Updates...

So!!! I know its been a while since ya'll have heard from me but I wanted to let you know whats going on in my life, and what my plans for the summer are!!
Classes are going pretty well, there are only two, well three, okay four that I don't like so much. Out of six. No really, only one that I feel is a waste of time, the rest are just difficult to sit through. The last two are great!!! Greek is my FAVORITE class by far and I'm learning so much in it I LOVE IT!!!
Work has been pretty crazy lately. Two weeks ago we had 8 games in 5 days. I was in the gym more than I was in class. This past week has been pretty low key, just gearing up for the weekend. Last night was our Exposure Film Festival. Simpson students write, direct and produce films and then we roll out the red carpet (literally), get celebrity look alikes from the student body, everyone gets dressed up and we have our own little premier. Today was our Craft and FairTrade Bizarre: this is a chance for local artisans from the area to sell their goods as well as a big FairTrade opportunity. FairTrade is the overarching name of organizations that work to help raise self-sufficiency among people in third world countries. They go in and teach people a marketable trade and then sell those products in the US for what theyre worth and all of the money goes back to the person making it. FairTrade helps free women prostitution and helps put food on the tables of countless families.
Next week we only have classes Monday and Tuesday because of Thanksgiving YAY for a break!!!! Then we come back for a week and then its finals. On December 11th I will officially be done with my second to last semester of college!!!!
FLASH AHEAD: GRADUATION is April 25th at 10am on my Simpson University campus. YAY!!!!!
Which brings me to my plans for the summer. I have been given a fantastic opportunity to do some major traveling this summer. I need a few last credits to graduate with my minor, and so I will be taking the Israel Study Tour with Simpson in May and early June. You heard right ISRAEL . Ill be gone for three weeks studying the area where the patriarchs lived, where David fought Goliath and where Jesus walked. Well stay at Jerusalem University College for the majority of the tour and walk around Jerusalem as well as visiting archeological sites and eating a real Sabbath meal. A great friend has traveled and stayed in this area extensively, and Im looking forward to seeing the sites she mentions so frequently. After Israel , I will be traveling to France for two weeks to join a dear friend. The first week will be spent in the Taize Community (http://www.taize.fr/en). This community is an international and ecumenical community that focuses on worship through chant, repetition, silence and song. The last week or so in France we will spend touring the area ( Eiffel Tower here I come!!) Then off to England and Scotland for more visiting and touring. After all of these thrilling adventures, I'll be back on American soil and soon back to gorgeous California !!!
So here's what it looks like:
Israel Study Tour May 16th June 7th
France (two weeks)
Scotland and England
Home.
As I have worked through this process God has opened every door and in some cases has practically shoved me through. I'm so tremendously excited I can't really describe it!!!! There are many things that I will miss being gone this long (roughly seven weeks) but I know that there will never be another time in my life for an opportunity like this. This is mostly just for informational purposes, but I will also ask you to pray that things continue to go smoothly and that the funds come in. I have some educational loans left and will do some fundraisers. But I also have responsibilities here that must be paid while I am gone and overseas travel is not cheap.
Mostly I ask you to pray that the trip is as educational as I'm hoping it will be, that we are safe there and back, and that God is glorified through this experience.
Thanks for listening to (reading) my babbling!
Love you all!!!
Natasha

So I realize that its been a while since I posted. But just check out what the future holds for me:
My Cultural Identity Paper for Cindy Strong is due tomorrow.
I have a sermon evaluation due on Tuesday and also our first basketball game. Wednesday brings a test on a book that I hate and didn't read all the way and our last soccer game and possibly a make up volleyball game.
I have to preach in class on Thursday and just thinking about it makes me want to puke. On Friday we have another basketball game and a 'movie night' in the dorm which for some reason I’m setting up for.
Next week, I have pretty meaningless homework til Thursday where I have a group presentation due.
Friday where I have a communicating cross culturally midterm (the last one which I didn't do so good on).
What makes this week interesting is that I have a game on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I also have two games on Friday and three games on Saturday. And Friday and Saturday I’m Dan-less – Dan is my announcer, he pretty much makes basketball games what they are for the crowd.
I get Sunday ‘off’ but its back to school on Monday.
Another sermon evaluation is due on Tuesday and my third sermon manuscript is due on Thursday.
I have a test the following Monday and a huge application paper due on Tuesday, then thanksgiving ‘break’.
We come back from thanksgiving break and I have a Proficiency paper due, another sermon eval due on Tuesday, a home basketball game on Wednesday along with my lead project due and my second semester evaluation with Phil due Thursday.
The next week is finals – three on Wednesday and one on Thursday.
Its gonna be a fun rest of the semester don’t ya think?
Yes, I am to be pitied. But don't let me catch you doing it, I hate pity.