Hey everyone!
Thanks for following me on this blog for so long, however, I have started a new blog which I think you all will enjoy! Check it out at www.brokenvesselmissions.blogspot.com
Monday, November 29, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
The Turn Around, Silly Bands, the Bounce House and People
Hey! I know it's been a long time since I've updated, but in all honesty, I haven't been very sure of what to say. I thought and prayed today about what God would have me to share, and two stories came to mind.
When I was sick a few weeks ago I wasn't allowed to do anything during performances but face paint. I was sort of bummed out because I loved it, but the good news was that it was fourth of July weekend, so the songs I had were able to be replaced by a patriotic song. God worked that detail out for us! He always has a plan. The next week, after that when I was allowed to perform again, we were headed to McDonald's and tempers were awful. Half our team was missing while we were setting up because of a miscommunication and we weren't able to do a full set list, yet God provided! HE wanted us to do the show right then and there even though we were stressing out. We looked at our set list s and figured out one complete set list out of the three and performed it with out a hitch! It was by far our best performance. This shocked me, mainly because of how the whole day had been and various other things that were going on. Yet, God was still faithful to His purpose in calling us there, which is to reach the lost and touch their lives.
Another little story happened I was face painting a few weeks before. We do FREE face painting and absolutely REFUSE to take donations. I face painted a little girl's face into a beautiful, glittery butterfly! Her mom asked a teammate of mine if donations were accepted, and of course they said no. About ten minutes later, the precious little girl came back with a silly band and said, "Here! Thank you for painting my face!" This may not mean that much to you guys, but it means so much to me. I was so shocked that she would come back just to say "thank you" to me for painting her face. I wear it everywhere now! I never take it off. It's a good reminder that while I'm here I need to have smile on my face, with out complaining on my lips, because I'm here to sacrifice everything for these people.
In a previous note, I told you all about the block party we did at the apartment complex. Well, we are also involved in another church's ministry: Roots Community Church. The pastor there is a very cool guy who reminds us constantly to focus on Christ being the center of our joy. We came to him a couple weeks into the trip and he said that we would be doing something for families around his church, like a VBS every thursday night and we would be performing and stuff like that. Then, the next week or so, we meet up again and he says that God had changed the plans a little. He told us about an article he'd just read in the news paper about the rate of homeless people in Orlando, or people who are struggeling so much that they have to live in hotels. A few weeks go by and we are sort of just waiting to figure out what were going to do, while in the mean time, on Thursday nights our team would go prayer walking with Pastor Jessie. Four weeks ago he said that we were going to throw a block party for this one hotel and we were going to have a bounce house and it was going to be alot of fun. So we travel an hour to get the bounce house and travel to the hotel in our hot van that had no air conditioning. When we get there, it's a bust because there's no electricity! So the next week we tried the same thing, but again... it was a bust. The next week, we decided to spend our whole Thursday prayer walking. It was a very cool day! We prayed about what to do for the hotel and we just bathed alot of things in prayer. Finally, in God's perfect timing we had the block party for the hotel! Everything went so smooth! We even had rain, but it didn't matter! I have never seen kids so happy. You could tell that these beautiful families had hardly anything, and the joy in there eyes by us playing with them and telling them how much Jesus loved them was amazing. God had a plan and worked everything in His timing.
One thing I've learned by being here is that my mission field are people. I know that sounds silly, but I guess before I'd just thought of them as things who were ignorant and rebellious. The truth is that my "mission field" is more than just a war zone. These people I come into contact with each and every day have a story, they have hurt, but most importantly-- they are like me: human-- also known as sinners. They are like me and they need just as much of a Savior as I do. They are more than numbers to report to other "Christians"... they are precious souls that God, my Father, loves. Don't get me wrong, before I had always known that people are important to God and that my purpose was to share the gospel with them. What I didn't realize before though was that they need more than to be faced with the saying "turn or burn!" Even though.. it is true... our motivation in sharing the gospel shouldn't be out of guilt because we haven't "lead any one to Christ in a while". Our motivation should be sharing the gospel out of love... true love for these people and for our Savior. We shouldn't be ashamed of saying the name of Jesus, because that name has POWER, but when we use His name to scare people into saying a prayer, we've done exactly the opposite of what is needed. Remember, your mission field as a Christian are PEOPLE... just like you.
