check out my new blog...way more interesting ;-)

http://erins-thoughts-on-life.blogspot.com/ 

So I discovered that I am very bad at blogging consistently.  This is a cool thing though, and I may keep it up, and share it with my campers and such things.  Its a cool way to share what God is doing in my life.  

So, pretty much the coolest things happened last night in my advising.  I have really gotten so much closer to God through my struggles with loneliness, and it has not been a blessing in my life per say, but it has been a huge learning experience.  I prayed that God would give me a good advising, a student that I could really connect to, and hopefully be used by God to make a difference.  So I noticed this girl that I had met one day at lunch.  She was really really shy, and wasn't feeling well that day, so all I really got out of her was her name.  I saw her come up though, when Clayton spoke on passion.  When she was talking to me, she began to really open up, after I led her into talking, and told me that she had really been struggling with her friends making fun of her, and being lonely, and being afraid to share her emotions.  

It was truly the Holy Spirit speaking through me to her, and I was able to really encourage her I think, and share with her what we have in common, and give her some real life advice.  I was even able to use a verse that is from 1 John, which I have been reading...thanks Heather Stafford.   

It was just such a cool God moment.  Then we had our meeting, and took some pictures of the girl staff, and the guys did some weird initiation thing apparently involving Gold Bond.  Then we went and talked to the girls on my hall, and were able to really share with them and poor into their lives, and their chaperones were really really encouraging for me and Heather.  They were an all black group, and they said that at first it was weird, and a little uncomfortable being some of the only black people at the camp, but once me and Heather started to hang with them that they fealt alot better about the camp, and were really able to learn ALOT.  I know a lot of the girls in this group are not Christians, but that they really got a lot out of camp this week.  Please keep them in your prayers.  

I am also really praying about India.  I don't know if I am really meant to go.  I really really want to, but my dad is really not comfortable with it, and my teachers are not responding, and its just stressful and hard.  So please keep that in your prayers.  

I think I may keep this up, even as summer ends, and just write about what God is doing in my life, so keep checking back11   

Fun Weekend

So this week was really great! We had an amazing Chinese church on our hall, and they taught me so much about asian culture.  I learned how to say some things, and to right some semblance of my name in chinese which was pretty awesome.  I also got to talk alot to their chaperones who were around my age, just a little older.  They told me what it was like to study abroad, and said that it was hard, but still really really cool.  Just talking to them was really fun.  

This weekend has been really great.  The left out feelings in the staff are pretty much gone, and I am beginning to love it here, and I feel like its already starting to end.  I'm happy to get back home and see my family and friends and George, but I just feel like just as I'm starting to love it here, it is coming to an end.  

Any way, last night we went to greenville.  I have never really walked about the city, and it was so wonderful.  We went to this amazing park will waterfalls and a suspension bridge, and alot of other really cool stuff.  There was even a play going on.  We ate dinner at a hibachi grill, and I tried sushi for the first time-I had white tune, which is raw white tuna with rice, and it was AMAZING! I loved it.  

Then we walked around the town, and met this street raper who raped while a guy on staff who just happens to be the #2 beat boxer in the world, laid down a beat.  It was all very fun.  One of the staff is going to be a youth pastor at a church there when camp is over, and we got to see his church.  Then on the way home, me and 2 other girls and one guy had some amazing conversation about the amazing things God is doing here, and how beyond awesome it is that He is using us.  

Then this morning meagan sauceman and I went to Clayton and Charie King's house to help set up for the brunch.  Their house is beyond amazing.  There is like 107 acres, and they have about a million bedrooms, no they really only have 5, and its so cool because they built their house so they could have people live with them.  Awesome! 

There is alot more awesome stuff that happened so far, but ill write later...

thanks again for the prayers, and keep them up

seeeeeya

Rain and Joy

So today was an AMAZING day! It funny what a small change in attitude can do for a day.  Worship was really fun today.  The light team is really getting together and in sync.  We were having fun on the headset while the camp director was being silly on stage.  Just joking around, which was fun.  And then I took a nap, and went to lunch for like 10 min, then went and did some water balloons for my activity, and then came back for a meeting, where I learned how to use mac presenter (PowerPoint for mac).  Then I got to hang out in the rain and tornado force winds. 

It was just great to worry about God and making a difference for Him, other than how popular I am.  Its just SOO petty, and God really really convicted me of that.  I am here for Him, and He is doing great things in me.  

I got to work with a group from Kentucky today, and they did Dear Edwina at their school, which was so random, because honors pro did it like 2 years ago...so cool :-) they made me feel great about Theatre, but I am still struggling between high school and middle school, and we will see where God sends me, I am just waiting for the call!

