Every need has a name…Every name has a story.

This statement was the theme of Serve the City. We were constantly challenged to recognize that we are needy and recognizing that through “I am…I need” statements.

I am tired…I need rest.

I am a sinner…I need a Savior.

There were many people who I met and a few who really left a mark on my heart…

ODEANA

The first day we were traveling to different parks around the city giving hugs to anyone and everyone who would take them. Andrea, one of the teenagers on our team, had given a woman a hug, but came to me and said she really felt that she needed to go back to the lady. She asked for my lotion from my bag and went back to sit with her. Andrea learned quickly that the woman didn’t speak English, and was unsure of what language she spoke. She took the lotion and started to rub it into the woman’s hands. The woman started crying, and Andrea, being a compassionate person, started crying with her. They sat together for at least 30 minutes before our group had to travel else where.  I looked at the two of them wiping tears from their eyes, and told Andrea that it was time to leave. She tried to say goodbye to her new friend and collapsed in my arms sobbing. Through the sobs she said, “Erin, she is so lonely. I don’t want to leave her.” At that point I became teary eyed, and had an idea. I took a picture of Andrea and her new friend and we tried to communicate that we would be back. Andrea and I wandered the area looking for a kiosk to print the picture and bring it back. After 45 minutes of searching we were successful and went back to the park. She was so excited to see us coming back, and started crying again when we handed her the picture. We tried to communicate our names to her, when finally she pulled out her identification card. We learned that her name was Odeana and she was from Romania. We tried to invite her to the festival we were having on Saturday, but the invitation was in French and English, so it didn’t help her much. Every time we passed that park we would look for Odeana, but we never saw her again.

LATIFF

The second day of serving, the Stop the Traffik team (They worked in the Red Light district to bring awareness to Human Sex Trafficking) came across an abandoned office building that housed over 450 refugees who were there as squatters- men and women in protest because the government failed in giving them their papers. The Kamikaze Kindness team went there to bring them water and cleaning supplies. At first it was very intimidating to talk to the men as they surrounded us and were trying to take our pictures. I didn’t want my fear to put a barrier between the men and I, so I started talking to the ones who could speak English.  I learned their stories, how many of them have come to Brussels hoping for a better life and have been squatting for 8+ years waiting for their papers. Many of them didn’t work since they weren’t legal citizens, so they just waited for the day that they would receive their papers. Their integrity was admirable. Within the building there was a sense of brotherhood. They took care of each other and had writings all over the walls about how uniting together they would get their papers. Latiff was one of the men that I met. He came to Brussels from Morocco hoping to have a better life. He was so welcoming to me, offering me tea and something to eat. We talked for a long time and I invited him to the festival. He left a mark on my heart the way that he welcomed me into his home (or room) and served me, when I had gone to serve him. Later that week the first person that I saw at the festival was Latiff! It was so great to see my new friend again and hang out the rest of the day with him. I was running the 3v3 basketball tournament at the festival so I was able to get some of the guys to play basketball with him. When he finally had to leave I could tell that he didn’t want to. He told me that I was a good girl and he was so thankful for our friendship. He also said he had never had such a great day as he did that day.


NASSIR
I didn’t meet Nassir personally, but some of the kids on my team did. He was also in the refugee squat waiting for his papers. Nassir welcomed John, Andrea, and Chad by cooking them food and making them tea.  He shared his Islam faith with them while they were sharing their Christian faith with him. During the conversation Nassir shared that they had created a Mosque within the building and asked if they would like to see it. They went to the Mosque and Nassir showed them what an Islam prayer was, telling them that they could take pictures. When he was finished John asked if he had ever heard a Christian prayer before. Nassir hadn’t, so John asked if he could pray for him. Nassir responded that he would be honored to have them pray in his Mosque, so they go on their knees and prayed for Nassir!!!

JAMES

On the last day we were cleaning up a nearby alleyway that was littered with trash. It looked like it was becoming a landfill it was so trashed. I was walking back to the EPEE center where a STC volunteer was asking if there was a car that he could use to drive a homeless man, who couldn't walk, to another part of the city so he could get his money. Unfortunately, all the cars that we had access to were in use, but Carlton (who was in charge of STC) quickly volunteered me to go with him and try to figure something out. By the time we got back to the homeless man some other Serve the City volunteers had met him and were trying to help him. We decided to call a cab. While we were waiting we learned that his name was James. Once the cab arrived we were walking James to get into the car, but when the cab driver learned who he would be transporting he drove away. We tried to think of what we could do, when I realized that Little Sisters of the Poor, which is a place for the elderly, was right down the street. We borrowed a wheelchair from them to push James across town. We finally got to the post and got him his money, and then pushed him to the store where he bough cigarettes and beer. We went to a nearby park and hung out with him for a while.

