns, some in Azusa, some in other states, and some globally. Seek out where God has called you as a missionary.

My amazing sisters and brothers in Christ that I got blessed to spend 2 months serving alongside.

A side note: If you are a new freshmen at APU, WELCOME. I cannot explain my excitement to see so many new faces around campus and to finally have campus filled after 3 weeks of Alpha Leader Training! I encourage you to seek out ministry opportunities at APU and pour yourself into others. One of the greatest things about APU is being handed so many options to serve others and glorify Jesus Christ.

And if you are reading this blog as a prospective student, I encourage you to do the same, except where you are at. Google away and search opportunities to serve and love on others. Trust me when I say that it is worth every second. Bringing glory to God, and purpose and joy to yourself.

God bless you all.

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Staying Connected to Your College Student

Jim Burns Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

Here’s some great news for parents of college students: Through the wonders of today’s technologies, there has never been a better time in history to keep in touch with your young adult.

Technology Rules!

Just a few short years ago, as the pace of technological change exploded, many parents chose a cautious approach to embracing the newest and latest in digital gadgets. But, times have changed. A recent study from the Barna Group indicated that today, parents are just as dependent upon technology as their children. Parents spend almost as much time as their kids using technology devices. More importantly, most parents believe that technology has been a positive influence on their families. And so, most parents should find it easy to utilize today’s technologies as helpful tools in staying connected with their kids who are away at college.

The Toolkit

It’s exciting to know that a parent’s technology toolkit for staying connected to college students is already large and always expanding. Here are some tools parents can use today:

Texting. When my daughters were in college, for a time, I used to attempt to call them on my cell phone. Many of my calls went unanswered and I often waited…and waited…and waited for a return call. Frustrating! Then, I decided to try contacting them through texting. Bingo! The girls found it much easier to send a simple and timely text message reply. I learned my lesson and began to focus on texting.

Texting is an easy way to send short messages to let your sons and daughters know you love them and are thinking about them. On today’s smart phones, you can send pictures via text message to keep your college student up to date with what’s going on back home.

I find that texting is best suited for lighter and encouraging messages rather than for handling more serious issues. (“Fluffy died 2day” or “PLEASE EXPLAIN ASAP HOW YOU COULD CHARGE $1,000 IN LAST 2 DAYS” are not texts you should send!)

Phone. Most collegians have their cell phones near them 24/7. But remember, phone conversations require much more engagement for your son or daughter than texting. Don’t be surprised when your young adult doesn’t answer your call or get back to you promptly! Still, person-to-person conversations are valuable and absolutely will help you to stay connected. Best uses: a scheduled phone appointment (planning ahead is more convenient for your young adult and likely for you too—which can be arranged via text), and occasional voicemails – when you don’t need to talk immediately, but just want to say hello. (Think of it as an audio version of a text message!)

Phone Videoconferencing. Today, it’s not difficult to find phones and apps that allow you to connect face-to-face with your college student using phone technologies. These are great ways to actually see and visit with your college student in their own habitat!

Smartphone Games. Stay connected to your college student by playing a game like Scrabble over the phone and across the miles.

Computer/Laptop. Email is the oldest of today’s connection technologies, but almost everyone, even college students, still use it. Best use: for longer updates on what’s going on around home. Also, Skype provides free video conferencing. Idea: Some night try inviting your son or daughter to join you for a family dinner by setting up your laptop on the dinner table and letting them see and be seen. It just might be the next best thing to being there.

Social Networking. Social networking sites are extremely popular today, and it’s likely your college student is on Facebook. Friend them (if you haven’t already.) For many families, Facebook isn’t going to be the best way to stay connected. But, it’s very beneficial as a way for parents to stay current on what’s going on in their kids’ lives.

Manage Connections in a Healthy Way.

For the parent who is dealing with separation anxiety, it’s tempting to over-connect with their child. Resist the urge to inundate your college student with too frequent texts, emails and calls. Technologies allow for this, so you’ll need to learn to manage your use of them in a healthy way. Don’t short-circuit one of the main goals of your young adult’s college experience—to help prepare them for life as an independent adult—by going overboard. Your daughter or son will benefit from staying connected with you, but they also need their space in order to bloom into the woman or man they are becoming.

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one. more. month.

