Update: 11.15.09

Dear Family and Friends,

This past week started off a little more difficult than normal. Monday was Summit’s annual holiday: “Farvest Hall” celebrating harvest and Halloween. There was a whole day of fun group activities planned. But besides for the pain I’d been experiencing with my wrist, I woke up Monday morning with a horrible headache and stomach ache. I could hardly walk because my head hurt so badly. I went out to try to watch the games in the morning, but could hardly function. After only a few minutes outside, I came back inside and went back to bed. The previous night I had decided to see the local chiropractor, and thankfully he had an available appointment early Monday afternoon. After my appointment, I felt relieved, but decided to go back to sleep for the rest of the afternoon so that I’d hopefully be able to participate in the evening festivities. My roommate, Hope, woke me up 2o minutes before the party was supposed to start and asked if I was going to put my costume on. At that point, I felt even worse than I had earlier that morning. I was miserable and couldn’t get out of bed. The party started in the girl’s dorm (right outside my room) and it was so loud that I couldn’t go back to sleep. Thankfully the Advil that I had taken after waking up finally kicked in, so I was able to sit on the sofa and watch the party for the next few hours. It was fun, despite not being able to participate. Tuesday was the same: I felt horrible and slept most of the day. Then, Wednesday morning, I woke up and felt so much better! As soon as I walked into breakfast, everyone was telling me, “Mae, you look so much better!” I was definitely feeling better! I took it easy the rest of the day, just to make sure. But ever since then, I’ve felt almost completely normal! My wrist is still swollen, however, and is painful when I use it too much, but that’s bearable.
On Thursday morning, Doctor Bauman returned to teach for the rest of the week. In politics class we discussed the Swiss army and analyzed their military procedures. In English class, we talked about William Wordsworth and his poetry. And in Church history, we examined the protestant reformation. Those lectures have been my favorite this week! We’ve talked a lot about Martin Luther and his beliefs and his reasons for breaking away from the Catholic Church. It was especially interesting to talk about, since we attended a Catholic mass in Santa Fe just a few weeks ago.
For our art class, we are preparing a “night of worship” as a group final. We were divided into four groups to prepare different aspects of the worship service. I’m in the “visual arts” group and our job is to prepare the visual atmosphere of the service. It has been interesting to work with so many people on this project, because there are so many ideas of what should be done and how. Hopefully it’ll go smoothly on Monday night, and truly be a God-glorifying experience.
Saturday morning we had a special lecture on worship; in preparation for this art project. It was probably one of my favorite individual lectures, and as a result of the questions brought up, I spent my entire study time yesterday afternoon studying the topic of ‘worship’ and how it’s used and taught in the scriptures. It was definitely a fruitful time for me, but will also require further study!
I can’t believe that I only have one more full week of school! And in just a few weeks, I’ll be home. I really will miss the atmosphere, classes, and all the great friends I’ve made here, but I hope that the friendships that have begun will continue in the years to come.

Thank you for your prayers for my health – pray that I continue to remain healthy for the rest of my time here at Summit!

Hope you’re doing well!

Love, Mae

Update 11-08-09

Dear Family and Friends,

There is only less than 3 weeks left of Summit Semester! How time flies! Last weekend, we enjoyed a relaxing weekend in Santa Fe, New Mexico for our class/art trip! My art analysis group did a great job on Saturday identifying different styles of art. We had a lot of fun doing it too! J This past week, we were back to our normal Tuesday-Saturday schedule with Dr. Bauman. It was so good to have him back! I don’t think I’d ever get tired of having him as my professor. We had art class Tuesday morning, Bible class Wednesday morning, and then Dr. Bauman arrived Wednesday night in time for class.
The lecture that night was one of my favorites – it was on thinking and learning. He told a story to illustrate the point that the search for truth [usually] doesn’t bring answers overnight. The subjects that we’re being challenged with here at Summit Semester, are things that we need to spend time pondering and wrestling with. I know sometimes I want all the answers as soon as possible. But this lecture helped me see that on the search for truth, I need to be willing to “dissect” an issue until I know each side and perspective. Dr. Bauman told us to, “Look at it again and again until you really do see the truth.” This means reading books on the subject, asking questions, and discussing ideas with other people. It was such a great reminder for me, as I begin to prepare to return home in a few weeks.
This week in Christianity and politics class we discussed the U.S. Constitution. In English literature we thoroughly examined John Milton’s Paradise Lost. In our Church history class, we learned about the lives and ideas of 3 important theologians who lived between the 14th and 16th centuries: Francesco Petrarch, Thomas More, and Erasmus. I always enjoy the great discussions we have in that class. So fun and informative!

Although I had another great week of school, an extra little trial came up during our Santa Fe trip. Last Saturday night, my right wrist became swollen. I didn’t think much of it, so I put ice on it and let it be. The next morning it looked a little better, so I thought I was fine. The next night, it became swollen again, so I decided to see a doctor in Pagosa Springs the next day. (Last Monday) The doctor immediately told me that he thought I had carpal tunnel. He gave me a wrist brace to wear for the rest of the week, told me to take ibuprofen and let it rest. Throughout the week however, it became increasingly swollen and more painful. I went again to the doctor on Friday and I had two doctors examine it. They ruled out a few things because of my description of the pain I had been experiencing. They were puzzled that even after a week it was still bothering me and was still swollen. They decided to take my blood and were going to test it for 4 specific things. (None of which I can remember.) The doctor will call me on Monday with the results and that will determine whether or not I will need treatment here in Colorado, or if I can wait until I return home in a few weeks.

I’ve been taking a lot of ibuprofen to control the pain, and it has been helping most of the time. Please pray that the doctors would have wisdom in deciphering what is wrong, and that in the meantime, I would have peace just letting my right hand rest without over using it.

I miss you all and will look forward to seeing you in just a few weeks!

With Love, Mae