This Whole CollegePlus Thing...

Okay, so there's this thing called CollegePlus, and it is awesome. Period. What is it exactly? Well, in essence, it is "a distance, accelerated learning program designed to aid students in obtaining their fully accredited bachelors degree while equipping them to launch into life."  <<<(debt free).

Oh but it is so much more...

Firstly, I study at home in the comforts of my own room. Right off the bat here, I am saving thousands of dollars on room and board. Even as great as I see that, the benefits continue! I work part time (I have also worked full-time while in CP), I am currently pursing many other interests that are not in my degree plan, I participate in numerous ministries, I can work my schedule to participate in internships, AND I have the freedom to go on mission trips and other adventure extravaganzas. 

--Sounds good, but like, is it a "real" degree?-- 

YES! Let me tell you about it. The whole process starts when I'm matched with a coach who not only helps me academically, but also in every other way possible. Like seriously, we have the BEST conversations. EVER. Over phone calls, this coach helped me through the beginning stages of studying skills and figuring out just what degree I wanted to pursue that aligned with my life purpose. 

Now that I have made my degree choice, an English BA from Thomas Edison State College, (no, CP isn't the degree-granting school. I know- confusing. We'll get there in a minute), I have begun gaining all of my general education credits by taking credit-by-exam examinations. The most popular is called CLEP. These CLEP exams can be taken at most universities and colleges for a barely a fraction of a normal semester-long class. So, with the continued help of my coach, I independently study for a specific exam with various resources, and then take the the exam. Upon a passing score, I can receive 3 to 12 credits depending on the exam. This CLEP process can take me anywhere from 10 days to four weeks and only cost me from $100 to $150 (including books/study resources, the exam itself, and testing proctor fee). 

All of this to say, that I am moving through my general ed classes quite rapidly without having to take out any students loans. That's right, zippo. 

Once I have completed the various exams, as well as other signature courses by CollegePlus, I will transfer all of my work to Thomas Edison where I will finish my degree as a "normal" (ha..."normal"...) online student (still studying from home with the continued freedoms said above). 

psst... still debt-free. 

--Okay, well maybe that would work for you, but what about a social life? or the "college experience"? or "the campus life"?-- 

Let me just begin with that when I have the ENTIRE world to explore and discover, being confined to a college campus no longer seems appealing. And secondly, there is an amazing student community all over the US and beyond! Sure, some of us are only identified as an avatar, Facebook friend, or Google Hangout buddy... but seriously, this community is the BEST. And there are various opportunities for gatherings to meet and collaborate with fellow CP students. So I, in no way, feel like I am "missing out" on any social aspect of the traditional college experience.

If you have actually made it through all of these ramblings of mine, you may be able to tell that I am rather thrilled about this time in my life. Know what? I should be! This is the prime time. Sure things around me might be going a hundred miles an hour, I might be sitting at my desk for hours on end, or grueling over piles of flash cards, but CollegePlus has given me the freedom to live the life that God has given me to live.

Taking a deep breath in- It's go time. 

Coffee, Schedules, and Blessings :)

Plans. Schedules. Goals. Calenders. Alarms. Charts. Graphs. Chocolate stash. Clean desk. *Check* -- I am SO ready for this year.

I love having my calender set up and ready to go, but my most favorite thing throughout the years are all of the surprises. The things that were never "penciled in," the things that the alarm was never set for, and the things that could never be charted even if I tried. Whether good or bad, those surprises are what remind me that life is still alive; that the air is meant to breathe; that some things need only be felt.

So... Now that 2015 is in full swing, I can wonder at the things that I hope to fit into my fifty-two weeks. CLEP tests (don't know what those are? check out next week's blog for a Krista's college run-down), work (which can't really be defined as "work" because I absolutely LOVE it), and varying ministries from after-school programs to camp counseling to Mexico. I can't forget to keep my creativity running so I'm sure that there will be plenty of pictures, music, stories, blogs, and dances.

Oh, and coffee. Of course.

Tea is spectacular as well.

Speaking about tea; As normal, at the beginning of this January month, I chose a set of verses to dedicate this year. Committing the year to specific verses has become a tradition since the beginning of my journaling days. I do this mainly because I want to have a set focus for the nearing months; I want this year to have purpose. And secondly, I want to take the lessons I will learn this year, compare them to where my understanding of those verses began, and see where the Lord will have brought me during that year.

