I'm Outtie!

Welp, I guess I'm leaving today. 

Thankfully, I planned enough in advance to pack yesterday...well, for the most part.

and enough in advance to change my address!

Packed some of my favorite mugs.

But then the mug looked so good, so I took a coffee break.

 This past week has been really great. It started at the Sharptown Church Women's retreat. I lead worship with my friend Ashley. We got a lot of compliments on the music, which I was surprised about because it was only one guitar and two vocals. I'm glad God was able to use us that weekend! 

The women's retreat was last weekend, and I had been planning worship for it during the couple of weeks prior. So really, I wasn't even thinking about what was after that weekend (which is right now!). People were asking me if I was packing and ready to go. But honestly, I hadn't even thought about it. I couldn't see past the women's retreat. 

But after the last session was over, a friend prayed for me and many people were laying hands on me. People who I look up to, people who used to be my youth leaders when I was younger, people who are full of wisdom, people who have challenged me, people who love me, and all whom I would call friends. I had people come up to me and say something like "You don't know me, but I want you to have this, or I'll be praying for you." Which is such an answer to prayer. 

Some of the Sharptown North Ladies

For some reason, I wasn't expecting as much support as I've gotten throughout this whole process. The couple months leading up to today have been very confirming for me in many ways. From raising what I needed two months ahead of time, to meeting a lady who was a run-a-way and almost became a victim of sex trafficking, to randomly sitting next to a girl (who doesn't normally attend the church) in a packed out service who served in Thailand (where sex trafficking is outrageously common) on the day I was to speak about how I'd be working with human trafficking. Then on top of all that, I've exceeded the amount of funding I'd originally needed. Needless to say, I'm 1,000,000 % sure God wants me to do this. Whether it's to show me what I'll be working with for the rest of my life, or to guide me in another direction. 

Anyway, I've had to say many goodbyes this week. I had a VERY small goodbye party with just close family the day I got home from the women's retreat. 

Tuesday was my last day of work (YAY!). 

Wednesday was the hardest so far. 

I had to say goodbye to two friends during the day, but at night was hardest! We had youth group. And I LOVE my small group to death. I get a long so well with them and always look forward to my Wednesday night small youth group. But anyway, I thought the youth group as a whole would get me a card or something, but not only did they do that, they took the last half hour or so to tell funny and encouraging stories about how God has worked through me to impact their lives. It was SO fun! I love getting made fun of and telling stories that are enjoyable to tell and listen to (but I guess that's a matter of opinion)! I am so thankful for those who helped put that together. It was very encouraging.
Anyway, saying goodbye to the youth was kind of easy...like no one cried I mean. It went so well! I think they know they are being left in good hands, plus I'm only a phone call away...or a 12 hour car ride. But I will SERIOUSLY MISS THEM SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!

I told them to make gangster faces, but some girls just look like they have to poop...

Okay good. This one looks better.

This was a small group party we had two weekends ago. So glad Tanya offered up her house for that!

 

Photo Bombed...

I got some cool gifts from them too...

Don't miss my new friend Philip in the upper right hand corner. He's my new friend...and a unicorn.

This poem is original and very...poetic? I feel so loved.

Then right after youth group, I went to my Great Grandma's 91st Birthday party. She is such a saint and a huge inspiration to me. I don't get to see her very much, because I'm always running around. So I am very glad I got to see her and the rest of my family too!

My mom, my great grandma, and myself.

Some of my family.

My mom, great grandma, myself, and my mom-mom.

Then tonight I met up with some friends from my old job, including my aunt, uncle and two little cousins. I'm so thankful they were ALL able to come out! I love them all very much and we had so much fun! We always do when we're all together. 

And today is my last day co-hosting on the show Friday's with Ken and Erika on Lift FM. So obviously the show won't be called that anymore... I think it will be called Friday's with Dez and Ken. lol I am so thankful Dez is coming onto the show. She is a singer/song writer who is very determined and loves Jesus! Dez, Ken, and I get along SOOOOOOOO well when we're in the studio together. I love being there with the both of them, and will miss them both. 

So from praying with people I love and respect, to best friends, to Kindergarteners, I feel pretty confident. I'm very confident that God wants me at OMS to experience new things, and experience Himself in different ways than I have in the past. He's provided me with the deepest needs of my heart thus far, especially within this past week, and I know He'll continue to do so as long as I am following His will. 

It's hard to say goodbye to some of my best friends, and family. But it's easier knowing I'm in great hands.

My uncle and little cousin.

My two favorite boys!

Lorraine, Kelly, and I.

Core bible study group.

Student leaders.

Myself, Ashley, Kaitlyn, Rachel.

Ashley, Paige, Kaitlyn.

Hannah

Inga

Sasha, Ange and I. (I have the worst aim ever)

Justin and Rico.

So here is a verse a friend showed me at breakfast the other morning...

"And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known. I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them." - Isaiah 42:15

I don't really have much to say to you about that verse besides the fact that I needed to hear it. I needed to know for sure the things God is saying in those verses. And my friend showing me that verse reassured me of the truth. The truth I know but sometimes struggle to believe. That that could be true about me. Little old me. But it is, and it's true about you too. No matter where you've been, God can use your experiences to make light in the darkness. He can use whatever you let Him. He wants to give you a purpose for your pain.


-Erika