July Update - Summer Fun with Students

Greetings! I hope you are all enjoying the first half of summer as much as I am! As I am writing this, the sun is shining and a bird is singing right outside my window, true evidence of warmer weather here in Minnesota!

Summer at CSF is in full swing. I have already spent several weeks taking part in the University of Minnesota freshman orientation fairs where CSF sets up an information table and talks with incoming freshman about our group. Through this opportunity, I have met lots of new students and had some great conversations. Since studies show that about 80% of church-going youth leave the church once they start college, we are really hoping and praying that many of these freshman will get plugged in with CSF or with one of the other campus ministry groups once they get on campus in the Fall.

Our CSF Summer Together Group is also meeting every Wednesday now through the end of July for Bible study and prayer. Brad Dewing, Bryce Harcey (my fellow ministry staff), and I are taking turns leading the study and we are focusing on several passages from the book of Ephesians. Although there are definitely less students around this summer, we have had a good core of 12-15 students at each of our meetings so far, and have even seen a couple of new students.

Last month the students seen in the picture above joined me for camping at Itasca State Park (where the Mississippi river begins!) in northern Minnesota. We spent the weekend hiking, and canoeing, and met up with another CSF student who is spending her summer doing research at Itasca. We had a great time exploring the park and getting to know each other better, despite the fact that three out of the six of us came home with poison ivy!
I am also getting in some vacation time this month and will be able to enjoy a visit with my mom, some time with my family in a cabin in northern Minnesota, a get-together with some of my best friends from college, and a family reunion with Jason’s family. As usual, it’s going to be a very busy summer!

I pray that you are enjoying your summer and thank you so much for your interest in what is happening in my life and in the ministry of CSF. May God bless you and keep you all!