A little glips

Hi, I tried putting this video on with my other entry from Sunday's Christmas service but because I am so computer challenged I could not figure it out. Thanks to a little help from kirk I got it figured out (I hope) so you can view a little piece of the Christmas program. be blessed and be a blessing. -Erin-

Wishing you a Merry Christmas

Hello to all those I love. Merry Christmas. Days like these are harder and usually come with lots of tears, BUT God is here with me and is my constant comfort. Even though it is hard He reassures me this is indeed where He wants me and He always brings me through the days with many blessings and joys if I will open my eyes to see them. I love you. I miss you. Merry Christmas! Be blessed and be a blessing-Erin-

Church Christmas

The Shepard's/Wise Men/ Angels/ Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus

Brianna and Michaela playing angels in the Christmas play Caleb playing baby Jesus

Erika (the grandma) explaining the Christmas Story to Nicole (the granddaughter) Cresmore and ?(sorry i can't remember her name) playing Mary and Joseph baby Caleb playing Jesus

Good Christmas Eve Morning Everyone! And Happy Birthday DAD! I pray that the Lord is blessing your day. Yesterday at church we had our big Christmas celebration. We had a special Christmas service with skits, special numbers (people signing songs), and the Christmas sermon. After church we all went up for food, fellowship, and games. It was a fantastic day full of Love and I was very thankful for the opportunity to spend it down here with my new friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. This week has definitely had its ups and downs emotionally since it is Christmas time and I am so far from family and friends but God is so good and a constant comfort. Watching the Christmas story told in sign language was a very powerful and a joy bringing experience I thanked God for. Be blessed and be a blessing-Erin-

Merry Christmas!

Hi Everyone. I pray that the Lord is blessing your Day. At the beginning of November I started taking pictures like crazy to get a Christmas card ready and sent out a month+ in advance so they would have a month to get here and then I could send them back with mom and dad when they came. BUT the pictures never came SO... I hate to say that this is how my Christmas cards will be sent out this year. If by some off chance my pictures do come (2,3,4, months late) I will send them out:) Keep looking up and smiling HUGE because GOD is always in complete control and I Love you. Be blessed and be a blessing -Erin_

The Paradox

The resort where we stayed Holiday Inn Sun Spree

Mom and Dad with the Christmas decorations

Hello All! I hope you are having a most Wonderful week in our LORD. I just finished having a nice long weekend with mom and dad in MoBay but it opened my eyes to a few things. It was a paradox for me I loved getting to see my mom and dad and have some time to relax after the craziness of the end of the term with the kids. At the same time I hated it I was not completely comfortable at the resort knowing what I know about Jamaica and I felt guilty because everything seemed so easy and unmotivating. It just opened my eyes once more to remind me that this world is not my home and now more then ever I feel like I will never be completely comfortable or feel 100% at home again (having lived both in the states and Jamaica) until I get to my Heavenly home. I also really missed the kids having been gone from them only a few days but also knowing that when I did return they would not be here to greet me. Having been around them everyday most of the day for the last 2 months and then they are gone. I feel somewhat lost without them constantly there. I was thankful for the opportunity to be with my parents, but then then when it came time to say goodbye I realized that it is going to be hard every time and more ripping will occur each time i get to spend time with those i love but then have to say goodbye again. I keep reminding myself it would not hurt so much if i was not so loved. Tons of friends and family sent things from the states and seeing it all was very humbling for me. I feel very unworthy of all their love and support but i also appreciate it more then they could ever imagine. Thank you to everyone for the cards/gifts/hugs/ and pictures. I split all the Christmas cards i got into 8 piles (one for each day before Christmas) and then that way i get to open some each day. Its a great pick me up as I start my day but on the other hand i lay out the ones for the next day on the table when i am done. All day they sit there and tempt me to open them and not wait until the next day! Once i did get home (back to CCCD KP) i did get a nice surprise Sashania was still here! her student visa had not come in so it was a great welcome home feeling down about leaving my family but getting a big hug from her when i got home. Things have settled back into its groove and I have started working again. All day yesterday I cleaned out the store room at the school ( and will continue to do so for the next week its a disaster!) I think its so funny how some of the ladies here get all worked up and they think everything is going to make you sick. You can't walk in the rain it will make you sick. Yesterday some of them came up while i was cleaning the storm room and where SHOCKED that i was cleaning without a dust mask! "You are going to get so sick cleaning in here without a dust mask!" I am happy to say I am doing and feeling just fine cleaning without a dust mask. So for the dust has not made me sick:) Ok I need to go get lunch so I can continue cleaning the store room. It still does not feel like Christmas, but I am thankful at the same time because then it helps me to keep the real focus of why we celebrate Christmas and that is Christ's birth. I am still waiting for my Christmas cards to arrive so i can send them out. They are coming (I think!?) it just might be February before you get them! Have a great rest of the week I love you so very very very much. be blessed and be a blessing. -Erin-

