Meet the other Elevation interns... They're awesome! 

http://interns.elevationchurch.org/

Being an Elevation Intern

I cannot express to you how much I am LOVING interning with Elevation Church. It is an incredible, exciting, fast-paced environment. I have learned so much already and I have only been there for a week! I am so honored to be under the leadership of so many wonderful men and women of God. I am also grateful that I have quickly become friends with the rest of the interns. They are all so special and perfectly placed as interns. This week, we had to endure many trials together:


- The incredibly fast-paced environment in which the staff works.
- BOOT CAMP- that's right. We have boot camp twice a week and we are competing for a prize at the end of this semester. The staff is doing this as well except they are a little more hardcore! Buck Buhler and Kelly Hubatka serve as our personal trainers. They call it Body by Buck and let me tell you... it is no joke. My partner Scott and I are totally going to win. 
- The interns went on a 6 mile History Walk of the church at 6:00 am. It was a wonderful bonding time for everyone and I LOVED every second of it. (Even though we were all so sore from our first boot camp!)
- Our INITIATION into the staff... Let's just say that it involved hot sauce. The staff was pretty excited about it... Check it out: http://yfrog.com/5k49869028z?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4dd6c472d55134e0%2C0

It has been an amazing week. I LOVE working with the eGroups. I am under the awesome leadership of Jay Rabon, Elevation's eGroups Pastor. However, I also get the pleasure of working under Paul Cunningham, a wonderful man of God and a wealth of knowledge, and Jamie Waldron, Student eGroups Director. I have already learned so much about myself, the church, and building relationships with others. This morning, I got to witness so many people walking forward and giving their relationships and lives over to Christ during the Worship Experience. It is truly an honor to be in this position and have this incredible opportunity...


Thanking God for this season in my life that He has graciously blessed me with. I look forward to sharing more about my internship experiences with you soon! Over and out. 

Once a Mountaineer, Always a Mountaineer

This past Sunday was my older sister, Shelley's graduation from Appalachian State! I am so happy for her, but I am sad to see her leave! I have so enjoyed getting to know her better as a sister, a best friend, and as a roommate this year. I remember coming to App as a little freshman and always seeking Shelley's help...I basically copied everything she did! 
Exhibit A...

Haha! I had the best time living with her in our little apartment this year. I will miss waking up and having my coffee with her, seeing her perfectly ready and watching Boy Meets World (wishing I could wake up early enough to watch it too!), baking cookies, watching tons of Bones episodes, sitting in the sun at Durham Park, walking the Boone loop, eating lots and lots of pasta, having the apartment decorated on my birthday, riding the Appalcart together every morning, joining SAO, and wanting my college life to be like hers. 

Shelley, there's so much more I could say. But I am thankful that we are sisters and not just roommates. I have the privilege of enjoying those things with you forever. I am so proud of you today! 

Those hours of studying and working hard have finally paid off! God is going to use you for such great things...what a strong woman of God you are! I am continually inspired by your passion for life, your motivation, and your driven personality. It is no wonder that I have so desired to be like you. You have been quite the role model for me throughout my entire life. 

May God be glorified in everything that you do...always glorified. I am so excited for you as you begin this exciting new chapter in your life! I LOVE YOU! 

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." 

-Numbers 6:24-26

Her Children Arise and Call Her Blessed...

Happy Mother's Day to my sweet momma- an amazing woman of God and the most caring person I know. I am constantly amazed at your ability to do it all; You encouraged my creativity; You taught me how to love life; and I have never doubted that you fear the Lord. I am so blessed to have had your constant support, advice, discipline, and love growing up. Thankful that you taught your three baby girls how to become strong, Christian women in today's world. I love you!!!

"Her children arise and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the fruits of her hands and let her works praise her at the city gates." Proverbs 31:28-31

A Different Heart

"A person with a different heart doesn't see life as it appears on the outside. Instead, she sees life from the heart, the way God sees it. She follows what God tells her to do in her heart, not depending on what she sees with her eyes. You need to learn how to see God with the eyes of your heart and follow what God shows you is really true. It's like looking for God's secrets as you would search for treasure. The ones who have different hearts find the treasures of heaven that God has strewn all throughout their lives so that they can always find JOY wherever He is." 

- The Mission of Motherhood, by Sally Clarkson

SUMMER PLANS!

I am so thrilled that summer is finally here! Summer is my favorite season for so many reasons. I LOVE warm weather, I love spending time with friends and family, vacations, cookouts, late night movies, etc. This summer, I am so honored to have exciting plans!

I have been given the opportunity to intern with Elevation Church this summer! What a blessing! I will be under the direction of Jay Rabon, eGroups Campus Pastor, and Paul Cunningham, Groups Director. I am so excited to learn and grow in such an incredible environment. I am hoping to soak in everything I can about the culture of Elevation Church so that I can bring it back to Elevation Global: Boone. I am constantly amazed at the way the Lord is directing my life...His plans are so very different from my own, and for that I am grateful! (I clearly don't think big enough...)

Caroline

This Year Has Taught Me...

After a long, hard week of exams, papers, and projects... I have FINALLY completed my sophomore year of college!! TOO WEIRD! It never ceases to amaze me what each year of college brings. This year, it has brought change, excitement, stress, hope, new beginnings, etc. and I have loved every second of it. 

A few things I have learned from this year...

- My Lord is ever faithful. Through the hard times, He remains strong and steadfast- an ever-present help in times of trouble. He is capable to fulfill my every need and love me with a love like no other.

- It is an incredibly rewarding experience to be in a position of leadership. I have found so much joy taking on leadership positions this year. Being Prayer Chair for SAO has been an exciting and challenging experience. It has presented me with opportunities to be broken, hurt, put back together, and filled with life in Jesus so that I might be an example to the ladies in SAO. Being Next Level Coordinator for Elevation Global: Boone has given me the chance to pray with those who are lost and were found and fill them with life in Christ. 

- Waiting for and finding true love can be quite the challenge. But when God presents you with the prince He has prepared, shaped, and created just for you, the wait will be worth it. This is something I have had to come to understand this year. I have had to put my complete trust in God this year and allow Him to take control in the area of relationships. Never have I been so challenged...but God has truly transformed me from a girl to a woman this year. So grateful.

- True friends are invaluable. I have so enjoyed getting to know so many wonderful women this year. I am grateful that the Lord has brought these women into my life for a reason. We are able to share our struggles and our joy with one another, pray for each other and lift each other up. I love spending time with them and I know that we will be friends for life. 

- Choosing a major seems like a concrete decision...until you realize that God has the final say. I'm not sure why I stressed out so much when deciding on a major. I have come to realize that God has the power to shape my life the way that he desires it to be. It is quite the roller coaster ride, but an incredible rush when you see what God had planned for you all along. ALLOW Him to take control. 

I am so thankful for my sophomore year of college. It has truly been a year of growing for me. 

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, so that it will be even more fruitful." 

- John 15:1-2