I feel like I am really enjoying my time in the states and really have enjoyed seeing friends and being able to catch up with them. I also feel like this time in the states has been a growing process and a time where God has been showing me more of what it means to trust Him.
I have been working on support raising and God has slowly and steadily been providing. I know He is in complete control, but sometimes it is hard to continue to trust Him when we are not in control. I have learned that I like to be in control of situations, but God is saying I have no control and I need to give it all back to Him. So I am still currently $890/monthly short and am praying and hoping that God will bring in that entire amount by the 31 of December, so 12 days from now! I know this is a big goal, but we serve a big God and He keeps telling me to just keep refocusing my eyes back on Him and putting my trust in Him and His provision. So I just wanted to ask for prayer, that God would bring in the rest of my monthly support needs so that I can go back to Australia the 7 of January! :)
I know most of you already support monthly and I want to thank you so much for being a part of this team and this ministry. But I also want to ask if you are not currently supporting monthly would you consider joining the team at $100, $50, or any other amount monthly? The site for donations is give.ccci.org/give/View/0628731 so you can take a look at that.
Thank you to everyone for your prayers and encouragement as well. It means so much to me to hear how you are doing and be able to stay in touch with you. :) Please let me know how I can be praying for you specifically as well. :)
Monday, December 19, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
God love us personally.
I returned from our week away as a staff team to evaluate this year and plan goals for next year. It was a great time and really got me excited about being in Newcastle for another year. I am planning on leaving for the states in two days though and am emotionally not ready. I feel like I haven't had time to grieve saying good bye well to the team I have been working with this semester and even to some friends that won't be here when I return next year.
So yesterday my friend Kara and I decided we were going to go to our favorite coffee shop and get some chai tea (the chai there is the best in australia). We walked in and sat at our usual spot at the window overlooking a beautiful bay. I walked up to put in our order and start talking to the guy behind the counter. His name is Wade and he ended up being the owner of the shop, but here is how our conversation went.
Wade: Hey, how are you?
Erin: I am doing really well and how are you?
Wade: Been pretty good. Do I detect and accent?
Erin: Yeah, I am from the states.
Wade: Oh yeah, what part are you from.
Erin: Washington state, so the northwest.
Wade: Oh that is awesome, so what are you in Aus for? Study?
Erin: No, my friend and I are actually here for a year working as full time missionaries on the uni here.
Wade: No way, really? That is awesome. So is that volunteer or a job?
Erin: Yeah it is our full time job. We are fully supported by friends and family and work full time as missionaries.
Wade: Wow. That is seriously so amazing. I am a Christian and my wife is a Christian as well. It is so encouraging seeing you working with uni students here. Keep going and keep working hard. You are doing amazing things and God is using you in big ways on that uni campus.
Ok, so that was the general idea of the start of that conversation, but then we just talked more and he was so encouraging. He was talking about how it is so important to live our lives as missionaries and how he reaches out to his co-workers and the people that come into the coffee shop regularly and yeah he was seriously the coolest guy ever.
But then, I walked back to my seat and told my friend Kara what just happened and how I was so encouraged and as I was talking to her one of the ladies who worked at the restaurant came out with these two plates with huge slices of cheesecake on them and she said, "From our manager for doing God's work." She then set down the two slices of cheesecake and started talking to us about what we did and it was amazing.
So yeah, two days before leaving Australia I have been nervous about coming back to the states and just nervous about support raising. When the cheesecake came out and talking to Wade I just felt like God was saying, "Erin, I love you so much. You are doing amazing work and I am so proud of you. Keep up the good work and I will provide for you." It was seriously the coolest afternoon ever! :)
Just wanted to share with you how amazing God is and just how I felt loved by Him this week. :)
So yesterday my friend Kara and I decided we were going to go to our favorite coffee shop and get some chai tea (the chai there is the best in australia). We walked in and sat at our usual spot at the window overlooking a beautiful bay. I walked up to put in our order and start talking to the guy behind the counter. His name is Wade and he ended up being the owner of the shop, but here is how our conversation went.
Wade: Hey, how are you?
Erin: I am doing really well and how are you?
Wade: Been pretty good. Do I detect and accent?
Erin: Yeah, I am from the states.
Wade: Oh yeah, what part are you from.
Erin: Washington state, so the northwest.
Wade: Oh that is awesome, so what are you in Aus for? Study?
Erin: No, my friend and I are actually here for a year working as full time missionaries on the uni here.
Wade: No way, really? That is awesome. So is that volunteer or a job?
Erin: Yeah it is our full time job. We are fully supported by friends and family and work full time as missionaries.
Wade: Wow. That is seriously so amazing. I am a Christian and my wife is a Christian as well. It is so encouraging seeing you working with uni students here. Keep going and keep working hard. You are doing amazing things and God is using you in big ways on that uni campus.
Ok, so that was the general idea of the start of that conversation, but then we just talked more and he was so encouraging. He was talking about how it is so important to live our lives as missionaries and how he reaches out to his co-workers and the people that come into the coffee shop regularly and yeah he was seriously the coolest guy ever.
But then, I walked back to my seat and told my friend Kara what just happened and how I was so encouraged and as I was talking to her one of the ladies who worked at the restaurant came out with these two plates with huge slices of cheesecake on them and she said, "From our manager for doing God's work." She then set down the two slices of cheesecake and started talking to us about what we did and it was amazing.
So yeah, two days before leaving Australia I have been nervous about coming back to the states and just nervous about support raising. When the cheesecake came out and talking to Wade I just felt like God was saying, "Erin, I love you so much. You are doing amazing work and I am so proud of you. Keep up the good work and I will provide for you." It was seriously the coolest afternoon ever! :)
Just wanted to share with you how amazing God is and just how I felt loved by Him this week. :)
Sunday, October 23, 2011
STINT 2011 Lessons!
So I have been reflecting back on this year and came up with a list of over 150 things I have learned about God, myself, things I struggle with, and so much more. It was crazy, but I have shortened it down a bit and organized it into 6 different lists. I hope you enjoy!
God Lessons:
