Where did the time go?

Wow, I can't believe it's been two months since I last posted an update on my life. I tend to lose track of time. Especially when God is taking me on an adventure with Him left and right. It also doesn't help that school has picked up a lot and I have a different major project due each week.

But here is a life update :)

I have been spending a lot of time learning. Learning about myself, about people, and about Parks and Recreation. In myself I have been recognizing my desperate attempts at control. I am tugging on a leash that is attached to a rock because I'm scared. I want to be abiding in the rock and I long to be steadfast in the rock, but I'm so desperate for the control of my own circumstances, relationships, and life. A hard lesson to learn, but I am giving the leash slack and recognizing that I am so filled with joy as I move closer and closer to the rock which keeps me grounded and keeps me from being tossed by the wind.

In people I'm learning how we are all craving something and seeking something in the life. Security, peace, acceptance, religion, etc. We are all worshiping something in our lives. I know where my peace is founded and I know where I find my security. Conversations with so many people have told me that they haven't found   anything everlasting. I have shared with them where I find my everlasting joy and peace. Some choose not to believe me while others have become very curious. Think of them.

In Parks and Recreation the students in my classes are completely focused on the NPS and FS. I love both of those, but I'm finding that isn't what I want to do at all. I did my freshman year of College, but I want to work with people in program planning. My classes out here are teaching me so much about the desert and winter travel and recreation. An area I never expected to learn about.

From the Deserts near Moab,

.....to Yellowstone's beautiful Ol' Faithful and Grand Teton National Park....

 OSPREY NEST with an osprey in it!!! 

Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake

Utah is the most diverse state I've ever experienced. If it was on the Ocean (The Salt Lake doesn't count) it would be the best state EVER! Utah is really the USA's best kept secret for outdoor recreation.

I have been experiencing a whole new culture out here. I've gotten to experience the West first hand. Thanks to all my readers and thanks to those who send so much love.

LR 

Rock climbs and Fish trails

These are some of the friends I've made since coming to Utah! 

Aren't they PRESH! 

The past week I've been under the weather. I don't know if it's just because I'm living in a new place or just allergies kicking in? But last Thursday we went rock climbing and had a blast! All of my Asian friends said they would never do rock climbing again. They didn't once and that was enough. I, however, am finding a new passion in rock climbing! It's so much fun! I don't know if I'll ever enjoy indoor rock walls again. 

This past week I prepared for my back packing trip to Fish Lake. I packed up my life for the weekend and  headed out to Fish Lake National Forest Friday afternoon. 

The weather wasn't lookin too good. The thunder was rolling and we saw lightning in the distance. Not cool. It ended up being cold and rainy the entire journey. He is good though and we were safe the entire time :) 

QUAKIES: Quaking Aspens

(My new favorite tree)

This was an amazing trip and I would most definitely do it again. The terrain and scenery where unreal and nothing like the East Coast. Our first morning we heard some elk bucking antlers and we went out to watch. I tried to get a picture.  

I don't think beavers know anything about leave no trace. 

Overall we had an amazing time and I know He is leading me somewhere wonderful with this degree and hopefully one day being a leader/ guide for trips like this one. 

(just the girls on the trip)

I have been learning so much about myself and abiding. 

Abiding in the One who provides an abundance of grace and peace in a broken heart like mine. He has brought me so far and I am thankful! How could I not be when I look back at my life a year to a year and a half ago when I was a freshman in college, searching for more and more rather than being thankful for all that has already been given to me. Paul wrote to Colosse to point them back to their roots. To point them to JC. We aren't supposed to be a broken people, but we are. We search for peace in so many things but Paul wants to remind us that we are to be in Shalom (ultimate peace) with the One who created us each individually.

I'm trying my best to let go of control and just allow myself to be available and usable and to constantly give thanks.  

Much love, 

LR

PS: let me know how I can be thinking of you! Also, more pictures are posted on Facebook. 

In my weakness.

This, is the beautiful campus that I get to live on this semester. (Phot cred: Campus website)

Since being here my breath is taken away every time I step outside my apartment door! This photo does not do the campus or the mountains it's justice. I go hiking/ trail running almost every day. Every time I step outside my door the mountains are calling me to explore them. On the hillside behind my apartment there is an amazing trail. Each time I run it I feel God's presence over power me as I look out across the city and to the mountains in the distance and all I can do is give thanks and praise him.

