Hey Everyone!

I want to start off by thanking you all so very much for all your kind and encouraging emails, letters, and gifts over the past few weeks. It's meant so much to me to hear from all of you and to be reminded that I am loved by those that mean the most to me.

I also want to apologize for the fact that I have been unable to respond to many of your emails. Quite frankly, it's been unbelievably busy out here at Northwestern - between Drumline, classes, Bible Studies, and now Boomshaka (check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FLVMUWsHmk) - I've hardly had time to take a breather.

So, I've decided to set up this simple blog so I can let all of you know about the things going on in my life (and you can tell me about what's going on back East!). A big part of this will probably be prayer requests as well.

It's pretty late right now so I don't have too much time to fill you in on all the happenings in my college life, so I'll skip to prayer requests for now. Hopefully I'll have a chance this week to give you all an update on my day-to-day things, but for now these are the major spiritual concerns that have been foremost on my heart:

-That I might seek God in the morning when I get up and that He might be the foremost in my thoughts throughout the day.

-That others might see God's love through me in my interaction with them.

-That God will give me a humble heart - a hard thing for me so far has been with pride. In adjusting to this new environment it's only been natural to put up a "safety wall,"
a facade that protects my own selfish interests of trying to make friends, to "be on top" in my new environment; put simply, instead of loving those around me with the same love God has shown me, in many social circumstances I put on an attitude of "cool." That's not what God calls for. On a related note, I have been quick to form judgments about those around me. Many people I have encountered at Christian groups around campus, I recognize because I saw them drinking at a party the night before. I am so quick to turn away from them because I feel like they're not 'walking the walk,' but I need constant reminding that I myself am a sinner too. (I'm reminded specifically of the parable where the man tries to remove a speck in his own eye when he has a log in his own). I have been in a fairly self-righteous mindset, and need reminding that it is by GRACE that I am saved.

-A praise! I am currently involved in a small group that meets on Sunday nights. There are a few other NU undergrads but also several young couples / families. I can tell God is working through these people and I look forward to getting to know them more. Also, a Marching Band Bible study has begun to meet on Monday nights after rehearsal, and this has been good too.

OK Well I'm feeling pretty sick but I hope to hear from more to you and to respond to some of your emails and letters this week sometime!

My email address is aaron.faucher@gmail.com . If you would like my school address just email me and I will let you know!

More to come soon.

Love and God bless,
Aaron

PS. Go 'Cats! 5-0