1. God has a bigger plan: Everything happens for a reason.
2. Resting in God is important: Take time to listen to Him.
3. Power of Prayer: When you call, He listens and answers.
4. We are dependent on God: I need Him.
5. When I spend time with God in the morning my day is always better.
6. Pray through life at all times even when it is difficult.
7. Process the hard stuff at some point: God will help you through.
8. We live in order to grow God's Kingdom.
9. Dates with Jesus are necessary to life.
10. We are in battle: Take up our armour each day.
11. God knows how much we can handle.
12. God loves to bless His children.
13. The importance of child like faith.
14. God uses me in His plan.
15. God's Word is alive: He speaks to us.
Campus/Work Lessons
1. God is already at work, it is our job to join Him.
2. Fasting draws you closer to God: Hunger for Him.
3. People are open to the Gospel: They want to know who Jesus is.
4. Some people have never heard the name of Jesus.
5. How to communicate the Gospel through my life story.
6. Discipling Girls: Living life with them and caring for them.
7. People are ready and willing to accept Christ.
8. The Christian community draws people to it: God's love shines through authentic community.
9. Initiating conversations with people. Evangelism is truly a way of life.
10. When we are weak, God is strong and can/will still use us.
11. People are hurting: They want someone to listen and care for them.
Personal Lessons
1. I care about people a lot.
2. I need time in order to process through questions or thoughts.
3. I love having people over for dinner...outreaching to the community and sharing a meal together.
4. I matter: I have an impact on people good or bad.
5. Quality time is a way I feel loved by people.
6. I like doing admin/secretary stuff.
7. I like making others feel special and surprising them.
8. Verbally processing is good for me.
9. I need nights as down time: After 9 PM it is hard to focus.
10. I really like art, painting, playing guitar, and worshiping God in different ways.
Personal Struggle Lessons
1. Self Esteem: Always wanting to do more or think I let people down.
2. Wearing masks: Not wanting to let people into my heart.
3. Burn out is something I can easily fall into.
4. Withdrawing from people.
5. Worry a lot about future, what others think of me, everything.
6. I need to say no: Can't do everything.
Life Lessons
1. Rest: It is important to rest well to avoid burn out.
2. People will hurt us: We all mess up.
3. Pain and suffering: Entering into it is hard, but good in the end.
4. Live in community: People challenge, encourage, and spur you on in life.
5. Laughing is the best medicine.
6. You can choose your attitude in situations.
7. Hold tight to relationships/friendships: Don't let them go. Fight for them.
8. Give generously in everything.
9. Experiences bond people together.
10. Grace: People will hurt us, but don't hold grudges.
11. Words have deep impact on people. Be weary of what you say.
12. Don't let fear be a reason not to do something.
13. Ask: Can't say yes or no until the question is asked.
14. Resolve conflict: It might be hard, but worth it in the end.
15. Forgiveness is hard but key to life.
16. Be vulnerable.
17. Asking questions is a good way to get to know people.
18. Take chances in life.
Fun Lessons
1. Getting up for sunrise is worth it!
2. Worship at the beach with friends!
3. Dance every once in a while: Turn the music up in your living room and dance!
4. Cry: It is important!
5. Jumping and running through the waves is fun! Day or Night.
6. Rolling down hills is good for the soul.
7. Running in the rain and jumping in puddles is just fun.
8. Have fun. Be a kid. Laugh. Explore
9. Long lasting memories come from shared experience with long lasting friends.
God Lessons:
1. God has a bigger plan: Everything happens for a reason.
2. Resting in God is important: Take time to listen to Him.
3. Power of Prayer: When you call, He listens and answers.
4. We are dependent on God: I need Him.
5. When I spend time with God in the morning my day is always better.
6. Pray through life at all times even when it is difficult.
7. Process the hard stuff at some point: God will help you through.
8. We live in order to grow God's Kingdom.
9. Dates with Jesus are necessary to life.
10. We are in battle: Take up our armour each day.
11. God knows how much we can handle.
12. God loves to bless His children.
13. The importance of child like faith.
14. God uses me in His plan.
15. God's Word is alive: He speaks to us.
Campus/Work Lessons
1. God is already at work, it is our job to join Him.
2. Fasting draws you closer to God: Hunger for Him.
3. People are open to the Gospel: They want to know who Jesus is.
4. Some people have never heard the name of Jesus.
5. How to communicate the Gospel through my life story.
6. Discipling Girls: Living life with them and caring for them.
7. People are ready and willing to accept Christ.
8. The Christian community draws people to it: God's love shines through authentic community.
9. Initiating conversations with people. Evangelism is truly a way of life.
10. When we are weak, God is strong and can/will still use us.
11. People are hurting: They want someone to listen and care for them.
Personal Lessons
1. I care about people a lot.
2. I need time in order to process through questions or thoughts.
3. I love having people over for dinner...outreaching to the community and sharing a meal together.
4. I matter: I have an impact on people good or bad.
5. Quality time is a way I feel loved by people.
6. I like doing admin/secretary stuff.
7. I like making others feel special and surprising them.
8. Verbally processing is good for me.
9. I need nights as down time: After 9 PM it is hard to focus.
10. I really like art, painting, playing guitar, and worshiping God in different ways.
Personal Struggle Lessons
1. Self Esteem: Always wanting to do more or think I let people down.
2. Wearing masks: Not wanting to let people into my heart.
3. Burn out is something I can easily fall into.
4. Withdrawing from people.
5. Worry a lot about future, what others think of me, everything.
6. I need to say no: Can't do everything.
Life Lessons
1. Rest: It is important to rest well to avoid burn out.
2. People will hurt us: We all mess up.
3. Pain and suffering: Entering into it is hard, but good in the end.
4. Live in community: People challenge, encourage, and spur you on in life.
5. Laughing is the best medicine.
6. You can choose your attitude in situations.
7. Hold tight to relationships/friendships: Don't let them go. Fight for them.
8. Give generously in everything.
9. Experiences bond people together.
10. Grace: People will hurt us, but don't hold grudges.
11. Words have deep impact on people. Be weary of what you say.
12. Don't let fear be a reason not to do something.
13. Ask: Can't say yes or no until the question is asked.
14. Resolve conflict: It might be hard, but worth it in the end.
15. Forgiveness is hard but key to life.
16. Be vulnerable.
17. Asking questions is a good way to get to know people.
18. Take chances in life.
Fun Lessons
1. Getting up for sunrise is worth it!
2. Worship at the beach with friends!
3. Dance every once in a while: Turn the music up in your living room and dance!
4. Cry: It is important!
5. Jumping and running through the waves is fun! Day or Night.
6. Rolling down hills is good for the soul.
7. Running in the rain and jumping in puddles is just fun.
8. Have fun. Be a kid. Laugh. Explore
9. Long lasting memories come from shared experience with long lasting friends.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Last 3 Weeks! :)
Hello!
So, time has absolutely flown by! I can't even believe that it is the last three weeks of uni already! So after a really good two week break, tomorrow uni starts back up in Newcastle for 3 weeks! Please pray that our team goes strong and doesn't lose focus. I am so excited to see what God is going to do throughout these 3 weeks and so excited to be able to serve again on campus!
After the three weeks on campus, our staff team will have a debrief/evaluation week of this past semester/year. This will all finish up the 3rd of November and I will then take a couple days to pack up some stuff here and will be flying back into Spokane WA the 6th of November! :) It is absolutely crazy how this year has flown by and looking back on the year, God has done some pretty crazy things. I would never have been able to imagine everything God has done and how much I have grown over this past year!
So thank you to you all for your prayers and support over this year...please continue to pray for the next 4 weeks as we continue on campus and finish up this year! Also, continue to pray for next year as I am continuing on in Newcastle.
So, time has absolutely flown by! I can't even believe that it is the last three weeks of uni already! So after a really good two week break, tomorrow uni starts back up in Newcastle for 3 weeks! Please pray that our team goes strong and doesn't lose focus. I am so excited to see what God is going to do throughout these 3 weeks and so excited to be able to serve again on campus!
After the three weeks on campus, our staff team will have a debrief/evaluation week of this past semester/year. This will all finish up the 3rd of November and I will then take a couple days to pack up some stuff here and will be flying back into Spokane WA the 6th of November! :) It is absolutely crazy how this year has flown by and looking back on the year, God has done some pretty crazy things. I would never have been able to imagine everything God has done and how much I have grown over this past year!
So thank you to you all for your prayers and support over this year...please continue to pray for the next 4 weeks as we continue on campus and finish up this year! Also, continue to pray for next year as I am continuing on in Newcastle.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Staying for a second year....Support Raising! :)
G'day! :)
So, I just wanted to announce the exciting news that I have officially been accepted to re-STINT for a second year here in Newcastle this last week! Since moving to Newcastle, I have been praying about staying on the team for a second year and have definitely felt called to one more year!
God has been moving in Newcastle in some crazy and big ways and it has been so awesome to see people's hearts changing for the Gospel. Next year we have the vision of creating multiplying disciples of the Christian students. This means that they will not only take their faith seriously, but that they would then go out sharing their faith and leading Bible studies and stepping up into leadership positions. This has already been happening, but we are wanting to challenge the students even more next year. The second vision we have is to continue to develop authentic community within our movement. This has already begun as well, but we want to continue to grow so that all people would feel welcomed and loved through our movement.
So that is a very brief vision into next year and what our goals are going to be...we are also looking at starting up some student prayer movements and lots of other exciting things!
So here is my plan for the next few months. I am currently on a 2 week break from campus...the students have a 2 week spring break so I am currently beginning to support raise again for next year. I will then go back to campus for the last 3 weeks of the semester working and then will plan on coming back to the states beginning of November to support raise from there!
So for next year, I will need to raise a bit more monthly and a good amount of one off support. So I just wanted to ask you to pray about either continuing on in your support or beginning to support this movement. It has been such a pleasure working with you all and would love to continue or begin to partner with you in this. For monthly support I am looking for people to start now and commit through December 2012 at $100, $50, or any other amount. For one off support, I am looking to have it fully raised by the 1st of December 2011. Please pray about giving a one time gift of $1000, $750, $500, $250, or any other amount. (You can go onto my website directly to donate at https://give.ccci.org/give/View/0628731 let me know if you have any questions)
Again, I would love to ask for all of you to pray just for God's provision. Also, pray for the last three weeks on campus, that our students would continue to grow closer to the Lord and just finish up this year well! :)
Thanks everyone and please let me know if there is anything I can be praying for you about!
