- Shenanigans: Tennessee RUF played it's first-annual round of Shenanigans the week after Spring Break. For those unfamiliar with Shenanigans (known to many as "Assassins"), each participant is assigned another participant that they must shoot with a water pistol. Once you get your target, they give you their target. The game continues until there is only 1 person left standing. For complete details: http://www.utk.ruf.org/shenanigans-2-11 The game can typically last more than a week, but our students took it very seriously, and we had a winner within 4 days. It was a great success, and students are already planning their strategies for next time. We were excited to have 91 students participate this year, and hope to have even more play next year!
- Rafting the Ocoee: At the beginning of April, we went camping down in southern Tennessee and rafted the Ocoee River the following day. Another great trip and great turnout! The weather was beautiful.
- End-of-the-year Cookout: We had our End-of-the-Year Cookout at the Reynolds' home. We are so very thankful for the Reynolds' hosting us for Sunday Night Fellowship each week throughout the year, and especially for this cookout, as they had to hurry to get a giant fallen tree from the storms that came through removed from their backyard and patio just in time for the cookout! It was a wonderful time of fellowship and a farewell to our many awesome seniors and departing interns, Anne and Mary Beth.
- Summer Conference: Tennessee RUF brought 25 students to RUF Summer Conference in Panama City Beach. Richie Sessions, pastor of Independent Presbyterian in Memphis, was the main speaker in the evenings, and our students had the opportunity to hear from many different campus ministers in various morning seminars. And of course, there was plenty of beach time. RUF Tennessee competed in many different sports and competitions throughout the week, but we placed highest in Tug-of-War (see below), where we unfortunately came up short in the championship match against Arkansas. It was a great week of learning, worship, and fellowship, and I was encouraged to see our group bond together over the course of the conference.
- Trip across Tennessee: I was already headed across the state to see my roommate Jeff get married in Memphis, so I was able to stay with families of some of my students in Memphis and then in Nashville on the way back to Knoxville this past week. It was great catching up with many of the guys and meeting their families...not to mention eating some fantastic food along the way. I even got to watch rising sophomores Ryan, Davis, and Jay play in a local summer basketball league...getting ready for RUF basketball next year!
- Moving! I am now settled in at my new house here in Knoxville. I'm living with three other guys, 2 of whom are on staff with Crusade here at Tennessee. It's been great so far! I love the new house, and it's much closer to campus. More pictures soon.
- Next? I will be headed to Birmingham on Friday. I'll be chaperoning the youth mission trip from my former church there, Faith Presbyterian, to Palmer Home for Children in Columbus, MS. After that, I will return to Birmingham and be there until the end of the month. For those of you in Birmingham, I hope to see many of you while I'm there!
So that's the short update. Thank you again so much for your prayers and support. I'll be keeping you updated on my support-raising for next year, as well as the ways you can be praying.
Stephen
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