I think alot of times why we get so nervous about sharing our faith is that as soon as we are faced with the reality of people being our mission field, we get intimidated and want to back out. Yet, when we sit back and feel guilty about not mentioning Christ we think "Ok! I will share my faith next time!" We try to forget that our mission field are real people who have stories. I guess, with all this being said, the whole point is that these people need more than to just be told the gospel and not be listened to. Our most important in witnessing is listening. God will open the doors to talk about Christ in our conversations one on one if you listen. It's a fact, the more you practice listening to people, TRUELY listening, the better you get at listening to God. Listening is more than soaking up facts about the person, it is truly keeping your mouth shut and being that love in the conversation. When given the oppurtunity to speak after listening to the person, make sure that your ears are still open to God and what He is telling you to say.
I hope all of that made sense, that just sort of hit me as I was typing. Well, not much longer now, and I'll be home. I don't want to leave, but I know my job here is almost done.
Agape,
Erica
When I was sick a few weeks ago I wasn't allowed to do anything during performances but face paint. I was sort of bummed out because I loved it, but the good news was that it was fourth of July weekend, so the songs I had were able to be replaced by a patriotic song. God worked that detail out for us! He always has a plan. The next week, after that when I was allowed to perform again, we were headed to McDonald's and tempers were awful. Half our team was missing while we were setting up because of a miscommunication and we weren't able to do a full set list, yet God provided! HE wanted us to do the show right then and there even though we were stressing out. We looked at our set list s and figured out one complete set list out of the three and performed it with out a hitch! It was by far our best performance. This shocked me, mainly because of how the whole day had been and various other things that were going on. Yet, God was still faithful to His purpose in calling us there, which is to reach the lost and touch their lives.
Another little story happened I was face painting a few weeks before. We do FREE face painting and absolutely REFUSE to take donations. I face painted a little girl's face into a beautiful, glittery butterfly! Her mom asked a teammate of mine if donations were accepted, and of course they said no. About ten minutes later, the precious little girl came back with a silly band and said, "Here! Thank you for painting my face!" This may not mean that much to you guys, but it means so much to me. I was so shocked that she would come back just to say "thank you" to me for painting her face. I wear it everywhere now! I never take it off. It's a good reminder that while I'm here I need to have smile on my face, with out complaining on my lips, because I'm here to sacrifice everything for these people.
In a previous note, I told you all about the block party we did at the apartment complex. Well, we are also involved in another church's ministry: Roots Community Church. The pastor there is a very cool guy who reminds us constantly to focus on Christ being the center of our joy. We came to him a couple weeks into the trip and he said that we would be doing something for families around his church, like a VBS every thursday night and we would be performing and stuff like that. Then, the next week or so, we meet up again and he says that God had changed the plans a little. He told us about an article he'd just read in the news paper about the rate of homeless people in Orlando, or people who are struggeling so much that they have to live in hotels. A few weeks go by and we are sort of just waiting to figure out what were going to do, while in the mean time, on Thursday nights our team would go prayer walking with Pastor Jessie. Four weeks ago he said that we were going to throw a block party for this one hotel and we were going to have a bounce house and it was going to be alot of fun. So we travel an hour to get the bounce house and travel to the hotel in our hot van that had no air conditioning. When we get there, it's a bust because there's no electricity! So the next week we tried the same thing, but again... it was a bust. The next week, we decided to spend our whole Thursday prayer walking. It was a very cool day! We prayed about what to do for the hotel and we just bathed alot of things in prayer. Finally, in God's perfect timing we had the block party for the hotel! Everything went so smooth! We even had rain, but it didn't matter! I have never seen kids so happy. You could tell that these beautiful families had hardly anything, and the joy in there eyes by us playing with them and telling them how much Jesus loved them was amazing. God had a plan and worked everything in His timing.