Erin
So, I just wanted to announce the exciting news that I have officially been accepted to re-STINT for a second year here in Newcastle this last week! Since moving to Newcastle, I have been praying about staying on the team for a second year and have definitely felt called to one more year!
God has been moving in Newcastle in some crazy and big ways and it has been so awesome to see people's hearts changing for the Gospel. Next year we have the vision of creating multiplying disciples of the Christian students. This means that they will not only take their faith seriously, but that they would then go out sharing their faith and leading Bible studies and stepping up into leadership positions. This has already been happening, but we are wanting to challenge the students even more next year. The second vision we have is to continue to develop authentic community within our movement. This has already begun as well, but we want to continue to grow so that all people would feel welcomed and loved through our movement.
So that is a very brief vision into next year and what our goals are going to be...we are also looking at starting up some student prayer movements and lots of other exciting things!
So here is my plan for the next few months. I am currently on a 2 week break from campus...the students have a 2 week spring break so I am currently beginning to support raise again for next year. I will then go back to campus for the last 3 weeks of the semester working and then will plan on coming back to the states beginning of November to support raise from there!
So for next year, I will need to raise a bit more monthly and a good amount of one off support. So I just wanted to ask you to pray about either continuing on in your support or beginning to support this movement. It has been such a pleasure working with you all and would love to continue or begin to partner with you in this. For monthly support I am looking for people to start now and commit through December 2012 at $100, $50, or any other amount. For one off support, I am looking to have it fully raised by the 1st of December 2011. Please pray about giving a one time gift of $1000, $750, $500, $250, or any other amount. (You can go onto my website directly to donate at https://give.ccci.org/give/View/0628731 let me know if you have any questions)
Again, I would love to ask for all of you to pray just for God's provision. Also, pray for the last three weeks on campus, that our students would continue to grow closer to the Lord and just finish up this year well! :)
Thanks everyone and please let me know if there is anything I can be praying for you about!
Erin
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Prayer for Newcastle
Hey everyone!
So I just wanted to share with you guys about how Newcastle ministry is going and how I am finding it here! It has been really good and being on campus has been so awesome! It has been amazing seeing how God is moving in Newcastle and just really cool to be a part of His plan and be used by Him each day.
So I just wanted to share with you some names of students and how you can be praying for them!
Briony: She is a girl I am mentoring and is so full of life and Jesus it is amazing. Just pray that God would continue to grow her heart closer to His and she would continue to be challenged by Him.
*Molly: This girl comes along to our social events every once in awhile. She is really fun and energetic and is just asking questions about faith and Jesus and just searching. So pray that God would open her heart and just that she would continue to come along to things and ask questions.
*John: He is a guy who comes along to random events and really enjoys talking to us. He is content where his life is right now and has been kind of hurt by religion in the past so just pray that he would begin to ask questions and opportunities would come to share with him.
*Jessica: She is a girl who we met on campus and is searching so much for Jesus. We meet up with her each week and she is just asking so many questions. She really wants to know God and just has all these questions about trusting whether or not He is real and all of that. But she is so searching and just prayer that she would experience God's love for her through us and that God would show Himself to her!
*Melanie: She is a girl who I have met with once and is again really interested in God and who He is and just asking so many questions. She is definitely seeking after Him, but has a lot of fear in her life that is holding her back. Please pray that I could meet up with her again and that God would be reaching into her heart and just pouring His love into her life.
*Matthew: He is a guy who is learning so much about God and going to church and really growing. He is figuring out whether he wants to surrender his life over to Jesus, so just pray that he would continue to seek after Jesus and that God would work in his heart.
Brooke: She is a new sister in Christ!!! She accepted Christ into her life about a month ago and is just growing heaps! It is so exciting seeing her trust Christ and just pray that she would continue to grow and God would continue to deepen her faith!
*Renee: She is in a place right now where she says she used to be into Christianity, but has fallen away. She says she doesn't really want to go back into it right now, but at the same time is asking heaps of questions about God and coming along to different events. Pray that God would show her His deep and never ending love for her and that she would know she is precious to Him.
So yeah, these are a few of the main students and some stories of what is happening at Newcastle Uni with our students....so please join us in praying for them and praying that God continues to work in hearts and continues to move on Newcastle campus!
Thanks so much for all your prayers and support.....I appreciate you all so much!
Erin
*Names are changed due to confidentiality.
So I just wanted to share with you guys about how Newcastle ministry is going and how I am finding it here! It has been really good and being on campus has been so awesome! It has been amazing seeing how God is moving in Newcastle and just really cool to be a part of His plan and be used by Him each day.
So I just wanted to share with you some names of students and how you can be praying for them!
Briony: She is a girl I am mentoring and is so full of life and Jesus it is amazing. Just pray that God would continue to grow her heart closer to His and she would continue to be challenged by Him.
*Molly: This girl comes along to our social events every once in awhile. She is really fun and energetic and is just asking questions about faith and Jesus and just searching. So pray that God would open her heart and just that she would continue to come along to things and ask questions.
*John: He is a guy who comes along to random events and really enjoys talking to us. He is content where his life is right now and has been kind of hurt by religion in the past so just pray that he would begin to ask questions and opportunities would come to share with him.
*Jessica: She is a girl who we met on campus and is searching so much for Jesus. We meet up with her each week and she is just asking so many questions. She really wants to know God and just has all these questions about trusting whether or not He is real and all of that. But she is so searching and just prayer that she would experience God's love for her through us and that God would show Himself to her!
*Melanie: She is a girl who I have met with once and is again really interested in God and who He is and just asking so many questions. She is definitely seeking after Him, but has a lot of fear in her life that is holding her back. Please pray that I could meet up with her again and that God would be reaching into her heart and just pouring His love into her life.
*Matthew: He is a guy who is learning so much about God and going to church and really growing. He is figuring out whether he wants to surrender his life over to Jesus, so just pray that he would continue to seek after Jesus and that God would work in his heart.
Brooke: She is a new sister in Christ!!! She accepted Christ into her life about a month ago and is just growing heaps! It is so exciting seeing her trust Christ and just pray that she would continue to grow and God would continue to deepen her faith!
*Renee: She is in a place right now where she says she used to be into Christianity, but has fallen away. She says she doesn't really want to go back into it right now, but at the same time is asking heaps of questions about God and coming along to different events. Pray that God would show her His deep and never ending love for her and that she would know she is precious to Him.
So yeah, these are a few of the main students and some stories of what is happening at Newcastle Uni with our students....so please join us in praying for them and praying that God continues to work in hearts and continues to move on Newcastle campus!
Thanks so much for all your prayers and support.....I appreciate you all so much!
Erin
*Names are changed due to confidentiality.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
First week in Newy!!! :)
 |
| Lunch Hour on Campus with students. |
I am currently working at the University of Newcastle and the semester started 2 weeks ago. After being on campus for a week and a half, I just have such a joy and can not wait to go back to campus each day!
So I thought I would give you a look into my first week here in Newcastle!
Monday: Walk on campus for the first time....our team starts each day with an hour of prayer, which is so refreshing and makes us focus on the Lord for the day! After praying, one of the students volunteered to show me around campus! It was so beautiful and I absolutely loved it. Briony, the girl who showed me around, has such an amazing heart as well and I have actually begun disicpling her! This has been such a blessing! :) After walking around campus, we have a lunch hour where students, staff, and anyone else will have lunch together every monday. This was so much fun....I met a guy who had never heard of Jesus and was interested in reading the Bible. So that was just such a great time of fellowship. After that, Kara (my teammate) and I went out for 3 hours and did surveys (or walk up evangelism). This was so great...we got into three conversations with people and just talked about Jesus and His love for us and it was sooooooo fun! :) Monday nights we will eventually have a womens bible study, but as this is the first week we didnt have it, but I am sooo excited for it in the future.
Tuesday: We again started the day in prayer as a team....Then right after prayer we went to coffee hour! This is an hour where we drink coffee and hang out with students. A lot of new people came and it was so much fun. I got to talk to one girl who is just searching for God, but not sure if she wants it. So yeah, we talked for ages and I am hoping to see her again throughout the semester. After that I went surveying again and had a really good talk with a guy. Then I had my discipleship time with Stacey (my teammate and discipler). This was so amazing....I feel like I am going to learn so much from her and just grow in my way to share the Gospel and disciple girls and just really grow in ministry through this time!
