A Week Has Passed...

...And San Diego has been nothing short of incredible. I forgot how powerful the environment is out here, being surrounded by 20 other people who are out here to glorify God through this experience. It has been really fun to make awesome new friends out here and get ready for 120 students from all around the nation to come and tell people about Jesus through jobs, evangelism, and work on local college campuses. Some highlights from the last week include:
- A service day in which we went to a local elementary school and basically made the dang thing look glamorous. We all worked hard all day and the principal and PTA at the school were moved to the point of tears that we would come out and do this for them. It was fun too... I worked in this garden area all day and I'm pretty sure I discovered 4 new species of bugs.. look for me on the discovery channel.
- We have spent 2 days at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) doing evangelism and trying to set up some sort of movement on the campus. This college is like no campus I have ever been on. It is very diverse culturally and takes a lot of pride in being a very Knowledge driven campus... everyone is some sort of Biology, Chemistry, or engineering major. Much of the students don't believe in God simply because there is no tangible or logical explanation for his existence. But it has been fun, as they are willing to talk about the subject of salvation and many find it very interesting and are hearing it for the first time. My friend Doug and I had a chance to talk with a guy named Undes (OON-DES) who was from Inner Mongolia and getting his doctorate in Chemical Engineering. He was very interested in what we had to say and ended up coming to our bible study later that day. His friend had just experienced what he described as a "re-birth," through Christ and he was interested in what that was all about. I think he left a little skeptical, but we will continue to pray for him.
- We had a Staff fun day! It was fun just hangin out with everyone here and continuing to develop community through sports, surfing, board games, and some grilling.
- We are partnering with many churches in the area, and the church I am assigned to is awesome. The pastor took us out to lunch after the service and is really excited we are there to help them out this summer.

These are just a few of the highlights of what we have been doing. We are preparing for the students who arrive Monday, so the next few days are pretty packed! I'm stoked for the students to come though and getting to meet the guys who I will disciple this summer.

Still in search of that camera cord... but i'll get some pics on here eventually!

For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.
-Isaiah 41:13

San Diego!!

On Sunday night about 11:30, two of the greatest dudes to ever come out of Illinois arrived at my house with car and luggage in tow. We caught up for about 30 minutes and then reconvened the next morning at the kitchen table with my mom's great cooking and some coffee. We hung out the rest of the day and then about 7 Monday night left my house for San Diego. 17 hours later we arrived in this beautiful city! We had a little time so we immediately went to our favorite little Mexican food stand called "La Playa," for some California burritos. They were amazing, and we are probably going back there tonight. Driving in brought back so many memories from when I was here in '07, and really excited me for the next 7 weeks I will be out here. I will be a student staff intern for the project so we have started some bible studies on leadership and vision planning. We are also studying the book of Hebrews this summer which will be great! It's been fun meeting the rest of the staff and we have already gotten in some pick-up ball at the local rec center which was great! The condo's we are staying in are amazing and face right out to Mission Bay, and Pacific Beach is right across the street. The men and women I have gotten to know so far really have hearts for the Lord and his will and I can tell that we are going to do some big things this summer. Part of my job also will be to disciple 4 of the students that will be out here... and I got to talk with them on the phone today! The seem awesome and really open for God's plan and I can't wait to build into them and teach them what I know... and learn things from them as well! I will keep updating this as the summer goes on and am excited for what's going to happen out here.. so until next time... Peace!!

P.S. I lost my camera cord that connects to my computer... so as soon as I get a new one I have pictures from the road trip and Cody's bachelor party.. you will want to see those. Trust me.

Song of the day: SLOW YO' FLOW!!

Tired Tired Tired....

Moving can do that to you! I'm in the process of moving all my stuff into storage for a little over a month while i head out to San Diego Summer Project. Check out the website... were gonna be doing some awesome things out there this summer. I'll talk a little more about this in my next post! Anywho, I think moving is probably my least favorite chore.. which is probably why I have dragged it out for 2 days now. I feel like i'm packing up all my stuff just to drive 6 blocks and unpack it. Oh well.. such is life. Well this is short.. but my mind is on overload.. i'm out. I'll leave you with a song that's been in my head all day! Yay for good music :)

*When your soarin through the air... I'll be your solid ground*

Graduation, A feeling of hope, and how much I love Sundays!

Yesterday was a bittersweet day. Graduation took place at UNC, and I attended the ceremony to watch many friends that I have been in classes and on campus with graduate. The ceremony itself was about as fun as watching grass grow, but I found myself sitting up in the stands with many emotions running through my mind. As I watched friends and classmates go up and get their diplomas (or pieces of paper so i'm told... the actual diplomas come later) I just remember thinking, That should be me.
I have been in college for 4 years. I love college, have met amazing people, friends, and professors that I will keep in contact with for years to come. As much as I love the lifestyle... I'm sick of the school work. I'm tired of working all semester to meet deadlines, read pointless books, and get a letter grade that really isn't going to matter 10 years from now. I know grades are essential now to get a degree... but sometimes i find myself thinking.. If I have a 3.3 gpa... and someone has a 2.3 gpa.. don't we get the same diploma?
But, there was also a glimmer of hope yesterday. I was at a grad party yesterday playing some washers (great game... essential for any grad party, bbq, get together, etc.) and I started thinking about my past semester. I had easy classes which really didn't require a whole lot from me to get the grades. If I would have graduated this semester, I don't know how satisfying it would have been. So I made a decision: I'm going to own my last semester. Put in work, take more leadership roles at my job, get out of my comfort zone a little bit, and make my last semester the best i've had. Then, I feel when I walk up on that podium to get my diploma, it will be all the more sweeter.
-Last little side note, totally unrelated to the above topic, but important nonetheless: Sunday is easily my favorite day of the week! It's usually a day that includes family, football in the fall, church and quality time with God, and just an overall sense of rest from life. It's a day when you can shut down the engines, recharge your batteries, and recover from whatever the week has thrown at you. A day when you can reflect on your week and plan for the upcoming week. Rather than me ramble on about it.. this song by Craig Morgan pretty much sums it up. Well i'm gonna go enjoy my Sunday.. and I hope yours is blessed as well!

-Beau

The Start of Something New...

Hey! Welcome to my little corner of the web. For those who just stumbled onto the page, my name is Beau Janes and I live in Colorado. I am 22 and a student at the University of Northern Colorado... I just finished up my fourth year and have one semester to go! Well, you will find out more about me as this blog gets rolling... so until then...