October Newsletter

Hello Friends,
Here is the October letter a little more timely. Getting closer, I might actually get the November letter out and posted in time (first week of December). Again, I am working on getting some pictures for the October letter and then will be able to send it via email to everyone by hopefully next week. Almost done with finals, the weather is turning cool here and everyone is looking forward to break!

October Newsletter

Well, October was tons of fun and we only began getting really cold weather this past week. It’s been a fun fall with all the colors and I am enjoying the cool mornings. Things ended pretty eventfully here, but Halloween at least was somewhat tame.

The girls in the house have been doing well. We unfortunately have been having a few issues, but some of them are just learning to grow up and take care of yourself. However, one girl (one of my favorites) was having a very difficult time feeling like she was part of the sorority and with her schoolwork and such just got too overwhelmed. She suffers from anxiety and decided to leave school the week of Halloween. Please, pray for her to find her path and way in life and to be strong in going with it. I give her a Knowing Jesus book before she left and hope that maybe it will help her with find Jesus, so she can let go of some of her issues. Also, please pray for M.P. who has many problems going on resulting from lying and an unhealthy boyfriend relationship. She is moving out of the house at the end of the quarter, which I think will be good for the other girls here, but I pray that she will find the help she needs and choose a healthier lifestyle. She and I are close and I look forward to meeting up with her for dinners next quarter and hopefully being able to share the Lord with her. The girls interest in my Jesus relationship and church is starting to pique. I’m so excited! Pray for continued inquisition. Lastly, Julia grew up atheist, but she has been very curious about my religion and asking tons of questions. Her heart is broken and empty and she is searching visibly. I got to share the gospel with her a bit just the other week and she is so close. Please, pray that the Lord continues to work on her heart and pursue her faithfully to answer her doubts and fears and cast out her anger, so she may choose to accept His gift sooner rather than later.

Action Group is going well and it’s been amazing to watch the members grow in their faith. One man in particular re-dedicated his life to Christ last summer and is racing after the Lord as fast as he can. It’s been awesome to see the change in him from when I first met him in September to now and I didn’t even know him before he began walking with the Lord again. I have been encouraging him in his knowledge and learning. Please, pray that the Lord continues to work in his heart to make him more like Him and to show him the ugliness that God can wipe away. My friend is working on it, but has a long way to go – I’m excited to continue to watch the transformation. Also, our Action Group is putting on a huge Thanksmas Dinner this coming Sunday, please pray for a good turnout and for lives to be changed. Many athletes show up and many of them don’t know the Lord so that should be exciting.

The Lord is continuing to bless me through my ministry and I am looking forward to increasing my ministry time in Winter Quarter. My increased time also means I have to be faithful in finally reaching my support goal over the next two months. I only have about $800 left in monthly giving that I need to raise and am excited to see how and who the Lord will raise up. Please pray for my diligence, opportunities, and completion of this goal. Of course, if you have any recommendations or help or would like to pledge a monthly giving gift, you can go to my website (-----) or get in contact with me. I will be doing only part-time school this winter due to the type of scholarship I have, but will be able to work more with AIA, so it’s a great situation.

I thank you for your faithful support and prayers. The Lord has blessed me beyond words and I am so thankful and happy to be doing His work. Lives are being changed and impacted before my vary eyes and the joy it fills my heart with is incomprehensible and amazing. Thank you and blessings as the holiday season begins!

Best,
Tori

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" - Matthew 28:19

September Newsletter

Hello everyone, I know it's November and I'm just now posting my September newsletter, which still has yet to be sent out. I wanted to make sure to include pictures of all the people I talked about it in, but I don't have those picture yet and with finals finishing this week - it's been busy! But, here is the September letter. Meet the people God has put in my life. Amazing things have been happening since I wrote this, so stay tuned for the update!

September Prayer Letter

Well October has arrived here in Ohio and the cold weather along with it. We officially turned the heat on in the house and I guess that means September is over with! Which means time for another update! And a lot has been going on since I’ve moved here and have become entrenched in this world. So even though it may seem like a double monthly installment since my August letter went out so late, it’s just like the gum! – Double the fun! This month I want to introduce you to all the people the Lord has placed in my life and whose lives He will hopefully use me in.

First, are my 27 girls – the Sophomore Alpha Xi Delta class. Yes, the Mom in me has come out, but so has the sister, mentor and friend. I have come to know each and every girl in the house and love ‘em all! We are working to love one another as well, which goes wonderfully some days and horribly others, but I’m hoping and praying my example will lead the girls to seek Jesus’ love. I’ve had a few Godly conversations, but am hoping and praying for more opportunities to share the gospel. There are also some out-of house girls I have connected with, so please pray for their spiritual well being as well., The photo was taken on Bid Day, which is at the end of Fall Rush. Boy was it an experience! On Bid Day, we celebrated 30 new pledges and possible next year’s in-house girls – please be praying for amazing God things to happen with those sisters next year.

Next, is the AIA group and more particularly the Action Leader Group. Action Group is made up of student-athletes who are the Christian leaders on their team. These students have risen up and are working to multiply the disciples of the Lord. We meet every Monday night to pour into them, equip them for leading and to go over the Bible Study for Wednesday nights. Individually, I have the pleasure of working with Darby – the cross-country leader. She is an amazing evangelist and woman of God. I am so blessed that the Lord is using me in her life because she is being used in mine!! Right now, she is experiencing the transition of no longer being a competitive university athlete – something that has defined her for the past 8 years of her life. I am encouraging her in the fact that she does not have to give it up, but to seek the Lord’s will in her running future and not her own.

On that note, the people who encourage me to do the same are my AIA staff family! I didn’t think the Lord would place me as a mentor, example, and teacher to my fellow staff members. However, He has recently shown this to be case and I am excited to learn as much from them as the Lord may teach them through me. My fellow partner in crime, single full-time female intern, Rachel Kloosterman, has been a huge encourager, friend, and confidante to me. The Lord’s blessing through her is revealed to me daily and I am so grateful!

Fourth are my track team peeps. These are the men and women I run with just about everyday and will be helping coach next quarter. Right now, I am looking to make more connections with these men and women and hopefully open some doors for me to share the gospel with them, answer their questions, and invite them to AIA so we can build a co-ed track presence at our meetings.

Lastly, is the group of my fellow grad students. This group consists of both Coaching Ed (my program) students and Rec Studies students. There is a good collection of us and I have become fast friends with the Rec students, who basically are people who like to play in the great outdoors J I appreciate that they have adopted me even though I’m Coaching Ed. I enjoy having fellow grad mentality people to talk with and keep me grounded. In fact, my church buddy is a Rec grad and a blast! I hope to bring more of Christian presence to our circle and activities. There are some who are very skeptical – it’s all about expanding the mind and view points.

So as you can see the Lord has me all over the place and I am excited about that! Please, pray I switch my hats well, but stay constant in shining His light to everyone, being a true statue for the Lord amongst this environment of lost souls.

Best, Tori

Follow me and I will make you a fisher of men. - Matthew 4:19