Thanks for the prayers guys, and please pray for my roommate.  She has a stomach infection, and it is getting in the way of her summer, and i know its really hard for her, so just keep her in your prayers. 

peace out

Learning sometimes gets you down

So today was a little hard.  I have been feeling a little lonely up here.  I don't really know why, but it just kinda feels like everyone here has a great friend, and I don't really have anyone.  Everyone keeps saying that we have so much unity, but I have just been having trouble feeling it.  Well tonight really helped that out.  We had a staff prayer time, which was amazing, just to see people share things that are SO hard, and here I am complaining that I'm not the center of attention-that was more than a little humbling, gotta be honest.  Then we all went to the quad and hung out.  On the way there I was able to talk to Anna, who I miss SOO much, and just share with her what is going on, and cry a little, which for some reason always makes it a little easier.  I also got to hear what is on, and be there for her.  I love that girl ;-)  Talking to her helped me realize that there is nothing wrong with me, (except(according to dave) that I am a little socially awkward;-D) and that I am not here to make friends.  I hope that that is one thing I gain, but I am here to serve God by serving teenagers, and loving them.  This camp is NOT for me, so I need to kill the pity party I am having and just serve God.  I like that I am learning alot though...its kinda cool ;-)

And in other news, today I was sitting at lunch with some middle school guys who I had had breakfast with, and btw they are helping to solidify my feeling that I will be working with middle schoolers for the rest of my life, and one of them goes-I feel the need to remind you they are boys-"I wish you were our councilor (i.e. I lived on their floor and shared a bathroom and other gross things)" and it was very very funny :-) 

So thats what I have learned so far, and its only tuesday

Keep the prayers going, they are incredibly appreciated-three in particular-One staffers brother lost his job...one staffer has broken her foot, sprained her ankle and torn some ligaments, which is a big deal for someone who does NOT like to sit down, or stop going, and a third staffer is going to get some blood work done this weekend for a preexisting condition that is giving her trouble...just keep us all in your prayers this week :-)

Fantastic Firsts

So this first week might have been the most amazing week of my life! I mean there are others that come close, but that really doesn't matter...

So, so awesome things that happened: 

I discovered some hidden talent I have for light design...its not the best, but I do it on the spot, so I feel like its pretty cool

I got to see 30 people come to know the Lord the very first night of camp

I got to hang out with some amazing girls, who love the Lord, watch one of them come to Christ, and another get called to the ministry.

I was blessed with 5 chaperones on my hall who love the Lord with all of their heart, and care to know end about the girls at their Church.  One is about 60, and came because her grandson came.  She was an amazing, Godly woman who was never afraid to share her heart.  She has been married for over 40 years, and is still just as in love with her husband as she ever was.  She was so passionate, and full of Joy, and she hiked up a 45 min hike on a real live mountian, which blew my mind.

The other was a mother, about 40 who was diagnosed 6 years ago with parkinson's disease.  She is such a beautiful woman, and crazy and spontaneous and full of joi de vivre.  She even played in a three on three tournament with 2 other mothers against teenagers! She really blessed my heart this week

I got to hang out with tons of teenagers, and watch them go through our team challenge course.  I got to see them step up and be leaders, and also learn to be followers! It was beautiful!

I got to talk with a girl who just finished her sophomore year at Southeastern about her call to ministry, and how even though she doesn't know where God is leading her, she still is running after him!

I realized that if I am called to be a ministers wife, there is alot more to that then just getting married to the pastor;-)  This is my big thing that I learned this week-it has been on my heart all week, and as we were talking in our dorm last night with campers, and all of them were sharing their hearts, one girl said something along the lines of "i am realizing that I have to fully surrender to God," and it finally clicked as to what God was teaching me.  To answer His call I have to give up my earthly desires, even the unselfish ones, and follow what God has planned for my life.  I am completely surrendered to Him, and I will go where ever He sends me.  This was such an amazing revelation, and it proves that I am no where close to "better" or "more spiritual" than the campers here, and they can teach and bless me just as much or more than I can to them.  It is AWESOME!!!

I also am about 85 % sure I am going to India over christmas break! Whoo

Keep me and all of the other staff in your prayers this week, especially Lori Butler, who has a cold/some other kind or sickness, and also pray for the campers that will be arriving on Sunday and Monday!