My Cup Runneth Over

Christmas Lunch/Party. Truitt giving me a big smile from the stroller!

The kids lined up singing (signing) the last song of the program

Miss Andrea leading the kids practicing for the Christmas program

S.T. and I on her last day of school here at C.C.C.D

Good Wednesday Afternoon Everyone! I pray that the Lord is blessing your day! What a fantastic day. A perfect way for me to end the term with the kids. Tropical Storm Olga is on her way but as of now the weather has still been nice for us just a little windy. This morning I got to watch the kids get ready for their Christmas program that I will miss since I will be with my parents in MoBay, then this afternoon was the big Christmas lunch/party for the kids and they had the dinning room decorated with lights and had a Christmas tree. The tables had colored cloths on them and center pieces the kids made. My heart is so full of JOY! I just can't stop smiling. I hate that this will be the last day I will get to spend with the kids for the next month, but am thankful for the Wonderful way this term has come to an end. Since the last 2 weeks have been mostly for the teachers to catch up with grading exams and doing evaluations the kids don't have much to do so I have been opening the library and printing off word searches and cross word puzzles for them to do and its so fun to watch them get so excited and to stay focused. I now have my regulars who check the library most mornings to see if the doors are open and if there are any new puzzles to try. So many blessing. God is so good. Please remember the kids as they will be traveling home this weekend for safety in travels and for safety on their break. Also my good friend Shashaina Thompson is moving to Arizona on Sat. and can use all the prayers she can get. Thanks and have a great week. Keep looking up and smiling HUGE because GOD is always in complete control and I Love you. Be blessed and be a blessing -Erin-

Christmas Cookies

Jessica Stirring chocolate to dip the

peanut butter crackers in

Dennis and Collin trying to show Davia how to

roll out the sugar cookie dough

Keri observing to make sure they don't roll the dough to thin.

Good Monday Morning Everyone! I heard that you are all (for the most part) experiencing some very yucky winter weather. Here is the cold time as they call it but I am comfortable in short sleeves during the day and a hoodie at night. This weekend Keri had the great Idea of a way to reward those who had the cleanest dorms (one of her jobs is to inspect dorms to make sure the kids are keeping up with their chores a few times a week) So for the girls who had the perfect dorms they got to spend the afternoon making/decorating/eating Christmas cookies. It was a win win situation for all because then Keri and I got our Christmas cookies made and the kids cleaned up the mess too! Dennis and Colin (who seem to be attached to kirks hip) were up visiting when I brought up all the girls and of course they played the tough guy role not wanting to make Christmas cookies with the girls until we got started and then we could not keep them away from trying to instruct and take over the cookie cutting/baking/decorating process! What a great day! I wish you all a most Wonderful week. Keep looking up and smiling HUGE because GOD is always in complete control and I love you. Be blessed and be a blessing -Erin-

Soul Care Day

This is the boys using my stomach as a trampline !

This is Cali

Danea and I being lazy on the beach

Good Morning Everyone! Exams are done and the preparation of the Christmas program in now underway. They have about a week to get 130+ kids organized into a big program of skits and songs sharing the Christmas story. Since I will not get to be here for the program ( I will be with my parents in MoBay) I am sitting here with Truitt while Keri and Drew are down trying to help in the organization process. This gives me some time to update my blog and I thought I would share some pictures of our Soul Care day on Monday. Monday morning we loaded up to take Cali (the girl visiting from Washington state) to the falls at Ocho Rios. Wow that is a crazy curvy drive and not at all pleasant for any normal person. BUT we made it 3 hours there and 3 hours back and getting to enjoy time at the beach and relax made it worth it. (Excedrin migraine helps too!). It was nice to have a day just to relax when all around the school the business continues as the term comes to an end. With this time off we finally had time to stop so I could get the Plattners Christmas picture taken. and over all just a fun day. Have a great week! I love you and Truitt is now telling me its time to get up. Be blessed and be a blessing -Erin-

SLOW DOWN!