One thing I've learned by being here is that my mission field are people. I know that sounds silly, but I guess before I'd just thought of them as things who were ignorant and rebellious. The truth is that my "mission field" is more than just a war zone. These people I come into contact with each and every day have a story, they have hurt, but most importantly-- they are like me: human-- also known as sinners. They are like me and they need just as much of a Savior as I do. They are more than numbers to report to other "Christians"... they are precious souls that God, my Father, loves. Don't get me wrong, before I had always known that people are important to God and that my purpose was to share the gospel with them. What I didn't realize before though was that they need more than to be faced with the saying "turn or burn!" Even though.. it is true... our motivation in sharing the gospel shouldn't be out of guilt because we haven't "lead any one to Christ in a while". Our motivation should be sharing the gospel out of love... true love for these people and for our Savior. We shouldn't be ashamed of saying the name of Jesus, because that name has POWER, but when we use His name to scare people into saying a prayer, we've done exactly the opposite of what is needed. Remember, your mission field as a Christian are PEOPLE... just like you.
I think alot of times why we get so nervous about sharing our faith is that as soon as we are faced with the reality of people being our mission field, we get intimidated and want to back out. Yet, when we sit back and feel guilty about not mentioning Christ we think "Ok! I will share my faith next time!" We try to forget that our mission field are real people who have stories. I guess, with all this being said, the whole point is that these people need more than to just be told the gospel and not be listened to. Our most important in witnessing is listening. God will open the doors to talk about Christ in our conversations one on one if you listen. It's a fact, the more you practice listening to people, TRUELY listening, the better you get at listening to God. Listening is more than soaking up facts about the person, it is truly keeping your mouth shut and being that love in the conversation. When given the oppurtunity to speak after listening to the person, make sure that your ears are still open to God and what He is telling you to say.
I hope all of that made sense, that just sort of hit me as I was typing. Well, not much longer now, and I'll be home. I don't want to leave, but I know my job here is almost done.
Agape,
Erica
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Update
I spent most of yesterday in the doc's office and the ER. Found out that more than likely it's plurousy: inflamation and spasms of the muscle and cartalage around the heart, lung, and sternum which has been causing the heart palpitations and what not. So, not life threatening but very painful. My blood pressure still stays pretty high, but not a big deal at all. In fact, I am SO THANKFUL that this isn't worse. God truely has His hand on me! So, I am resting and staying on Motrin until the inflamation goes down and I am back to normal.
Thanks for your prayers!
In agape,
Erica
Thanks for your prayers!
In agape,
Erica
Monday, June 28, 2010
Here and There
Things have been going very well here in Orlando. Kids Clubs are AWESOME! So far we have had five salvations in them! Along in our ministries here, we did a block party a few weeks ago at a very poor apartment complex. I was able to speak to a few Spanish families and was able to invite them to it. We did face painting, balloon animals, popcorn and other things. We had two salvations there! I don't recall if I've mentioned our first prayer walking experience where another soul was one and we'd only been here three days! God is so good!
I'm not gonna lie, meeting all of these people at our performances and in Kids Club from ALL OVER THE GLOBE is still awesome. Like I've said before, it's almost like being an international missionary with out leaving the states.
Our team worship services are still great. We washed each other's feet about two weeks ago. Things are still rough, but I am praying that God will humble each one of us continually. I pray that we will daily wash each other's feet. Not physically of course, but in the little things we do for each other. If Jesus, our King washed sinners' feet, I think we can wash each others' feet.
I am really excited about doing more and more ministry with the people who have nothing. We've seen a little of that here, and we've even experienced people who in actuality don't need what they ask for. One lesson I've learned is from the cutest girl here. Her name is Allie. She said something one time that has stuck with me. We were giving our lunches to a couple who held up a sign saying that they had nothing and were living in a tent. We pulled off into a parking lot because a few of my team wanted to go and pray with the two while the rest of us stayed back and prayed for them back at the van. Before the three who were going to talk and pray with the couple left us, Allie held out a twenty dollar bill and said, "God doesn't say who to give to, he just says give." That was the second week we were here, but it still touches me.
