Leipzig

So we've been through hamburg, berlin, dresden, chemnitz, leipzig, and are heading to stuttgart tomorrow! Its been tiring...but as usual learning a lot.
There's been quite a bit of sickness on our team which has been taking a toll on us all. We are still excited to be here though. The band has played usually a little bit every day which is cool and I've gotten to share my testimony twice now, that has been awesome. We've been meeting a lot of great people here too!
Another cool part is how much history we've seen. I just got out of Bachs church and saw where he's buried as well as the organ he designed. We saw many parts of the berlin wall and actually played a show where many people died trying to make it across. Two friends and I also went to a concentration camp. That was hard to walk through, it had a really heavy feeling. Its called sachenhausen and was the headquarters that ran every single concentration camp under nazi power. A main center for many "experiments" as well. Like I said a reall heavy experience, but important.
Thank you for your prayers as always! I'm excited to see what's to come in the lastcouple weeks!
Ee
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Red lights

Last night was the second opportunity I had to go into a couple of Hamburg's main red light districts. The air is really heavy there everywhere we go. With prostitution legal in Germany (women receive health insurance for it) it is all over. The main red light district called the Reeperbhan is praised by all of Hamburg and boasted about to all who visit.
We however started our night in the drug and pimp district. To explain in short what the night had for us, we got to play a ton od worship music which really drew a crowd of all sorts of people, so we got to pray and talk to many of them. It was very emotional but we felt really lucky to be there.
By about eleven we went on to the Reeperbhan with just about ten of us. It was insanity there, prettymuch everything goes. There was so much chaos and exploition which was really heart breaking. We didn't talk to many people there but got to pray a lot and understand a little more of what the reality of that area is. The irony is the main street we were on is called the great freedom...
There was a lot more that went on but that's an idea of it. On a lighter note were getting ready all day to go on tour tomorrow! Two weeks on a tour bus with Summer2Go all over Germany. Its going to be sweet and I'm excited to meet all the other people were traveling with!
Thank you for all your prayers I can't believe its already been a month!
EE
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Germany!

Sorry about the lack of update all...and this one may be short because its on my phone. Germany is amaaaazing and beautiful ! So far there's very little rain and a great temperature. You might have known that our initial housing that was planned fell through just days before our trip...but God tottaly brought us something better. Think real world with a lot cooler people and less drama! We are all in one huge house living and eating together! Its pretty sweet : ). The YWAM people here are also awesome and going above and beyond in serving us and organizing our outreach here.
Outreach info the first three days we spent at a local school doing workshops five hours a day...tiring but super rewarding! The kids were crazy and there was a performance at the end that drew media attention which is cool because we got to share about our mission and YWAM on German national television. The kids from our workshop sang Use Somebody by Kings of Leon : )
Last night the music team went into a really artsy part of Hamburg (yes I looooved it) and got to go to open mic at a bar there. That was really cool just to talk to locals and see a less tourist part of the city, we will defiately go back! Tonight I just got back from being in the heart of the city and talking to people which was interesting to get a completely different upper class feel but beautiful all the same!
So I can't write everything beciase there are so many crazy life altering stories ! Make dure to ask me about things like "Markus' testamony from Nigeria" or the people at the docks, or healings...etc! Can't wait to tell you all about this in person ...God Bless thank you for your prayers and write comments if u feel!
Xo
EE
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Stars

Hi all! Sorry I havn't been updating a lot. I'm going to try to just email in short ones more frequently, but for now I will give you a bit of what has been going on. In short, we are all pretty tired, but having a crazy time! Lectures have been really moving, and thought provoking. I've been challenged a lot in what my calling is in life, and where I'm supposed to go from here. I can understand already why people speak so highly of YWAM. It really motivates you to go out into the world and make a difference, the whole time following God's plan. The cool part is I feel more secure than ever in choosing to go into conflict transformation/peace and justice...I feel like it's the beginning to something big! So that's some exciting news : )

Music has been pretty exhausting, but overall going well. We've crammed in about ten songs already, and are pumped to learn five more before we head out on the fourth. I've taken up the Djimbe too at least for one song which I'm loving. Speaking of learning new insterments...I'm working on the guitar as well. I'm not as terrible as I would have thought (which doesn't say much).

Last night a friend of mine Annike (from California) and I decided we were sick of sleeping in our dorm, and therefore pulled our sleeping bags and blankets out to the huge field by the creek and "slept" there! It was so beautiful, the shooting stars were crazy! The downside was that it got quite cold and wet, but we stuck it out till the sun came up and are planning more carefully for our next camp out : )

Hope all is well with everyone, thank you for the emails and comments, I will work on responding to them ASAP!

Please pray for safe travels, and our team to go with God's will.

lovvve
EE

Mandatory fun day.

So today is Saturday, which at the base is known as mandatory fun day! Haha, anyways we're heading down at one fifteen to a camp on the lake from what I hear. Hopefully it will clear up and warm up some because it would be nice to actually swim...
This past week has gone so fast, I can't imagine how this summer is going to go! our band has been working on tons of music, and getting along really well (lots of prayers allowed that to happen). I've gotten to know a lot of the leaders and students here, and it's really refreshing that everyone is genuine, and here for a reason.
A little more on the outreach trip (as much as anyone knows): We are traveling with the dance and sports people, which is a new thing and awesome! Flying through Chicago on the fourth, then to Hamburg. We will be there at the YWAM base for about ten days, then both the dance and music people will be heading to some "festivals", after that were going to southern Germany for about a week, then spending the last part back in Hamburg. That's about all I know thus far, but so psyched for it!
I'm heading out right now to find some lunch and walk the route I've been "running" recently...yes I have been running sort of. It helps that it's absolutely beautiful here.
Please keep in your prayers the people of Germany, our group growing closer as well as safety traveling.

Of course another thing to pray for: North Korea to stay at bay and guidance for the world governments.

Love
EE
ps. I will try and figure out how to put up pictures soon...but I'm not sure if I will get it done : ?

Fw: Thankful.

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-----Original Message-----
From: ericaenelson@gmail.com

Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:57:44
To: <ericaenelson.elan@blogspot.com>
Subject: Thankful.

Just thought I'd write a quick note while waiting for the morning class. So far my favorite part is being able to wake up early and read and write while looking out at mountains. Every morning here has been beautiful and sunny which is an awesome way to start off the day!

-ee
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Arrival!

So I'm finally here in Montana at the YWAM base. It is beautiful here. After spending a day whitewater rafting and hiking with my Dad and Josh, it was really cool to arrive at such a quiet relaxing base in Lakeside. I've already met a lot of awesome people in the sports service, music service, and dance, so I'm excited to get to know everyone as time goes on!
I know a little bit more about our outreach now: The dance, sports, and music programs are all traveling together which is sweet! We will be mainly staying in the Hamburg YWAM base, but will have time to travel elsewhere....possibly day trips to France or Sweden and such! Also, we are going to have a layover in Chicago on July 4th, if you want you can come hang out at O'Hare with me haha. The cool layover is when were returning to Montana though...London for 24 hours!
Today is when we're starting the programs and our usual schedule which includes music, so please keep in your prayers our teams, and that we grow close and work together for God.

-EE