What a weekend...

Well, it has been quite the weekend experience for me. I went to visit Union University in Jackson, TN. Friday, I left Bolivar and drove 3 hrs to STL, then went from STL and drove the 4 hrs to Jackson with my family. I do honestly believe that God is leading me to go there, and I don't really have any other choice anyway. The town is very cute and a lot bigger than Bolivar. That's besides the point, though. One thing I think God has taught me (once again) is that I really need to just trust in Him that this is where He wants me. I was kind of expecting that once I arrived on the campus, that I would be so in love with it that I would not have any doubt that my place was to be at Union, but that wasn't really what happened. I ended up feeling an immediate force of doubt come over me...like "What if this isn't the right choice? Why did I decide to come here?" etc...and I also realized how much I have become attached to SBU. But really after much thought and prayer, I think that Satan was attacking me more than anything because I was letting the doubt bring on a fear that I know was unnecessary. Yes, I am comfortable at SBU because I've already been through almost 2 semesters there and I love pretty much everything about our community we have and the relationships I've formed, but I know that Union is going to be the place I need to go to prepare me for my future and career. It will be a struggle and challenging going to a new place and having to re-live those first-year nerves, but I have faith that God will help me get through it.

I did absolutely fall in love with the town, dorms, and science building! I was amazed at how wonderful the technology is for their nursing program there. I just got even more excited to become a nurse. Also, I heard that the nursing students do mission trips! So that was a major plus considering that's what I want to do! The student-faculty ratio is like 11:1 which is amazing so I'm pretty stoked about that too. I think the more personal setting will be better for me. The dorms are flippin' sweet! Every dorm is apartment-style each complete with a kitchen, washer/dryer, living room/dining room, 2 bathrooms, and 4 bedrooms! The bedrooms are like closets, but I'm glad I will be able to have some privacy. There were a few down sides....like their rec center. I feel like our wellness center at SBU is like heaven compared to Union's, but the town makes up for it since there are a lot of parks and trails I will be able to run on. I also loved how everyone there is super friendly. And...the campus has over 35 other countries represented in the student body which is awesome.

After we visited the campus, we drove to visit Memphis for ahile and hung out on Beale Street. It's only like an hour away from Jackson! I love Memphis a lot!

Other stuff going on lately...
I went barefoot all day on Thursday for TOMS shoes to raise awareness for what they do. TOMS is an organization that makes shoes and for every pair you buy, they send a pair to a child in need. Going barefoot was a very humbling experience for me. Though I know a lot about poverty, it was difficult to go only go barefoot one day and know that people all over the world go without shoes everyday. I was complaining that my feet hurt after only a few hours walking on concrete. Knowing people go all over, walking long distances on less-than sanitary surfaces is truly heart-breaking to me. I love this cause and my TOMS shoes and will definitely be supporting them again soon with another purchace! Check them out http://www.tomsshoes.com/

Well I'm going to get ready to head back to Bolivar, so I'll check in later this week sometime!

In Christ,
Katlyn

Bored

I hope that everyone had a pleasant Easter weekend. I ended up going home to St. Louis, even though I had not been planning on it. I'm glad I did, though, because I got to spend some quality time with the family. I got to go to the Cardinals game on Friday night. It was cold, but fun and I was psyched to be going to a game during opening season week...and we won so that's really all that matters! :)

I have a crazy week ahead of me. I have an Anatomy and Physiology test on Wednesday and a Psychology test Friday...so not really looking forward to all the studying that is going to be going on. Then, after the week comes to a conclusion, I am heading home again and then going to straight to Jackson, TN.

If you haven't been caught up in my life...well, here's a little update for ya. I am not coming back to Southwest Baptist next semester. Though I love the community and the college life here at SBU, I have decided that I am going to transfer to Union University in Jackson, TN. The main reasons for my decision were that 1) The nursing program here is not as suitable to me as I thought for many reasons like the last 37 hrs are online. 2) If I did stay, I would not be able to receive the SBU scholarships I receive here on the Springfield campus---which is totally lame because I would still be an SBU student, just not on the Bolivar campus. I am super sad to be leaving everyone here. I have begun to tell everyone about my leaving...I have already cried a few times telling friends. I will miss all of my friends for sure. God has blessed me with some amazing friends that I know will last a lifetime, no matter the distance. Consequently, I have found that Union is very appealing and I would get many good scholarships. I love the Christian campus community and am looking forward to what God will do in my life there.

Well I guess I should go back to attempting to listen in my psychology class...haha.

I hope you have a blessed week!

In Him,
Katlyn

Well...

I have survived half of my first week back to school. It's going okay for the most part. I'm doing pretty well with studying actually. I have a big Anatomy Lab test on Friday that I'm a little worried about, but not too bad. Feeling pretty confident about this one...hopefully getting the grade to prove my confidence. ;)

So God is still doing some crazy stuff in my life right now. I'm a lot more at ease with all the stress that I've been dealing with. I have to admit I was beginning to get a little doubtful and weary, but God proved faithful...He always does. Thanks Jesus!

Summer is getting closer everyday...I can almost taste it! I'm going to be working as a summer missionary in St. Louis with International students and other mission opportunities. I cannot wait to see what God does this summer! Only 6 more weeks of school after this week!

I should probably get going because I have to work on a paper and want to get it finished before the caffeine in me wears out. haha.

In Christ,
Katlyn