Fast forward 2!

This is my team at the commissioning service.

The next day, on our way to Ox Lake , a camp we might work at next summer,for orientation, we stopped for lunch in Amery, WI. Little did we know, it was their fautumn festival - very busy and crazy!
We got to be with the 2 other camp teams, Daybreak, who is at a camp all year, and Rainbow of Promise, who is going to India and will be joining us next summer working at the camp. These will be the facilities all next summer, something I was rather worried about untill I thought of what they will be like in Africa... Non-existant!

The water is provided by pumping the well :

Fast forward!

Ok, picture post!

So much to update!

Since last I wrote, we had a week of international training at Luther Point, including the session entitled ‘Cathy Is A Racist And So Are You!’ and a session on the very simple but fun game of 5 rocks.

We got to put on our program for all the international teams at Luther Point -here are some highlights:

The puppet show children's moment is one of my favorite parts.

And the skit isn't too bad either!

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Thusday, September 17th, we had an international dinner. The alumni from the international teams cooked food for each of the teams. Former Cross Fire member Rachel cooked us Ground-Nut Soup. In essence, tomato-peanut butter soup with chicken pieces. You eat it with your fingers, dunking chunks of your rice ball into the broth. It grew on me. The alumni said to expect it often. You can also see in this picture a dish called Red-Red which is sauteed onion and tomato with red beans served over plantains - this was delicious!

It was served with warm Coke, (not just luke warm!) since that is all the cooler your beverages will be there.

Day 21

Sunday, September 13th, 2009
Wow, today was a long day. Very very fun, but this morning seems so long ago…

We got to do the children’s moment and Sunday School for 2 services at the church in Woodbury. We started in the service and got to experience the praise music part of the service before we sang our song for the children’s moment. Then we followed the kids to the Sunday school room and led them in more songs and did a puppet show. They were so much fun! There were the grumpy ‘I-am-trying-to-act-cool-and-not-like-this’ kids and the ‘Oh-my-this-is-my-favorite-song-and-I-know-every-action-and-can-I-stand-up-front-with-you?’ kids and everyone in between!

From there, we headed to Luther Point in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, for our last week of training. I slept the whole way! Well, the whole time after I ate my delicious lunch prepared by my host mom! She even had a checklist for me and Kaitie to fill out and made each of our lunches to order.

We got in about 2:15ish and unloaded the van, set up our practice room, and had a good rehearsal. We will be the first team to perform our program for the other teams and staff to be critiqued. I am not feeling ready. We aren’t bad, just unpolished.

After practice, we had camp orientation, this is where the dining hall is, that is where the canoe paddles and lifejackets are kept, etc… Then we got to start our day off! I went with the group of 7 into St. Croix for dinner, a movie, and Walmart. We left camp around 5:30 and went to Loggers Bar and Grill. They have really good juicy burgers and my Philly sandwich was sooo good. Then we wandered around Walmart until it was time for our movie. *SPOILER* (kind of) We went to see All About Steve, and it was funny, but felt unresolved. There are some great lines though!

I am looking forward to tomorrow morning – the first thing in my schedule is lunch!

Day 20

Saturday, September 12, 2009

And we’re off! Today we left Luther Dell for our Rally Day booking! It was sad to say goodbye to all of the national teams – we won’t see them until the sending service. I know, it is only about a week, but we have become a family. It is strange living in a closed community like that, with virtually no contact with the outside world. I have no clue what has gone on in the world since starting training.

Our Rally Day booking was is in Woodbury, MN. We got there early! Our contact was very nice – she bought us Yang’s for dinner! We played Ultimate Frisbee with a group of about 7 church members plus us, and then had a campfire. We sang a bunch of sing-alongs and some cross cultural songs, Dave did a devotion, and then we had s’mores. It was a lot of fun!

The boys and girls in our team stayed at different host families. Kaitie and I stayed with a family with 2 really cute little girls – and they are smart!! One is learning Spanish and the other is learning Chinese! I was very impressed. The family was very kind and let us do laundry – what luxury! We had a great time just telling stories and laughing until bedtime.

Day 19

Friday, September 11th, 2009

Today was Prom!

The staff pulled a fast one on us. They had the camp director tell us they had to wax the dining room floor for a square dance they were having soon and so we had to eat outside all day. For dinner, they had us go get our dinner team by team ‘so we wouldn’t have so many people on the wet floor at one time.’ In reality, they had turned the dining hall into a prom and all the staff was wearing fancy stuff from the camps costume bins.

There were balloons and streamers and dance music – so much fun. We ate by candlelight with our teams and talked about our favorite dance and formal memories.

