Home Sweet Home

5 months. It's crazy to think that is how long it has been since I've sat here in my house or driven down the all too familiar streets of Centralia, or given my family hugs. Yet now here I am, with 5 months worth of experiences under my belt!

Last Saturday, as we flew home, seeing the brown hills of California was such a welcome sight, simply knowing we were flying over American soil. After some excitement in LAX with forgotten passports and our group being split apart, we all made our connecting flight and arrived in Denver late that night!

The week that followed was full of classes, reuniting with the rest of our school, and catching up with what happened over the last two months! It was awesome to get to be all together again, breaking curfews and making more memories until we went our separate ways.

On Friday, the YWAM Denver community gathered as 23 of us graduated from DTS. It was awesome to be able to testify to what God has done in our lives over the last 5 months as we dove into who He is and got to take His love to the nations. We walk away from this adventure as a DTS family. I am so thankful for all that has happened in the last 5 months and I look forward to when I get to be reunited with the people God placed in my life during this time.

The obvious question is, "What's next?" God confirmed to me over DTS that He is calling me into ministry in the future. As steps toward that, I will be working at home for the next three months, and then returning to YWAM Denver for more training in January! I look forward to seeing what God wants to do in my life and I am excited to keep you updated as I continue to seek God in what He has for me!

Thank you so much for all the prayers and encouragements over the last 5 months. As always, they are continually appreciated, even after arriving home. If there is any way I can pray for you, please let me know!

God bless,
Erin

Denver, Here We Come!

It's only been a week (or so) since I last posted, but it feels like forever!

While in Bogo, I got to fight being sick for the last half! I ended up spending a total of 6 days in bed with a day of travel back to Cebu and a trip to the doctor thrown in there. I was able to get meds from the doctor to get rid of the fever, sore throat, aches, and unrelated rash I had. Through being sick, I also ended up missing the last week of ministry which was really disappointing.

My team finished off their ministry with helping at a building site for houses in Bogo, as well as speaking in churches, working at YWAM Cebu's farm, and blessing people with prayer on a treasure hunt.

My meds kicked in and I was well enough to go with the team on our last off day to a waterfall where we got to go swimming, sing some videoke and then feast in the evening. Thursday was full of moving a large pile of dirt at the worksite of the base's dorm renovation, cleaning, packing, and our love feast in the evening where we got to enjoy some pork lechon (a whole pig roasted over the fire).

We left Cebu early in the morning on Friday for Manila, where we spent all day at the SM Mall of Asia. We ate delicious American style burgers, watched a movie, and ate some Korean BBQ. We finished the night with a ferris wheel ride while watching fireworks explode over the pier! It was a great ending to the last 2 months here in the Philippines and it was good to have a day off before the long day of travel ahead of us!

We are now waiting for our flight from Manila to Seoul-Incheon before our 11 hour flight over the ocean to LA, and then ending our Saturday in Denver!

It's good to be going home!
Prayers continue to be greatly appreciated as we have so much travel ahead of us, as well as prayers for a good week of debrief as we all close this chapter and get ready for what is to come next!

God bless!
Erin