Orlando is alot different than I expected, but I've learned alot from observing. I have learned alot about listening to others and in return listening to God. It has been reinforced that to be heard, one must refrain from speaking unless necessary. God doesn't want your mouth to move with out Him being behind your words.
A strange thing has happened and I'm not sure quite what it is. My chest has been bothering me. It feels like my heart is continually racing and has been this way for a few days. It has lessoned and has become less frequent. I am not exactly sure of the cause, but I am hoping that slowly and surely it will pass. Maybe it's anxiety... maybe it's a mild case of arrhythmia that is aroused by caffeine. (Which, in all actuality I need to stop drinking completely.) Or possibly, a little bit of both. I mention this just to ask for prayer. I know God has a plan for me here, but whatever this is is kind of annoying and restricting. Please, please pray for me. Today was much better, but all of a sudden within the past two hours it has come again.
What ever it is, I know God is taking care of me and He is with me through all of this. I hope and pray it is nothing but caffeine making my blood pressure freak out.
One more thing before I go! Please be in prayer for my best friend Hunter Williams who is going to India in a few weeks on a mission trip. Pray for the precious people there and for the team he will be with. Pray for their safety, but most importantly pray for God's Holy Spirit to work in mighty ways there.
All my agape,
Erica :)
I'm not gonna lie, meeting all of these people at our performances and in Kids Club from ALL OVER THE GLOBE is still awesome. Like I've said before, it's almost like being an international missionary with out leaving the states.
Our team worship services are still great. We washed each other's feet about two weeks ago. Things are still rough, but I am praying that God will humble each one of us continually. I pray that we will daily wash each other's feet. Not physically of course, but in the little things we do for each other. If Jesus, our King washed sinners' feet, I think we can wash each others' feet.
I am really excited about doing more and more ministry with the people who have nothing. We've seen a little of that here, and we've even experienced people who in actuality don't need what they ask for. One lesson I've learned is from the cutest girl here. Her name is Allie. She said something one time that has stuck with me. We were giving our lunches to a couple who held up a sign saying that they had nothing and were living in a tent. We pulled off into a parking lot because a few of my team wanted to go and pray with the two while the rest of us stayed back and prayed for them back at the van. Before the three who were going to talk and pray with the couple left us, Allie held out a twenty dollar bill and said, "God doesn't say who to give to, he just says give." That was the second week we were here, but it still touches me.
Orlando is alot different than I expected, but I've learned alot from observing. I have learned alot about listening to others and in return listening to God. It has been reinforced that to be heard, one must refrain from speaking unless necessary. God doesn't want your mouth to move with out Him being behind your words.
A strange thing has happened and I'm not sure quite what it is. My chest has been bothering me. It feels like my heart is continually racing and has been this way for a few days. It has lessoned and has become less frequent. I am not exactly sure of the cause, but I am hoping that slowly and surely it will pass. Maybe it's anxiety... maybe it's a mild case of arrhythmia that is aroused by caffeine. (Which, in all actuality I need to stop drinking completely.) Or possibly, a little bit of both. I mention this just to ask for prayer. I know God has a plan for me here, but whatever this is is kind of annoying and restricting. Please, please pray for me. Today was much better, but all of a sudden within the past two hours it has come again.
What ever it is, I know God is taking care of me and He is with me through all of this. I hope and pray it is nothing but caffeine making my blood pressure freak out.
One more thing before I go! Please be in prayer for my best friend Hunter Williams who is going to India in a few weeks on a mission trip. Pray for the precious people there and for the team he will be with. Pray for their safety, but most importantly pray for God's Holy Spirit to work in mighty ways there.
All my agape,
Erica :)
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
2 and a half weeks later
First and foremost, I would like to appolagize for not updating as regularly as I'd hoped to do. So, this is just a note to catch you all up.
So, my very first flight was awesome! I loved it.
When I got into Orlando and arrived at Full Gospel Bible Camp where I will be living all summer, we found out some smelly news.Our water is sulfuric water. It smells like roten eggs. Not to mention, one of my team members, Mandie is allergic to sulfur. The first four days I was in Orlando, we went through training and three diferent orientations, in which I learned alot. I learned alot about working as a missionary. I learned about my team and the people I will be working with. We went to downtown Disney and did a scavenger hunt. MY TEAM WON!!! In the GOBA orientation we learned how to face paint and how to do balloon animals.