Hi everyone! Look how cute my little friend is! Progress report: we are now up to catching I would say around 20 mice, and so you would not think I was making up all these stories about mice I took a picture of one of our furry friends who was tempted by the peanut butter and got stuck on the glue paper! This week God has been slowing me down. The deaf have told me mulitple times you walk so fast you are always going, and I honestly didn't think much of it I just like to keep going if there are things to do. This past week the kids had exams all week and so my routine was thrown out the window since exams took presidence over everything else. Instead I was given the job of reconstructing and retyping report cards for the kids here and they don't simply have one report card they have 3 different ones. They have one for pre primary, primary, and vocational. Since I was the lucky one who they appointed the job to and I am computer dumb it took me a good 3 days of doing nothing but sitting at my computer working with both microsoft word and excel trying to get these report cards done. I would work with one program a while until I would get stuck and frustrated then move to the other program and repeat the process until finially I completed the report card in one of the programs. Cali is here visiting for a few weeks. She is a girl from Washington state. She has just graduated and is learning some sign so she wanted to come and visit for a few weeks. This is her first time in Jamaica and at CCCD so she has been tagging along with me when she is not helping Mrs. Jones. God is using Cali to help me with my hostessing. This has never been an area that I have felt like I did a very good job in so I feel like he is giving me practice before work team season hits and we will be doing nothing but hosting team after team after team! I am so excited to get ready to work with the work teams and to meet all those from all over who are here to serve God. Ok the kids should be out and about now so I need to go spend some time with them. I love you and miss you all. be blessed and be a blessing. -Erin

The day after thanksgiving!

Hi everyone! I hope you are enjoying your day after thanksgiving and that you have a wonderful weekend to come. Last night we did end up going to Damion and Felicia's house (our deaf pastor down here and his wife) Mr and Mrs Jones (Felicia's parents), Pat and Jean (Mrs. Jones brother and sister in law, and Damions mom all gathered together at the Campbells to celebrate thanksgiving. It was A wonderful opportuinity to fellowship and enjoy the relationships that are being made. It was such a blessing from above to get to go there after all the confusion and uneasiness about bringing the germs. Having some place to go helped pass the holiday for us much easier. So much was learned too as we sat down to eat a different kind of thanksgiving meal. We did have a HUGE turkey, sweet potatoes, salad, cranberries, then there was the add ins of rice and beans, and choco (i don't know if thats the proper spelling) but they compared it to a squash, and it looked like a green potatoe? I was not bold enough to take any because they were cut in half (like half a potatoe) and if I didn't like it I didn't want to offend them and I didn't want to waste food. Keri tried it and said she liked it! I think it really helped out Felicia our coming too, because she has been kept in the house these past 2 weeks with her new baby and she is such a social butterfly that its hard for her not to be around people. I love you and have a great weekend. Be blessed and be a blessing. -Erin-

