First Day Out

College Tour 2011 started bright and early this morning.  Well, actually not 'bright', as the sun had not come up yet...but definitely 'early'.  All of our wonderful Mercy Street teenagers and their extra-wonderful parents made it on time and in good spirits to hear Albert Huddleston send us off on our adventure.

Our first stop was McDonalds for breakfast.  McDonalds is one of the supporters of this year's college tour, so a special thanks to them :)

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Then onward to BAYLOR UNIVERSITY!

We were greeted at Baylor by two current students, Brooks and Garrett, who graciously gave us a tour through their campus.

Baylor is a Christian University and is known for its excellent academic programs.  Baylor boasts a smaller student to teacher ratio, which gives students valuable contact with their professors.

We also were able to visit the Baylor bears who actually reside on campus.  However, they were asleep when we got there.

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The second and last university we visited today resides in College Station - TEXAS A&M!

Four of our High School Bible Study volunteers are Aggies.  And as we learned, you are never a "former Aggie" you are only a "former student", but an Aggie for life.
Texas A&M has a vast history that inspires their many traditions of today.  Texas A&M originally consisted of their Corp, which continues today along with regular ("civilian") university programs.  Many of their Corp members have and continue to serve in our countries military.  We had the privilege of visiting the onsite museum that memorializes this rich history.

Our tour guide, James, along with Texas A&M's Strength and Conditioning Coach, also took us to see a few of their impressive sports facilities.  The facilities we visited included the strength training room, indoor football field, indoor track, and outdoor football stadium.

Even with the hours we were able to spend at Texas A&M, there was still so much more to see.

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After we enjoyed a short respite (and pizza!), Carlton gathered the group for our first devotional.  Tonight he spoke from Psalm 139 on how God knows us fully.  He encouraged us to begin to grasp God's vast knowledge and sovereignty over our lives.  Through this we can be joyful that even though God knows everything about us, what we think, speak, and do (even before we do it), that He still loves us beyond measure.

Mercy Street's College Tour is not only about inspiring our teenagers to strive for a future and a hope, but most importantly to firmly ground them in the knowledge that our future and hope is solely found in Christ Jesus.  For through Christ alone proceeds life now and forever.

-Jennilee