Heeeey!

It has been another great week here.  We are once again in a full week of class, Hermeneutics and Professor Merrill Dyck is here from Briercrest.  This past week was spent mostly around camp, and doing homework.  On Wednesday we had the opportunity to go back to the S.A.L.T.S tall ship we stayed on in September and help them to winterize the boat.  We spent most of the day sanding and varnishing the boat to get it ready for winter.  Over all it was a very fun day and it was great to have a chance to see the crew of the ship again.

This week, in my ministry at New Life youth group, we hosted a spag

hetti dinner and auction for the entire congregation.  Needless to say it was a very long and hectic night, and our youth group raised nearly $6000.  It was really cool to see the youth working together under a lot of pressure in order to pull off such a successful night.  I am really getting to know some of the older girls in the youth group, and some of them are feeling comfortable enough with me to confide in me about their lives and some of their stories.  My eyes have really been opened to the Cowichan Valley and the brokenness within it.  I feel that God is has given me a passion for teen girls in these situations, and I pray that God will continue to use me in the lives of these girls.  I'm learning a lot from my involvement at New Life, and God is really softening my heart and refining me as a leader in the youth group.

This upcoming week will be spent immersed in hermeneutics, and Friday night at youth group I will be helping out with the halloween event, "Trunk or Treat".

Please pray for my involvem

ent at my ministry, that God would use me to continue to build trusting relationships with the youth, and please pray for us as students that we would really delve into scripture this week, and get the most out of homework.

Many blessings,

LOVE ERIN   

the latest...

Hey guys !

Well it has definately been an interesting week here.

It's crazy to think that we've been here for nearly 6 weeks.  I have been feeling nothing but the overwhelming support and encouragement from our community in the last week, and I feel so blessed to have a glimpse of what God intends for the body of Christ here on earth.  

This week we split into boys and girls and had overnights.  While the boys went to JimBad's house barbequed steak, and played video games, our group of girls drove to Nanaimo and stayed at a beautiful beachfront property, where we shared in fellowship.  We began the night with Indian food and ice cream, and by the end of the night we were able to open up with each other and share in our struggles.  Being in this environment built me up in a very constructive way, and I was able to open up to the group in a way I hadn't been comfortable before, and share vulnerabilities I would normally not be prepared to.  It is clear to me that God is breaking down walls I have spent my life building up, and my heart is in a very real and raw place right now.  Please pray for protection as God is moving in my life, that our group would continue to be authentic with each other, and that God would continue to break down walls.

This week at my church our youth group had a monthly event called 'The Hunger'.  There were over 150 youth who showed up, and it was the biggest turnout this church has ever had.  The night began with singing some secular music, and then a speaker came up talking about how God meets us in our brokenness.  Many of the kids who showed up have never been to church before and are seeking.  Please pray that what happened at New Life would resinate with them, and they would continue to seek.  On a personal note, I was able to really connect with a few of the youth on Friday, and I am becoming more aware of the hurt being experienced by the community of the Cowichan Valley.  On Sunday we were invited to Pastor Mark's house for lunch, and we were blessed to share in fellowship with his family.  He has been challenging me personally with his speaking, and it is great to see how he lives out what he speaks on.  

On a personal note, school is really picking up and I am feeling the pressure of deadlines, and struggling with balancing schoolwork with social things, as there is always something fun and exciting going on here!  

Thank you for your prayers!

LOVE ERIN

ahh !

hello !

I'll start off by letting you know that this week I learned to surf !

Our group traveled to Tofino for 3 days where we camped out by night and surfed by day.  After  being smashed around by the waves a

nd inhaling litres of salt water, I was able to get up on the board and the feeling was unbelievable !

Alivia, Daneille and I.

Our group at the very beginning.

Our group dynamics have begun to change, and we've been becoming a lot closer.  In our chapel, we have started to share our testimonies with each other, and our relationships with each other are becoming much more than surface level, and I am finding that our community is a very safe place to be open with each other and share God has been laying on our hearts.

This week at my church ministry I was involved in jr. youth group.  The theme was "stone soup" and every child was asked to arrive at church with a vegetable.  We made a soup from scratch and froze it to send to the homeless shelter.  After we made the soup, I was able to lead a 'connect group'.  The kids are really opening up to me, and I am feeling a lot more comfortable in my role in the youth group.  I have also had the opportunity to connect with a few of the older girls in the group.  I'm feeling very encouraged about the year at New Life, and I appreciate all of your prayers.  

Please pray that our group would continue to grow with each other and be stretched beyond our comfort levels.

Much love !

Erin 

hey there !

Many of you will be happy to know that I have completed my first official week of college class.  Marv Penner was here from Briercrest for the week, and we were immersed in the study of spiritual formation.  We learned about and were able to try a whole bunch of spiritual disciplines that I had never done before, such as Lectio Divina, and meditation.  Our final task on the last day was to spend 2 hours with God, using any of the disciplines we had talked about.  It was definitely a great way to conclude our course with Marv, and I was able to really experience Gods presence.

I am definitely feeling more and more connected to New Life these days.  The sense of community there really is amazing, and I've been blessed to be able to get to know a many more of the congregation.  This week, at youth group we had a games night.  It was just the grade 7 and 8s, and there were about 50 of them.  I was able to meet quite a few of the kids, but I was also noticed some bullying and kids not being accepted into the youth group.  I was also able to connect with one of the youth in the church, and I realized the broken homes that so many of these children come from.  It was an eye-opening night for me, and I feel like I am more aware of the needs of this youth group.  Please pray that I would continue to connect and build relationships with the youth at New Life and I would become more comfortable in my role in the church.  

Love,

Erin