This trip really showed me to see people as people and not as the stereotypes and labels that the world has given them. People just want to be loved.  I pray now that I won’t allow myself to fall back into the hole of having a self-centered life– that instead I will constantly be looking for ways to love the unloved.  I want to learn people’s names and stories rather than seeing them as people with a need.

Learning when to say no...

Saying "No" is something that I am constantly learning to do. I love to help people and do things for them...but too many times I have said yes to things that I really shouldn't have. I read this blog post today by Mark Batterson, the paster at National Community Church and author of the book In a Pit With A Lion on a Snowy Day. If you haven't read it yet...do it! Its a great read!!!

Social Pressure??

Today was my first day back to work since the holidays. I really enjoyed my week and a half off, though I didn't accomplish everything I was hoping to. I am a planner, so usually I have in my mind a plan for what my day will look like. I realize that it will probably not turn out exactly as planned, and I'm ok with that, but its nice to have an idea for the day. I realized during my time off that I allow the extrovert part of my life take over too often!

This week I had 2 tasks that I wanted to accomplish, but neither of them were done. Its because almost every morning last week I received a call or text from a friend saying "Hey! We're doing _________ and meeting at ______. Would you like to join us?" Since I'm an extrovert and love my friends, I tell myself I can work on what I had planned when I get home, and I'm off to hang out with friends!

I take full blame of this "problem." If you are one of my friends that calls or texts me something fun to do, please do not think that I want you to stop, or I'm in anyway upset that you do that! I am flattered! This is just a realization that I am making about myself. I have always had trouble saying no to things, especially good things! I haven't fully thought through how to "fix this" and frankly I don't know if it needs to be fixed. I do have one night a week that I call my "Me" night. I stay home and take some time for myself and just relax or catch up on things. It takes a lot for me to give up my "Me" night.

Something that I am proud of is that though I didn't get things done that I wanted to this week, I didn't miss a day of working out or of reading my Bible! At least some of my priorities are straight! :)

No wonder we have low self esteem...

I love that Dove is taking time to show real women for who they are...and really working on the self esteem of women today. The media makes it out that you have to be a toothpick with the perfect body, hair and skin...but there isn't anyone out there that is perfect...its all about retouching!

Here is a very interesting video...




Thanks Dove!

Transition...

tran·si·tion –noun

1.	movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change

The thought of transition has been on my mind the past few weeks. Fall is my absolute favorite season, the beauty of the leaves changing, the hot muggy air moving to cool crisp breeze. Putting away the shorts for sweatpants...and football jerseys. I. LOVE. FALL.

Looking at the definition I like the thought of passage. We pass through all things of life. Sometimes we stop and stay for a long while, and others its a short trip. God uses each stop to mold us and change us, but I think that He uses the actual passage and transition to grow us even more. Transitioning can be from something bad to something good, or something good to something better. Being the maximizer I am, I always try to think of ways to do things better, but sometimes that means I need to admit to the failures of what came before the new ideas. That isn't always easy.

I think the hardest part of transition is the ending. We should strive to end things well. Whether its the end of an era, a job, or a relationship we should strive to do everything in our power to make sure we can't do anything to make the end better. Sadly, even if we do accomplish that the ending can still be messy.

Ever since I was little I have always been horrible with goodbyes, so having to end relationships is the absolute worst for me! Looking back at the some relationship passages I've been though I see some that were very difficult to end, but now that I have come through the passage and I'm on the other end I see why it needed to happen.

I think about the leaves changing and how beautiful they are...and it makes me wonder why God makes the death of the leaves something so captivating. I think that it might be a way for Him to show us the importance of having a good ending. If you view the leaves as the transitions or passages of our lives the ending is when the leaves change color and fall to the ground, then the winter season of the barren tree is a neutral zone to pray and try to figure out what we can learn from the past, and look to what lies ahead. Finally spring comes and the leaves grow anew and it is time to grow and learn from the new beginning. The transition is complete.

This year I have had a few transitions to grow through, and I know that there are many more to come. Here are to great endings and even better beginnings!!!

Gone Swimming...

Yep, swim...or should I say drown is what my cell phone did this afternoon. I was laying on the couch extremely content reading my amazing book when my cell phone slid off my lap and landed IN MY GLASS OF WATER!!!! What are the chances?! I immediately grabbed it, took out the battery and grabbed a towel and my hair dryer. I dried it the best I could and then blasted it with the hair dryer, on the cool setting because I didn't think the heat would be a good thing. Once I thought it was as dry as I could get it I put it back together...I saw the verizon logo...but then blackness. I went online to see what they said about saving a wet phone and all the sites said DO NOT USE A HAIRDRYER...oops.