We even got to choose the king and queen of the prom!

Day 16

Tuesday September 8th, 2009

Today we got to clean out and wash down the van that will be ours for the rest of the year. It is so exciting to think of how far we will go, even just this fall. And all of the memories that traveling in that van will create! We are supposed to name it, but we don’t even have any good ideas yet.

We also picked our team jobs today. It mostly simple. Katie is our team leader and development liaison, Dave is our treasurer and our life encourager, Elliott is our Program and Culture Coordinator and our technology , ludvigs is our vehicle manager and our sound tech (we tease him because we have one amp and that has 2 chords – ooh so hard!!!).

My jobs are the Ministries Liaison and the Media coordinator. As the Ministries Liaison, it is my job to call the churches 3 weeks ahead to make sure they know what we need and we know what they need so our visit will be as smooth as possible. I get directions for where we are going and figure out what kind of programming they want so that Elliott can plan what we are going to do. My other job as Media coordinator is to make sure we are taking pictures and writing on the blog! I will also be handling the mail packets back to the office, making sure all of the information from each person’s job is sent in.

Tomorrow, all the sessions are about our jobs and what we do for them, what our responsibilities are. I am excited to find out more!

Day 15

Monday, September 7th, 2009

Solitude day 2

Our 22 hours of solitude has gone from 7pm yesterday to 5pm today. Silent means no headphones, no ipods, no sign language, no passing notes, no contact with one another. We started in a circle and the last thing we said or heard was the Lord’s Prayer. Today, we will break the silence in the same way.

It has been so wonderful to not have any structure, any expectations, just free time to relax and commune with God. I went for a long walk in the woods, sat out by the lake and wrote letters, read my bible, and prayed. It was so good to just bask in his presence, to come before him with no agenda, no requests, no needs, just seeking Him for the great and awesome God He is.

As I was sitting by the lake, I saw a boat pull into a prime fishing spot and start to fish. The next time I looked up it had drifted a little, and I thought that their anchor wasn’t holding. The next time I looked, they had drifted about 2 football fields away from the spot they had started! As I continued to watch, the fisherman put down his pole, started the boat, and went back to the prime fishing spot – without pulling up an anchor! He had no anchor to hold him there. I watched him do this 3 different times!

We are like that boat sometimes, getting ourselves into a good relationship with God, or finding a good spot for ministry, but we do nothing to anchor ourselves there. Because we have no prayer life or we aren’t rooted in scripture, we drift away from God, or we loose sight of the purpose for our ministry. I am praying that we all remember to anchor ourselves securely in God and in His purposes for us.


Ok, the silence is broken! This is what happens to extroverts when you make them not talk for 22 hours!

(i will work on posting a video, but am not sure how yet - soon!)

It was so much fun to hear what the other people experienced on their day of silent solitude. A few comments were:

I heard God say this is exactly where I am supposed to be.

My day was productive and that productivity made me thankful for my abilities and all the letters I wrote made me thankful for all the people I have in my life that care about me. God is Good!

I slept for 18 of the 22 hours, but God used what was left.

I heard God say that I should never ever ever even try to be quiet for that long ever again.

I think I was looking too hard and missed what God was trying to say to me until the last hour.

Day 14

Sunday, September 6th, 2009
Two weeks in!

We are now in our 2nd of 22 hours of silent solitude. It is amazing. So peaceful and relaxing… so different than the last 13 days! We started at7pm and are ending at 5pm tomorrow. Some were and are rather worried. It was pretty funny when it was announced, the introverts cheered so loudly, we drowned out the extroverts groans!

Today we were the program team, which means we got to teach 2 sing-alongs – both of which I did not know. But they are pretty good – I will have so many things to tell you about and teach you that cannot be done in blog or letter or phone call form. We will also do a worship song for last word, but since we are having solitude, we will do it tomorrow night.

Today was my birthday, and all day I had to wear an African headdress turban-y thing. It was too warm for that! I got letters and a box from mom yesterday (thank you!) and was wished Happy Birthday in English, Spanish, Danish, German, French, and both bad British and Scottish accents! I also got a bag of peanut butter m&ms from the staff – yum!

I am going to catch up on my bible reading today. During free time, I am trying to push myself out of my comfort zone and be more extroverted. There are a lot of great people here and I will not get to see most of them all year as we are all out on the road. I am trying to get to know as many as I can. That takes up a lot of time! Hopefully I can find a balance.

P.S. thank you for all the Birthday wishes!