The mountains, however beautiful, are not the only thing that takes my breath away. The altitude. I feel so weak here. My first hike I had to stop every 10 min to catch my breath. How embarrassing! I thought I was fit... but honestly this has been wonderful not being able to be in control and recognizing I AM WEAK! I must become less if He is to become greater to someone else!

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considered foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things despised by the world, things they counted powerless to shame those who are powerful.... God has united us with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy and freed us from sin. Therefore, as the scriptures say, "If you boast, boast only about the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1: 26-31

He is Good! Intervaristy on campus has really taken me in and are an awesome community to hang out with and be encouraged by. I've also met a ton of international students who are here... funny thing is that ALL of the English Lang. Institute classes are where my classes are for Parks and Rec!!! Coincidence?! I THINK NOT!

There almost as many students here as there are at NCSU, but this campus is much bigger! They are the Utah Utes and the Utes have their first game this Thursday against Montana State. I wish I was going, but another game I'll go. Hopefully against Oregon or Colorado!

I have been planning adventures and weekend trips and have been trying to meet people who are crazy enough to go with me :) There are quite a few people here who are willing to do take weekend trips, but it seems that most people are waiting for snow season. Which is coming up in October! Excited, but I've never lived in snowy mountains for a long period of time.

Please keep me in your thoughts!

much love,
LR

The Salty Lake

What good is salt if it has lost it's flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out a trampled underfoot as worthless. Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with  ears to hear should listen and understand.


I've been in Salt Lake city since Friday afternoon. I love it here! The city has so much flavor and potential. I see Him at work all around me already. Through the friends He's already thrown my way and through the community groups I have visited. Crazy! My apartment mates are wonderful and encouraging. As well as the communities I'm planning to be a part of on campus and in the city. Please be thinking of me as I am making new International friends each day. I feel like I am able to relate with them so well since my summer in NYC.


Next thing I will do is post pictures of the city and campus. It is amazing and beautiful! The mountains spring up from nowhere and and nothing like the Appalachian Mountains I am used to. The mountains surround the city like a great wall and ask me to climb them each time I step outside my apartment. His finger prints are all over this place!

Much love,
Liz

New York International Internship

As most of you know I was supposed to be in London this summer... Well, NYC was plan A the whole tome to Him. New York is a beautiful city, beautifully broken. On one street I felt like I was in the US then just around it's corner I felt like I was in Morocco, Egypt, China, Japan, West Africa, or Pakistan...etc. It was amazing! We are stayed in Queens with an amazing family. We spent a load of time commuting to Manhattan and Harlem every week. The other girls (the original NY group) live in Manhattan, just on the edge of central park. 

There was no such thing as a typical day for us in NY. My team and I spent a ton of time with new friends. We visited an Indonesian Mosque, which was beautiful. We do English Conversation groups in Harlem with the West African community. Which was so great! And we all had two conversation groups we held at NYU each week. We were always busy and always learning something new about different cultures and about the city.  

It was all exhausting, but wonderful. Before leaving FL He broke my heart and burned it for all peoples. I have a burning passion to fill the earth now, a passion I didn't really have before this summer or expect myself to have. I have always loved people, especially people of different backgrounds, but I think that in being rejected by London I have realized how passionately I do feel about wanting to go. I used to desire the adventure of it all more but now my selfishness has been slowly peeling away. There are so many people here in NY and SO many different people groups that it's sometimes over whelming to think about how plentiful the harvest is here. 

Here was one of my favorite stories about a man I had met:

A Jamaican man sat down next to me in the park one day. A street musician/mime was performing in the square and we watched without saying a word to each other for a while. I began to feel like the mime was a distraction. As soon as that feeling came this man began to stand up to walk away but the chain of his wallet caught him. As soon as he sat down to release himself I turned to him and began to ask him how he was doing. As soon as the words came out of my mouth his face broke and I could see pain I had never seen before in anyone. He was a rough looking older man who seemed to be living a rough lifestyle. He shared with me his whole life story and about his addiction to drugs. He said his dealer was the first person who actually shared Dad and his Son with him (That was just eye opening and reminded me of the verse that even demons know and believe in him and shudder). He turned to me after he was done talking and asked me what my story was. What an opening only the One could have provided! He shared with me that he had a trial coming up and that he hoped he would either go to jail or become a part of a program to get away from his dealer and the Harlem community he hated being in. I think of him often. I didn't have much with me but an apple so I offered it to him. He looked at me and said of all the things I could have given him, he said that the apple was most meaningful. Wow!

Thank you for all your thoughts! 

Much love, 

Liz

Gungor- Beautiful Things