***Did you know that Muslims are beginning to evangelize in America? Apparently it's common in other places already... like Europe. TV and radio commercials are now playing that encourage you to look into Islam and quoting the lighter passages of the Quran only to replace "Allah" with the American "God." Are you sharing YOUR faith?
The Quran was a book written by ONE man over a 23 year period in his life. The Holy Bible was written by about 40 different authors over a period of about 1500 years! Woe to us if we do not preach the gospel!
--- Moody Bible Institute ---
What a wonderful trip Johnny and I had! I could spend all night writing about it, but bedtime has to come sometime...
Our stand-by flights got us 1st Class seating both ways (new experience for me). I'm so thankful to Jacquelin for her help with our flights. We got there Thursday afternoon and left Saturday afternoon. Two very awesome guys hosted us in their room while we stayed and another guy even helped out, which I'll soon explain. We rode the subway train, which was a new experience also and walked quite a bit down there too. It's a walking state for the most part. Before we even checked in at Admissions, we had a homeless guy ask us for money. Johnny and I were skeptical because he seemed a bit drunk. Out of the 3 times we were approached by the homeless community, we bought them food twice.
Hannah in Admissions was awesome and very gracious to us. One of the things that stood out to me the most is the brotherhood nature of the guys in the dorm and the environment surrounding that. Our dorm was not big enough to fit 4 guys in it, so one of the guys offered to give up his bed for Johnny and he slept ona cot somewhere else. Another guy a few rooms down gave up his bed for me and he slept in a recliner someone else had. One thing we noticed pretty quick was that the people there are REAL people... there isn't some kind of facade of holy conservativism among the dorms. At least there wasn't in ours. the guys acted like guys for sure. The lounge had an eaten bowl of salsa and chip crumbles on the table, an empty bottle of Snapple on the floor, an old chair with holes in the cushion, and an organ with broken keys. The guys on a higher floor moved a desk out of their room, put it in the lounge, and put turntables on it. The guys stayed up late in theological (and more) discussions, the community bathrooms had everyone's toiletries in little baskets out in the open... it was awesome.
Thursday we mostly just got to know the guys, went out for Chicago pizza, and met with the Asst. Mgr. of the grocery store I'd be transferring to if I got in up there. It's about a 10-15 min. walk from the campus. He asked how long I'd be there and said (with a chuckle) he could put me on the schedule the following day! That Produce dept. is HUGE.
Friday we had our tour, and presentation with other prospective students. The others were all high school students with their parents. We got to sit in on a class, attend a chapel worship service, and have free lunch. I chose to go to Winfred Neely's class on Evangelistic Messages. Apparently he's the head of the Biblical Exposition are of emphasis so I thought I'd say hi to him. It was an enjoyable class. Afterward, we visited the bookstore. There is a Lifeway connected to Moody and downstairs is where you buy textbooks and Moody related items. Johnny and I together spent over $160 on clothes and gifts to take home as a memory of our trip.
Thursday I did my best to get info on the student outreach group that goes outside for street ministry. Moody is located so that you could almost literally walk outside the door and start preaching there in downtown. I joined their group Friday night of about 20-30 students, had a 30 minute time of prayer, and we walked to the busiest area of downtown. They use all Way of The Master tracts, but the presentation is a different message and style. They use paint as a visual aid and a black light. There was even a professor that preached the gospel there in the streets. That was SO encouraging! Tim, the current leader even let me preach at the end! It was so cold out there that by the time we got back my nose was red and my hands were freezing. I could certainly tell the difference when we arrived back in Texas. I won't get to wear my hoody for at least another month or so here!
We had breakfast with one of our roommates and headed out Saturday morning. We already were making friendships and I now have a few more facebook friends because of it. I found out it costs $10,000 a year to stay in the dorms with a meal plan. That's 4 times what I thought it was. Please pray that God makes provision if I'm accepted, as I believe He will. My father is very skeptical and concerned about helping to pay for everything. I'll be doing what I can in the next few months to save as much as I can. I'm sorry I don't have photos for you... they're on facebook. I can't figure out how to put them on here though....?