Wednesday: Again, we started the day in prayer...I just love this part of the day! Just to come to God for an hour each day before we begin is so amazing. Then I met with Nick (our team leader) about my team roles...I am going to be taking on the role of prayer for the team and the students...I am so excited about this! After, Nick and I went surveying and talked to 2 girls and they both wanted to hear the Gospel, so we got to share Jesus with both of them, which was such a sweet time! After we went to lunch/frisbee which is our event for the day. So we eat together and get students involved in frisbee. This was such a great time of conversation and I feel like I really got to know some of the students really well. It was full of great conversations.
Thursday: Start the day in prayer and then I went surveying with a student here who is on their summer mission trip. This conversation was soooo good. I went with Scott and we shared with another girl and guy and they were both so interested in Jesus. They kept asking us questions and just wanting to know more. They had been hurt by different Christians before and hurt by the church so we got to apologize to them for that and we seriously just had an awesome hour conversation with them. After, I met with my teammate and we prayed together for the campus and for each other which was so encouraging. We then get the afternoon off on thursdays and I came home and relaxed a little bit. Then we have a team dinner together which was so much fun! We went out for thai food. Then we went to our weekly meeting that night. This is a time where we worship, and have a talk and then just hang out with the students on campus. This night we talked about prayer and how to take prayer into action. So praying for others, but seeing how we can by answers to that prayer as well! It was really good and really fun.
Friday: Team staff meeting...this is our team day where we kind of plan for the next week and have our team meeting. So we had that meeting which was good and then this is our admin day. So getting work done and prep for the following week! :)
So yeah, that is kind of what a week in Newcastle looks like and what we are doing! So it is so much fun and we are seeing so many new students who are interested in Christ coming to meet up with us. So I am stoked to see how God uses the team this semester and I cant wait to see how God moves through Newcastle uni this semester!
Thanks for all your prayers and support in my move....It definitely would not have gone as smoothly if it wasn't for all your prayers. I am still trying to get settled, but as each day goes by the more and more I am loving it here! God is just moving in amazing ways and I love getting on campus each day and just being able to pour into students lives and just go out sharing the Gospel! So thank you all....I hope this reaches you well and I miss you heaps and pray that God is blessing you in many ways! :)
I will write again soon! :)
Many blessings,
Erin
Friday, July 22, 2011
Moving.....
So I moved to Newcastle yesterday afternoon and have been here for approximately 24 hours! :)
The move went really smoothly and the transition has begun. I came in yesterday afternoon and that night we had a meet and greet with the Newcastle students and myself as well as the American Summer Mission Trip that is here. So there are 10 students from the states that will be here for the next 4 weeks helping us do mission at the University of Newcastle! :) It was so great being able to meet everyone and really connected with some of the students!
So yeah, transition for me has been pretty good....I think it will just take some time for the new reality of life to set in, but I am really excited for it too! So yeah prayer for me to get settled quickly would be great! :)
Today, I have just been at a coffee shop doing work, finishing up loose ends and emailing some students back in Sydney. I have also been working on my newsletter to send you all about the past month and just getting settled into Newcastle! :)
So yeah, thanks for all the prayers from you all....the move has begun well and just continue to pray that the transition will continue to go smoothly! :)
Thanks,
Erin
Monday, July 18, 2011
Mid Year Conference & Changes
Hello everyone,
Sorry I haven't written on here for awhile, I feel like the past few weeks have been hecticly busy and here is why! :) So, I went on holiday with my mom and sister when they were here the last week of June and first few days of July. This was such a great time to relax and see a bit of home! We had lots of fun and hiked up through the mountains and I got to show them all around Sydney so that was fun! :)
I got back from that holiday on the 5 of July and we had one week to finish planning for the New South Wales region Mid Year Winter Conference. I have been on the planning committee for this conference so the last week before was extremely hectic with random jobs to do and little jobs to organize. In amongst this week, we had a Life Options Night for the students of the Sydney Metro Region. This was a night organized at my house to give students options for their future whether they decide to do ministry or go into the work force. This was a very encouraging night for myself as well as the students.
After that week, we went to the MYC this last week and even though it was crazy being one of the main organizers, it was so much fun! God was absolutely moving amongst the students as well as the staff at this conference. This was a time for the New South Wales region to focus on Christ for a week and just redirect their steps. I got to sit back and watch the students I have worked with all semester growing in their faith and just taking bounding steps forward in their trust of Jesus. It was such an amazing conference. We went through 2 Timothy in the talks and talked a lot about God's Entrustment to us and how we are called to go out and share His Gospel. Besides the talks, we had some amazing prayer times, fellowship, and we had an outreach day where we went out and shared with people in the city.
After MYC, I am getting back into work mode and students come back to campus on Monday! I am excited to start work again and be able to go onto campus......so this is where the change comes in! Throughout all this busyness the past month, I have also been talking with the regional directors of STINT in the states as well as regional directors here in Australia. So originally the northwest region in the states sends STINTers to Newcastle Australia, but since I had studied in Sydney previously we decided together that I would STINT in Sydney. Well, this past month just some changes have occurred on the Sydney team and with looking into the future of the Newcastle ministry and the future of Sydney's ministry...I have been relocated to Newcastle's team. I want to tell you the honestly when I heard this change I was definitely not wanting to leave Sydney and didn't want to leave the ministry and students I have been working with, but with much prayer and fasting I understand why this decision has been made and God has just poured much excitement into my heart for this new change. It will be a really good thing and I am so excited to be able to serve with the Newcastle team and be able to do ministry on that campus! I know this is God's plan and where He is calling me so that is good, but I want to encourage all of you if you have questions to please ask me! I am definitely wanting to share with you everything and will write a story in this month's newsletter about it as well! :)
So yeah, my time in Sydney has finished....my going away party is tonight, but there is some exciting news! God answered our prayers!!!!!! At MYC, a guy from Notre Dame stepped up and is going to be a student leader, so we now have 2 student leaders on that campus and ministry will continue on in second semester!!! Thanks so much for praying...I am so excited to hear how this campus goes and will still be in contact with them and will let you know how it progresses next semester! :)
With that, I will be moving this Friday to Newcastle and as I said before starting work with the students on Monday! The US Summer mission trip is here currently in Newcastle so the first month of my time there will be working with those students and taking them out sharing. So it will be a great time and I am excited to see how God will use this for His glory!
Please pray that the transition goes smoothly into Newcastle! Thanks to you all and please ask any questions you might have! :)
Erin
Sorry I haven't written on here for awhile, I feel like the past few weeks have been hecticly busy and here is why! :) So, I went on holiday with my mom and sister when they were here the last week of June and first few days of July. This was such a great time to relax and see a bit of home! We had lots of fun and hiked up through the mountains and I got to show them all around Sydney so that was fun! :)
I got back from that holiday on the 5 of July and we had one week to finish planning for the New South Wales region Mid Year Winter Conference. I have been on the planning committee for this conference so the last week before was extremely hectic with random jobs to do and little jobs to organize. In amongst this week, we had a Life Options Night for the students of the Sydney Metro Region. This was a night organized at my house to give students options for their future whether they decide to do ministry or go into the work force. This was a very encouraging night for myself as well as the students.
After that week, we went to the MYC this last week and even though it was crazy being one of the main organizers, it was so much fun! God was absolutely moving amongst the students as well as the staff at this conference. This was a time for the New South Wales region to focus on Christ for a week and just redirect their steps. I got to sit back and watch the students I have worked with all semester growing in their faith and just taking bounding steps forward in their trust of Jesus. It was such an amazing conference. We went through 2 Timothy in the talks and talked a lot about God's Entrustment to us and how we are called to go out and share His Gospel. Besides the talks, we had some amazing prayer times, fellowship, and we had an outreach day where we went out and shared with people in the city.