Day 13

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

No speech for me today. I am on total vocal rest. Yesterday I woke up with a bit of a sore throat, but then forgot as the day went on. By supper, though, I had just about nothing left. Last night we had a communion service with really good music and I was very frustrated I could not sing any of it. But then I just relaxed and listened… There are some amazingly talented singers. There was 3 and 4 part harmony on most of the songs… So beautiful… the phrase came to me ‘a sacrifice of praise.’ My sacrifice was not being heard or leading or harmonizing, it was reflecting on the words of the song, focusing on the One we are singing about and to.

The camp based team is leaving today. It is a great group and I am excited for them! This is the first year YE has had a non-traveling team. The team is not exactly sure of what their role will be, but they do know they will be based at the camp I go to next summer and will be going to churches around there. They have the cool opportunity of going to these churches 3 and 4 times and will get to build more relationships. I am looking forward to seeing them at mid-winter training in December and working with them at camp next summer.

Sonja is on the camp based team and her birthday is the 7th, and since they are leaving, they decided to celebrate her birthday today. Sonja is from Denmark. When you turn 25 in Denmark and are still single, you get cinnamon, or have cinnamon food or – or – people dump it on your head. Since tomorrow is my birthday and I have a birthday buddy, Rachel, who is also turning 25, and Sonja will be gone, we all got cinnamon dumped on our heads! It does not taste good plain. Or with broccoli cheese soup. But I did smell rather delicious all day!

We got to have our first 1x1 (read: one on one). 1x1s are times with just one teammate so you can connect individually along with connecting as a team. We had time for four which means I didn’t get one with Kaitie, but that will happen next time. We will have a 1x1 with every person on our team once every 2 weeks.

Day 12

Friday, September 4th, 2009

Today Larry came up to camp, so we get 2 days of theology – yea! (that has a little sarcasm in there). Larry is full of knowledge and has great stories to illustrate the concepts he is trying to teach. But he is trying to teach us complicated theology in a 1 ½ hour lecture that would be covered in whole college courses. He talks about point A, point A, point A, point A, point A, point A, We get it by the 3rd example and start trying to think it through and then have questions for him. But when we ask our questions, I find they are about point D, while Larry is still on point A. He wants to be thorough and give us the details and evidence; we want the big picture. He gives us his objectives for each session, but not an overview of what he is talking about. Perhaps if he gave us the big picture and then went back and unpacked all the details? I don’t know. I feel like I have learned a lot, but have had to wrestle with most of it. Maybe that is good. Perhaps I will remember it better that way.

We also had a couple different sessions about the business aspects of being on team. We had one on vehicle maintenance, who to call if something goes wrong, never ever to use duct tape, you must not back up without a spotter (or at all if possible) etc… we talked about the media specialist job, the person in charge of the resource table in the back after programs, who orders more merchandise if needed, that we need to take pictures and send in blog updates, as well as be prompt with our newsletter info.

After lunch today, we had the traditional staff v. teamers greased watermelon contest. This happens in the chest high water of the swimming beach. There are docks framing the swimming area – each teams of 15-25 must have all of their members touching their respective dock. The watermelon is greased with Crisco and floated in the middle. When the lifeguard says go, all mayhem breaks loose. The object of the game is to get the watermelon to your side and past the buoy line.

The whole camp gets into it, especially the people who participated. There was face painting and special outfits and chanting and inspiring speeches. The first challenge was best 2 out of 3. The staff won the first 2 challenges. The teamers convinced them to do best 3 out of 5. The staff, not smelling any danger, agreed. The teamers then resoundingly kicked their patooties.

I will beg borrow and steal (ok, maybe not steal) to get pictures for you soon!

Day 11

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

This morning’s team devotion was really good. We each had 10 minutes to write our own creeds. We were cautioned not to follow any of the creeds we know too closely, but to write our own. We then read them aloud – it was so interesting to hear how each of us approached it so very differently: Ludvigs talked most about God’s relationship to us. Elliot’s theme was the awesomeness of God. Kaitie focused on God’s unconditional love. Dave has a passion for scripture and that was evidenced in his creed. I highly recommend this activity.

Today we prepared what is called a need skit. It is part of the program where our need for God is highlighted. We got about 2 hours to come up with and practice our skit, and then we presented it after dinner. Each team prepared one and there were a lot of great ideas! Not to brag, but the staff watching and giving tips and tricks didn’t have any criticism for us, constructive or otherwise!!!

At tonight’s Meet By Team we learned about conflict. Basically, there will be some. Possibly a lot. We are a team of avoiders and peacemakers. This indicates we could have no visible conflict, but we then would have undercurrents of anger and resentment. Lets pray against that, shall we?!