Happy Thanksgiving

Hello Everyone! I pray that you are all having a most Wonderful day and I pray that you get to spend it with those you love. Today I started out really struggling. I had the mind set that its going to be a bad day, I won't get to be with all my friends and family, I will still be eating chicken and rice. And satan was right there pushing as I had problem after problem this morning. Another one of my hangers fell out my second story window (i hang my towels up on the windows on a hanger to dry and if I'm not careful when i pull the towel off the hanger falls out the window, I know have a pile of hangers started under my window) and I can't get it because its in the back tall grasses were all the tics live and I don't care to find any more on me or in my apt. Then as I was using my comb it broke, I had gotten some emails that were meant to be encouraging but because of my attitude they seemed to only help me feel more sorry for myself. and then the big one. I had been looking forward to making my cousin Nancy's famous pumpkin bars all week for today and i made them last night but because it got so late I was going to make the frosting in the morning so i woke up early to make it. as i was making it i knew something wasn't right because all i had down to put in the frosting was cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and baking soda. i knew i needed powdered sugar but because it was not on my list did not get any yesterday at the store. so i checked with my neighbors and the cooks in the kitchen no one had any. At this point I was frustrated and feeling very sorry for myself. Then as i cried out to God He took it all. He comforted me in His word. I got in on not only one but 2 thanksgiving church services (that just happened to fall in my break between therapy and teaching.) so i got in on a Indiana thanksgiving service and a Illinois (because of the time change!) I did find powdered sugar in the food preparation room and was able to borrow enough to finish my pumpkin bars (and from the taste test i did mmm....) Therapy went so good and so did teaching. Its amazing how no matter what way you set you attitude that's the way your day will go. I'm sorry to say that I wasted time this morning having such a bad one. I do miss you all, very very very much but God is faithful and is my comfort in the lowest of times. I have a box (well 2 actually) a box i put my fears in (fears given to GOD) so once i had them over i can't take them out and it mentally helps me not to worry about it. Then i have my joys and blessing box and i love putting in multiple entries to that box daily.
Things I am Thankful for:
Father/Son and Holy Ghost who never leave my side
ALL my family/friends/love/support back home
The kids here at CCCD
The opportunities here
The relationships I am making
The growth God is helping me through in life.
My health/happiness
I could go on and on but I need to keep going. We still don't know what we are doing for supper. The plattners and I where planning to have a dinner together, then we were invited to the deaf pastor and his wife's house. Felicia grew up in the states to get a good education and Damion went to collage in the states and they still celebrate some American holidays like thanksgiving. But then the boys (drew and truitt) got sick and since Felicia just had a baby a few weeks ago we had to cancel so we would not bring any more germs into the house. Then we started getting (and are still at 3:22 thanksgiving day) mixed messages Mr. Jones is insisting we still come and Mrs. Jones is saying that's to bad it didn't work out but she understands and agrees its not wise to bring the sick boys? SO we have put off all our cooking, but have cancelled our dinner here so worst case scenario Keri and I were thinking pizza delivery sounded really good! Thanks for letting me share. I love you and Hey let me know what you are thankful for on this great holiday! Be blessed and be a blessing -Erin-

Open Day

Hey Everyone! Today was a beautiful sunny day with NO RAIN! praise the Lord. It has been a good week. The big event for the week was open day for the vocational students on Thursday. All the students in the heart programs from around the area got together here at CCCD KP and it was a day to see what others have made and do demonstrations. Some of the different groups were sewing (as you can see by the beautiful peach bathroom set!), Towel folding, food preparation, woodworking, computers, cosmetology, and many more. It was a day full of music fun and food. There was a steel drum band (instead of a school marching band they play the steel drums), and a dj who kept games and music going most of the day. The picture of the head board is one that our boys here at cccd kp made. the furniture that comes out of that shop is just beautiful! Today we finally got kirk and Keri (and boys) out of the great mouse house and into their apt. We spent a good part of the day cleaning and scrubbing mold off walls. It has been about a month since we arrived and in that time I have already had to call on Richard twice to come and unlock doors for me! Once the bathroom door got locked and all the knobs on all the doors have keys you can't just push a paper clip in there and pop the lock. so he had to come and get the lock open for me, then last night I locked myself out of my apt! so again he had to come and let me in! With the wet weather and humidity smells are EVERYWHERE! I also learned I have to Lysol my shoes after they have been in the rain or the next time I go to put them on they will be growing mold. Also the picture of the the lady applying the makeup (the one in grey with the burgundy hair) is my roommate Kadene Harvey. She is very sweet and I have learned lots about hair living with her. One day she will have long curly red hair, and the next short strait black hair, Its amazing all they do with wigs and weaving and braiding. Its been a long day so I'm off to relax. Sorry this is a very random blog entry lots to share and right now I to tired to put lots of thought into it. Have a great weekend. I love you all. Be blessed and be a blessing -Erin

The newest member of C.C.C.D

I would like to introduce Caleb Don-Mark Campbell. He is the newest arrival here at C.C.C.D. He was born to Damion and Felicia (the pastor and his wife) They run JDV (Jamaica Deaf Village) Caleb was born last Wednesday so a little over a week ago. I know a lot of you know Damion and Felicia and so I wanted to pass along this picture so you could meet little caleb too! Please keep little caleb in your prayers because the first 6 months are a big risk time for babies. Caleb is the first boy baby at JDV after 6 girls! Be blessed and be a blessing. Erin

Rodents!