After MYC, I am getting back into work mode and students come back to campus on Monday! I am excited to start work again and be able to go onto campus......so this is where the change comes in! Throughout all this busyness the past month, I have also been talking with the regional directors of STINT in the states as well as regional directors here in Australia. So originally the northwest region in the states sends STINTers to Newcastle Australia, but since I had studied in Sydney previously we decided together that I would STINT in Sydney. Well, this past month just some changes have occurred on the Sydney team and with looking into the future of the Newcastle ministry and the future of Sydney's ministry...I have been relocated to Newcastle's team. I want to tell you the honestly when I heard this change I was definitely not wanting to leave Sydney and didn't want to leave the ministry and students I have been working with, but with much prayer and fasting I understand why this decision has been made and God has just poured much excitement into my heart for this new change. It will be a really good thing and I am so excited to be able to serve with the Newcastle team and be able to do ministry on that campus! I know this is God's plan and where He is calling me so that is good, but I want to encourage all of you if you have questions to please ask me! I am definitely wanting to share with you everything and will write a story in this month's newsletter about it as well! :)
So yeah, my time in Sydney has finished....my going away party is tonight, but there is some exciting news! God answered our prayers!!!!!! At MYC, a guy from Notre Dame stepped up and is going to be a student leader, so we now have 2 student leaders on that campus and ministry will continue on in second semester!!! Thanks so much for praying...I am so excited to hear how this campus goes and will still be in contact with them and will let you know how it progresses next semester! :)
With that, I will be moving this Friday to Newcastle and as I said before starting work with the students on Monday! The US Summer mission trip is here currently in Newcastle so the first month of my time there will be working with those students and taking them out sharing. So it will be a great time and I am excited to see how God will use this for His glory!
Please pray that the transition goes smoothly into Newcastle! Thanks to you all and please ask any questions you might have! :)
Erin
Friday, June 24, 2011
Holiday!
Hello to everyone! :)
So, today I seriously had a really encouraging day with Jesus. I was reading the Bible and just learned so much! I realized that God is loving us and blessing us each and every day, but sometimes I just don't notice it and I just realized that I need to look to God each day and just look to see how He is pouring His love out. So today I asked God to show me His love and so many cool things happened!!!
First, a friend gave me 5 dollars just to go out and spoil myself with a coffee and it was just so from God. I don't know how to explain it, I just felt like God was just blessing me in this little way. And then I just had a really good chat to one of my friends here! She is visiting this weekend and we just talked about life and realized so much about God through this conversation!
We were talking about just persevering when times get tough and she was just saying to me that God is looking down on us when times are tough and just thinking, "Man, Erin just you wait....just you wait because I am going to use this struggle or this lesson for something so much bigger in your future that you can not even imagine." It was just so cool to look at every season in your life almost as a prep for something greater to come. So when we are learning or getting pruned or when life hurts a little bit, not dwelling on that, but realizing that you are actually being grown by God and He will use that time and that lesson and that hardship for something so amazing!
I don't know if that makes sense, but it was just so cool! I feel like God just filled me with so much joy and peace and just His love today it was absolutely incredible!!! :) So yeah, I just thought I would share that day with you! :)
But I also wanted to say that I am actually getting to go on holiday this next week! I am sooo excited to take a week off and be able to go away and just come back feeling so refreshed and ready to hit the pavement running! :) So yeah, my mom and sister and in town this next week and I am going to be able to show them around Sydney, which will be so much fun! :)
But I just wanted to let you know that I will be away from my computer and work for the next 10 days and would just love your prayer for refreshment in the Lord and that I would have an amazing time with my family! :)
Thanks again to you all...it means so much to me to be able to do ministry with you here in Australia! :)
Please let me know how I can be praying for you personally, or just share a crazy story with me! :)
Alright, many blessings to each one of you! :)
So, today I seriously had a really encouraging day with Jesus. I was reading the Bible and just learned so much! I realized that God is loving us and blessing us each and every day, but sometimes I just don't notice it and I just realized that I need to look to God each day and just look to see how He is pouring His love out. So today I asked God to show me His love and so many cool things happened!!!
First, a friend gave me 5 dollars just to go out and spoil myself with a coffee and it was just so from God. I don't know how to explain it, I just felt like God was just blessing me in this little way. And then I just had a really good chat to one of my friends here! She is visiting this weekend and we just talked about life and realized so much about God through this conversation!
We were talking about just persevering when times get tough and she was just saying to me that God is looking down on us when times are tough and just thinking, "Man, Erin just you wait....just you wait because I am going to use this struggle or this lesson for something so much bigger in your future that you can not even imagine." It was just so cool to look at every season in your life almost as a prep for something greater to come. So when we are learning or getting pruned or when life hurts a little bit, not dwelling on that, but realizing that you are actually being grown by God and He will use that time and that lesson and that hardship for something so amazing!
I don't know if that makes sense, but it was just so cool! I feel like God just filled me with so much joy and peace and just His love today it was absolutely incredible!!! :) So yeah, I just thought I would share that day with you! :)
But I also wanted to say that I am actually getting to go on holiday this next week! I am sooo excited to take a week off and be able to go away and just come back feeling so refreshed and ready to hit the pavement running! :) So yeah, my mom and sister and in town this next week and I am going to be able to show them around Sydney, which will be so much fun! :)
But I just wanted to let you know that I will be away from my computer and work for the next 10 days and would just love your prayer for refreshment in the Lord and that I would have an amazing time with my family! :)
Thanks again to you all...it means so much to me to be able to do ministry with you here in Australia! :)
Please let me know how I can be praying for you personally, or just share a crazy story with me! :)
Alright, many blessings to each one of you! :)
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
An encouraging day in ministry!
June 1, 2011
I just thought I would write you all about my day yesterday on campus...it was so amazing just seeing God working and just wanted to share with you the few stories that happened! :)
So I first met with one of my staff team and just chatted about the campus we are working at and different ministry things. This was definitely encouraging and we were able to pray for different students on campus!
After, I went to Sydney University and met up with one of my disciples Jenny. We started our time by going out on campus doing a survey with another student. We talked to a girl named Leann who was from China. We started just asking her what she believed and we asked her if she knew who Jesus was and her response was yeah I think I heard that name once, but I have no idea who it is.
This just opened my eyes to see that there are so many people who have just never heard about Jesus and she was so interested in learning more. It was amazing to be able to tell her that Jesus loves her for the first time. She was definitely interested in meeting up again so please pray that we would have a chance to meet up with her again and just be able to talk to her more!
After my discipleship time with Jenny, I walked over to University of Notre Dame to meet up with another girl named Reyabel. Reyabel was a new student who had come to a prayer hour earlier in the week. I met up with her to see how she enjoyed it and just to chat with her about life. She ended up telling me that it was so amazing going to the prayer hour. It was so cool to hear you guys praying and actually talking to God. I have never experienced anything like that.
This was so amazing to hear and it just made me realize that this is what God calls us to....to challenge people and just to see them taking steps forward in their faith and in their relationship with God. It was absolutely incredible to just chat with Reyabel and get to know her.
After meeting up with her, we had another prayer hour at Notre Dame. We had 9 people come to that and we praised God for what He has done at Notre Dame this year and we just prayed for the future of Notre Dame next semester! :) It was such an encouraging time and just to see how many prayer requests were answered through that.
We prayed for MYC and that students would go from Notre Dame and we currently have 4 students from Notre Dame registered which is absolutely amazing and we have another 4 students highly considering going. We also prayed for finances and God would provide for the students to go and one of the students went home from that prayer meeting to find a check in the mail that he will be able to use to go to MYC! This was so cool and definitely a God thing! :)
After the prayer meeting, Andrew (another staff team member) and I were able to meet up with Lyndon (the one student leader from Notre Dame) and just encourage him. So that was really good and encouraging! :)
After the meeting, Andrew and I went back to Notre Dame and we went and did a couple surveys and were able to talk to two more people about God and just hear their views on everything! It was so amazing to just hear how open students are and just hear questions they have.
Afterwards, we prayed for a little bit and then I stayed on campus and was able to do a prayer walk for Notre Dame and just realized how amazing God was and how much He has done on the university. So yeah, this was an awesome prayer time for me and I felt like God just really encouraged me and just built me up throughout this time.
I know God has big plans for this university and I am so excited to see a group of students from Notre Dame come to MYC. It was such an encouraging day with evangelism as well and being able to share Jesus for the first time with someone and being able to answer questions and see students growing in their relationship with Jesus. It was absolutely amazing!
So thank you to all of you who make this possible. God is moving so much in Australia and through students and it is such an encouragement to see! :)
I just thought I would write you all about my day yesterday on campus...it was so amazing just seeing God working and just wanted to share with you the few stories that happened! :)
So I first met with one of my staff team and just chatted about the campus we are working at and different ministry things. This was definitely encouraging and we were able to pray for different students on campus!