The choosing of the verses for this year was brought on by an article I recently read about blessings. That article is <here>. It got me thinking about what the blessings of God really are. Just because I might have a nice house, or a good job, does that mean God has blessed me more than suffering Christians in other countries? I don't think so... When I read Matthew chapter five, it gives me a much better focus on what God calls blessings.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

It is my prayer that this year through each of my activities and circumstances, those scheduled and those that are not, I will experience the true blessings of God and know the joy that is found in Christ. 

New Beginnings

How does one simply organize thoughts in a manner of understanding to communicate to an unknown audience? 

How does one return to writing after being incapable for the past year? 

Where does something end, and another begin? 

~~~

Welcome to Inks, Impressions, and Ivory, the place where I share my thoughts of the world through my eyes. I don't know you, and even if I do, I don't know you at this moment as you read these words. I may go the rest of my life not knowing you read this, or you might have gone your whole life with never knowing I wrote this. Either way, it is of little consequence. But rather, the importance should be spent on the moment now, as I write, and the moment then, when you read.

My moment now, is that of contemplating things past, and of things present; trying to join them in a common place for a new beginning. Why a new beginning? Well, why not? I know it is a little late for a 'New Year's' theme, but I still seem to be in that mind set. Not of New Year's resolutions, but just pure excitement for a new year and what it will hold. I have just begun college studies, my eighteenth birthday is soon arriving, my God is ever teaching me, and my ideas, thoughts, visions, hopes and opinions are slowly forging from a little girl's mind into those of a young adult.

I have started on my college adventure with CollegePlus, a distance, accelerated learning program that helps students gain their accredited bachelors degree without debt, gives them the freedom to work at their own pace, thus allowing students to pursue other interests, and giving them coaching and guidance to prepare them for the next steps of life.

Saying this, the gap between homeschooler and college student was just short of definable. I didn't have the stress of being accepted into a university or institution. I didn't hang the acceptance letter on the fridge. I didn't spend the summer shopping for new cute things for a dorm room. I never had an orientation, or peppy thing to do with a student body. I didn't have the moment of saying goodbye to my family on the day of move-in. And I didn't have to worry about finding the right buildings on time on the first day of classes. Nope.

So now, as I sit here, typing, eating a ham sandwich in a quiet kitchen, I embrace this moment. I have chosen to make this my defining moment.

Krista, welcome to the college years.

~~~

Just keeping writing in this moment, and not worry about their moment. 

Realize it's time for a new beginning. 

Right here. 

Whispers from God

Sometimes, like now, it feels as though I'm in a movie. I'm sitting in the kitchen feeling the cool breeze coming through the always opened doors, out the window I see rolling hills, and I hear a strange language coming out of the darkened people. As we drive in the crowded van to and from various places, I see busy streets, lots of taco restaurants, and broken homes. And that's when I realize this not a movie, this is not a dream, this is reality. I am actually living in Mexico, the place I'm calling "home" (in quotation due to the fact that I only consider one place my home) during these weeks, is on a mountainside, closer to Brazil than to my home.  And I have the opportunity to touch the results of broken homes. God has given me 18 sets of dusted fingers to teach music to, and four little minds to teach English to. What is this family going to remember when my time here is over? I want to accomplish everything God has for me here at this time, without worrying about the future, or what happens when I return home.
Being here "on my own" for this time as got me thinking that I'm growing up. I know, I know, I'm sixteen, and I have plenty of time to "grow up." But there's certain things that I can not control when they decided to mature. Like my heart, mind, and soul, when God teaches them, I can't just ignore Him and say "Sorry, God, I'm to young to grow up!" . College, ministry, school, music, all take up my extra thoughts, and it is scary knowing that I'm going to have to face these decisions one by one when I return home.The days of my youth are passing, but I thank my Lord that I will ever be able to entertain the spirit of my youth I can't say it enough, God is good. Even 1,800 miles away, God still uses my Pastor's messages to speak on what I need to hear. My Church family is always ready to listen and help, my family is on the other end of the phone, and God is just a whisper away.

Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement, you'll never know how much it means to me.

Some pictures from this week:

Being a missionary is hard.

There are all these children looking up at me and observing my life every day, I'm trying to learn how to teach piano in Spanish, I'm trying to learn how to just speak Spanish, and keeping up on my own school studies. Missing my family and friends, and upholding friendships with everyone here. Cheese that tastes funny, clothes that always feel damp, and cold showers. And on top of all this, God is working quite diligently on my own heart and life.

But you know what?

If God hand picked me to serve here, then these are not complaints, but praises. If this is all that I have to "suffer" then so be it! God gives strength daily, so I don't have to be worried about being "able." Stephen was stoned, the Apostles (among many others) were executed, John Bunyan was sentenced to prison, John Elliot was speared, all this for something called the Gospel. And the whole time they were being persecuted, they were praising God that he thought them worthy to suffer such things.

