Jesus is the Best.

I can't believe it's November! Time has flown by...I've been a missionary for almost 4 months. Crazy. I'm loving what I'm doing. God just keeps placing amazing opportunities in my path. I found out this week the entire golf team is Catholic, so pray they want to have a Bible study because I'm sure going to! I have 7 Bible studies total now. I'm constantly on the go, prepping for study, or meeting up with girls one on one. My life will never be the same after this experience. I never thought I wanted to be a missionary and now I'm starting to think that I will never be able to walk away from it. The women are truly beautiful and have an amazing desire to know the truth. Many have a relationship with God, but many don't. I hear stories of heartbreak, despair, frustration, or fear on a daily basis. Just yesterday 3 girls cried to me about different issues in their life. Some of them have contemplated suicide, abortion, or just walking away from God all together. I feel so blessed that God has chosen me to help guide them. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting me. I could not be here without you and I know the women really do appreciate it (I plan on making a video where some of them share their stories). 

Last week was abnormally busy. I met with all of my freshman and sophomores for a one on one Bible study. I walked them through what FOCUS calls the Discipleship Road Map. It's a map that helps you decide where you are in your faith life and where you want to be. It was incredible to see my women open up to me and be vulnerable. Many of them are desiring to become great for God, but they don't know how. I was able to help them evaluate their life and to set goals with them. I'd say about 70% of them cried during our meeting. I was so emotionally drained by the end of the week, but so thankful that they entrust me so much. I consider them all blessings from God and I know He is placing them in my life for a reason that I cannot even understand. Out of 33 meetings, I had 18 women say that they want to lead their own Bible study next fall!!! 18 student led Bible studies would change campus in a way I cannot even imagine! In the spring, I will mentor all 18 of these ladies and teach them how to do what I do, so that they have all the tools to lead their own study in the fall. I'm beyond excited. They can reach students I never can because they're able to meet students in classes, in clubs, and in dorms. I'm limited to a certain degree, but with their help, we're going to evangelize all of campus! :D

Here's what else has been going on: 

We held another Abortion Poll on campus.
It was sad to see how many people wrote on the "yes" side, but it was great to talk to them! 

This picture was taken at 12:40 pm. We changed the numbers every 10 minutes.
The numbers came from Allen Guttmacher Institute. 

Brunch with Sister Mary!
Some of these women had never met a Sister before! 

I visited Sedona! I also fell in love with it.
I prayed for everyone in this beautiful Catholic church in the mountains.

Inside the Church...it was gorgeous.

Devils bridge in Sedona! God is so cool.

Students in the back of a truck, on our way to hike!

Oh just climbing mountains. 

Christina climbing mountains!

Hailey and I at the top!

Students over Fall break hiking Camel Back. 

Getting ready to tailgate. 

Playing Minute to Win it games after Mass and Adoration one night!
Ha-I made them eat pies. 

Me in Sedona with some pretty red rock.

Baking slumber party with one of my Bible studies!!

They wanted to eat all the cupcakes lol.

They were experts at frosting.

Happy birthday Mona!

Some of the women at the slumber party!

Watching a scary movie...they were such chickens.

Handing out cupcakes on campus!

Jesus loves you and so do we, so have a cupcake for free!

Olivia handing out cupcakes.

Pretty Marla just eating a cupcake. lol

Some of my girls from Bible study helping hand out cupcakes!

We handed out cupcakes on campus as a sign of Christian love. Many Christian groups yell at students as they walk by and condemn them to Hell. No lie. It's really hurtful and has made some of my women cry before. We decided to battle right back by telling everyone how much Jesus actually loves them, so we baked over 250 cupcakes and they were all gone in less than 45 minutes! Everyone LOVED it. We plan to do it again at Christmas, but bake close to 1,000! We also had 4 women sign up to join a Bible study during the time we were handing out cupcakes. Jesus is the best. 

Halloween Partaaaay! I'm a rubix cube.

Franco from New York and I. He's strange.

My pretty friend Liz! 

Me and some of my girls!

James, my boss, as a girl. It was scary.

We threw a Halloween party for the students from the Catholic center. It was a great success and lots of students came. I had lots of fun dancing in my sweet rubix cube costume.

Last weekend we also held a retreat for students called the Spiritual Bootcamp. It was a small retreat focusing on the impact of the Holy Spirit and understanding His role in the Trinity. The students really loved it and received a lot of healing from going. It was also nice for me to get away from campus for a bit and spend time with our Lord. We had 5 hours of Adoration! You guys got LOTS of prayers. :)

I always say this, but I am so blessed. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support. Student's lives are being impacted in more ways than I can explain. You're helping them learn about Christ and for that I am eternally grateful to you. All my love, Anna.

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