What was my next thought?! I should call...oh wait...my phone is DEAD I can't all ANYONE! So I drove to my friend Amy's house to show her. We decided I should take it to Verizon and see what they say.
To make a long story short, the woman at verizon said I could either pay $50 to get the same phone (which I hated) replaced or do my upgrade early where I would get the sale price on any phone, but I would lose the $50 rebate they give you. So basically I would be out $50 either way. I decided to go look for a new phone.

I was torn between the Samsung Glyde and the LG enV2...but I let money make my decision and I now have the Samsung Glyde. Its a touch screen with a full QWERTY keyboard...2 things that I have never had in a phone. The enV2 doesn't have the touch screen...but it has the QWERTY keyboard. Right now I don't know how I feel about the touch screen. I like it, but I have also gotten very frustrated with it today...and accidentally started calling people! OOPS! I have 30 days to return the phone if I don't like it...in which case I will save the few extra bucks and get the enV2.
Here is a picture of the Samsung Glyde:

And the LG enV2:

If you have either of these phones and have some knowledge on which to stick with...I would love to hear it!

Lesson learned today: Don't drink water and have a cell phone near by!

Themes or Strengths...

Earlier this year I was given the book "Now Discover Your Strengths" by Marcus Buckingham. I read it and took the test, but didn't think too much about it. My friend Tony loves learning and exploring these things, and was the one who gave me the book. He is so encouraging to have people explore who God made them to be, and how we can use that to reach the world.

This past summer in Hungary I met with Michael Dauphinee, who is a consultant who travels all over the world to work with people and help coach them to be the people they were created for. One thing that Michael says is "Don't be well-rounded. If you're round, be round; if you're square, be square." It is so true! It has always bothered me that people and especially colleges always say to be well rounded! I have always believed that I was created to do certain things, so why should I change who I am to do other things? I have felt somewhat guilty thinking that way since it feels like the world is telling me do everything.

Meeting Michael and talking to him was crazy! I had literally just met him, all he knew about me was my name and that I was leading high school kids to come and serve at the CA conference. I gave him the 5 words that the Strenthfinders test spit out at me, and it was like he was inside my heart and my brain! Seriously...I didn't really know what to do! So this is what I am...

Arranger - People strong in the arranger theme can organize, but they also have a flexibility that compliments this ability. They like to figure out how all the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity.

Relator - People strong in the relator theme enjoy close relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.

Maximizer - People strong with the maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.

Adaptability - People strong in adaptability prefer to "go with the flow." They tend to be "now" people who take things as they come and discover the future one day at a time.

Positivity - People strong in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.

Talking with Michael I also learned that Arrangers are always looking at what the next step is, always thinking ahead. Relators have 5 core friendships that mean the world to them. Maximizers aren't satisfied with good, they need things to be great. Positivity people get drained from negativity.

I really appreciate Strength Finders because it has opened my eyes to the way I view people. As I get to know them I can appreciate who they are and how God created them. I tend to try to identify what their themes might be if they haven't taken the test, or if they have it helps me understand them a little bit better.

There's a whole lot more that I learned, and I'm continuing to learn. I encourage you to check this out if you haven't...and help learn more about how God created you!

Now the dust has started to settle...

It has been a long time since my last post. I apologize for that. We didn't have any internet access at the conference in Cameroon and I didn't want to spend my last days in Cameroon and Paris on the computer.
Coming home I hit the ground running having to finish planning our leaders retreat that was this past weekend, and trying to reconnect with friends. I also had my nights filled with watching the Olympics! (a slight obsession I have!)
Now that the dust has settled some, the retreat is over, and the Winter Olympics are 2 years away I will devote sometime in sharing my stories and some pictures with you. I finally posted my pictures on facebook, so if we're facebook friends please look!

The trip was amazing! The stories, the lessons learned, the relationships formed, all things I would never trade for the world! I know that my life has definitely been changed for the better from the month away. The theme that I was learning through my time away was that:

God will always be with you wherever you go, but He doesn't promise that it will always be easy.

While in Hungary I talked to many different missionaries from all different backgrounds and serving in different capacities. A lot of them shared with me their joys and also their sorrows. Many women shared that they struggled with the lack of relationships on the field, or the ones that they were missing from home. The Thursday afternoon of the conference all the women boarded a boat for an afternoon of fellowship. We took a little ride in what I think was a lake, had lunch and talked. Towards the end of the ride some women got on the loud speaker and shared about how Jesus doesn't call to us from the side of the shore, he gets into the boat with us, and through there might be sharks around the boat nibbling our toes, He is still with us.
In Cameroon we had team time each evening sitting on the rooftop of the building that the girls stayed in. Various passages were shared, including Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." and other verses that continued my theme...and I didn't plan any of the devotion times! God was definitely speaking right to my heart.

God and I spent a lot of good time together...and I'm still trying to process things that He is teaching me, and what the future might hold. More stories and pictures to come...