This past saturday was the CBI banquet...

here are a few pictures...

(thanks to some students who were gracious enough to give their pictures to those of us who don't have cameras!)

The two Brasilians here at school: some fellow-students say that one speaks Portuguese, the other, English. (I'll let you decide which is which. =) I'm so glad that we're here at CBI together!

The six of us girls who stick together and have great times after curfew! CBI wouldn't be the same without them!

My roomie, Melinda...I'm going to miss her when she graduates in less than three weeks...

*smile*

A while back, I was struck by the significance of a smile...

It can make the world of a difference to have someone look at you and simply smile...

A smile can say more than a dozen words put together...

These people make me smile...

Who makes you smile?

After a long drought of blog posts, at last! Here is one! Although I do not have the time to go into detail about everything that has happened lately, I would like to share a little something about what God has been doing in my life recently.

This semester, in the midst of various other truths, there seems to be one truth in particular that sticks out more than others and seems like it is that one, more than anything, God has been trying to teach me. And slowly, I have been learning. Through several incidences this semester that have taken place, I have begun to realize the utter importance of prayer. More specifically, that of prayer for those around us, especially other believers. While I have always known (in my head) the importance of prayer and the role it should take in the believer's walk, I have never actually experienced in such real ways the need for prayer as I have this semester.

A song that has been going through my mind lately is "I am Thine, O Lord." I really like the words of it...read them and consider their significance in your own life.

I am thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,

And it told Thy love to me;

But I long to rise in the arms of faith,

and be closer drawn to Thee.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,

by the pow'r of grace divine;

Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,

and my will be lost in Thine.

O, the pure delight of a single hour

that before Thy throne I spend,

When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,

I commune as friend with friend.

There are depths of love that I cannot know

Till I cross the narrow sea;

There are heights of joy that I may not reach

Till I rest in peace with Thee.