"God doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called" ~Unknown

"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:11

I'm finding out, that even though at times it is hard to serve here, all the little "sufferings" are completely worth it. Every time that I say the wrong thing in Spanish all the kids laugh and laugh, they think it's so funny. That's okay though because it allows me to laugh with them. God is good, and he takes care of his people.

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:16-18

They Without Names

I blink
And I can hear them
I close my eyes
And I can see them
I dream
And I can touch them

Though not at all
Because I blink
And they're gone
I open my eyes
And they're gone
I wake up
And they're gone

I love them
But I can't hold them
I love them
But I can't touch them
I love them
And I don't even know their names

Now
even so
I look around and see
Two blue eyes
staring up at me
And this I know
I've touched at least one

One at a time
I will learn their names
One at a time
I will know their voice
One at a time
I will hold them forever

One at a time

While I'm Waiting

I feel like I'm sitting on a roller coaster. Waving at all the people standing by. I feel like I'm the only one in the whole train. Just nervously waiting that countdown. I know whats coming, I know how fast it's coming, and I know that the take of is the hardest part. Yet here I sit, in control of nothing. Just waiting. Saying goodbye as my insides turn about recklessly.

"I will serve you while I'm waiting.
I will worship while I'm waiting
I'm waiting on you Lord"
~John Waller

"Come"

"And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus." (Matthew 14:28-29) February 17, 2010 I remember going to bed just crying out to God, asking Him if I was really meant to be a cross-culture missionary or not. I questioned Him for hours- all through the night. But waking up that next morning I will never forget. When God gives me peace, it's a peace that I can't even describe. It is purely God given. And that is what I felt on the morning, along with one simple word I knew the Holy Spirit whispered into my sleeping ears that night: come. I knew I had read Jesus saying that to one of His disciples somewhere, but never bothered looking it up, I just knew for a fact that God was taking me to the mission field. Now, just today I was thinking about that moment and decided to look it up. Flipping through the pages of Matthew I came upon these verses. In the verses just before these, the disciples were scared, thinking that the man walking on the water was a Spirit. That night I was scared, thinking that missions wasn't my thing. Jesus answered them and said "be not afraid" in these words do I take comfort every day. Peter still wasn't sure (neither was I) and asked God, not for a miraculous sign, not for a big voice from above, but for an invitation, a call. That night all I asked God for, was an answer, an invitation, a call. And Jesus said Come. Both to Peter and to me. That's all Peter needed, that's all I needed. He stepped off the boat, I stepped on the airplane. He walked on water, I served in Mexico for two weeks at age 15 (and practically on my lonesome.) Peter and I did these things for one reason: To go to Jesus. Reading this story over and over, continuing to compare it to my life, I have found so much in just the one word come. When thinking about leaving, going, departing, for the next unknown, I feel sad. Not only for myself, but for the people I know staying behind. I have a hard time explaining that God wants me to go there, that he will be with me all the way. But then I thought about what 'come' means, to move toward someone or something. Light bulb! My God is already 'there' (wherever 'there' may be) and he is asking me to join him there. He has already made the journey and is waiting for me. All I have to do is follow His footsteps and meet him. Wherever he calls me, he won't push me in front and say "you first" like coming upon a dark scary ally in a movie. No, he says "I've gone first, now your turn, come." In the following verses Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and begins to sink, but our God is a gracious and forgiving God. He extends his hand and helps us back up and teaches us. The passage ends when the disciples gives pure praise and worship to the Son of God. "Come."

A 'coincidence' that happened while there in Mexico. In the kitchen of the Zaragozas' home, hangs two pictures that absolutely drove me insane the whole time because they hung unevenly on the wall... Well one of them was a depiction of Peter and Jesus on the water with the seas raging behind them! Coincidence? I think not.

Sunbeam

I am back home. Hundreds of miles away, lays a piece of land that I now know. The people there are amazing, their stories, their hearts, and their families. Knowing that I may or may not go to this place again, is frightening. Two weeks ago I was thrown into a completely different lifestyle, new language, and new people. It was definitely culture shock, but it only took me a couple of hours to throw myself into Gods work that is taking place at Refuge Ranch. Saying adios and goodbye to everyone on Thursday was emotional and difficult for all of us. God's presence was definitely felt. God is the one who put the want in my heart two years ago, and He is the one that brought the plans, money, and safety on the trip. God was also the one taking me home. Home to serve others, grow in Him, and prepare again to depart. As soon as we were picked up from the airport, culture shock hit again. Harder. It is now Saturday afternoon, and I'm still trying to get used to my life here in the United States.

