AHOY !

I'm writing this entry today as an official Junior Sailor.  This past week, our Kaleo group had the opportuntity to spend five days at sea, sailing on the beautiful Pacific Grace, through a program called SALTS (Skills and Life Training Society).  It is a 138 foot replica of a ship from the 1700s.  Some of the practical skills we learned were hoisting sails, tying knots, dropping the anchor, steering the ship, and of course waking up before the sun to swab the deck.  In the evenings we got together and as a group we had something called 'mug up'.  We played games and had worship and and were able to share in fellowship.  Our group was able to bond while working together to run the ship.  We were challenged on the first day to spend time being quiet, and to look for God during our experience.  We felt his power in the wind in the sails, and his presence as we sang worship at night.  

On one of our last nights, Jim, the Kaleo director challenged us to name each other.  The idea of this was similar to how Jesus named Peter.  Jim explained that the names we were inspired to give each other may not fit or feel right at the moment, but we should be encouraged to grow into them.  The name given to me was 'freedom'.  The word freedom hit home for me, as I feel like for a long I have lived safely and comfortably, but my hope is that I would step out this year and live freely in Christ.  I have been getting glimpses of freedom this week, and I can feel God moving in my heart, and challenging me.  Please pray that I would learn what it means to truly be dead myself, and living freely in Him.

The first picture is our group after 5 days at sea, the second is me after climbing to the top of the main beam- about 80 feet up, and the third is our beautiful boat, Grace.

In terms of my ministry at New Life church, this Friday I was able to go to a wave pool party at a pool in Duncan.  The invitation was extended to all the churches in the Cowichan Valley, and the turnout was remarkable- nearly 400 kids.  I feel that I have been able to connect with a couple girls from the youth group, however I have been feeling a little overwhelmed, in that there are over 90 kids at NLCBC youth.  Please pray that I would continue to connect with the kids, and my range of influence would broaden.  I am finding the teaching at New Life to be challenging and refreshing.  The community there is very welcoming, and my group was blessed to be invited to another family's house for lunch after church yesterday.  I was also able to take communion and receive prayer from some of the elders in the church.  

Many of you will be happy to know that I have officially started college classes.  My first class was today.  We are learning about spiritual formation, and our professor is Marv Penner.  This course is very personal, and we will be learning and discussing spiritual disciplines and how to apply them to our lives.

It's been an amazing week!

Thank you for all your prayers,

Much love,

Erin

4-1-1

Hey Guys !

I'll just take a moment to fill you in on what I've been up to since I've been here.  My Kaleo group consists of 27 amazing students from all over Canada and some from the states.  While we're here, we split our time between taking courses from Briercrest Bible College, being connected to ministry through a church/camp and the community, and hanging out and enjoying some pretty crazy adventures.  This week we spent 3 days hiking up Mt. Albert-Edward in Strathcona Park.  Our group split into 5 groups of 5-6 students and we climbed, cooked and lived together for three days.  On the second day of the trip, our 5 groups met up, and we hiked t

o the summit together.  Reaching the top of the mountain together was definitely a moving experience, filled with hugs, tears and the view was completely breathtaking.  We prayed together at the top of the mountain and our group made our way back down rejuvenated & refreshed, feeling able to take on anything.   .  

This is a picture of my wonderful group on the day we reached the summit !

This experience not only brought us closer together as a group, but it helped us to rely on each other and more importantly on God.  Other than a couple cases of beaver-fever, and some pretty bad blisters, we left Mt. Albert-Edward in high spirits and feeling unity within our group.

Since being here, we've had the opportunity to become involved in a church family.  I'm going to a church called New Life Community Baptist Church http://www.newlifechurch.bc.ca/.  It's one of the biggest churches in the Duncan (region surrounding Camp Qwanoes) area.  The congregation is about 600-700 people.  There are four pastors, one of them being Mark Buchanan, who is a well-known author.  The church is a lot bigger than I'm used to, and at the beginning I was intimidated by its size, but there is a real sense of community at New Life, and there is even a sign up sheet for families to have us over for lunch every single sunday after church!  There are 6 Kaleo Students doing ministry at New Life; please pray that we would be a blessing to the New Life community.

My role there will be in Youth Ministry.  On Friday night, I went to the kickoff youth event at New Life, called the Hunger.  There were over 90 youth there, between grades 7-12, and after watching the kids interact with each other and worship, it was clear that God is really moving in the hearts of these youth.  My role will be leading a 'connect' group, which is a group of 8 grade 7 boys and girls, in order to allow the kids to feel a sense of a smaller community within their large youth group.  My connect group is filled with 8 very energetic kids who all go to the same private Christian school.  Please pray that God would help me to connect with these youth and build strong relationships with them.  

Tomorrow morning my group is leaving for a 5-day sailing trip through a program called S.A.L.T.S.  through the channel.  That will be all for now !

Much Love,

ERIN 

Helloooo !!

Hey Everyone, 

Thanks so much for checking in on me !

The purpose of this blog is to keep you updated on what I'm doing, how I'm doing, and let you know about things I need prayer for.

The name of the blog comes from a song by David Crowder Band that I've been finding very relevant lately.  Part of the chorus says: 

Here it comes

A beautiful collision

Is happening now

There seems no end to where You begin

And there I am now

You and I

Collide

I'll be updating my blog 1-2 times a week, please continue to pray for me as I begin my ministry tomorrow, working at New Life Community Baptist Church in youth ministry.

Love Erin