After, I went to Sydney University and met up with one of my disciples Jenny. We started our time by going out on campus doing a survey with another student. We talked to a girl named Leann who was from China. We started just asking her what she believed and we asked her if she knew who Jesus was and her response was yeah I think I heard that name once, but I have no idea who it is.
This just opened my eyes to see that there are so many people who have just never heard about Jesus and she was so interested in learning more. It was amazing to be able to tell her that Jesus loves her for the first time. She was definitely interested in meeting up again so please pray that we would have a chance to meet up with her again and just be able to talk to her more!
After my discipleship time with Jenny, I walked over to University of Notre Dame to meet up with another girl named Reyabel. Reyabel was a new student who had come to a prayer hour earlier in the week. I met up with her to see how she enjoyed it and just to chat with her about life. She ended up telling me that it was so amazing going to the prayer hour. It was so cool to hear you guys praying and actually talking to God. I have never experienced anything like that.
This was so amazing to hear and it just made me realize that this is what God calls us to....to challenge people and just to see them taking steps forward in their faith and in their relationship with God. It was absolutely incredible to just chat with Reyabel and get to know her.
After meeting up with her, we had another prayer hour at Notre Dame. We had 9 people come to that and we praised God for what He has done at Notre Dame this year and we just prayed for the future of Notre Dame next semester! :) It was such an encouraging time and just to see how many prayer requests were answered through that.
We prayed for MYC and that students would go from Notre Dame and we currently have 4 students from Notre Dame registered which is absolutely amazing and we have another 4 students highly considering going. We also prayed for finances and God would provide for the students to go and one of the students went home from that prayer meeting to find a check in the mail that he will be able to use to go to MYC! This was so cool and definitely a God thing! :)
After the prayer meeting, Andrew (another staff team member) and I were able to meet up with Lyndon (the one student leader from Notre Dame) and just encourage him. So that was really good and encouraging! :)
After the meeting, Andrew and I went back to Notre Dame and we went and did a couple surveys and were able to talk to two more people about God and just hear their views on everything! It was so amazing to just hear how open students are and just hear questions they have.
Afterwards, we prayed for a little bit and then I stayed on campus and was able to do a prayer walk for Notre Dame and just realized how amazing God was and how much He has done on the university. So yeah, this was an awesome prayer time for me and I felt like God just really encouraged me and just built me up throughout this time.
I know God has big plans for this university and I am so excited to see a group of students from Notre Dame come to MYC. It was such an encouraging day with evangelism as well and being able to share Jesus for the first time with someone and being able to answer questions and see students growing in their relationship with Jesus. It was absolutely amazing!
So thank you to all of you who make this possible. God is moving so much in Australia and through students and it is such an encouragement to see! :)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
PRAYER TIME! :)
Hello Team! :)
I have a major prayer request and wanted to have you partner with us! So at the University of Notre Dame, the main campus I have been working at, there has only been one student leader for the past year and a half. This whole semester we have been praying and attempting to raise up some students leaders, but no one has been willing to take the leadership position.
We are in the position currently where if we do not see another student leader step up by the end of semester, (4 weeks) then we are going to have to shut down the movement on that campus. The one student leader will be gone for half of next semester and we really need to get another student leader on that campus. Please join us in prayer and in faith that God will raise up another leader on this campus so that the movement can continue to grow! I know God can provide and we are really trusting Him for this! :)
Thanks to all of you and your prayers....I will continue to let you know what happens. I know some of you might be asking what I would do if it did shut down and that is as a staff team being discussed. There are many other campuses in Sydney who do not have any Christian movements, so we might step onto those campuses and try to get a movement going! But that is still to be determined, we have faith that God will provide a leader at Notre Dame and I just want to ask you for your prayer in this!
Thanks to everyone!!! I will definitely keep you updated! :)
I have a major prayer request and wanted to have you partner with us! So at the University of Notre Dame, the main campus I have been working at, there has only been one student leader for the past year and a half. This whole semester we have been praying and attempting to raise up some students leaders, but no one has been willing to take the leadership position.
We are in the position currently where if we do not see another student leader step up by the end of semester, (4 weeks) then we are going to have to shut down the movement on that campus. The one student leader will be gone for half of next semester and we really need to get another student leader on that campus. Please join us in prayer and in faith that God will raise up another leader on this campus so that the movement can continue to grow! I know God can provide and we are really trusting Him for this! :)
Thanks to all of you and your prayers....I will continue to let you know what happens. I know some of you might be asking what I would do if it did shut down and that is as a staff team being discussed. There are many other campuses in Sydney who do not have any Christian movements, so we might step onto those campuses and try to get a movement going! But that is still to be determined, we have faith that God will provide a leader at Notre Dame and I just want to ask you for your prayer in this!
Thanks to everyone!!! I will definitely keep you updated! :)
Saturday, April 30, 2011
My last few weeks! :)
So last week I kind of hit a low in my time here. I just felt like I didn't really have passion for what I was doing and felt just emotionally and even a little spiritually drained. One of my friends sent me this song below and it definitely kind of sums up what I was feeling in a sense.
But yeah, I was coming up to a semester break and I think I just needed time off campus to just rejuvenate and re energize. :) So last Thursday the 21st of April was our last day on campus and have had a break this week and it has been so refreshing! :) Here is what we did...
Thursday Night/Friday Morning: I had the most amazing skype/prayer session ever!!!! The Eastern Washington University morning prayer had me skype in and they all prayed for me for an hour. It was so amazing seeing familiar faces and made me realize how much I miss Cheney/Spokane!!! I love you guys and this was such an encouragement to me!!!! :) Thank you!!!!
Friday 22nd of April: Jess and I had a "homeless Easter" dinner. We cooked all day and invited over friends who didn't have families to go to for Easter dinner. We made a huge meal and just hung out with everyone that night.
Saturday 23rd of April: Jess and I flew to Brisbane and surprised our friend Steph for a 4 day holiday! Steph's boyfriend Ezra had worked with us to surprise her and it turned out great!
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| Ezra, Steph, Jess, and I during our time in Brisbane |
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| Us walking around the city on Easter! |
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| Anzac Day March |
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| Anzac Day March |
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| Steph and me at Mount Tamborine: At our table looking out! :) AMAZING |
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| At our table at Mount Tamborine: Feeding the birds! |
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| At our table at Mount Tamborine: Feeding the birds! |
Friday 29 of April: We had a national wide prayer day with Campus Crusade in Australia. It was so encouraging to spend the day praying for each other and the nations. Definitely a great day! :)
Now it is the weekend and on Monday I start back up on campus. I am feeling so refreshed and ready to go, so that is awesome! Here are just some prayer requests to keep in mind the next couple weeks:
-I would continue to stay refreshed and passionate about going on and sharing Jesus
- University of Notre Dame: More leaders to step up
-I am currently looking into options for next year and need to decide in a couple months...that i would know where God is calling me.
So yeah I think those are the main things. Sorry I haven't been keeping up to date on this blog. I will try to be better! :)
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Go pray video!
Ok, so this is just a fun little video me and my two roommates made in our house! This is the downstairs of the church that we live in and is used for storage, bbq's, and whatever! :) We actually have a skate ramp in the back of this room as well. But this was a video for prayer hours at the connexions camp...so i thought i would share it with you! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra0C_8_OIp8
It is pretty random and funny, but I thought you would like it! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra0C_8_OIp8
It is pretty random and funny, but I thought you would like it! :)
WHITE HOT FAITH! :)
So this last weekend we had our connexions conference, which is a kind of fall retreat for the Australia students of New South Wales. It was such an amazing conference and definitely challenged me in my faith.
The speakers talked about having a white hot faith and what that looks like in our daily lives. We were told not to be ashamed of the Gospel, but to stand up for it each day. We should be boldly living our lives for Christ each day. We also had a talk on not compromising, which is something we can constantly fall into. The saying that was repeated in this talk was we only have one life to live what are we going to do with it and that there is no room for compromise when we are following Jesus. It just made me think about making each day count and really think about what I want my life to reflect. The last talk was about surrender and how that is the only way to not compromise. We must surrender our lives to the Lord. He has the perfect path for us and He is watching out for us, we need to completely surrender and just trust God and walk each day with Him.
