quick update

Quick Update:

The news can tell you most of the facts you want to know and everything is so crazy down here it's hard to know what all is going on. Apparently Obama is speaking somewhere here today? That is honestly the least of anyone's priorities today. 

I've had more than fifteen people in and out of my house over the past two days, spending the night and using our power/internet. Yesterday morning two of the girls and I woke up and snuck down the railroad tracks (where the cops couldn't stop us) and made it to Justin and Alana's house. Everything was... absolute chaos. Spent the whole day boarding up houses, digging through rubble, salvaging things in plastic bags, and praying for the city. I'm cut up really bad and insulation covered everything so my skin is burning but other than that, I'm safe and sound. A group of us got dinner together last night which, simple as it was, might be one of my favorite memories here. A truck full of us then went out and helped people move for a few more hours. Christie and D came down to look at her old apartment and patch things up. Finally, a small group of people prayed on the quad before the mayors 10 pm curfew was in action.

I promise I'll give more details later but honestly, it is all sooo overwhelming right now. If you would like to ask questions or comment, PLEASE do it here ( on my blog) or via email rather than through phone/text. My phone is in overload and I can't receive important calls/texts about help since my inbox keeps filling up. 

Love you all and am so so grateful for your thoughts and prayers. I really really mean that. 

Please pray for:

- those that lost everything - whose earthly treasures just flew off into the wind. I'd love to get to tell them today about a treasure in Jesus that doesn't blow away or fade

- for patience with all that is going on. I would love to squeeze some quiet/alone time in to regain sanity so that we can keep helping people

- I'd personally love for a few people to stay in town to keep helping/ hanging out with me throughout the weekend. Everyone is fleeing town ... this is the end of the semester.Classes are done for the spring. No goodbyes...

- For our seniors who are really bummed about no graduation

- For the Karls and Kalynn and a host of other friends who are trying to figure out their next steps. Their lives are cra-zy right now. They have almost nothing left
- For God to give us great places to help right now. The cops keep stopping us from doing anything and sending us to volunteer centers who are telling us to go home. So! We're sneaking through woods and stuff to try and find places to help

I'll update more later tonight but I just found a place to go help!!! Yay!!!!!!! I'll let you know how you can help later. Today the priority is finding lost people beneath the rubbish and clearing out houses to find people's valuables/bills/paperwork.

the 411 on the karls

Just received an email from Jeff:

Hey everyone,
I've finally been able to get some concrete information on Justin and Alana Karl's situation.  I haven't been able to get to them or get in touch with them as cell service is almost non-existent.  I finally received this text a few minutes ago from a student who lives down the street from them:  I asked if their apartment is standing, livable, where are they staying, etc.  He responded: "No its done. Whole sides of their walls gone.  Their stuff is hanging out the side. They're staying at an apt next door to them. Both cars are destroyed."  So, it's obviously not good.  There are some students who I think have been able to get to them, comforting them.  Please pray for the Karl's...it's going to be a long journey of recovery, materially and emotionally.  Also, please pray for our team and students...everyone is in shock.  
Thanks for interceding for us...
Jeff Norris
Campus Crusade for Christ
University of Alabama
www.bamacrusade.com
_________________________

and! hot off the press! The Karls just tweeted! Finally! 

alanakarl: Thanks for the calls and texts. Feeling loved. We are okay. Things can be replaced but not lives. #thankful

justin_karl: Alana, Millie and; I are okay. Thank you for your prayers. Our home is mostly destroyed but God is sovereign and good so thats okay too.

when my world is sharking, heaven stands... though my heart is breaking i never leave your hands

CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE*****

One of Tuscaloosa's busiest roads, filled with confused locals. Krispie Kreme formerly on left.

Earlier today I bought CDs in this CVS for student's going away presents...

Where several of my friends live... correction: lived

tornado hits tuscaloo

Friends & Family,
 
First of all, thank you so so so much to all of you who have called and text today. So grateful for you.
But! As many of you know a Tornado hit Tuscaloosa today and people all across this city need your prayers. We thought that the tornado only damaged a few small bldgs but as it turns out, the damage is much worse.

http://www.twitvid.com/4W6PU

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=116981351717551

Houses all across the city are leveled and lots of places are really shaken up.  Although I realize news is usually exaggerated during these times, this is what I've heard so far:

- One confirmed death although I've heard rumors of many more (who knows) & at least 130 hospitalized
- Windows of the hospital busted out
- Milos, Krispie Kreme, Full Moon BBQ, gas stations, Brunos and a ton of 15th street and McFarland buildings are donezo. In the words of my friend Amy who lives right there "15th street/McFarland is no more"
-  A few of our students and friends of our students just lost nearly everything they own.
- I just went to Publix (which was completely jam packed) and since power is out all over the city, there were students buying out the store, doing homework and charging their phones.
- All down the streets are students sitting on the ground by candlelight reading and talking
- Cars have trees through them & phones aren't working
-What's worst, Justin & Alana, my dear friends on our staff team, just sent a text saying that their apartment is awful and  "everything is ruined" . Phones are down and they haven't text back all day but as soon as I send this email, I'm going to try and drive over there
- My friend Kalynns house is destroyed
- My house is completely in tact. I have electricity
- I don't think any more tornados will be here tonight (they passed by) BUT they're coming to Atlanta!!!