God taught me so many things while I was away. One being that everyday, God wants to use us. He wants our abilities, not only to serve others, but to truly glorify Him. Through love and words, He wants us to spread the gospel, everywhere. At home, at school, at play- a sunbeam for Him.

Blogging has become something I enjoy, and writing brings joy and relaxation to me. Several people have asked if I will continue my blog after my trip: yes, definitely. Please continue to check back here every once in a while and pray for me.

Sunday November 27 I will be presenting a slide show with more details of my trip. I invite all of you to come to my home Church and see all what the Lord is doing there at Refuge Ranch.

Questions, comments, concerns,

Complements, or good jokes, Facebook me ;)

Counting down

Finally counting down the hours! 35 hours, 45 minutes :) We have such scheduled and timed lives, sometimes it feels like I am always 'counting down' to an event or an occasion. But isn't it amazing that our God doesn't run like that? He always has time for us, never has to re-schedule, cancel, or take time from others. God only has one clock and only he knows the hour. Christ will return someday, could be tonight, tomorrow or next year and how do we live our lives day to day? There's a popular question, "What if you lived today like you were going to die tomorrow?" its a good question, but how many of us actually do? Living each and every day, every minute, every second for the glory of God is tough, we all fail at it. Although, just imagine how much of a different perspective we would have on our day if we wake up praising God, and go to bed praising God; No matter the contents of the previous day, current day, or future days. Since no man knows the day or hour: "Mt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" We should be asking God to show us what he wants us to do for him daily. I love to look forward to things, to prepare, and to pack, and I believe that's just fine :) So, I want to spend my time between these fun and exciting events wisely and for the glory of our God.

It is so cool when practice finally pays off! When something difficult just 'clicks.' Starting an instrument, the first thing your teacher tells you is "practice makes perfect." Coaches hold practices everyday of the week. Children go to school to practice math, science, reading and writing daily. We are practicing all the time! Some days I feel like all my 'practicing' isn't going anywhere, but then, a light bulb turns on and it reminds me that God gave me these things to practice, all for the purpose of when we succeed to give glory and honor to His name. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." A popular verse, but still brings encouragement to me. It's sometimes easy to make a schedule for practicing in the pool or on my ivory because it shows real physical results. Living for God each day also takes effort, but the results are much greater.

Let go, let God

Having the love for words, yet an eye for photography, I have decided to begin a project: 101 Strangers with Stories. The purpose of this project is not only to challenge myself artistically and mentally, but to embrace the world of stories also. Everyone has a story, whether it's detailed and descriptive, or short and sweet. Whether it's love and emotion, or action and adventure. Whether it's childish memories, or adult fears. It's a story. My goal, is to unlock these stories that lay unidentified worldwide, by captivating words and intriguing photographs. As pictures and stories unfold, I wish to share them with the world through compiling everything into one book, maybe someday to be published. Joshua 1:9 says "Have I not commanded thee? Be thou strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee, withersoever thou goest." Looking into the near future, it's hard to just let go, let God. In my case, heading to Mexico in just a few short days is bringing many thoughts to my mind. The first step on an airplane, two weeks staying with people I barely know, different food and surroundings, being half way around the world! There are many reasons to be scared and afraid of what may come, but God says he is with us wherever we go. He says that since He is always with us, we need to be strong and courageous, fearless of what the future may bring us, trusting that God has already gone before us. When I was younger, I remember that whenever I would get scared at night in my bed, I would recite this verse many times over, usually until I fell asleep. But now, Joshua 1:9 has a new meaning in my mind. Collage, travelling, military, and family have become the common talk among my friends that are nearing this new stage of our lives. My little circle of friends and I are growing up, and we will soon be going our own ways. It's one thing to trust God with our own lives, our own futures, and our own plans, but sometimes it's hard to have faith that God knows whats best for our friends too. I'm an adventurist, I yearn to discover, captivate, and visually see the world. It's easy for me to see myself leaving my home...just not yet. But having lifetime friends go off to collage and the military, it's hard not to question God. However, God wants our trust and our faith, and He will give us the strength and the courage to triumph over every fear in our lives. We just have to let go, let God. In conclusion, my challenge both to you and myself, find other people's stories. Share whether you have just begun yours, in the middle, or have finally finished a chapter. Encourage the struggling, uplift the downtrodden, and congratulate the ends.