Eek. After frantic editing and a lot of sickness lately (bummer) I’ve made it through half of the pictures from Radiate and am bringing you my favorites today!

Let me give you a slight explanation of what Radiate is real quick before I jump into it…Radiate is a four day conference for college students put on by Cru in DC that goes through New Years and focuses on Jesus. There’s a lot of worship music, wonderful talks, and time to build relationships with other people. But, if you’ve never been, that description is just meaningless words to you – let me tell you why it’s my favorite part of the year…

My freshman year of college, people kept going on and on about Radiate, so my friend Elizabeth and I decided to go. I remember this moment super clear where we were driving to the hotel on the 28th of December and we had a choice to take an exit into Washington DC or to take an exit toward “New York City.” (now of course, we were hours and hours away from NYC, but go with me) We laughed and said, “if this sucks, we’ll go to New York for NYE next year.” Well friends, it did not suck (and we never went to nyc).

This year was my SIXTH Radiate. Gosh, and I don’t regret going one single time. I always leave refreshed, exhausted, and better for it. The talks at Radiate challenge my heart, they teach me about Jesus, and renew my awe and love for Him. As the Bridge Band plays every session, my heart swells as over 1000 people sing their praise to God. It’s one of those moments that you don’t feel so crazy, especially as a missionary, for living and loving the way that you do. It’s a reminder that there are other people striving after God too, and that He is changing college campuses everywhere for His glory. Oh and the community…there is nothing like staying up until 4am laughing til you cry with dear friends and new friends, united in this freedom to be yourself, where you have absolutely nothing to prove to each other. Fully accepted.

And now, some pictures to let you in to my life and love.

Maybeeeee I’m beating a dead horse, but I work with amazing people.

Yay! The students arriving and reuniting after a long Christmas is always the best.

Our emcee Shelby Abbott gets the crowd laughing every. single. time.

Possibly my favorite woman speaker of all TIME! Seriously, she brought it.

Weirdest images from day one :]

Clearly we had a good Campus Time.

Women’s time is always a killer part of the conference too.

This man speaks about the Bible like no one else I’ve heard.

Traditionally, the third night of the conference is crazy. There’s a call for the students to write down what they want to surrender to God and physically surrender by bringing it up and putting it on the stage.

I’ll be back next week with Part 2, aka NYE!