God uses pizza in cool ways..

this was our first week back on matías, and it was so cool! the Lord moved in really sweet ways, and we got to see some great things happen..

there were about four days between getting back from costa rica and the new ciclo (semester) at matías, so potter and i declared that time a 'planning retreat'.. we developed a schedule, what crucial things needed to be discussed and planned, and how they were to be executed, and spent those four days preparing for the new ciclo! honestly, our team came through in flying colors.. everyone stepped up to the plate, pushed themselves, and worked so hard to make everything come together! because we were really starting brand new on this campus, especially with all ten of us finally working together, we wanted to introduce students to a group that was real, and legitimate.. previously we were just a couple gringos walking around talking about Jesus (which isnt necessarily bad) but we really wanted to present ourselves as a sweet new group on campus, focused on sharing Christ and having community.. here is a short list of some sweet things that happened, just to give you the smallest taste of how the Lord moved:

- lauren designed a completely new and awesome logo for Vida Estudiantil! we had posters, banners, flyers, t-shirts.. all with a sweet new logo to draw attention and lend some credibility to our movement.. here is the logo on a quarter-sheet flyer..

in spanish it says, 'to grow in Christ and a community of change'

- on the other side of this flyer, we had a five-week calendar of all the events we have planned through february: a pizza party (ill get to that shortly); a Super Bowl party; a movie night; a valentines day outreach called Amor Real; a dessert night at the girls house; and an English club meeting..

- we were very blessed by the administration! the Lord used them to provide us with an information table near the cafeteria, where we could sit and talk with any students who were interested, provide them with all our information and invite them to the friday pizza party and raffle.. you might have an image of the first week of classes at most universities in the states, where the main plaza is packed with booths and free food and craziness and fun.. we were the only table! student groups and clubs here are extremely uncommon, practically non existent.. we definitely generated a lot of interest!

- on friday we had a pizza party and raffle! the ticket for the raffle was a short spiritual survey and contact/interest card.. we handed out over two hundred slices of free pizza! free food here is something that rarely ever happens, and the students were so excited to be blessed with a free lunch.. thanks for your support, you made it happen! we got to connect with so many freshman students who were experiencing their first week of college, and present ourselves as a service and spiritual resource to the entire university! we ended up collecting about 150 contact cards! so many students seemed genuinely interested in being a part of Vida Estudiantil!

it was such an exciting week.. thank you all so much for your prayers.. please pray that the Lord will continue to use us to reach lost students with the Gospel, especially as we follow up with all the students who filled out contact cards! we have a lot of work ahead of us, but it is good work, and so much fun! pray that our motivation will continue, and that we will continue to take big steps of faith! here are some pictures of the first week and the pizza party; many more on the gallery page!

wouldnt you want to get information from these lovely ladies?

a couple freshman guys filling out cards and getting a little more information..

pizza party! we ordered twenty seven medium pizzas from pizza hut, and every last slice got demolished! its incredible how much the students here like pizza hut.. and free food..


clean up..