The 'Advent Conspiracy'

I'm thinking about Christmas already. It makes winter my favourite season, and Houghton is already getting some snow, so how could I not?
In chapel today there was an interesting video; I included the link. The website is "adventconspiracy.org", and it provides some Christmas perspective. I like the emphasis on using time as a gift, something I've realized more and more as I grow older and spend more time away from home.

Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU&eurl=http://adventconspiracy.org/

October break

Dad and Ali flew in to Houghton and we are just finishing our little vacation to New York City. As soon as you leave the Lincoln Tunnel, I swear peoples driving attitudes change. It's like you absorb this city persona and your driving becomes a little more aggressive, a little more fluid, and a lot more aware. No matter how many taxis speed through crowds, or how many jay-walkers step into the street a little too early, there seem to be no major accidents. I find this fascinating. I stood in Times Square for a good half-hour just watching traffic and people and this little camera crew trying to film a short segment for some movie.
We left New York in the late afternoon, after walking the Brooklyn Bridge. Then we got lost and went too far south. Now we are heading back through Pennsylvania; we'll pass Scranton! and back to Houghton.
It's going to be extra tough to say goodbye to my family because I know they will be going home to see the new addition to our family; baby Lukas Edward Hummelman.
I'll have to be consoled knowing that I will see him in a month's time :)

Nothing much else to say, I'm pretty tired.

More pictures.

Just thought I'd update with a couple more pictures. Homecoming was a lot of fun; ever since they've lifted the 'no dancing' rule, people have just been springing out of no-where with these crazy moves (yes, I am one of them).

But there are bigger and better things than dance coming to Houghton: Dad and Ali will be here in three days! I am beyond thrilled. And it really is the best time to come; it is sunny, the leaves are changing colour, it is nice and cold at night, and I don't have any exams. We are driving down to the Big Apple to spend a few days there. I make only one promise: Dad will own a new pair of jeans before he goes back to Vancouver.

Houghton had some fireworks.
Me and my house-mate Jenny sporting some 80's garb for the dance.

The Ferris Wheel in the midle of campus!

And this is my ambulance. I've only been on 2 EMT calls so far, but I feel more comfortable. As terrible as it sounds, I look forward to emergencies. I love being involved, I love talking to the patients and using my minor amount of skills to help them.

Dining and Dancing

This weekend is rather important for Houghton; we are celebrating 125 years! Of course, that means good food, a couple of dances, and a Ferris Wheel. In front of the chapel. I'm excited.

Tonight begins the weekend of feasting, and while I am in amazement at the history of this school, this one verse keeps popping into my head (and in the voice of Aunt Sophie): "Celebrate your feast days, oh Judah!". Houghton has come a long way, as I recently discovered. It used to be a town of 'debauchery and whore-houses', and there was a lot of prayer for transformation. And boy did God answer! Houghton and its effectiveness, its ability to sustain a community that bears fruit, really shouldn't happen in this small town. But it has continued, with the same amount of students almost every year since it began, to provide for the people in this area.

I'll post more pictures as the festivities continue. For now, these are of me and some housemates.

Couper mes cheveux...

I've been planning on cutting my hair since I came to college, and the other day I just went for it. It feels great....I think there is something significant in a dramatic haircut. I lost 8 inches this time, the most I've ever cut off (2 inches short of the length needed to donate, oh well). I'm not sure what it reflects; either my impatience, my acceptance of some changes, or commitment.

Either way, my showers are shorter and I'm saving on shampoo :)

Strawberry! Saltwater! Summer!

It surprises me that people tell me to keep writing. When I was a kid, I thought my claim to fame would be selling a best-seller novel about dogs and cats that go on adventures. Hm. Nowadays, I try keep a blog, try write in a journal, and try finish college essays on time. It tends to come in spurts....this blog alone is a testimony to my dedication. And yet, as much as I flip-flop in my desires of writing, it's always when I hear the words of encouragement that makes me come back again to the paper (or keyboard).