Tonight I got to learn how to play rook, or at least the fundamentals. I have no strategy yet though. I had a great conversation with Christine, an alumni on staff who works with special needs kids at her ‘real job.’ We bonded quickly over cute kid stories and our unsureness about future plans. She has said she transposes well, so I might ask if she can help find some better keys for some of our songs.

Day 10

Day 10

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

Day off!!!

It feels so much like a Saturday! Today I got to sleep in, lounge around camp till 4, then go into Grand Rapids.

I got to do Laundry – it cost me $7.25 to wash and dry my 1 load of clothes.
I am now at Caribou for a couple hours so I can post and respond to emails. After this my van is going to Applebee’s for dinner.

Well, the Caribou closed at 9 and they turned off the internet then too, right in the middle of down (up?) loading my pictures, so I didn’t get to do a current post!!!

Well then, I guess I can put in some random pictures to give you a better idea of who my team is and what we do here at camp.

One of our challenges as a team was building the tallest balloon tower possible with the 40 balloons provided - how fun!


There have been some spectacular sunsets.

This camp makes the most delicious dessert – brownies with a layer of uncooked cookie dough on top… pardon the drool!

Day 9

I am writing this during our free time after lunch – this camp so much reminds me of those movies that take place in performing arts schools, where as you walk around there are people practicing their instruments and talking music theory and comparing sound equipment tips and stories everywhere! In our free time! I am in our practice room, and all 4 of my teammates have been in here in the time it took me to set up my computer and type this much!

But as Rachel (my cabinmate) says, with Christ as the foundation there is such a sense of joy and humility in it all. This makes the incredible sounds emanating from the practice cabins all the sweeter.

I am on vocal rest for this morning. Everyday we have sample programs, sing-alongs, sectionals and Last Word, which means we sing a lot, even if you are just a sound tech. I need to learn to pace myself.

I have heard stories of people who are feeling unsure of their place here. There are a lot of extremely talented people on team. Those who are taking on a new instrument, or especially those learning their first, have expressed feelings of inadequacy and doubt. From what I have heard, this is internal, they are not being told that they need to be better or learn faster, but they are thinking that themselves (or perhaps the devil is playing his tricks). I ask for prayer for these people and their learning process, that they may have the courage to ask for help if needed, the persistence to press on, and the boldness to rock out on what they do know! Oh, and good memories for the more experienced teamers, that they might remember what it was like their first few weeks.

We had a great sample acoustic program done by the Water Vision of Rainbow Fire Team. (The international music staff took one word of each of the international teams – Watermark to Denmark, New Vision to Australia, Rainbow of Promise to India, and of course Cross Fire to Africa.) It was incredible – worshipful, with clear themes, smooth transitions, hilarious as well as serious and moving elements, they spoke to their audience, kept up their energy, and shared leadership… so great. Kind of intimidating. A little scary to think I will too be expected to do that day after day after day. And then go and do relational ministry with the host family!

I am excited – tomorrow is our day off! I have never been so excited for laundry before!!!
That means I will have internet to post these blog entries and send some emails! I have missed your emails and comments, just that connection, but it has also been good to focus on the connections I am making here.


Talk to you soon!

Day 8

Today we had KP! We set out the cups and beverages on the tables, got to eat first, and then started clearing tables. We got to run the dishwasher, bleach the tables and benches, and sweep and mop the floors for each meal.

I got my teamer prayer partner today. Her name is Emma and she is a back-to-backer – someone who is on their second year on team in a row. She is super sweet. I will try to get a picture for you.

Oh yes, I got my camera back! It is so clean and shiny! But it won’t focus on anything. So now it is a shiny paperweight. Ok, it is not that bad, but sitting in the back of the small chapel, it won’t focus on the people up front. I am a lot frustrated.

We set up our rehearsal rooms today. This is our team's - it is usually the medic cabin. The name is Jahova Rophe, God our Healer.

As a vocalist on an acoustic team, there was not much for me to do (imagine that!) so I helped carry equipment for some electric teams. I am very glad I am on an acoustic team!!! Those monitors and bins of cords and amps and speakers are very heavy!

Tonight we heard a sample of the national team’s program and it was very good! I am excited for them and the ministry they will get to be a part of. One of the teamers did the sharing and talked about Ezekiel and the fire and the earthquake and the wind, but God was in the whisper. He cautioned us that this year we will have so many things that will be calling for our attention, we need to take the time to listen, to wait out all the noise and distractions and make the time to be still.

