Student Life retreat

Sorry I haven't been posting much... There's not much to take pictures of, or I end up forgetting my camera. At the end of  last week we had a retreat with the whole Student Life team. This includes our VP, an Athletic Director, a counselor, and office assistant and more! We had fun playing games together, eating, and getting in the sauna. It was especially exciting because there was a river outside to jump in. They had a zipline, a diving board, a platform AND a slide! I really enjoyed this retreat, and am excited to work with all these wonderful people this year!

Playing games together (several pictures with captions added)

Olena on the slide, and me falling off the zipline into the river after the sauna

Student Life team 2012-2013

On the snake log (L-R): me, Bethany (Spiritual Formations), Susie, Alisha, Josh, Olena

In the back row (L-R): Margarita (SL VP), Elena (Leadership Development),

Vaida (Office Manager), Egle (Career Development Center Director),

Demas (Athletic Director), Ina (Counselor)

holiday

Today was a national holiday in Lithuania, so we had the day off! I took a trip to Juodkrante, which is on the Curonian Spit. I visited "Raganu Kalnas" (Witches' Hill) which is a short trail with lots of carved wooden statues along the path. There were lots of interesting statues with funny faces and even one that had a slide through the mouth of the face! I also went to a cute little restaurant and ate fish, and walked around the town for a while. It was nice to get away from campus and totally relax. My camera ran out of batteries shortly into the day, so I only have pictures from Witches' Hill. 

The entrance

one of the many statues - i'm not exactly sure what it is, so use your imagination!

this one is definitely a dragon

there were plenty of picture opportunities - this crazy face was on the back of a chair

training...

We've started our training this week for Residence and Community Life. My two fellow RDs are Josh and Alisha, and when we meet as Community Life, we add Olena, who works as the Intercultural Programs Coordinator. Yesterday we had a fun retreat with Community Life. We spent the morning getting to know each other better, looking ahead to the year, praying together, and also serving by picking up trash around campus. In the afternoon, we went to a cute place in the Lithuanian countryside that had a sauna and four-wheelers! We got to drive the four wheelers around a crazy course, and then spent some time in the sauna and jumped in the lake afterwards. A great day of team building!

Here are some pictures courtesy of Susie:

 Residence Life on the 4-wheeler: Alisha, Josh and me

Community Life outside the house/sauna: Josh, Alisha, Susie, me and Olena

And my favorite: after we picked up trash around campus

Susie, Olena, Alisha, Josh and me

a new style!

Yesterday I went to get a haircut! I have been trying to grow my hair out since January, and I was ready for a bit more of a hairstyle rather than just a haphazard mop. :) A friend recommended a salon to me, and actually three of us went at the same time to get our hair cut! This is the first time I've been to a salon in years!

 Before: Bethany, Susie and me

After!!!!

With my new "style" in front of the orange wall in my apartment - I can't get anything to stick to the wall for some reason, so right now it's bare, but it's still a cool color!

new apartment

Here are some pictures of my new apartment. It's on the 5th floor of Enns Hall (almost like my last name - people get them mixed up often!) and it has a great view of the LCC pond and more!

When you walk in, this is what you see - the living room

My bedroom is off to the right, and the bathroom to the left

A little further back and to the right is the kitchen

And here's the view: LCC is off to the right, and the town is across the field - there are apartment buildings, a busy street, and a grocery store

Just wanted to let you all know that I made it safely to Lithuania - the first things to do are getting over jet lag, unpacking and getting settled, and then enjoying the Sea Festival that's in town this weekend. There are lots of craft booths and festivities in the Old Town. 

I will try to post pictures soon. Have a great weekend!

Year #2 begins....

Hello again! I hope you all have enjoyed a wonderful summer so far! I definitely have! I worked at the bakery again, and went on lots of trips to visit friends and family. I had two big fundraisers - one in Goshen, and one in Newton, and they both turned out really well! 

I return to Lithuania TOMORROW already!!!! I can't believe how fast the summer has gone! This year I'm looking forward to new RAs, new RDs, and a new apartment on campus! Lots of change, but hopefully it will be good!

As I am packing and getting ready to leave, I'm in awe of how many people are supporting me - it's an amazing feeling to be so loved by all of you! I literally couldn't be doing this without you! Thanks to all of you for your financial gifts, prayers, encouragement and much more. I wish I could do more to thank you.

Here's a couple pictures from my summer in Goshen and a few other places (in chronological order):

eating ice cream at Yup's in Middlebury with my "younger sister" - Annie

a nasty cut on my hand from a broken glass in the dishwater at the bakery (9 stitches!)

visiting my brother in Seattle, Washington

five year college friends reunion in Iowa

all wet after running in the rain during a work day at the bakery...

the first rain in over a month!