Maybe this is a failure on my part, that I don't have enough will-power to stay consistent. But maybe it's merely pointing to the bare necessity of writing: inspiration.

Presently, there is a book, a movie, and a CD that have been occupying the free space in my thoughts, and although not sources of inspiration or creativity, certainly admirable work that I would be proud of if I could accomplish it myself. The book would be The Count of Monte Cristo. Movie: Batman's Dark Knight. And the music of Coldplay's Viva La Vida is, by now, aligned with the beat of my heart.

These have been my summer resources... offering me distraction from the doubts and anxiety of moving out of my community, shelter from the degradation of a daily work routine, and hope that God's plan is bigger and more fantastic than mine.

These. Resources. Inspiration.

...and Saltwater.

(Not strawberries... although it sounds nicer. we only ever have blueberries in the house.)

15 minutes of fame

I won the sudoku challenge in the Houghton newspaper! I won a sudoku book. Be impressed.

In other news, we received 20 inches of snow in Buffalo last week; me and my friend saw one hawk, 2 flocks of canada geese, and way too many deer; I got certified for CPR; and watched "King of Kongs: a fistful of quarters" whilst eating fresh homemade salsa. Look up this movie, you'll be surprised at your attachment.

Gospel Choir

Today is the last day before break, before me and my two roommates fly out to Vancouver to be with my family. We always have chapel on Friday, and today's was extra special because gospel choir, the choir I recently joined, sang for the students.
Other than the new songs and harmony, something I've taken from this choir is the atmosphere of fellowship our 'director' emphasizes. Since this is a student-led program, gospel choir continues due to the students who continue to run it, year after year. And, since this is Gospel choir we're talking about, it's a lot of the African and African-American students involved.
I love it. Priscilla, who directs us, always reminds us (even the guys) to try and be '200-pound black women' while we are singing, getting us white Houghton kids to swing and clap to the music while we harmonize 'I will bless the Lord' and 'Oh Happy Day'. And yes, somehow we pull it off and it sounds really good. Every practice we have starts in prayer and testimony, and we end in a song of prayer. Although our group consists of 100+ students, I get the sense of unity, of being in the midst of God's children, come together for the simple act of worshiping our Father.
So, to have the opportunity of sharing our songs with the rest of the school and leading worship makes me feel very blessed indeed. I can't think of a better way to end the week before leaving for home.

(a little tribute to Whoopi...)

Hi! My name is _______.

I've discovered one of my favourite things: people that say my name when they say hi. There's something so touching about the small addition; it makes the 'hello' so much more personal.

Basic Life

I think I've lost the naivity of my childhood. Well, at least an aspect of it... I can still be pretty gullible sometimes. But I no longer feel that anything is certain; life is unpredictable around me and within me. As a child, I thought some earthly things were forever. This past year I've heard a lot of stories; of divorce, of failures, of new life, of turning away from God and turning towards God. And I've come to the conclusion that humans are never secure in themselves, nothing is forever. Even in Christianity, and sometimes it feels like especially in Christianity, we falter or change and our lives are ripped out from the roots. We can't trust even ourselves; nothing is permanent. Except God.
What does this mean, though? I've struggled with the belief that God is never-changing, and yet he has so many aspects to his 'character'. Heck, our basic belief is in the Trinity! How is it that God is a warrior and a shepherd, a God of justice and of mercy? How do I read about the wars God led for his people in the Old Testament, and the 'new law' of Jesus, and understand that this is the same God, unchanging and yet three-in-one?
I look at these stories, of myself and others. The stories of divorce and failure, of love lost and love won. And then I think about my God. How God is the warrior for us through our failures and complexities, and the shepherd who gives us blessings and simplicity. In my little extent of understanding, I see that God is the same in all these situations. He sustains our lives, no matter where we turn. The unpredictability of life is also that of God; he will soothe us and he will challenge us. We cannot turn to ourselves and find security in our souls alone; our lives would be stale. Our souls were made for growth and change, and God is the perfect match because he can encompass all of that.