The Last Word was around the campfire tonight. What atmosphere – you just can’t create that feeling in a sanctuary. When we were done, we did a tribal drum circle worship, where there are only drums going on, and you dance around the fire… oh I cannot wait to experience a real one!!! Former teamers have said they can go on for hours, the beat evolving, the dancers changing in and out, keeping you awake till 4 or 5 am…

Today, I am having trouble finding a place to get away and just spend time with God – I find that after a couple weeks with time scheduled daily, I now miss it! I highly recommend actually making an appointment with God each day for a couple weeks. Write it in your calendar. Put a reminder on the mirror or in the car. And keep your appointment! Set the time apart as sacred. As Leah said on day 6, we ravish the Father’s heart by just turning our head to look – how much more can we move the Lover of our souls by spending time just with him?

Day 7

This morning after our tasty oatmeal, we got to have the music staff lead us in the worship service that the international teams will do – I am so excited to do it! It has a lot of great elements, along with the good music.

Today we started sectionals. We all divided by primary instrument to go over that instruments role in the team. As the vocalist it is my job to make sure the vocals are warmed up, can be heard over the instruments, that we are all on pitch and that we are singing clearly and enunciating, among other things. We were talking about the songs, how we all like them and they have really good messages, but they have soooooo many words! It will be a challenge to memorize them. Some of them do not have a pattern I can follow, I just have to know them. But really, that is easy compared to Dave learning how to play the djembe, or Lisa Marie, a cabin mate who has never used more than a boom box and is now the sound tech for her electric team!

Tonight for Last Word, we heard from Mary Bull, the recruitment director, who helps everyone through the application process. She is also a former teamer and has a beautiful voice. She told us of her journey to Chicago this spring to try out for American Idol, how she got there at midnight for 7:30 or so auditions (that didn’t get to her part of the line until much later) , how it was windy and raining and her mom was with her, and they were told not to bring umbrellas or chairs but everyone else had (grrrrr!) and… While she was in line she started to question if she really wanted to do this, there were others who were ‘better’ than her and were crazier and had better stories than just coming with her mom. She also worried if she would be ready when they called her for her turn. Then she asked us:

Are you ready if God calls you for your turn?

You may have to go somewhere uncomfortable to put yourself in the position to be used by Him. You may think you are not good enough or don’t have a dramatic story. You may have to wait there for a while, while God prepares you and others for the work He will call you to. When He calls will you be ready to answer? Are you listening for Him?

Day 6

Camp!

Today I traveled to Camp Luther Dell which is near Remer, MN. This is the beautiful view of the beach and campfire ring. We stopped to switch drivers twice to give all of the drivers a chance to practice. We stopped at Pamidas each time, and I realized I had never been to one before. I got to navigate on the easiest stretch of road – the one where there were no turns until you got to the Pamida parking lot! It was very windy, so when we were driving past Lake Mille Lacs there were white caps on the waves and wind surfers doing there best not to drown.

We arrived at camp in time to have a supper of delicious Pizza (which is the same thing as we had for lunch, but camp pizza with zucchini and tomatoes and onions is much different than Papa John’s). This is the dining hall and chapel, down and upstairs respectively.After Pizza we got our cabin assignments and unpacked the trailer. In my cabin, there are 6 girls in 5 sets of bunks. That is not true of all of the cabins, but we got to choose where we wanted to sleep.

Last word was done by the camp director, Leah. She was very good. She spoke about cultivating a garden, and how we need to cultivate our own relationship with God, not rely on our teams to fill us up or drag us along. We need to spend that time with God intentionally, not distracted but focused on Him.

She also talked about IHOPs. Yea! Pancakes! No, she was talking about the international houses of Prayer, where they have houses of worship all around the world that have prayer and fasting and praise going on all day everyday. It is a great goal, but it is not accomplished alone, many people come in shifts so that the others can go back to their life and home and dishes and laundry. No matter how much we try to keep our focus on God, life will intervene, draw us away. But if we remember that we all need to take a shift, we all need to take that time to sit and adore Him, to just bask in His presence, we will then be filled up to do our dishes and laundry in a God honoring, God glorifying way.

It is amazing how God turns it around. When we bring a sacrifice of praise to Him, whether it be of our time or our labor or maybe refraining from something so that He has our focus, God turns that around into blessings, filling us up to do it all again.

Leah used a verse from Song of Solomon, which can be interpreted as both a marriage relationship and the relationship between God and us. In Song of Solomon 4:9 it says “You have ravished my heart, my treasure, my bride. I am overcome by one glance of your eyes.” We have the ability to make God’s heart just fall to pieces, just by looking His way! By taking the time to stop and turn ourselves toward Him, to focus our attention on Him, we make the God-of-the-Angel-Armies melt.

missing you today,

erin