Megan Monday, April 11th, 2011

One more month of my freshmen year. The last time I will ever be a freshmen… in my life. Crazy. This year has seriously flown by faster then I ever thought it would. I feel like I just got here, move-in day seems like it was just yesterday. By far, it has been the best year of my life. I have met people that I can’t imagine living life without. I have met people that have inspired me, encouraged me, and shown me what it means to pursue Christ with all of your being. There are people that I can never repay for the way that they have poured into my life. I have grown as a person, and even more so I have grown in my relationship with God. The way I have experienced God while being here is extraordinary.

It is insane to think of how originally APU was not on my rater of colleges at all. I had a whole different plan, but this was God’s plan for me. And it is infinitely better then any other place I could have ended up. This is my home now, these people are like family. This community is like family. For some people, picking a college is all about the city your in, or the look of the campus, or how great their food is, or even how good the school name will look on your resume. While I would fare to say that there are so many schools that rank better at those things then APU, I would also fare to say that in terms of community and the people, APU ranks number one. I could never imagine myself anywhere else, surrounded by any other group of individuals.

Besides school ending next month, I have a little over one more month until I leave for my mission trip to Tanzania. It is surreal at this point. The way that God has opened doors for this trip, prepared me and equipped me personally for this trip, and bonded my team is just so amazing. It has been a true testimony to how God will get you somewhere if He really wants you there. God really wants me there. If I ended up at any other place, I would not be going on this mission trip in a month. And that in itself is just a weird thought. This mission trip IS where I am supposed to be, and APU got me here. I haven’t even been on the trip yet and I already cannot imagine my life without it.

One more month until I move out of the dorms. Oh boy, that’s going to be a sad day. I will miss spontaneous trips to ‘The Hat’ or ‘Donut Man’ or ‘In-N-Out.’ I will miss beach days with my hall and waking up at 3AM to pillow fights outside and girls screaming in the hall (I know, weird thing to miss right?). I will miss Monday night cramming into a room and watching The Bachelor. I will miss constantly having my door open and never being able to get homework done because people walk in every 2 seconds. I will miss moving my mattress into other rooms and having sleepovers. I will miss spontaneous dance parties and movie nights. I will miss getting ready for GYRAD and walking into the bathroom every morning to see the whole bathroom filled with girls getting ready. I will miss spending hours on end in the study room during finals, but never having a dull moment because there are 10 other girls studying in there too. I will miss never having to be alone, unless I choose to be. I will miss sitting out on Trinity Lawn doing homework on a beautiful sunny day. I will miss every single thing about living in the dorms, it was hands-down one of the greatest parts of my freshmen year. Some of the girls on my hall will be my friends for eternity (seriously).

But there are so many things to look forward to:

  • I am going to be an ALPHA LEADER next year, which I could not be any more excited about. I am so blessed to be able to pour into the lives of incoming freshmen. I can only hope that I influence the lives of my “alphies” as my alpha leader influenced my own.
  • Next year I will be living in an apartment with two of the girls on my hall. They are some of the most caring, encouraging, and fun girls I have ever met. I can’t wait.
  • My schedule of classes for next semester…. THREE art classes. So stoked.
  • Spring Semester I am planning on studying abroad (either South Africa, England, Italy, or London!)
  • Much far into the future… my Junior year… I am going to pursue being an R.A. for the freshmen in the dorms.

If you are going to be a freshmen at APU next year I have one piece of advice for you… GET EXCITED. Your life will be changed and will look nothing like what it does right now (in a good way). You will grow, learn, experience things you never imagined you would, and make friendships that will last a lifetime. Looking back, I enjoyed high school, but college is a new level of enjoyment.

If you are not going to be a freshmen at APU next year, GET EXCITED ANYWAYS. Be in prayer about where God is leading you, be pursuing Him, and rejoice in all that you do have right now.

