me and mommy's day out

Well I have arrived back in the adventurous land of the Philippines. We are staying at our friend's place and enjoying our time spent with them! Upon arrival we have noticed that they are a bit worn out, well my dear friend Susanna who is 14 weeks along and wrangling a year old toddler is in need of some time off! SOOOO we headed out this afternoon and by headed out I mean we were ready for adventure and stress release, and that we found! We were planing to take a taxi but upon finding a half empty jeep (half empty is a good thing in this instant, very optimistic) I jumped in forgetting that Susanna was not customed in jeep travel. She was up to the challenge and did a fantastic job jumping right in after me. We hopped off the jeep and walked through the mall to get to the train, yet another mode of transportation I haven't been on in a while and Susanna not to customed to. But since she is with child we got to take the short cut past the chaotic lines and crowds and hop right on the train and we got to sit a rarity for me!
We got off the train and walked through a second mall to get to the movie theater. We had hunted the night before for the perfect chick flick and Praise the Lord we had found one!! Letters to Juliette. I highly recommend it. It was clean, very chick flick and a total tear jerker! Just what these two missionary girls needed. An Adventure! We ate at burger king and had dairy queen for dessert. We took the train half way home and voted on a taxi from the train station because we can only handle so much adventure in one day!
We need this time to our selves some times because we are missionaries. Did you know that this is one the most stressful jobs in the world? I didn't. I have been reading a book on culture but also on the effects of culture shock and how we as humans and women deal with it. And I have to admit I have dealt poorly at times with my shock. I have displaced my anger, I had withdrawn from the people group whom I love so much and desire them to know Jesus, but not shown it because I didn't know how to deal at times. Praise God for friends like Susanna who can help me with stress and culture shock. And for a loving father in heaven who is our rest, strength and hope! We can lean on him and know that he cares for us! But also he has provided good friends who lift us up and pray for us and sometimes just take us out on an adventure!
blessings!
erin:)
PS thanks Susanna for being such a bug part of my life and this great adventure we call life!

being wrong stinks

Why do I always run the wrong way?
I make wrong turns.
Why do I look in the wrong places?
I do what I don't want to do.

I forget who I have faith in and I forget His mighty power! I forget that He is my redeemer. He can make mourning to gladness!

I run to friends when I am down.
I turn to my mom when I am lost
I look for joy in music
I let my mind carry me away from my Jesus

Then my Father comes and gently draws me back.
He speaks to me in simple ways.
He shows me my weeknesses in love.
His Spirit comforts me.

This week He spoke through a bulletin, the old kind that hip cool churches are trying to get rid of. (Don't do it) it simply said "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" just that simple and it hit me like a rock, a soft loving rock. Well then the other day I was sharing with a friend this blessing and we looked it up in God's word and the rest of that passage in Romans chapter 5 helped me imbrace that peace. God got my attention and well Romans is so what I needed. Chapter 8 verse 35-36 reminded me why we are here, "For His sake" WOW boy I have things wrong a lot of the time!

Thank you God for giving me your Spirit.
Holy Spirit, thank you for being my comfort.
Thank you for your Peace!

I just needed to pray to my Father in heaven
I need to turn to His word more
I need to seek His face and His Kingdom
I need to make things right with God so that I can have peace.

Stomach of steel

So my poor little nephew is staying home from school today because he woke up sick at 2 Am this morning and well we have decided it was the leftover P.F. Chang's I brought home for him. I ate most of the leftovers but he has his fair share and well after it all came up I realized that my tummy was not feeling so well either. BUT I just ate breakfast and drank my coffee and one unmettionable trip to the CR (comfort room) and I am feeling much better. I think God made me with a stomach made of steel for a reason. many times I have to eat not so well cooked items and well NOTHING seems to bother me, poor Justin on the other hand has to keep an eye out or else he gets all torn up!
Thank you God for this skill, blessing, talent, gift what ever it is I am blessed to not have stomach issues!