So that is what we talked about, having a white hot faith in Jesus! It was awesome and the students loved it! I was able to lead a training session, which was a really good experience for me. Thanks so much for your prayers this weekend, I think it will really get our students excited and pumped up for the rest of semester here! :)
So that is what we talked about, having a white hot faith in Jesus! It was awesome and the students loved it! I was able to lead a training session, which was a really good experience for me. Thanks so much for your prayers this weekend, I think it will really get our students excited and pumped up for the rest of semester here! :)
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| Some of our Sydney Metro students making their way to Connexions! :) |
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Time in Perth! :)
Hey everyone!
I just wanted to give you an update on my trip to Perth! :) First, I want to say thank you so much for your prayers and support while I was over there. I definitely could not have gotten through the trip without all of you behind me!
It was definitely a trip where I got to see a lot of amazing things that the Lord was and is doing. The Student Life movement began in Perth just one semester ago and currently there are 5 student leaders on 3 campuses over there. These five student leaders are so passionate and have dreams to see not only their campuses changed by Christ, but also their city and their entire state! It is awesome to see these students dreams and just be able to partner along side of them and help them with their questions.
God is definitely beginning to move in Perth and it is definitely exciting to watch. The students we went out and surveyed there were extremely interested in talking about Jesus and just had so many questions. It was exciting to be able to get into multiple spiritual conversations and just be able to answer questions that people had about Jesus! :)
So let me introduce you to the 5 amazing student leaders....In the picture below we have Caitlin to the far left who was the first leader at Curtin University. In the middle are Steven and Jaenette who are married and are leaders at University of Western Australia. Nathaniel is on the far right and he is a leader with Caitlin at Curtin University.
Then below, is a video of the last student leader. Her name is Louise and she is actually leading a movement at Mount Lawley Campus as well as Edith Cowan University. I probably got to know her the best because I was staying at her house while I was there, but she is an amazing leader as well and we got to chat and go over some planning for her year and what her movement could look like or directions it could take. She just wanted to shoot a video to all my supporters and so here is her message to all of you! :)
Most of my time there was spent with the students, but I did get a chance to check out the beaches and city a little bit while I was there. The city of Perth is absolutely gorgeous just driving around. I also got to swim in the Indian Ocean which was awesome! Here are just a few more pictures of my time in Perth.
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| Louise and I at Hillarys Harbour after Breakfast |
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| University of Western Australia |
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| Curtin University |
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| Me playing in the Indian Ocean! |
So again, as Louise said in her video thank you so much to all my supporters because without you I would not be able to be here! :) Please continue to pray for the Perth campuses and for this next weekend as I am heading to another weekend camp to help train our students from Sydney and all of New South Wales. This will be a great time for the students to make friends and just fellowship together with students from other campuses in their state...so pray that the weekend would be fun and growing for the students! : )
Monday, March 21, 2011
Amazing Opportunity!
Ok, so I have some very exciting news and a huge prayer request for everyone! I have been asked this week by the national office of Australia to travel to Perth for 5 days! :) Let me explain:
Perth is a very unreached part of Australia...they have just started up a ministry in the past couple years on the campuses in this city. There are only a few student leaders that are trying to lead ministries on their campuses. I have been asked to go out and help train the female leaders and catch up with them. I will be helping train them and equip them to lead their movements well for this year.
So with that, I am so excited to even be asked to take this opportunity with the national team. I am so beside myself....I have been a missionary 2 months and already being asked to do crazy things! I am so excited though all at the same time...God has just grown my heart for reaching the unreached places in this world. I am so excited to be able to help these girls and be able to have a part in the start of this ministry!
So I just want to say thank you to all of you who are supporting me in prayer and finances. Thank you for allowing God to use you in huge ways in Australia! I am so excited for this opportunity and would love prayer that God would really use me in these girls lives and that this weekend would be productive! I am leaving Friday morning, the 25th of March and will be gone until late Tuesday night!
Thanks for all the prayers, I will definitely tell you what happens when I get back next week!
Perth is a very unreached part of Australia...they have just started up a ministry in the past couple years on the campuses in this city. There are only a few student leaders that are trying to lead ministries on their campuses. I have been asked to go out and help train the female leaders and catch up with them. I will be helping train them and equip them to lead their movements well for this year.
So with that, I am so excited to even be asked to take this opportunity with the national team. I am so beside myself....I have been a missionary 2 months and already being asked to do crazy things! I am so excited though all at the same time...God has just grown my heart for reaching the unreached places in this world. I am so excited to be able to help these girls and be able to have a part in the start of this ministry!
So I just want to say thank you to all of you who are supporting me in prayer and finances. Thank you for allowing God to use you in huge ways in Australia! I am so excited for this opportunity and would love prayer that God would really use me in these girls lives and that this weekend would be productive! I am leaving Friday morning, the 25th of March and will be gone until late Tuesday night!
Thanks for all the prayers, I will definitely tell you what happens when I get back next week!
Campus/Ministry Update!
So, on campuses, it has seriously been really good, but I don't think I ever fully realized how difficult ministry is. Let me explain....I love ministry and seeing campuses grow and students just opening up their hearts to Jesus and the Gospel. There is seriously no greater joy in that, but I never knew the tough situations that can come through ministry as well. I don't think I ever realized how many decisions I would be making and just moving from the role of student to missionary is crazy!
I love it though....ministry has been wonderful and God is just teaching me and growing me more then I could ever imagine! So here is an update on the campuses we are on:
University of Notre Dame: They now have 2 bible studies, 2 prayer hours, a weekly meeting at a neighboring campus they can attend, and a monthly social! There are new people coming into the group each week and it is growing tremendously. God is just moving in big ways on that campus. There are also 6 Christianity Explained courses taking place that are going really well. So prayer requests for this campus is that even with all the growth we are not seeing the students take up leadership, they love coming to the group, but dont want to take responsibility to run it. Pray for passionate students who will step up into leadership roles!
Sydney Uni: They are going really well! 4 Bible studies, weekly meeting, a few evangelism hours, and a couple prayer hours! This campus is definitely going really well! Pray that as they grow more leaders would step up and just that God would continue to bless this ministry.
ACU: I am beginning a Christianity Explained course on this campus tomorrow! It is exciting seeing the group begin with one person at the beginning of the year (Abraham) and grow into having at least 4 or 5 interested people now. Pray for Abraham, that God would give him strength and perseverance to keep reaching his campus for Jesus and that many more people would become interested! :)
UNSW: This campus is going fairly well too. There are weekly Bible studies and meetings for the students there. There are multiple Christianity Explained courses going on and people who are eager to learn more about Jesus. Pray that these contacts would fully commit their lives to Christ and God would create a passion in them to reach their campus for Him. Also, there is only one leader on this campus, so pray that more students would step up into the leadership position! :)
Other then that, ministry is great! It has definitely been a growing experience and growing my faith! Thanks for all your prayers! :)
I love it though....ministry has been wonderful and God is just teaching me and growing me more then I could ever imagine! So here is an update on the campuses we are on:
University of Notre Dame: They now have 2 bible studies, 2 prayer hours, a weekly meeting at a neighboring campus they can attend, and a monthly social! There are new people coming into the group each week and it is growing tremendously. God is just moving in big ways on that campus. There are also 6 Christianity Explained courses taking place that are going really well. So prayer requests for this campus is that even with all the growth we are not seeing the students take up leadership, they love coming to the group, but dont want to take responsibility to run it. Pray for passionate students who will step up into leadership roles!
Sydney Uni: They are going really well! 4 Bible studies, weekly meeting, a few evangelism hours, and a couple prayer hours! This campus is definitely going really well! Pray that as they grow more leaders would step up and just that God would continue to bless this ministry.
