One down...so many more to go!!!!!!!

So the first week of school has ended.  I am so excited about my classes, and the professors that are teaching them.  I can not wait to see how much I am going to learn in these classes.  But before I get to much into classes let me tell you about orientation the week before.

Orientation:
This week was soo much fun.  We had so many times to hang out and get to know other new students.  We even got to have breakfast with President of the seminary.  I do have to say the best times were just getting to hang out with the other people in my program.  We all have very interesting stories, and histories of ministry.  I actually got to meet someone that has lived in the same city in China that I lived in a few years back.  It was nice to be able to talk about the city again.  Our department actually even did a scavenger hunt in Downtown LA.  Then I have also found a great church.  They have been awesome, and love to support their community.  I am hoping to get involved with them in some way sooner or later.

1st week of classes:
I am taking 3 classes which in Grad school that is full time.  So I will be super busy.  I am taking an Introduction to New Testament, Theology and Arts, and a Globalization, Poor, and Christian Mission class.  The New Testament class is a basic overview of how to study scripture and break it down.  The theology and arts class is a class looking at how to mash theology and the arts together.  We are looking at the history and methods of making that work.  The Globalization, Poor, and Christian Mission class is looking at what Globalization is and how it is affecting the poor.  Then with that how we as Christian should be supporting the poor.  All of my classes have been great. They have tons of writing and TONS of reading.  This week alone I had to read about 300 pgs.  That seems to be the norm here so this should be fun.  I have no papers due this next week but I have 2, 4-5 pg papers due next week.  I am going to really work on scheduling my time well.

Some things to be praying for are:
A job!!! I have not been able to find a job yet and just keep waiting on God to provide something.  I know that he will provide, but I just have to be willing to wait for the right thing to come.

Developing good friendships.  In this adventure of seminary everyone keeps saying that the friendships you make here are some of the strongest things that help you grow.  Since you can shoot ideas off each other and  for iron to sharpen iron.

Also for my studies. That what I am learning in class will sink in. That as I am working on papers that God will just help me write the proper information.

Let the madness begin!

So today is officially the first day of orientation for school.  I don't have much to do today since most of the session have to do with international students.  I do have a cool dessert Jazz concert tonight to go to, and then tomorrow starts meeting all day for the rest of the week.  I am kinda excited. I did not end up going to my undergrad orientation(was suppose to but got bored) but people have told me that this is not something to miss.  I am very excited to see and meet a ton of people. Since school is not in session right now the campus has been a bit dead.

I have gotten to meet some people this last week! I got invited to the beach with about 50-60 other Fullerites.  We got out there at like 4pm and then some stayed til the beach closed at like 10pm.  It was a bit awkward at first since I did not know anyone, but everyone was super sweet and talked to me like crazy.  They all wanted to hear about India, and even Oklahoma.  They all thought it was funny that this was one of the few times I had ever been to the beach in my life.  We all brought some food out and had a giant BBQ.  At one point some other girls and myself walked down to the water, and after about 20 mins headed back up to our tent...to find that most everyone was gone...we were very confused.  Then we look to our left where there is some music coming from...and lo and behold there was most of our group having an impromptu worship session with a group from another Christian University...then a group from a church came over till we had like 100-150 people standing on the beach together singing worship to God in different languages.  It was really cool to see it all happen.  Before we all left the beach we made sure to pray for this new school year, and that God would bless us.

Then yesterday I went to church....now I know what you are thinking of course you did...a bunch of us did...but I walked to church...it took me 1hr to walk to church.  I had heard of this great church online that I have been dying to try even before I came.  I was not feeling good last week so I decided to not go, but this week I had to get there.  After my walk I finally find the church and it was great! Everyone was super friendly and really excited about serving.  I loved getting to hang with them, and they even made sure I had a ride home so that I did not have to walk(the ride home took 5 mins).

Last night we had a community event to get to the people that live around us.  People got up and performed any talents they might have and lots of people brought some baked goods for food.  It was lots of fun. Most of the people that came out I had already met but it was nice just to hang with them.

Then today like I said I have the dessert thing, but then tomorrow I think I actually have stuff from like 8:30 am-7 pm.  I am ready for things to get going but also super nervous.

Below I am going to post some pictures from the beach.  I got some great ones of the sun setting.  Thanks for reading this, and thanks for all your support!!!!!!

Start of the Worship Session

1 week down...a ton more to go

Well I'm back.  I am living in California going to Seminary.  If you had not heard I did make it back safe and sound from India.  I really surprised my mom...who did not know that I was coming home 3 days early. Here is a video of my mom seeing me for the first time in almost a year...I do have to laugh that one of the first things she says to me is that I have a nose piercing.




Well now I am at school in Pasadena. I actually live like 2 block from where the Rose Bowl Parade happens.  So maybe I will get to see it in person this year.  I will try to hold a sign telling my mom I am on TV.  Well like I said I am going to seminary.  I am going to be studying Intercultural Studies with an emphasis in Theology and the Arts.  I actually get to enroll in classes at noon tomorrow.  I can not wait.  Then one week from Monday we start new student orientation then the fun of classes begins.  It will be interesting trying to get back into the swing of studying and writing papers again.  I have loved getting here early to have time to explore the city.  Pasadena is very pretty...I keep wanting to take picture of the city but I don't want to look like a tourist.  But I have been taking pictures of the school   I will post them below if you want to see them  I am going to try to keep posting on here, but know that it might be a bit random when I get to post.  This is Grad school and I will by typing my fingers to the bone trying to get papers done.  This school does not work on semesters...they do quarters so each class only gets 10 weeks to get all the info in.  This will be fun!!!!!!!!!  Well I will post the pictures then I should most likely go to bed. Thank you all for your support and if you would like to also get email update about once a month then feel free to email me at mel.s.chambers@gmail.com and I will add you to the list.

Jesus Statue

Prayer Garden

One of Fuller's Office buildings

Main strip of campus

Front of my housing building

My front door