Posts Tagged ‘community’

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).

A Birthday and A Roadtrip

Megan Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

Last month, a couple friends and I decided that a road trip was much needed with all the craziness of school. So often we are so busy with homework and all the activities at school that we don’t get to actually GET AWAY much. We took a free day and drove about three hours to Salvation Mountain, a beautiful man-made mountain of art created by a guy that’s crazy about Jesus and Jesus’ love. I have to say, it blew my mind, and as an artist myself it was a huge inspiration of how our faith and our art can go hand in hand. All of my friends that went absolutely loved it as well. Pictures don’t do it justice, but all you prospective students- when you get a chance to attend APU it is a must see work of art that can end up being an amazing road trip with friends. It’s pretty liberating just being able to jump into your car with four friends and drive off for a day’s adventure.

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Then, earlier this month as a little celebration for my birthday I went out to dinner with a couple of my closest friends at school to Bucca Di Beppo. I don’t know how its possible for dinner to be that much fun but it was either the amazing Italian food or the great company, its a toss up.

Later that night I rang in my birthday with driving half way to San Diego to pick up a hall mate with some of my friends blasting the song by 50 Cent that says “we gonna party like its your birthday.”

Then I woke up to my roommate carrying in a chocolate cake singing Happy Birthday. As simple as this whole birthday sounds, it was wonderful. I came to the conclusion that good company is all you need to have an amazing birthday. Here’s to my 19th year of life!

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Im Going to… Africa.

Megan Friday, February 25th, 2011

It all started with the beginning of the school year when I saw flyers for the mission trips that the Office of World Missions put together for the summer. It almost felt like some far off dream that wasn’t at all tangible. But I pursued it anyways.

And here I am months later with the reality that I am going to Africa for two months this summer. It is surreal to say the least. I was always that girl that laughed at all the Christians that went on the typical mission trips to Africa for a couple of weeks. I felt that it was all about what Facebook pictures you could upload after, it was about saying you went to Africa, and about having your life changed. While all of that is great, I never wanted that. All I wanted was to change other peoples lives and hopefully bring back a testimony that might help plant a seed in my parents hearts to bring them to know Jesus. Anyways, I pursued a lot of missions teams that were not located in Africa because I figured that my own perceptions on where I should and shouldn’t go would be the same as God’s.

However, somehow a mission team in Africa stuck on my heart and I put it as my last choice team. Ironic as it is, I was invited to join the team. Ironic as this is, I accepted.

Currently I am meeting weekly with my team of 8 other APU students, 1 other freshman and 7 sophomores. I am praying constantly and trying to be in the Word to prepare me and equip me for the mission field I am going to be in this Summer. I am trying to (for once in my life) draw myself away from busyness and draw myself toward the peace and comfort of the Lord.

Now here is a pause in my story and here is where your story continues. Allow God to use you in places you never imagined in your life. Don’t be that girl like me that sits back and shakes her head at everyone that spends a couple weeks in Africa. Because God very well might (and probably will) do what you never had planned for yourself. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and available. Allow yourself to trust God even when the world looks at you like you are crazy.

Sure high school and college is about “finding yourself” and finding who Christ has made you to be, but LIFE is about using who you are at the moment to glorify God. Don’t sit back waiting to grow up so you can make a difference. You are equipped as you are now, rejoice in that!

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

A Very Big Adventure!

Renna Nightingale Friday, February 11th, 2011

South Africa. The land of brokenness, the land of miracles. The land of natural beauty beyond compare, the land with the people who are hurting. The land where time slows down, the land where “love your neighbor” reigns. The land where God’s voice becomes louder than a whisper.

As the locals say, “This is Africa.”

This is where I currently am! I am blessed to be the only freshman among a team of 55 students studying abroad in South Africa. Even though I am a freshman, I have been completely welcomed into the group, as is often the way with Azusa Pacific University community.

Every day is a new adventure. I have only been here for three weeks and already, God has been molding me.

Do you remember when you were little and you began to grow? Often, you would experience growing pains. At the time, these pains are quite unwelcome, as they are at best, uncomfortable! But in the long run, these pains could be celebrated because they signified new growth, mostly in height.

Here, I am experiencing growing pains, but of the spirit. The Lord is shaping, pulling, creating, and growing me in ways I never thought possible! I am completely grateful to be learning and growing, but it can often be scary and painful at times!

I have never learned so much in such a short amount of time in my life. I have learned about friendships, confidence, myself, contentment, community, and most importantly, the Lord.

I know He has plans for me here. I feel like He has been preparing me for something this last month… I cannot wait to find out what it is!

Here I am, on a very big adventure. Care to join me?

K.C. Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

Welcome back in two days, Cougars! Today I was on campus to finish up some things before the semester starts and I just want express how blessed and privileged I feel to be part of the APU community. The new semester brings chances for new opportunities and changes, and each and every one of you is at a great place to embrace them. It’s often said that a student gets out of the college experience what one puts into it, and I hope that this semester can be one in which we put our all into this amazing university that has put so much into us simply by allowing us to be here.

To students new and old, I would encourage you to make the most of this semester, embracing every opportunity and storming every obstacle. Get involved in at least one new thing on campus — an intramural sport, a leadership position, a club — and let it enrich your university experience. Take advantage of the great resources we have here to help us succeed in our academics, especially the faculty. They’re so willing to help — if you need it, let them know! I know a few of my professors last semester were always up for grabbing coffee or just lounging and chatting in their offices. Get connected with a mentoring group or a D Group through the Campus Pastors’ office. This is an amazing place to be at — do something this semester to enrich your college experience.

By the way, there are some awesome new photos up on the APU Flickr. Check it out. :)

God First! :)

Amazing APU Moment #294585:

Megan Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

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You wait 18 years to finally move out and be an “adult” and then you go back to dressing like a little kid again.

A few weeks ago we had an amazing event called “broomball” where South Side of Trinity dressed up as little kids “school kids” and the North Side of Trinity dressed up as the elderly “retirement” and we faced off in a game of broomball (hitting around multiple balls on an ice skating rink with regular shoes on trying to get it into a goal). In case you were wondering, OF COURSE South Side won! WOOOOO

It was yet another amazing night of being with the girls on my hall and all the people living in the Trinity Dorm. I can’t put into words how much fun freshmen year is (I am trying to compensate with pictures cause they are worth a thousand words, right?)

P.S. I wish I could document the look on peoples faces when we walked into In-n-Out afterwards for dinner… I guess onesies aren’t in style anymore.