On Sunday I moved out of my apartment for the last cadre of the year! It was a great one to end the year off, and Monday as well as Tuesday I got to spend time with them and get a chance to pour into their lives. Cadre, you have taught me how to serve, and I have been made so much better because of you.
Wednesday was not an especially great day for me as I had a fever and couldn't go in that day. I had to study through the sickness, however, as my trimester exam was the next day! I managed to do very well despite it, and after our exam on Thursday we went to downtown Decatur to take yearbook photos. I've posted some at the bottom! Later that night we had a bridal shower for Lucy, one of the 3rd year students. She is getting married to Pastor Adam this summer! I'm so happy for them both, their relationship really is a God-honoring one.
On Friday night we had an Audax leadership hangout, and Hosanna and I decided to dress up for the occasion. We went over to one of the apartments and spent 4 hours having an encouragement chair: where one of us sits in a chair and we all take turns encouraging them! It was a great way to let each other know how far we have come, and what we see in each other. I loved the experience, and we all left so much more confident than we came in.
On Saturday It was our last official day off, and that involved worship practice for our chapel that was only days away. As I mentioned before, I was one of the team leads and it was great to see our class work so hard to get a task done. Later on I will let you know how it went!
Sunday was a great day- my family flew in a week early for graduation! After church, the first year girls all went CAMPING! It turned into a crazy fiasco and we ended up sleeping on the side of the road by a church, and getting up at 4 am to leave, but it was worth it. I made so many priceless memories that night! Thank you Christina for putting in so much time into our class!
When we got back from camping, we had only a few short hours to sleep until Monday-Packing-Day became a reality. I did not like packing up all of my things, it just made it a reality that in a week I would be leaving my amazing roommates! It's crazy to think of how we all got along so well, all six of us! Sure we had our fights, but we were made better by them. I am so grateful that Allie, Heather, Danielle, Kasey and Lyn have been in my lives this year. After packing up our apartments, we had a Masters girls clothing swap! All of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year girls, even Jeanne Mayo brought their unwanted clothes over to an apartment and we all came out with new outfits. It was such a girly thing to do but we loved it!
The next day was a huge highlight for me. After prayer we had ALL DAY FAMILY DAY! We started off with a trip to walmart to buy all the necessary items for a cookout at Piedmont Park. After grilling there, we went to the same spot that we had our first family time, and we all went around and encouraged each other about how much we have changed. I could barely talk I was crying so hard! We played games and just had fun, and then we drove out to Athens and met up with the entire Masters gang at Buffalo Wild Wings. After a big family meal together, we drove to the Botanical gardens: home of our opening chapel in September, and now our closing chapel of May. Jeanne spoke about how these last 9 months are only a small, small part of the rest of our lives, and encouraged us to keep going. She prayed with each one of us and anointed us with oil, and then we all went around and prayed for each other. The support of Masters is one thing I will deeply miss. It is like none other than I have seen!
Wednesday was our final Oxygen, and the last time we would see some of our students. It was O2 night, and our students set up our room with one big chair and dimmed the lights... yes thats right, another encouragement chair! They all went around and told us how much we've meant to them throughout the year, and how they are better because of our impact on their lives. It was a great way to end the year with them.
On Thursday PJ surprised us for our last life lessons and we went to Stone Mountain! After hiking approximately 1/4th of the mountain, we stopped and he talked to us about the successes of the year, and more importantly to keep going this summer. He recorded a personalized cd for each one of us and handed them out right before we descended the mountain. It was one of the greatest memories I've had of the week! When we got back it was time to set up for our first year chapel the next day! There was tokens to make, the rooms to set up, the technical aspects to be figured out, our worship team had to practice... it was a lot of work! There were a lot of other distractions that came our way that night as well. At 10 pm our apartment was informed that our apartment was broken into, and many things including my laptop was stolen. It was a very frustrating discovery, but I kept going and finished up everything that was going on at the church. I only slept 4 hours on the floor (we couldn't stay in our apartment until the locks were changed), but it was okay. Our chapel the next day was SO worth it!
The same Thursday night, our brothers decided to put on a dinner for the first year girls. They made us fettucine alfredo, served us drinks, and told us how much they appreciated us. It was simple but so touching! Friday was the big day, our chapel day! Our theme was the Holy of Holies, and many parents showed up for it as well. It was a huge success. God's presence, what we talked about, completely filled the room. One girl was even healed from a severe nerve disorder! It just goes to show that a heart of expectancy will truly see God. After chapel, Jeanne treated us to lunch as a thank you for all of us serving at cadre. It was so nice, and the waiters came around and served you any kind of meat you wanted! After that, we had grad rehearsal and Audax went out for their final outing of the year: Cici's pizza! I'm going to miss my girls, they have shown me so many things and have been such a blessing to have around. It's crazy to see how much they have grown too!
On Saturday, we had our graduation banquet. Everyone dressed up, ate at Maggiano's, and reminisced over the year. I couldn't believe that we were graduating the next day- it feels like we only moved in a week ago!
At last Sunday came, graduation day. The service was so beautiful, everyone was laughing or crying or both! As I walked across the finish line, it was almost as if I felt God's joy in my accomplishments. We had a big party at Jeannes that night, and it was a great way to make some last memories and begin the goodbyes.
Monday morning I packed up my last remaining items and said goodbye to my roommates. I could barely get out my words, I was crying so hard! These girls were like sisters to me, and will be very much missed. I'm going to miss everyone I've met this year, and I hope I get to see them all soon!
Looking back on the year, I've realized how far I have really come. I worked hard this year and did it right, keeping the standards placed on us to the best of my abilities. I have sought God with all my heart, never being satisfied. I think one of the biggest changes, however, was the fact that I came in here thinking I knew everything, and am leaving knowing I have so much more to learn. I have become confident, and yet humble. The great work that God has done inside of me is far from over. In fact, its really just beginning. These past 9 months have trained me for life, and I'm going to leave here using that knowledge as much as I can. It's time to come home... and I'm going to enjoy this season of my life as much as I can. To all my faithful blog readers, I hope my testimony in the last few months has helped you in some way. Even if it was just something to read! I'm not going to be blogging over the summer, but I'll be back at it in September... for my second year!
May God bless you all, Annie in Atlanta
