Cedarville University

Dear Readers,

It is nearing Thanksgiving, and thus the time for cramming in learning and projects before the break. Yet, so soon, I will hear the metaphorical last bell ringing! Melancholy though I am thinking of leaving, I can’t wait to watch my house appear around the corner. (Unless, of course, it’s darker, and I can’t see.) There is nobody I’d rather see than my family right now. And who wouldn’t enjoy a little Black Friday shopping, since Christmas is almost here? I know I love it! See you soon, friends and fam!

Peace, Love, and Victory,

JD

Today’s chapel was pretty awesome. We were visited by the Children of the World – the international children’s choir. This mix of international missionaries not only had great talent for song and dance and adorable outfits, but they carried an important message: one of the greatest world health issues is a lack of clean, drinkable water, which can mean that many people are exposed to parasites, malaria, and harmful substances in the water they drink. The statistics are staggering, with about 6,000 child deaths from water-related illness every single day. How can we sit by, when there is such an easily-preventable and widespread problem going on?  And what an opportunity for ministry! Their cause, Cause Life, which is affiliated with World Help, is working to build wells to provide clean water in villages in such developing nations where clean, drinkable water is hard to come by. I was very moved, I’ll admit, a bit choked up, by the joyful attitude of the children as they sang worship to our God, and they showed me such an important issue that I’ve never taken into consideration before.

I’ve included a link to the World Help website, which you can use if you’d like to get more information about Cause Life or the Children of the World, and you can even listen to them sing!

Peace, Love, and Life,

JD

www.worldhelp.net

Well, there’s no getting around it. Even if you take it off of your Facebook profile page, and lay low, don’t say ANYTHING, people somehow know when it’s your birthday. That’s when you find a birthday card in your box from a girl in your math class (thanks, Sasha!) and at midnight your roommate starts yelling “Hey everybody, it’s JD’s birthday and he’s trying to hide it!” I am now 19 – I feel like I’ve just crossed into the plane of imaginary numbers. It seems so bland compared to all the birthdays around it – sweet 16, 17 for your license, 18 you’re an adult, 20 you’re no longer a teen – but 19 has nothing particularly special about it. At least, not intrinsically, but I’d like to make this a year in which I experience a lot of positive change. I have SO much room to grow, so much I can learn, so many habits to adopt, so much I need to do this year. Half of it is intimidating, but half of it is thrilling! I really hope God will work in my life tremendously this year. I know I need it!

When I start looking at it that way, I suppose there IS something worth celebrating. But I don’t know what to do. How about you, my beloved readers? What is the most fun, unique, or special birthday celebration you’ve had/been a part of? Maybe if you submit one that’s worthwhile and possible for me, I’ll give it a go!

Peace, love, & another prime number birthday,

JD