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.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----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
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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

Hi All!

As many of you know, I'm leaving for two months this summer on a YWAM (Youth With A Mission) trip. I applied over the school year to get into the MSOS (Music Summer of Service) program and found out I made it! It was an audition process to be in an outreach band. The basics are that I will be heading to Montana on Saturday the 13th, where we will spend three weeks in classes and practicing in the band, then we're off to our outreach country for a month in....Germany! What I gather is that we will be based in Hamburg (northern Germany) while we are there, but touring to Churches, bars, parks, prisons, schools, really anywhere that will take us we're there!

I'm hoping to be able to keep everyone updated on here, and be able to post pictures and such. I'm really excited for this trip and ask that you keep me and the others on the trip in your prayers for safe travel and a life changing experience! With school just ending I'm so excited to get going and find out what this summer holds.

Thank you all for your support, I'll be sure to read all the great comments you all will leave me : ). Oh and my email address is ericaenelson@gmail.com if you'd rather email me!

To check out the Montana base I'll be staying at: http://www.ywammontana.org/

(photo courtesy of Maggie Hubbard; Adam Nathan at I jamming)

-Erica