Communal living can help a young person develop love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and many other great traits. Living in a dormitory also helps develop the five senses – taste, touch, smell, sight, and the ability to hear.

The majority of students at AFLBS live on campus in the dorms: girls in one building, guys in another. For some, this is the first taste of freedom and for others it is their first taste of authority. Getting a taste of reality is part of growing up and having the opportunity to do that while being surrounded by people your own age is pretty special. When hunger strikes (which is pretty often), you can taste all sorts of things – the cafeteria, dollar menus, pizza buffets, Ramen noodles, macaroni and cheese, tea, coffee, and pretty much anything that might taste like food. Living in the dorm also gives a taste of real community.

The sounds of laughter, loud music, and random conversation, combined with theological debates, the latest in sports, and fervent prayer, give every ear something to hear. Life stories shared over a cup of strong coffee, give new friends the chance to hear what God has done in their life. People from different walks of life share their favorite music with enthusiasm. From classic rock to hip-hop, heavy-metal to country, folk to techno, indie to pop, and all things in between; that noise coming through the wall is music to somebody’s ears. Throughout the week during times of devotion, the most important thing can be heard – God’s word.

Everyday is a new day. Feelings of joy and then pain, excitement turns to tiredness, anger overtakes humbleness, enthusiasm squashed by sorrow, and sometimes apathy leaves you feeling ______.  Walking with God may be the one constant during this time on earth. No matter how good or bad I may be feeling, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

Tall and skinny, short and wide, clean and kept, or messy and smelly – seeing the outside is only the beginning. Everybody has a different story – home school, private school, public school, happy and caring parents, families destroyed by divorce, huge families, and the only child – to see people through God’s eyes is a challenge. At times all we see is sin, but then we see God’s mercy and grace more and more. The dorms are a place where you can see God working in real people’s real lives.

The smell? Don’t get me started …