I'm out!

tee shirts, lights, and some more fun times

Sooo yesterday was a pretty cool day:-) We did Alter Call training, which makes me really nervous, like to lead someone to Christ is sooo scary, but I know He will totally come through.  One cool thing though: all the staff has to do these little interviews about how/ when we became a Christian.  I did mine, and honestly it was really good, but its so cool because I am such a terrible "public speaker", but I have discovered that anytime I am talkin about God it tends to get alot better ;-) so its such a God thing, and other people who have noticed I have told them that.  But another thing, I am SOO excited about the AV crew.  I learned a little with cameras today, but I basically get to do lights-not just run, but design, and some of them are like the new cool lights, and they strobe and dance and it is quite cool, I must say! 

Then last night, all the girls got together and made some pretty cool tee shirts, and just hung out which was really really fun.  Then today we went to church, which was great, then they gave us lunch, and sooo yeah ok, I am gettting distracted so thats about it.   

*happy sigh* Good day

So today was pretty much fantastic.  We got trained for registration, which was like a ten min speech about hanging out with campers while their youth pastors get signed in.  Then we met with our chore leader-again, I dont think its really fair that i get to do AV stuff as a chore...its just fun...anyway, I will probably be doing lights all summer, just because I have done it before, and somewhat understand what the deal with it is.  I'll probably be able to do some camera work too which will be AWESOME!!! 

uhhh then we did lunch w our groups...Team Challenge Course aka TCC.... then we went to set up.  That was fun, just to like know exactly what I am doing- there are five different challenges- a frame(3 boards in an "a" with ropes attached, and you have to walk with it) the bull ring( a ring with strings, you have to balance a water balloon/tennis ball) a circle of death(you have to get a bucket of water out w/o touching inside the circle) a teeter totter( balance the whole team) and a zip line (get balloons from the top to the people on the ground) its pretty amazing...then we went to italian garden for dinner, which was pretty cool, then to worship, where clayton taught about true, biblical hospitality, and we sang and worshiped God, then to see walle, the new pixar movie...it was really great, but just a little long for my taste, and now I am going to bed! whoo great day

Prayer stuff-sleep, that I would open up, which God has given me great strength in, but I could always use alot more, my humility, and just for the teenagers that will be here Monday!!!

GOOD NIGHT!!!!

First Day

So this will be real short cause its late and im tired.  I got really lost on the way here and drove around Boiling Springs for uhh 30 min looking for the office, and I had been heading in the right direction the whole time, but what can you do?? Any way we took a tour of the campus, then went to dinner at Chikfila.  A few people (4 cars i think) got in a wreck on the way back, and one car may be totaled.  We then had a 2 hr meeting about camp like stuff (there really is no way else to describe it) then went and played some ultimate frisbee, which I learned to do-that was an adventuree, but it was SOOO fun.  I feel like I will be engaging in that alot more in the fall ;-).  Then tonight all the girls hung out, talked about ourselves, which is always so wierd.  Overall it was an AWESOME day??

Summer Time and the living is...well... A little boring

Everyone else has a blog this summer, so I figured I would get one.  Although I will not be leaving for my summer adventure until the end of June, I decided to go ahead and make mine...to jump on the band-wagon I guess...

A little info on my summer...

 June will consist of me working at the LLC, a day camp/care here in Ltown.  Basically its a daycare.  The kids get there at 730 ish and leave at 6.  I will be working the early shift all summer, 730-330 ish.  So it will be an early start all summer.  I love this job because these kids really truly look up to us councilors and its really cool to know that I am making an impact on their lives.  

I wont be making too many entrees about that, except to show how God is working.  I really think that He wants me to minister more to my co-workers than to the kids at this camp.  I just want to make friends with them, and to show them Gods love! Its been a little hard starting out because the ones I am working with until school gets out have been working together since august, so they are all really close, and its gonna take a while to get into that group, but I know that this is absolutely where God wants me to be, and its not easy but it will be great!!

In July, I will be at a camp called Crossroads!!!!  (I am really REALLY excited!)It is a youth camp held at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC.  I will be working with middle and high schoolers from around the US, most from North and South Carolina, I think.  I have never been to the camp before, so I cant say exactly what I will be doing, but this is what  I know.    

I will be in an "RA" type position, where my roommate, Heather, and I will have a hall of girls, probably all from the same church, or maybe 2 different churches.  We will be hanging with them throughout the week, especially at night.  

During the day, I will be leading the "team challenge" activity.  Its like team building games.  Each kid picks their own activity each day, so I will be with different kids everyday during that.  I will also be helping with the "AV" stuff during worship, which should be really cool, especially with the stuff I have learned at school ;-) yay education in action 

so that is my summer.  I will be updating randomly...

check back for more news!!!