JANUARY
“May this hope that reaches to the depths of human need be the song that I sing in joy and suffering.” -Faithful God by Laura Story Aloha friends + family! HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2012 is here, and the first month is already nearing its end. I am amazed at how time has seem to have flown by. It is my hope that in this year, you are able to have wonderful adventures that challenge you to grow immensely, live joyfully, love deeper, and lean on the Lord all the more! I really want to just tell you thank you. Whether I’ve known you throughout most my life, or just a few short months thank you for your friendship. Thank you for being on this journey, and sharing
2012
UPDATE
your life with me! I am truly grateful. :) Last year was a memorable one for sure, and I would like to share with you some highlights! In February, I was officially accepted to the YWAM PhotogenX Discipleship Training School (DTS). I then spent the next two months busy with preparations. On April 7, I took my first step onto Hawaiian soil and began a life-changing journey. My school had about 50 students and 9 staff all of them were so amazing! The lecture phase lasted until the end of June, and was filled with encounters with the Lord, many speakers pouring into our lives, community outreaches (mine was homeless feeding), worship, prayer, experiencing true freedom, and learning of God’s character and how to take the good news to the nations, tears, extreme laughter, several island excursions, and deep talks with
friends. What an incredible time it was. I then headed off to Mozambique, Africa with 8 other women until late September. We visited three bases and worked with Heidi Baker’s Iris Ministries. To get a more in depth view of my whole DTS experience, you can visit my previous newsletter HERE . Widows, orphans, children in the hospital, and families in the village blessed me greatly. The way these
Check out updates and posts on my blog! http://travelthenew.tumblr.com/ Email: visiblemusings@live.com Phone: 540.533.3797. Address: COMING SOON!
Mozambicans expressed joy, love, and strength amidst such strenuous conditions was truly remarkable. I loved Africa and most definitely hope to be back many more times! At the end of September, all outreach teams gathered back in Kona, Hawaii for a week of debrief and graduation. I flew home on the 25th to a completely new home - West Melbourne, FL (my family relocated from VA while I was gone) and 10 days later went to Japan for 3 weeks with my family. It was such a wonderful time to have all of my mom’s family together in celebration of my grandmother’s 70th birthday! Japan too holds a huge place in my heart. A week after returning to Florida in November, I once again hopped on a plane and made a surprise visit to my close DTS friends in Georgia and Tennessee. It is such a blessing to now know people all over the globe! Early December my family made a very long road trip up north to visit four cities and many friends! 2011 had me all over the place, literally. And I enjoyed every last bit of it. Thank you for playing a huge role in that through your prayers, encouragement, financial support, and letters. Thank the Lord for you!! “What’s next?” You may ask... Well, after much prayer and confirmation, I feel like the Lord is calling me to continue serving with YWAM. My heart comes alive in missions - and I am thrilled to share that I will be returning to Kona, Hawaii on January 23 to be on staff with the PhotogenX DTS for two years! As a staff member, I will be mentoring and discipling students as they go through the lecture phase, serving the campus, coordinate different things, and then lead my very own team to a country somewhere! I’m so honored to be a part of such a wonderful community with the coolest staff ! This month has held some very thick trials, storms, and difficult times for my family and I, which has caused me to simply grasp onto the Lord and the truth even more. I still feel completely at peace about leaving, and have an overwhelming excitement about what is in store! The Lord is wonderfully faithful, and I trust that where He guides, He provides everything - from supernatural peace + joy, to good health, monthly support, and divine appointments with people. I would like you to please continue being on this journey with me.
5 ways you can help! 1) Prayer! 2) Support me monthly at a suggested $25, $50, or any other amount to help cover my room & board. 3) Support me monthly at a suggested $25, $50 or any other amount to help me with miscellaneous expenses such as tithe, food, clothes... 4) A one time donation. 5) Letters and love! ------------------------------------------
Budget: $800/month -$80 tithe -$350 -$275 food, clothes, personal, transportation -$45 phone -$50 emergency fund All online or check donations can be made tax deductible through University of the Nations / YWAM once my missions account is set up on January 24th. If you would like to financially support me, please contact me at ( visiblemusings@live.com ) or on Facebook! THANK YOU!
In the green box, I have listed 5 ways that I am seeking help so that I may do what I believe to be the Lord’s will. If you feel led to help in any way, I would appreciate that so, so very much. Even if it is the simplest prayer for good health and receptive hearts to what the Lord wants to do in this school! And please, tell me how I can be praying for you specifically as well as helping you in any way. I want to make it my goal to do a better job of keeping in good communication even from oceans away :). Let us share in the adventures of this life together, keeping our eyes fixed heavenward! (Hebrews 12:1-3) Currently, I have enough funds until the end of this month and no monthly supporters. I am so excited to see how the Lord provides and does the impossible when I do the possible! Please be praying alongside me for this specific need! Once again - thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, for your friendship to me! May you be filled with an expectancy for God to move in huge ways this year! With Love, Erika
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9