So...

Hey guys...coming to you pretty late tonight. I can't sleep. I've laid here for about two hours trying, and I still can't. I absolutely must get into a solid sleep habit here soon, or I'm going to die. Also, my roommates seem to think it's fun to have tons and tons of people here in our suite during the late hours of the night/early morning, which is fine, but I just don't really know how that's going to work later on in the year. Usually, I just close my door and try to block out the noise, but then they get upset with me because I'm not being social, when all I want to do is go to sleep at a respectable hour of night. I need to get some good sleep before school starts so I'll have a good habit built up. I need to start strong...word on campus is that the Foundation fine arts year here at parsons is the most difficult of its kind in the world. I'm excited, but somewhat worried for some of our more...shall we say "party inclined" members of our class. Oh well...we shall see.

Okay, can we talk about today for just a second? I wasted most of the morning sleeping because of, you guessed it: a late night gathering of random people in our suite. *sigh* BUT, after having lunch with my roomies and their parents, it was back to the room to hang out and relax for the day. Spent some time with a friend from home also, which was a lot of fun. HOWEVER, the big highlight of the day was definitely the fact that I went to church this evening at a church called Apostles NYC that meets in a huge historic episcopal cathedral across the park from my building. I cannot even explain to you how much I loved the service. The message was so perfectly tuned to my needs here at school and I felt so welcome. The time of worship spoke to my heart as well. The glorious space of the cathedral was so incredible...I can see why churches in the "way back when" periods built such magnificent buildings. They are so inspiring. It was nice to be able to take communion at my first church service in New York also. It just felt like such an awesome way to consecrate this new chapter in my life properly.

OH OH OH, and you all must know that I have already found my very favorite restaurant. You know, the kind where you walk in and say "the usual" to a large, friendly, and pleasantly in your face Italian man and he knows exactly what you want? Yes. I've found it, and I'm so happy. And you know what else? It is SO cheap for a HUGE amount of delicious food AND they deliver. Heaven? I daresay. Right around the corner...I love it.

Not a whole lot else...I'm getting appropriately sleepy, so I suppose I should try to sleep some more.

Things to pray for:

• Peace about my surroundings and new environment. A lot has changed.
• A heart of love for the people around me. There are some wonderful and incredibly gifted people at this school, but many need some unconditional love.
• Those at Apostles who are working hard to minister to a very lost city. It is a huge job...
• Finally, and most importantly, there is as of yet no Christian organization at the New School, which is the university of which Parsons is a part. I am planning to begin a bible study group here in my dorm, though I am unsure if there are other Christians here or not. Pray that God will lead me to some, so that we can find a common bond. Also, in order to become an organization directly recognized by the school (which would give us meeting space, a small budget, a certain number of copies per month, and much more exposure), so pray that God would provide the means for that.

However, so many things to be thankful for! God is truly good...

http://www.apostlesnyc.com/ (check them out)