Reach the U

Gas to and from Springfield, MO .... $75.00
Reach the U Missionary Track .... $560.00
Supplies for the conference .... $35.00
Lessons learned and bonds made this week .... priceless

This week I am in Springfield, MO for the annual Reach the University Institute. This week is actually a requirement for my internship that I officially start in August. I've had the chance to come to Reach the U before but somehow never made it. Wow have I been missing out.

Before I got here Sunday night I had no idea what to expect. Honestly until Monday morning we had no idea really of what things would be like. But let me tell you it has been phenomenal. More or less we have been in classes from 9:00am until about 10:00 at night. We get a lunch and dinner break and a little bit of free time in the afternoon, but it's mostly class room time the whole day. And yes the sitting in a desk all day is not so comfy, but the information has been priceless. This week really has been chocked full of so much valuable information. And yes of course there was an actual price tag on the event, but the experience and what I've learned in invaluable. I've been on campuses and involved with Chi Alpha for over seven years now, and still this week has taught me so much and fired me up even more for the university. It's been amazing.

Another phenomenal aspect of this week is just being around people who get it. So much of the time (and I think it's true in any field you are passionate about) no matter the amount that you explain it to people, they don't get the passion that we as campus missionaries have for the university. And even if they agree and do get it, they don't really get it like other Chi Alphans get it. And even if they have been in a Chi Alpha, they may still not get the life long call to the campus like other campus missionaries get. All of that to say that being around about forty other people this week that "get it" has been so encouraging.

I have had more conversations this week and shared life stories with people that I barely know, but there is this strong passionate bond that makes all the gaps between us disappear. Sitting in a crowded lunch room I have no issues with asking someone their Chi Alpha story and future. It's just what we do. We all know what we're here for, so it's amazing to ask the details of each person's journey.

There is a group of guys here that are going to pioneer in Colorado next year. There are three or four folks interning in Arkansas. There is a girl who just learned of Chi Alpha last year but is here cause she is on staff with a Chi Alpha and she just wants to understand it all more. There is a guy who has been in church ministry for a few years and has a family but felt like Chi Alpha is the way to go now. There are people from Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas, Texas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Colorado, California, Montana, Minnesota, Washington, Alabama, and probably more that I'm forgetting. They're from all over the country, but we all have some major things in common. And we're all committed to tackling universities for Christ. It's amazing! It's been an outstanding week! Until then ......