My guess is that within the next few hours, my house will be full of bustling students, studying for their finals and watching tv, waiting for the electricity to come back to their houses.    :) I love my job 

Although Tuscaloosa may be far away from you, this is my home. These are the people my heart beats for and who I get the privileged of working with and praying for all day, every day. If I have learned anything at all this year, it is that prayer seriously, seriously works. The damage may not be nearly as bad as I think it is right now but... it sounds pretty bad. Please just pray, sweet friends. Thanks

"When you walk through the fire, I will be with you. And these waves, they shall not overcome you. For I am the Lord your God. I have called you by name. You are Mine." - Isaiah 43

"You give and take away yet still, Lord, I will say, Blessed be your name."

march april newsletter

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dearest bama cru

prayer on the quad begins

greek cookout

subway sona and the love that transcends

It was ten o'clock pm.

The lights of the subway quaked with every bump upon the corroded track below,

the car empty except for our team; silent, stretched out in empty seats, exhausted, half-asleep

and one girl in the back, the darkness barley cloaking the wheels turning in her head.

She stared out out into the distance, her short hair fixed tightly against her head, legs crossed daintily with big boots fixed at the ends, hands in her lap, piercings reflecting every change of light in the turbulence.

Sona.

She was the unique type you know, the kind that makes me jealous,

the kind that makes we want to turn my home into a commune and play base guitar

the kind that hates 'the system' but in a gentle sort of way

the kind that takes delight in walking to the beat of her own drum- oblivious that other drums are even beating

There was something sweet about her and the Lord would not let me shake her off my mind.

He would not let me go to sleep on that subway.

So I glanced back, searching for some source of conversation, 

some gem to breach the silence & get a glimpse into her mind.

I wanted to know what she was staring at. I wanted to know her story. I wanted to know her name.

I scanned and schemed and talked to the Lord, manipulating my way out of doing anything at all.

Then I saw it.

A beautiful tattoo on her wrist.

Bingo.

We love to talk about our tattoos.

And I wanted to hear about hers.

Before my flesh convinced me otherwise, I was up, across the train, and, face to face with the object of my curiosity.

"Your tattoo is beautiful!" I cooed. "Do you mind if I see it?" 

It was a cage with an open door

the "I know why a Caged-Bird sings" kind of thing

"Freedom" she said. "It's for freedom." 

Two more tattoos and a few laughs later, I was fixated. I knew with certainty that the Lord was going to do something in her- that he wanted me to tell her about Jesus. And so I did.

She wanted to know why we were in New York;

a Brooklyn native now working in the city and trying to untangle her ambitions,

she was curious and inviting. 

She wanted to know how Christians felt about her lifestyle.

She wanted to know "why Christians hate gay people."

She wanted to know if I felt restricted- giving my whole life to a ' set of laws.'

She cried when she pondered that a man would die for her

and fumed frustration when she considered the rejection she's felt by the church and Christians. 

She skipped her stop and decided to take the long way home so we could keep talking.

She had a story- a deep, intricate story of experiences and hurt and a need for love just like the next subway stranger.

And I told her about Jesus. 

and I told her about a fierce love- a love that is selfless and selfish all at the same time

a love that will fight for you if you let it.

I told her how God feels about her lifestyle & her reckless, full-on pursuit sin.

I told her how God feels about gay people,

and all people, for that matter. 

I told her that the world is empty and she's been digging herself in a hole....

... not the kinds of things you normally tell a stranger....

And her stop came.

And she got up. 

And she rushed to the subway door. 

And just when I felt like I'd said too much, 

she turned at looked at me in desperation

"Please tell me your name. I have to facebook you. 

I have to talk to you.

I have to know more about this Jesus.

He doesn't sound like anything I've ever heard before."

Today she added me on facebook and she wants to talk. I about jumped through the roof.

Please pray for Sona. 

I have a weird feeling that God is going to use her for really big things.

empire state of mind

Although we stayed in a hostel in Brooklyn during Spring Break, we also were able to do a TON of fun things throughout all the Burroughs: Carnegie Deli, Broadway Shows, Bryant Park, Union Park, Times Square, Central Park, Tiffany's, Empire State Building, traveled near Coney Island, went to a Knicks games at MSG and shopped in China Town and Little Italy (where I got to be the personal purse shopper for the moms of nearly every guy on the trip- I felt so rich!). The former Bama Crusade directors (Clay and Lynn & their two little girls ) invited us over to a spaghetti dinner in their home on the East Side, too! We attended Tim Keller's church (Redeemer), mastered the subway system, and wore our feet down to the bone. I really, really enjoyed getting to know these students better!

 

Most importantly, however, three of our students were able to sneak onto a movie set (with Leah Michelle, Ashton Kutcher, Taylor Swift, and about a zillion other celebrities) and will be making their big movie debut before you know it!

new york

This Spring Break our staff and 8 students met up with Mississippi State, UGA, College of Charleston, & the New York Crusade team for seven days in the Big Apple! For two of the days, we were divided into teams of four and sent onto campuses throughout New York where we began spiritual conversations, took surveys, and shared the Gospel with as many students as possible. One day we packed sack lunches, divided into new groups of 3-5 and ventured throughout Manhattan to share a meal and our faith with the homeless. The conversations we had were incredible and the practice the students received for sharing their faith with their friends was invaluable. 

And let me tell you, these Alabama students blew my socks off! Every time I turned around, one of them was talking about Jesus to a stranger on the subway, cashier, cab driver, customer in a restaurant - anywhere and everywhere! What's even more surprising is that, prior to the trip, almost none of them had presented the Gospel to their friends, much less strangers! The conversations were so natural, so genuine- I could not help but overflow with pride that I get to be associated with such amazing folks. Seriously.

dear mom, just landed in new york!

camping trip with my girls!

A few Crusade girls on a camping trip this past weekend!

snow ordinary night

Tonight in Tuscaloosa it snowed like CRAZY!! The quad filled up with tons of students across campus and morphed into the biggest snowball fight I've ever seen! What a perfect opportunity to just hang out with some folks and play. Exactly what I needed today.

hannah watson: community group progress