Fulfillment of Promises |

This Past year being at OU was hard, to say the least. I knew that God had called me there, and I wanted to be obedient to what he had for me, so I did all that I thought I was supposed to be doing. First I went “put-luck” instead of rooming with someone I already knew, I joined a sorority, I began visiting churches, and even got a job. I did all the things that I should because I had known so many other good Christian girls who had done all those things and were so happy at OU.
One of the things that I kept praying for at OU was to have a solid community that I could love and grow with. Someone that was older and wiser that could pour into me, some girls that I could grow with and be accountable to, and one or two girls that I could pour into and encourage. But this did not happen, last year was one of the loneliest seasons of my life and I had no community. There is a reason I was there, and even though I felt alone I know God hadn’t forsaken me.
But second semester I felt that God had begun to shine his face on me again and I was beginning to breathe again. I got connected with a halfway house in OKC that aids women getting out of prostitution and I finally felt like I had some purpose again. My grades even improved and God gave me the best news I’d heard in a while- He released me from Norman.

As I began to search for what he had for me I stumbled upon this trip with AIM and I knew without a doubt this was it. Committing and actually getting to training camp was an emotional roller coaster: second guessing myself, fundraising, finding a summer job, and getting my family’s support- but it was all worth it once I got to Atlanta.
Its crazy how in one week a group of 23 people can become family. I laugh when I think about it because I’ve missed every single one of them since I’ve been back. This was even greater confirmation for me that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. God may not have answered my prayer in Norman but he is abundantly blessing me now. We have two wonderful squad leaders, one who spent the week with us at camp. Our female leader, Ashley is incredible and it has been a long time since I have felt so loved and supported by someone. Not only do I have her, but also a solid squad full of selfless people that encourage me to love, serve, and just be better.
At the end of the week we found out who was on our team, the 6 people we would be living with for 9 months. I cannot express how excited and blessed I feel to be with them. It was incredible how quickly we connected and how Normal it felt to be spending time with them.

We decided on the team name Rooted from the passage in Psalm 1:

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees rooted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither,  and they prosper in all they do.