I don't know what the deal is but with in the last week it seems like we have been seeing mice and rats EVERYWHERE! I was sitting up with Keri and the boys the other night and as we were talking all of a sudden Keri screams and pulls her feet up on the couch. I hadn't seen it so didn't know what she was doing until she explained that she had just seen a mouse. She held onto the boys and I went to find a broom to try and chase it out the door. well once I got the broom the mouse was long gone and after searching under couches and pillows and other big piles on the floor we could not find it. I talked to Kirk the next morning and he told me he had seen a another one that morning but had not told Keri, and then that night as I was about to shut off my light and go to bed I just happened to glance out my window and there was a HUGE rat bottom and tail pushed right up against my window. Yuck! I didn't want to take the chance that it would still be there in the morning when I wanted to open my windows ( I only open them during the day because at night I have to keep them closed so the bugs don't come in) so I quickly flipped open the bottom slats of my window to push the rat off my ledge. Then last night as I was talking to Ryan and Nicole (my brother and sister in law) there were two mice playing on the office floor not really caring that I was sitting there watching them! Hopefully when all this rain stops they will want to go back outside and play! I do need to make a correction from the last blog entry. Little truitt plattner is doing better (PRAISE GOD) he DID NOT have a virus the Dr. thought the water might be affecting him so they had to switch to bottled water or boiling the tap water. Also a prayer request as we are settling into our routines here the jobs just keep coming and in missions training we are told again and again do not over load yourself or you will burn out very quickly. Please pray that we can approach this in a positive and wise way so when we do have to start telling people I'm sorry we just can't take on any more right now that they will not be offended and that feelings will not be hurt. Thank you! I love you! and wish you all a most Wonderful week. be blessed and be a blessing. -Erin

Another Rainy Week

Hi Everyone, I hope that you are all having a most fabulous week in our Lord. The rain is still here, but it seems like the sun shine stays out a little longer everyday so there is hope of non rainy days. This week has been trial and error working with the HH (hard of hearing) kids on speech and language therapy. I have been very encouraged because for the most part they are all trying. I thought it would take at least a month if not longer for them to be comfortable enough with me to use their deaf voices but God has been working and they are opening up to me! I do have a few who are very shy and embarrassed of their deaf voices, then i have a few who like to play the bad boy card and act like they are to good for speech therapy. True Patience that is something I am always learning. Felicia (the pastors wife) from JDV (Jamaican deaf village) had her baby this week. Caleb Don-Mark Campbell. The first boy baby born to JDV. Everyone is very excited. The plattners and I have been helping watch the girls while mother and baby stay in the hospital for the week. This coming week. Kirk, Mr. Jones and Myself are going to Kingston to check on our paper work process and down here it is a hit or miss (positive or negative) out come depending on who you get to work with. If you cold please start praying and preparing our hearts and the hearts of those we will be working with so that everything can run as smoothly as possible that would be great. Also little Truitt Plattner was taken to the Dr. today because he was not keeping anything in. The Dr. said it is only a virus and he seems to be acting fine, but if you could keep him in your prayers that would be great. I don't think i have yet put any pictures of my blessings (the kids) on yet so i will try to get some on. Have a great weekend. Keep looking up and smiling HUGE because GOD is always in complete control and i love you. be blessed and be a blessing. - Erin-

A New Experience

Hello Everyone!

I pray that you are having a wonderful weekend! So today Mr. Jones dropped of FRESH chickens, vegtables and eggs for the plattners and I so tonight Miss. Angela was a blessing and came and showed Keri and I how to cut up a chicken. It was a new experience and something I will definitely have to continue to work on. Every time I would get a piece cut off Miss Angela would look at me and sign WRONG! She knew where all the right places to cut were and I was sure struggling finding those places! The only knives we had were cheap ones too so that didn't help the situation any. BUT now I have at least a months worth of chicken in my freezer, and this is something that I'm sure Keri and I will get to do over and over and over again. We where not prepared this time as Keri and I were just planning on figuring it out by following book instructions. Miss. Angela stopped by and helped us, she asked for vinegar (we didn't have any), and then starts hacking away at this chicken and parts and fluids (sorry if that's to descriptive) where flying EVERYWHERE! lots of disinfecting will have to be done. OK its getting late so I need to go. I love you. Be blessed and be a blessing.-Erin-

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween

I love you

Be blessed and be a blessing

Erin

The Pictures That Would Not Come Before

This is Tae and Melanie our 1st work couple to host, this is the A.C. team that came with the sea

container From L to R Mike Rassi, Wayne Steffen (for those EMS alumni thats Mrs. Steffen's husband) Chad Huber (Chad and his family will be moving down here soon) Ron Hodel, and Gene Huber (Chad's Dad).