After Orientation is when Satan started attacking me personally. I immediately fell in love with my whole team. They were so awesome and I love each and every single on of them. Yet, even though I love them, I felt alone. I felt like I was unqualified for being in the CA team. I felt like maybe God had made a mistake of telling me to come to Orlando. I don't have an amazing voice, and I'm NOT the best actor. I was unsure of what my role was. I cried a few times. I won't lie. But, I prayed and got into the word, and God reminded me that He as a purpose for me here and that I have a role to fill. He doesn't make mistakes. So, He reminded me to be the encourager, to do my VERY BEST, and to love on my team. Even through the drama that arrises. He's reminded me to bathe everything in prayer.
Another thing God really spoke to me about, is about joy. Where have I been putting my joy. What is joy? Joy: unchanging with circumstance; not to be confused with happines which is merely circumstancial. When you put joy in things that will let you down, then you will have no joy. Even Christianity. When you put your joy in the One who will never change, never let you down, then you are fullfilled in your purpose.
God is so good! He's been with me every step of the way. So far, we've seen eight salvations! Even though Satan is visciously attacking us, I know God will help us persevere. Keep us in your prayers.
All my love, Erica :)
So, my very first flight was awesome! I loved it.
When I got into Orlando and arrived at Full Gospel Bible Camp where I will be living all summer, we found out some smelly news.Our water is sulfuric water. It smells like roten eggs. Not to mention, one of my team members, Mandie is allergic to sulfur. The first four days I was in Orlando, we went through training and three diferent orientations, in which I learned alot. I learned alot about working as a missionary. I learned about my team and the people I will be working with. We went to downtown Disney and did a scavenger hunt. MY TEAM WON!!! In the GOBA orientation we learned how to face paint and how to do balloon animals.
After Orientation is when Satan started attacking me personally. I immediately fell in love with my whole team. They were so awesome and I love each and every single on of them. Yet, even though I love them, I felt alone. I felt like I was unqualified for being in the CA team. I felt like maybe God had made a mistake of telling me to come to Orlando. I don't have an amazing voice, and I'm NOT the best actor. I was unsure of what my role was. I cried a few times. I won't lie. But, I prayed and got into the word, and God reminded me that He as a purpose for me here and that I have a role to fill. He doesn't make mistakes. So, He reminded me to be the encourager, to do my VERY BEST, and to love on my team. Even through the drama that arrises. He's reminded me to bathe everything in prayer.
Another thing God really spoke to me about, is about joy. Where have I been putting my joy. What is joy? Joy: unchanging with circumstance; not to be confused with happines which is merely circumstancial. When you put joy in things that will let you down, then you will have no joy. Even Christianity. When you put your joy in the One who will never change, never let you down, then you are fullfilled in your purpose.
God is so good! He's been with me every step of the way. So far, we've seen eight salvations! Even though Satan is visciously attacking us, I know God will help us persevere. Keep us in your prayers.
All my love, Erica :)
Monday, May 24, 2010
2 Days
Hey guys!
So last night was my graduation party/ going away party! I said good bye to some of the most awesome people that I love very much! Therefore, most of the hard stuff is over. Now all I have to do is clean up the house and pack for ORLANDO!! I've got everything I need and I am ready to hit up Orlando with the gospel.
What I need from you guys is PRAYER! and lots of it PLEASE! I KNOW God has a huge summer planned for me! I am so excited to see His will come into action, but I want you guys to be a part of it.
Please pray:
1. That God will soften people's hearts for His awesome salvation and that that their hearts will be ready for His word.
2. That my AMAZING team and I will grow closer to each other and to the Lord. That we will put God before each other and each other before ourselves.
3. That my heart and the hearts of my teammates will be soft and open to how God will mold us.
Thank you for all you prayers and love! I am excited about this summer! Keep watching for more updates!
