The past few weeks have been... interesting. Fall is definitely settling in, and I think that makes things tough on everyone a bit. Our regional director for FOCUS, Mark Bartek, (basically my supervisor's supervisor) highlighted on this fact as well at our Regional Gathering this weekend. He said that this time of the year is traditionally the toughest time of year for everyone-- missionaries, students, professors, professionals, parents, etc. We are the farthest away from summer, the cold is setting in, and much of the "newness" of the school year has worn off. However, we take comfort in the Lord, for he builds us up in our struggles. It's during these times that we truly realize that this is His work that we're doing, not merely our own. I can feel all your prayers propelling me through, and I am so thankful! You are all in my prayers as well, especially during this "slump."
I got a lot of positive feedback from my "newsy" format of my last post, so I'm going to try that again for this week. Here are some highlights from the past few weeks: (pictures below)
October 14th- 18th: My parents came to Minnesota to visit!-- I had a wonderful time showing them the beauty of Winona and giving them more insight to my life here. We went sight-seeing around Winona County (which included touring an old mill, going to an apple orchard, watching the sunset on top of one of the many bluffs that surround Winona, and wine-tasting at a vineyard), traveled into neighboring Wisconsin to visit a Shrine, and spent time around my teammates and some students. They really enjoyed their time here! It was very refreshing to be with them for a few days.
October 19-20th: Stump the Seminarians!-- I invited three seminarians from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona to my Freshmen Women's Small group to answer the girls' questions about the Catholic faith, spirituality, prayer, God, etc. It was exciting to see the girls interact with such solid men who are really pursuing a Christ-filled life! Fun fact: I have two different women's small groups on Wednesday and Thursday night, and some of the Wednesday night girls came back on Thursday to ask even more questions to the seminarians!
October 21-22nd: WSU Homecoming Weekend-- Friday night we took a HUGE group (over 30 people) to a Corn Maze just outside of town. It was a blast! On Saturday I attended the Homecoming football game with a girl from my small group and some of her friends. How exciting to be back at a college football game! Saturday night a group of us went to a Barn Dance (which was unfortunately not in a barn, but in a church gym)! We danced the night away with square dancing, polka-ing, and waltzing!
October 28-30th: FOCUS Colorado/Great North Regional Gathering-- Team WSU traveled up to Fargo, ND to gather with about 40 other missionaries from all over our region (which stretches from Colorado all the way to Wisconsin!). It was a wonderful weekend to connect with our fellow missionaries and just have fun sharing in the struggles and joys of missionary life!
Please keep team WSU and the students in your prayers! God bless!
~Emily
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| My parents and I enjoying the sunset atop Garvin Heights |
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| My parents were so thrilled to meet my teammates and some students! |
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| Getting lost in the corn maze! |
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| Go Warriors! |
praying for you always xoxoxo
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