One Week Down

Hi Everyone! we have made it through the one week mark and we are still going strong! PRAISE GOD! already this week besides settling in, helping unload the sea container, working around here, we have been working with/hosting a work couple Melanie and Tae, they are from NYC,and for 3 days hosting the our church evaluation team. It was great to see familiar faces. At them same time as they left today Keri and I both had the thought of this doesn't feel right. shouldn't we be leaving with them too. We have been here for the week and normally we would be going home, but this time we get to stay. I got the opportunity to interpret for the evaluation team for church today Damion was in Kingston preaching at their school so Calva preached and he is very intelligent and very well studied and goes very deep in his thoughts so about after an hour/hour and a half of being completely focused on him so I could voice for the others my eyes just wanted to close and take a nap. so for those brothers I apologize. I was trying to add the pictures of our work groups this week but my computer and I are not getting along right now so I will try again later. I love you. Be blessed and be a blessing! -Erin

3 BIG YEAH'S FOR THE DAY! and one yuck

Hi everyone! I pray that the Lord is blessing your day YEAH! its friday! It has been a big yeah day 1. I got hot water now running in my apartment and 2. Not only is my hot water running its RUNNING with pressure and not trickling! and 3. My fed ex box made it! I have been struggling with these fed ex people from the time I tried to ship it two weeks ago in Bloomington (a little word of advice. If you want to ship something fedex pack it yourself or they will try to charge you 5 times more then is nessisary. *sorry if any one reading this works for fedex!) Also if you are trying to send something to me down here fed ex don't put my name on it because I don't have my TRN number and it causes big problems. If you want to ship something let me know and I will inform you how to adress it! Any way my yuck of the day Ticks. they are here I was trying to get what I thought was dirt out from my toes when I discoverd it was a Tick (not cool) and then I found another one in my kitchen later. I think they guys who where working on putting my hot water line in must have brought them in when they came into my apt. to make sure everything was working correctly. Have a great weekend I love you all. be blessed and be a blessing.-Erin_

My new place

This is half of my place................the door is to the bathroom... the other half of my apt...the door is to out side. my cabinets are all made here at cccd and smell WONDERFULLY like pine! The top Left (or maybe right?) picture is my bedroom, (oops actually thats not my bedroom but it looks the same as mine. thats my roomates. i switched rooms 3 times already becuase i didn't like the bed in the back room so i moved to the front room but then i didn't like how you could see in so i moved the bed in the front room to the back room! and the other is of one of my housemates! The sea container comes in tomorrow so then i will actually have more in my apt then a 3 legged desk and a bed! I love you and wish for you a most WONDERFUL day!

be blessed and be a blessing-Erin

Hello From Sunny Jamaica

Hi everyone! I pray that you are all having a most wonderful weekend. I just wanted to let you know I got here safely last night around 8. I got into my apt, and was greeted by by two roomates for the night (lizards). My apt is new and so things are still being worked out, but as of now I have no hot water or water pressure (other then a constant trickle). Hopefully after monday that will change and for now there is the grandhouse (the work teams living quarters) for taking showers. So many blessing already. God is so good. I don't have the right cable to hook my computer up to the internet so I am using nicholases. As soon as I get that I will put on the pictures of my new place. Thanks for all your prayers they are truly felt and appriciated. The plattners and I went to JDV (jamacian deaf village) for church today and i was blessed with the opportunity to see friends and hear God's word. Have a great day. I love you.
be blessed and be a blessing -Erin-

My last week home

Hi Everyone! I hope that you are all having a good week. I am now up in Chicago, in for the night, and getting settled in so I can wake up at 3:00 tomorrow morning to catch the shuttle to the airport. I will fly from O'hare at 6, go to Charolette, N.C., and then land in MoBay about 1:30.This week has been a paradox for me I hated and loved every min. of it. This week has been filled with so many blessings and I was given so many opportunities to share all that God has been doing in my life. But on the other hand after every opportunity I was given to be with those I love I had to then say goodbye to them and break my heart continually through out the days. Thank you all who had to put up with me and my breakdowns this week! If I did not get the opportunity to see you before I left I will send through this blog a big hug and I love you. Take care of yourselves, and keep me updated on your lives. Tomorrow is the big day! EEK!
Be blessed and be a blessing -Erin

Meet My Group

Hi. Some of you know part of my team. Some of you know none of my team so i thought i would introduce you.