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I love APU because…

Megan Friday, March 11th, 2011
  • The other day I walked into my Psychology class a little early, finding the previous professor that was teaching in that class talking to a student about personal issues it seemed. She was venting about a broken friendship and he gave her advice like a friend, or even a dad would. It made me smile because professors here truly and honestly care for us as people, not just as students that need a grade and a diploma.
  • Today (Thursday), the band Jars of Clay played in the Amphitheater in the afternoon. Finishing a midterm and then sitting and watching a wonderful band play next to great friends of mine was awesome and a great end to my school week.
  • Today I was walking to class and a guy was opening the door to class and didn’t realize I was behind him, therefore not opening the door for me. He turned around and apologized. It made my day. How many guys care enough about something as small as opening a door that they apologize when they forget to? Makes me love going to a school surrounded by people that care about their faith and being Christ-like.
  • It is in Southern California. And being born and raised only an hour away I will never lose my love for clear skies, warm weather, and being able to sit outside in the grass outside my dorm and do homework. It was the most beautiful day today.
  • Sunday I found out that I got the position as Alpha Leader for next year and I could not be any more excited to be able to share my love of people, APU, and more then anything, Jesus. I love that we have so many opportunities to use the gifts we have to benefit others and glorify God.
  • I get to worship God through music at Chapel alongside people I go to class with, serve with, eat with, and live with 3+ times a week.
  • People here are genuine. I have never met such passionate, God-fearing individuals in my life. But at the same time I love that you don’t have to profess to believe in Jesus to be educated here. We learn from people at all walks in their life, with all backgrounds, and with various beliefs. We have opportunities to reach out, show the love of Christ, and simultaneously look up to others.
  • I walk around campus and see our president (John Wallace) socializing, teachers having lunch with students, and students praying. Call me crazy but this would have NEVER happened in high school.
  • I love APU because it seems that everyone that goes here loves APU. There is almost a general consensus that our school rules, and it makes it rule that much more.

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APU Dictionary

Megan Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

Alpha: A group you will be placed in the day you move in that includes a sophomore (sometimes a junior) alpha leader and about 8-12 other freshmen. You will all be in the same beginnings class (its a 350 person class that usually just has people speak about current issues) and you will meet one other time during the week to get to know each other and have fun. Its a great way to meet people and as awkward as it may feel as first everyone really does end up loving the program.

Biola: ……..

Communiversity: Community + Diversity, a program that plans events and makes the school fun (simply said).

Cookie Mill: One of our popular off-campus food options. They have amazing ice cream sandwiches with your choice of ice cream and cookies for cheap. It is right by the Mods (next to Stater Brothers), so it is in easy walking distance.

Crazy 8: A team of 8 extremely school spirited students that hype up the crowd and the athletes at sporting events.

Donut Man: A donut shop down the street (a car ride away, not really walk-able distance) that has the GREATEST donuts on the planet. It is basically legendary here at APU. Its open 24/7 and usually anytime you go there you will see other APU students.

D-Group “Discipleship Group:” A group that you can choose to be placed in that meets one time per week for 1-2 hours and talks about life. Some have Bible studies, some just hang out, some read a book together, it all depends on the group. Usually its 4-6ish people and they always have an upperclassman as a leader. It’s always same-sex groups. I am in one currently (I just started it this semester) and it is an amazing way to feel connected to the community here and feel as if you always have people to go to if you need anything. I always look forward to hanging out with my girls.

“Freddy” Cougar: The lovely school mascot!

GYRAD: “Get your roommate a date.” Self explanatory?

High Sierra: A “study abroad” opportunity in Yosemite for all majors that is mainly done by freshmen and sophomores (but juniors still do it sometimes!). It creates a very tight knit family and provides so many opportunities to do anything and everything in nature you could ever desire! I have many friends that have done it or are there now and they ALL claim it to be one of the greatest experiences of their lives.

Intermurals: Sports teams set up by us students! Currently, a lot of the girls on my hall are on a soccer team together and they love it.

Kaleo: A Wednesday night option for Chapel that is LOVED on this campus. It is a more intimate setting, less people, and the sermons usually relate and build off each other. I would highly recommend going when you start attending APU because if not when you do end up going to Kaleo you will wish you went from the very beginning (my roommate made that mistake haha).

Liturgical: Another Chapel option some Thursday nights that provides a service similar to Mass (lots of hymns) where it is very personal. I have never been, but many of my friends go and LOVE it.

Mods: A (mainly) sophomore living area that looks like little houses all around the area behind Trinity and Engstrom and the Baseball field.

My Tie: Often done in Freshmen living areas, all the guys will put a tie in a hat and the girls will pick one. Whatever tie you pick is your date for the night.

Resident Advisor: An upperclassman that lives on each hall (and mod or apartment complex) and regulates all their residents and plans events to bond the living communities. They also have a roommate (the RAR, Resident Advisor Roommate).

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