Come "FLI" with me...: Let the classes begin...

Is it just me, or does it feel like I've been in Colorado Springs for at least a few months? I feel so at home here! I can't believe I arrived only two weeks ago! Last weekend was so much fun as the entire FLI staff and students went into the mountains to Intervarsity's Bear Trap Ranch. We had so much fun worshipping together, hearing from a few of our staff, playing lots of board games, eating delicious food, ice skating, snow tubing, playing broom ball on the ice, and doing a few leadership exercises with our Life Groups. (Our class of 44 guys and girls is split up into 8 Life Groups, in which we'll do all of our leadership exercises and in-class projects all semester.) I loved getting to know all the guys and girls better--what an incredible group of people. :)
(See pictures from the retreat below.)

This past week was the first week of classes and we actually only had one class all week. From 8:30am to 11:30am Monday through Thursday we were taught by the creator of The Truth Project, Dr. Del Tacket, about Family, Church, and Society. Bascially, he gave us a broad overview of all of God's social institutions (family, God & man, church, labor, community, and state) which we'll study more in depth in our other three classes throughout the rest of the semester. Then, at the end of the semester, we'll have his class for a week straight to close everything out.

I started my internship/practicum this past week and I love it. The people I work with are so hilarious and really made me feel at ease. Mainly, I've been working on finding statistics, stories, and quotes for Focus on the Family's monthly Pledge letter that the ministry sends out to its 15,000 regular donors. Each month there's a different theme. For example, I'm working on April's letter right now and the theme is Counseling, so I'm getting testimonies and statistics from Focus' Counseling department to read through, compile the best ones, and send to Focus' ad agency, CSK. (P.S. I was able to attend my department's meeting with CSK and I talked with them about being interested in advertising! They said I should come see the agency sometime and they'd treat me to lunch!! Who knows?!) It's been incredible reading through so many stories from real people whose lives have been affected by Focus. I was even able to use my Spanish when one of my co-workers asked me to proof read a Spanish pro-life booklet that Focus is going to publish! I've never been so excited to find typos in my life. :)

This past Friday and tomorrow our FLI class is going through a leadership intensive course, training us on what is takes to be a good leader according to the Bible. The course is split between classroom time and interactive leadership activities. At one point on Friday, we signed up for guys and girls Bible studies and I decided to attend one on the Proverbs 31 woman. There will be 9 other girls in this study with me and it's going to be led by the wife of Dr. Leland, the VP for College Student Ministries and professor of our Christian Worldviews class. She will be leading it with another young woman who is just about to finish her Masters in Christian Studies and, for her thesis, she wrote a Bible study on the Proverbs 31 woman applied to the college-aged woman. So that's what we'll be using in our small group and I can't wait! :)

Oh, and in case you were wondering, Danielle. is. incredible. God could not have placed me with a more perfect roommate this semester. We get along so well and she has been so encouraging and fun to be around. Our personalities go so well together--I feel like I've known her all my life. No joke.

Yesterday morning Danielle and I hiked all the way up the Manitou Incline (a huge set of stairs made of railroad ties going straight up the side of Rocky Mountain, gaining 2011 feet in elevation over a length of about 1 mile) and we had no clue what we were getting ourselves into! Basically, it's a huge outdoor stairmaster that is sure to zap any strength you thought you had and leave you feeling like you got hit by a truck the next day. I've been feeling extremely sore all over today, but I'm so glad we went--the peak had such a beautiful, clear view and it was a refreshing 65 degrees outside.
(See pictures below.)

Random side note: Brandon's twin is in FLI with me. His name is Ben and he was born 5 days before Brandon. Kinda freaky...
(See picture below.)

This morning, I had the opportunity to attend the service at Northland Community Church (where Danielle's sister attends) with Danielle, Ben (Brandon's look-alike), Danielle's sister Elisha, and some of Elisha's Air Force cadet friends. Tonight at the church's baptismal service, Ben, Danielle, and I will be leading worship. I am so grateful that God has given me this opportunity. I've committed to leading worship at the church's youth group on Friday nights this semester, but please pray God would give me wisdom about which church he would have me attend on Sundays. There are so many great churches in the area, so I would like to just choose one soon so that I can get plugged in over the next few months!

Again, thanks for remembering me in your prayers! Let me know if you ever want to skype! My skype name is berkeley.bagwell, or just shoot me an email at berkeley.bagwell@gmail.com -- super easy to remember. ;)