(starting L-R) Kirk holding Drew Keri holding Truitt Plattner, Me, Paul, Pam, Dylan (in front of Pam) Chad (Emma in front of Chad) Timmy, and Anna Huber.

Goodbye MTI

The ripping has started. And every time it happens I can hear it audibly like the ripping of plant roots when you transplant them. I was praying that in the last week of training that they would back down a step and yet if feel like they did the exact opposite and stepped up the training to a new intensity. On Monday we went over singleness issues and how singles fit into the work team. A lot of it was good for me and my team because what was talked about where things that just happen because... well... i don't know that's just the way it has always been and so i never thought much of it. But it made us really think of all the expectations and assumptions people have towards singles. ex: they have more time they don't have kids, they can handle more responsibility they only have to worry about themselves. etc...etc... when really they can get overloaded and burdened trying to take on everything they are dealing with and everything people are trying to dump on them because they have all this "extra" time and energy. On Tues. (i think) they put half of us (about 20) into a 5x5x4 box and we went through a simulation that we where missionaries hiding from people who where trying to kill us. So we sat/stood (whatever we could to get as comfortable as possible) for 5...10...min. then we where asked if we would accept strangers into our safe place not knowing who they where or if they worked for the enemy. if we did not accept them in they would be killed and if we did we could end up dead from a leak in the group. would we take them? Then 15...20min a plane was there to take 5 people to safely who would get to go (the mothers of young of course) then 25...30min we could only save 3 people who where we going to tell they had to now stay? (During all this time it was very hot we where in the boiler room so it was very HOT and the air was getting very stuffy) The enemy then found our safe place and where keeping us hostage. Then at about the 1 hour mark we got our final question. the negotiations have fallen through and they are executing 2 people who are we going to choose to execute? at that point we are all so tired and hot and miserable that we are very emotional so with this question my first thought was this is my family I am not going to send them out to be killed. When they came back they ended up grabbing 4 guys instead of 2 to execute and there was real gun shot (sounds) and it was all very emotional. This simulation could be a very real situation for some of those i was training with. And that there was a good possibility that there where missionaries in that position right now and to always remember to pray for them. For the first 2.5 weeks of this training I feel like I have been torn open and all the deep parts of my heart have been probed through making me deal with everything that i was trying to hide or push aside. I was feeling very exposed and vulnerable. Then on the last 2 days I don't know how they did it but they blessed us and prayed over us so many times and in such a way that leaving Friday morning i felt completely whole and refreshed. It was amazing. Thursday we prayed around the world and each family got up and explained where they where going. what they would be doing, and how we could pray for there host country and themselves personally then we got up and prayed over them. Its was an amazing time. Friday morning the ripping started as we had to say goodbye to our MTI family as they left for the airport or started there drive home. As of Sunday night i got my first email from Brent (the first one of us out) who landed inLebanon safely and will start his work there so please pray for him. I hope you all have a most Wonderful week. I love you. Be blessed and be a blessing.
-Erin-

God's Beauty

Good Wednesday Afternoon everyone! I pray that God is blessing your day in Amazing ways. I had the opportunity to wake up at 5 this morning to go and climb Mt. Herman to watch the sunrise with some of my new MTI family. God's creation is such an amazing thing. There are no words good enough to describe the beauty out here. From the summit of Mt. Herman you get a great view of pikes peak! Have a great day! be blessed and be a blessing -Erin-