ACU: I am beginning a Christianity Explained course on this campus tomorrow! It is exciting seeing the group begin with one person at the beginning of the year (Abraham) and grow into having at least 4 or 5 interested people now. Pray for Abraham, that God would give him strength and perseverance to keep reaching his campus for Jesus and that many more people would become interested! :)
UNSW: This campus is going fairly well too. There are weekly Bible studies and meetings for the students there. There are multiple Christianity Explained courses going on and people who are eager to learn more about Jesus. Pray that these contacts would fully commit their lives to Christ and God would create a passion in them to reach their campus for Him. Also, there is only one leader on this campus, so pray that more students would step up into the leadership position! :)
Other then that, ministry is great! It has definitely been a growing experience and growing my faith! Thanks for all your prayers! :)
The last two crazy Saturdays:
Ok, so Saturday is my day off, so it is always an adventure! :)
Saturday the 12th of March:
This begins pretty normal day, cleaning the house and chilling, but then I am going to a friend's 21st birthday party! So 21st parties are huge here...they have themes, speeches, the works. This friend, Bek, had a theme of Latino, so I am wandering everywhere to find bright colored clothes and find nothing. But then, I see my roommates body board/boogie board bag which is definitely bright colors and think that I can wear it as a skirt....
So yeah, it was a great party, but then the adventure starts....I am driving my roommates car back to my house and end up taking a wrong turn in Sydney (Not something you want to do)! Anyways, I am with another American exchange student Dinnah and we pull over because we are lost. I am calling friends and trying to find the way back home, but a car pulls up next to us....I look over and it is a cop car. I roll down my window and the cop says "Oh if I got in your car how much would it cost to go to this suburb?" I am completely confused and he keeps joking and begins to ask, "Oh, you aren't a taxi? I thought you were a taxi?" I realize I had pulled off in a taxi only lane. Anyways, the police tell us how to get home, but it was definitely an adventure! :) First cop experience escaped with no ticket! :) haha....we made it home and it was all good! :)
Second Saturday: The 19th of March:
This Saturday was a little more epic! A few of us decided we really wanted to go for a hike even though it was downpouring rain! :) We went to Royal National Park which is absolutely beautiful, but this day it was just crazy. We finally make it to the park in the downpour of rain and get out and begin hiking....we soon realize that leeches are literally attacking us! :) There are hundreds everywhere...every step you take you got new leeches attached to your shoes. We continue on the track for maybe a kilometer and eventually just ran out of the forest. We got out and had so many leeches all over the four of us! It was definitely an experience! And as I am sitting in the car, I turn my head and about a foot from my face, there is no joke a massive spider....it was atleast 4 inches in diameter! I learned that they are huntsman spiders and are harmless. Good to know! :) Anyways, it was a crazy adventure, but definitely memorable! :)
So yeah, that is my adventures of Saturdays...lots of memories, lots of fun!
Saturday the 12th of March:
This begins pretty normal day, cleaning the house and chilling, but then I am going to a friend's 21st birthday party! So 21st parties are huge here...they have themes, speeches, the works. This friend, Bek, had a theme of Latino, so I am wandering everywhere to find bright colored clothes and find nothing. But then, I see my roommates body board/boogie board bag which is definitely bright colors and think that I can wear it as a skirt....
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| Me wearing the boogie board bag as a skirt! :) |
Second Saturday: The 19th of March:
This Saturday was a little more epic! A few of us decided we really wanted to go for a hike even though it was downpouring rain! :) We went to Royal National Park which is absolutely beautiful, but this day it was just crazy. We finally make it to the park in the downpour of rain and get out and begin hiking....we soon realize that leeches are literally attacking us! :) There are hundreds everywhere...every step you take you got new leeches attached to your shoes. We continue on the track for maybe a kilometer and eventually just ran out of the forest. We got out and had so many leeches all over the four of us! It was definitely an experience! And as I am sitting in the car, I turn my head and about a foot from my face, there is no joke a massive spider....it was atleast 4 inches in diameter! I learned that they are huntsman spiders and are harmless. Good to know! :) Anyways, it was a crazy adventure, but definitely memorable! :)
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| Dinnah and I before we went on the leech adventure |
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| This is leech check #800....Seriously! :) |
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| Us running and escaping! |
Friday, March 11, 2011
Awesome things God has done while I am here:
Ok so first, I just want to say just how much God has blessed my time here in Australia. I feel like I have grown in my faith so much, which is awesome and challenging all at the same time! :) But yeah there are definitely areas God has just completely blessed in my time here so here they are....
1. My ministry team: I feel like I have just related to them a lot and God has really just let me fit in easily with them. They are a great source of encouragement and strength, especially when ministry gets tough.
(I will get a picture of our whole team soon...there are 5 of us, AJ, Keryn, Andrew, Amelia, and me!)
2. My church: The messages they give seriously hit me every week. The people there have been a huge source of encouragement and I am going to try to get more involved with them.
3. My house! I seriously feel like God really brought our house together in such an amazing way. I am living with Jess who is from athletes in action which is a branch of Campus Crusade and Ricardo, who is actually a mutual friend's brother who works with the Australian navy. We all just have had this vision for a house to be God centered and be able to host people who need places to stay.We have seriously grown to be like a family and it has been so great to be encouraged and challenged in my faith daily by them. These last two weeks we had a friend Steph stay who is from South Africa. It was so awesome to get to know her and we had some crazy fun times with her. But yeah, I feel like God has really blessed the church we live in and we are constantly busy having people over for dinner, breakfast, or whenever throughout the day!
So here are 2 stories from the house that just bring joy and laughter to my life and a small view into our daily lives where I live.
1. My housemates and I bought a ceramic duck the very first day we moved in....His name is Neville and he is awesome! :) He changes his appearance every few days....currently he is looking like this...
He also decides to move around the house and scare people as well. But yes he brings great joy to our lives!
2. Also with my housemates, Steph and a few friends, we decided to build a sweet fort. The fort quickly turned into a massive pillow war/battle! It was an epic fun time though! :) Here are a couple pics before the fort was destroyed and after the battle...
So yeah, there are 2 crazy stories from our house, but seriously I just want to shout out and say how blessed I am to be living where I am...I will put a video of a tour of our house soon, but God has seriously just blessed the place where I am at. I am living in a church, so we have this whole building that we can use to have people over and be able to serve in ministry! (We will soon be hosting a sweet hip hop party with break dancing competitions, a half pipe skating ramp in our basement, and just lots of fun and laughter...stay tuned!)
So yeah, I feel like God has seriously blessed me more then I could imagine and just thought I would share with you and give Jesus the glory of just really taking care of me while I have been overseas! :)
1. My ministry team: I feel like I have just related to them a lot and God has really just let me fit in easily with them. They are a great source of encouragement and strength, especially when ministry gets tough.
(I will get a picture of our whole team soon...there are 5 of us, AJ, Keryn, Andrew, Amelia, and me!)
2. My church: The messages they give seriously hit me every week. The people there have been a huge source of encouragement and I am going to try to get more involved with them.
3. My house! I seriously feel like God really brought our house together in such an amazing way. I am living with Jess who is from athletes in action which is a branch of Campus Crusade and Ricardo, who is actually a mutual friend's brother who works with the Australian navy. We all just have had this vision for a house to be God centered and be able to host people who need places to stay.We have seriously grown to be like a family and it has been so great to be encouraged and challenged in my faith daily by them. These last two weeks we had a friend Steph stay who is from South Africa. It was so awesome to get to know her and we had some crazy fun times with her. But yeah, I feel like God has really blessed the church we live in and we are constantly busy having people over for dinner, breakfast, or whenever throughout the day!
So here are 2 stories from the house that just bring joy and laughter to my life and a small view into our daily lives where I live.
1. My housemates and I bought a ceramic duck the very first day we moved in....His name is Neville and he is awesome! :) He changes his appearance every few days....currently he is looking like this...
He also decides to move around the house and scare people as well. But yes he brings great joy to our lives!
2. Also with my housemates, Steph and a few friends, we decided to build a sweet fort. The fort quickly turned into a massive pillow war/battle! It was an epic fun time though! :) Here are a couple pics before the fort was destroyed and after the battle...
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| Steph, Marlon, and Ricardo in our fort |
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| The middle of the pillow war! |
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| After the war.....very tired! |
So yeah, there are 2 crazy stories from our house, but seriously I just want to shout out and say how blessed I am to be living where I am...I will put a video of a tour of our house soon, but God has seriously just blessed the place where I am at. I am living in a church, so we have this whole building that we can use to have people over and be able to serve in ministry! (We will soon be hosting a sweet hip hop party with break dancing competitions, a half pipe skating ramp in our basement, and just lots of fun and laughter...stay tuned!)
So yeah, I feel like God has seriously blessed me more then I could imagine and just thought I would share with you and give Jesus the glory of just really taking care of me while I have been overseas! :)
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