Hello friends! Another month has come and gone, and in the spirit of Thanksgiving I thought I would list a few things I’m thankful for this month.

SNOW

Yes, we finally had our first snowfall. We have been told this has been an unseasonably warm fall in Jackson, so it took a while for the snow to get going. Once it came, the campus was transformed into a winter wonderland. The Tetons have disappeared in a fog of constant snow flurries over the last week. Guess we won’t be doing any more hiking until spring! The snow has afforded constant entertainment to the student body – some of whom are from warmer climates that do not get much snow. We’ve had a few amateur ice sculptors amongst us attempt a few works of art. Some completed items include a life size dune buggy and a dragon on top of a student’s minivan. We also must have a few aspiring engineers in the ranks because there is currently the construction of an igloo underway – complete with wood stove and pine bough roof!

The Opportunity to Serve the Community

Over the last month, we have had a few wonderful opportunities to serve the local community here in Jackson. The church we attend hosted a family fun night where we served a meal and operated a bunch of carnival games for families in the community. I participated in my first “cake walk” and had fun passing out goldfish pets to children who won the ping-pong ball toss. A couple of weeks later, the school hosted a conference for local pastors. It was all hands on deck as we cooked for and served the additional people on campus. It was such a treat to be able to bless these hardworking pastors. Many of these men and their wives serve in small churches where they do not have the opportunity to rest and relax very often. This retreat was the only break many of these men get all year.

Amazing College Classes

I continue to be amazed at all that we are learning here! A couple of my favorite classes this month were The Acts of the Apostles and Creation Evangelism. One highlight of the Evangelism class was the opportunity to engage in live debates/conversations with atheists on their online blogs. Scripture tells us to always be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have, and this was certainly that opportunity. It was a great way to practice explaining what we believe to an audience that will ask us hard questions.

Safety

I couldn’t help but mention this one as we have lately seen more evidence of bears! The bike trail that we frequently walk on has also been adopted by a black bear that apparently needs the exercise too!

Friends and Family

As Thanksgiving break came, we packed our belongings and said good-bye to the friends we have made. We have become a very close knit group in just a short time. As we left for the airport, a crowed lined the driveway to send us off. We’ll return to school in the beginning of January. In the meantime, we will enjoy our family in PA and work to save money for next semester.

Once you start listing everything you can be thankful for, the list just continues to grow! I’ll close for now, but I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving and hope you have the chance to reflect on the many things that each one of us has been blessed with!