Hello again, two weeks down one more to go! This was a big week. This entire training process has been exhausting mentally and spiritually and sometimes even physically. Thanks be to God for Beautiful CO where you can go out and hike and relax (pictures taken at garden of the gods) This week we focused on Stress how to manage it and who we are under it. And with learning how to deal with stress we learned 3 fundamentals we can always fall back on (as listed above) 1. God is God, 2. God is not safe God is faithful, and 3. God is good. Wednesday night the Plattner's and I booked our one way ticket to Jamaica (leaving at 6a.m. out of O'hare Sat. Oct. 20th) that was HUGE fore me. Its nice to finally have a departure date set, but its also now less then two weeks away and reality hit. I sat at my computer probably a good 15 min. before I was actually able to push the purchase ticket button! Even as I was going through the process of buying my ticket my mind was telling me it will be fine this training keeps you so busy you won't even be able to think about it. And then the next day came with the lesson consisting of silence and solitude! and thats what we worked on most of the day giving me AMPLE time to think that in 2 weeks I'm gone. God is God and He is good and He knew that I needed to stop and process this all and not shove it off to the side. So on my God walk during the after noon session We had a nice long chat about Trust and how He knows I'm scared and that thats ok. He has been there and will continue to be with me every step of the way. Praise God for His greatness. By the time Friday comes along we are all just worn out so its more of a fun day and we play games teaching us about transitions and trying to adapt into other cultures. As our homework for the weekend we where encouraged to find a church that would stretch us and get us out of our comfort zones since many of use would be joining other churches in our host cultures. The Plattner's and I attended a deaf church at it was a true blessing. The lesson was on strong faith and was just what I needed to hear and learn about today. Only 4.5 more days and training will be done. Time is flying as our hearts are being prepared. I wish for you all a most Amazing week in the Lord and encourage you all to find Joy in the small things. keep looking up and smiling HUGE because GOD is always in complete control and i love you. be blessed and be a blessing -Erin-

Erin Davis...AS-IS

One week down two more to go. I am very thankful for weekends to just slow down and process. The week as a whole was AMAZING. We learned so much about how to deal with our emotions now, and the different emotions we will be encountering, we learned about expectations, ours, our support groups, family, friends, host cultures...etc. then with all those expectations in mind we where told to take off our name cards and in big letters next to our names we where to write AS-IS because we are coming into this human. We are not perfect, mistakes will be made, but we just have to do the best we can and keep going. Like at the store where you go down the isle of the 1/2 off products because they come AS-IS you know they are not perfect, and once you take it you can't return it. So I am going down to try and bring glory and honor to God and hopefully they won't try to return me! Conflict is another big one that we have been working on to see if we are sharks (its got to be my way) Teddy bears (you can have your way) turtles (i'll just run away from it all) or owls (maybe we can both win) My group found out we are runners, compromisers, and harmonizers, we don't really like conflict. We are also all in growth groups (aka small bible study groups) that meet to just focus on God and share during the week. Wednesdays are personal visits (kind of like therapy) to talk with a missionary one on one to ask whatever questions we may have or just to vent our hearts. It was a great way to decompress with everything coming in so fast. This weekend was beautiful and I got in lot of great hiking thanks to the Plattners carting me around with them. We tried to get into the red rock amphitheater to hike this afternoon after church but we could only hike around it because of the smashing pumpkins concert in the amphitheater, so as we hiked around we had some music to hike to! I hope you all have a most Wonderful week. i love you and miss you. be blessed and be a blessing -Erin-

Welcome to MTI

Hi Everyone, I just finished my first day of training and thought i would update you. I think the only way to describe it is INTENSE. They go deep and stay deep ripping you out of your comfort zone and opening your heart to give you the best possible training for the mission field. All our instructors are missionaries (as they put it )who have been bruised and beaten and are now here to share there experiences with us to help us learn. I am in the SPLICE program and that stands for
Spiritual Resources (bible studies, spiritual vitality, Sabbath/rest/soul care)
Personal Growth (Values, stress, grief/loss)
Lifestyle Adaption (MK realities, singleness issues, transition, lifestyle choices)
Interpersonal Skills (conflict, your true colors under stress, moral purity, hellos and goodbyes)
Cultural Adjustments (Crossing cultures, language)
Endurance/Enjoyment (expectations, paradox, praying around the world)

In this program there are 38 adults, 21 Children, 17 organizations represented and 19 different mission fields. GOD IS SO GOOD! Its great to come to a place where you all have the same calling, are all brothers and sisters in Christ, and can understand where they are coming from and they understand where you are at and what they are going through. ok I have homework to do so i wish you all a most WONDERFUL night. I love you.
be blessed and be a blessing -Erin-