All my love,
Erica
So last night was my graduation party/ going away party! I said good bye to some of the most awesome people that I love very much! Therefore, most of the hard stuff is over. Now all I have to do is clean up the house and pack for ORLANDO!! I've got everything I need and I am ready to hit up Orlando with the gospel.
What I need from you guys is PRAYER! and lots of it PLEASE! I KNOW God has a huge summer planned for me! I am so excited to see His will come into action, but I want you guys to be a part of it.
Please pray:
1. That God will soften people's hearts for His awesome salvation and that that their hearts will be ready for His word.
2. That my AMAZING team and I will grow closer to each other and to the Lord. That we will put God before each other and each other before ourselves.
3. That my heart and the hearts of my teammates will be soft and open to how God will mold us.
Thank you for all you prayers and love! I am excited about this summer! Keep watching for more updates!
All my love,
Erica
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
1 Week and Counting
Wow! In just one week, I will be on my way to Orlando, Florida! Home of the one and only Mickey Mouse! Yet, I am not going there for dear Mickey. No, there is a greater purpose involved. A purpose that I have yet to fully understand yet.
God has called me to Orlando to reach the lost! I will be serving as a missionary there from May 26th to August 4th! Words cannot express how excited and nervous I am. However, I am trusting God! He has put me in this assignment for His reason-- this is all part of the journey to my real Home (Heaven).
My hopes for this summer is to see people saved! I also hope to grow DEEPER in my walk with the Lord and in my love for Him and others. I also want to grow in giving of everything I have and everything I am. I want Him to mold me into the woman He wants me to be.
So... what will I be doing this summer?
I am a sojourner missionary with NAMB (North American Mission Board), who assgined me to work with GOBA (Greater Orlando Baptist Association). I will be on a team of about 17 people, who are divided into four smaller groups. The group I am with is the Creative Arts Team. What I will be doing is performing all summer: singing, dancing, and kid's puppet shows. I will probably be leading worship at different churches each Sunday. Also, I will be doing a very cool version of VBS! (It's in a pool!!) So, I will come into contact with very, very many different types of people. The awesome thing is, that with every person I meet, God gives me an oppurtunity! If a person knows Him already, I am given the oppurtunity to serve and encourage them! If I meet a lost person, then I can share the gospel with them and tell about how great He is!
Now, for the hard part:
I won't lie. Leaving my family and friends for the summer will be very hard, but I KNOW that God has a great purpose this summer. One thing God has been showing me this year is that He is all I need. So, through all my doubts, my fears, and the trials I will face this summer, I know that if I stay focused on HIM, then I will never lose my purpose because He IS MY PURPOSE and He will never leave me.
Psalm 25:15
God has called me to Orlando to reach the lost! I will be serving as a missionary there from May 26th to August 4th! Words cannot express how excited and nervous I am. However, I am trusting God! He has put me in this assignment for His reason-- this is all part of the journey to my real Home (Heaven).
My hopes for this summer is to see people saved! I also hope to grow DEEPER in my walk with the Lord and in my love for Him and others. I also want to grow in giving of everything I have and everything I am. I want Him to mold me into the woman He wants me to be.
So... what will I be doing this summer?
I am a sojourner missionary with NAMB (North American Mission Board), who assgined me to work with GOBA (Greater Orlando Baptist Association). I will be on a team of about 17 people, who are divided into four smaller groups. The group I am with is the Creative Arts Team. What I will be doing is performing all summer: singing, dancing, and kid's puppet shows. I will probably be leading worship at different churches each Sunday. Also, I will be doing a very cool version of VBS! (It's in a pool!!) So, I will come into contact with very, very many different types of people. The awesome thing is, that with every person I meet, God gives me an oppurtunity! If a person knows Him already, I am given the oppurtunity to serve and encourage them! If I meet a lost person, then I can share the gospel with them and tell about how great He is!
Now, for the hard part:
I won't lie. Leaving my family and friends for the summer will be very hard, but I KNOW that God has a great purpose this summer. One thing God has been showing me this year is that He is all I need. So, through all my doubts, my fears, and the trials I will face this summer, I know that if I stay focused on HIM, then I will never lose my purpose because He IS MY PURPOSE and He will never leave me.
Psalm 25:15
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