We had fall retreat this month! All these girls are in my core, and we have matching shirts for a game we play called Camp Cup. I got to help with the planning of it this year and it was so much fun. I loved seeing all of our hard work really come to life in the excitement on the students faces as they run around camp completing silly tasks we made for them.
Three months into this job, I’m starting to see both the beauty and the challenge of how God has wired me—how being thoughtful and structured can be a strength, and how it also shows me my need for His grace. As October came to a close I was reflecting on how my strengths and weaknesses in this job have been highlighted, and how God has met me in both of them. My hope is that through it all, praise for Him will be ever on my lips.
Your Love is Devoted
This is our staff Halloween costume! We were “Denton” because we each represent a different local shop on the square here. I was the Denton farmers market!
As a ministry, we had a lot going on this month!
Fall Camp
Every year we host a 24 hour retreat for students to get away from their busy college life and connect with God and new friends from core (small group) or TNF (large group). I got to help plan Camp Cup this year- which is a large group game that we break our students up into teams to compete in. It was a lot of work to plan and set up, and I got to participate in my core- though minimally because I knew the ins and outs of each game from designing them! Fall camp also has a few sessions where we hear from students and pastors in the community. This year we talked about how we have learned to trust God. I got the opportunity to share about trusting God with my decision making specifically in my recent decision to start this apprenticeship and move to Denton!
Halloween
I have never been very interested in dressing up for Halloween, but little did I know that was not an option in Denton, TX. Starting on October 1st the town was full of decorations and events around every corner. It was honestly a bit too much for my liking, but interesting nonetheless. It is tradition that the staff team does a group costume every year and despite my protests I dressed up as the Denton Square Farmers Market and together we all made up the city of Denton. I was skeptical, but it ended up being very sweet and fun. The students had some really great costumes too! One of my girls was a inflatable cow, there was a Bibble from Barbie Mariposa, some F1 drivers, and so so many more. They were very creative and I could tell the students had a lot of fun with it.
Thursday Night Fellowship
For our large group meeting this month we got to finish up a series on the gospel of Mark and begin a series on grace. I had the opportunity to preach over Mark 16 to close out that series! I shared about how God does not need our success to accomplish his purposes. I’ll link it at the bottom if you would like to listen!
Core
Faithful You Have Been
I got to spend a weekend back in the UTD area and go to The Grove (UTD’s version of Thursday Night Fellowship- they just have a cool name) to see all of my old friends. I spent the night at my friend Kylie’s house (she and her husband were in Europe!) with another friend Jessica. We watched their dogs Moose and Cooper and had a sweet time together. I got to see my sweet friend Kathryn and catch up with her because, since I moved and she is studying for the MKAT, we do not get near enough time together.
I am so thankful for the times when I get to see these people that I have known for years because it reminds me that God has been faithful. He will continue to bless these friendships and the ones I am cultivating in Denton and it is all for His glory. So I will continue to praise Him even when ministry is hard and just as much when things are so so good.
Thank you all for being here! I am so sorry that I am just getting this out to you now! The end of October and so far all of November has been a whirlwind, especially on the weekends, when I usually get to sit down and write. I wanted to still give you all a real idea of what this kins of ministry looks like so here are a whole bunch of pictures from the things we did! I love you all so much and I would not be able to do any of this without you. Thank you for all your support and prayers!
Love, Hannah
Hailey (originally dalmatian, now cow), Kaylie (farmer), and Caleigh (in the cow)
These are my friends Shree, Briley and Abby. Shree and I are doing the apprenticeship together and she is working at UTD. We are all together to celebrate Briley’s birthday with some ice skating (so so fun by the way). Briley and I were in core together since we were freshman and have been great friends ever since. Abby and I ran on the UTD xc and track team together and lived together for 2 years in college! I love all of these girls so much :)
Moose and Cooper!
This is Jessica! I talk about her a lot. She came up to Denton for my sermon which was so sweet and really did calm so many of my nerves.
Maddie and Gabby and I at fall camp!
Meet Addisyn! She was a student at UTD with me last year and has also moved up to Denton to finish her school at TWU. We have gotten to become great friends!
I always have to include a silly picture of Casey. I am so thankful for his friendship and I could not imagine doing the apprenticeship without him. Our other bestie, Hannah, was sick a lot recently so please be praying for her!
And my core girls again! You have seen them all before, but this is Maddie, Gabby, Kaylie, me, and Caleigh. We were supporting Kaylie in her intramural flag football game.
Finally, we are doing FOCUS’s annual fundraiser during the month of November. You have probably gotten some emails from our admin team about this already. You have been so generous so I wanted to invite you to partner with us in this next step. Please consider giving or pledging today as we Keep FOCUS Growing to reach college students in DFW.
Love you all!
-Hannah