The holidays were wonderful around the Erickson house. We had the opportunity to see a lot of family and treated ourselves to a Christmas date at P.F. Changs, the restaurant where we celebrated our wedding rehearsal. Good memories :)
A month ago we thought we would be spending the whole month of January in South Korea teaching English to elementary and middle school children. But due to the outbreak of H1N1 in the schools over there, our trip has been put on hold. Our hope and prayer is that the opportunity will be there during July - the summer break for South Korean children. We're praying and trusting God for his will.
However, since we have not been overseas so much has happened! Andy was able to enroll in a graduated level class at the University of Dayton. The class is specifically geared toward the technical aspect of his job at the base. He enjoys being stretched and challenged - but I'm not going to lie, he is not a fan of all the reading! It has been several years since either one of us were in school and it just so happens that this month he has reading for class, reading for a course at work, reading for our book club, reading for Sunday School, and reading for our Life Group at church!! Oh my :) But we've been helping each other out and I think he's going to make it!
We've also taken advantage of our time at home and have started renovating our upstairs office. It is the only room of our house that we weren't excited about when we moved in. But through blessings we received at Christmas from several loving family members, we have the funds to help kick start this project. Andy is seriously DESTROYING his closet. He's taking out all of the wood paneling and plaster, stripping it down to the studs and hanging drywall. It's his first real project in our first house - so needless to say, he's excited :) I'm getting over the shock of the mess that you have to make for a project like this and liking the idea of buying paint & new curtains. I'll love it when it's all done.
Ministry has been amazing. We attended our regional SALT conference over New Year's and were very much impacted personally. Often times we walk into those conferences thinking we are going to support the students, but God always blesses us. Andy and I are in a fresh season of walking with the Lord and are feeling Him strengthen and grow us as followers of Him. This has overflowed into the start of the quarter on campus. We've had several large obstacles come up even in the first two weeks of class - but our hearts have been so enthralled with the Lord that it really feels like we are standing on unshakable ground. Christ is a firm foundation for his followers & I am learning that on a daily basis.
The students of Chi Alpha are blowing me away as well. They are constant fuel for my fire. The girls I meet with have been running hard after the Lord and are stopping at nothing to see their campus changed. And now, with the devastation in Haiti, they are opening their hearts and eyes up wider to see how they can respond with the compassion of the Lord. I've never been so in awe of these young people. It makes me want to be 20 forever...maybe that's why we love campus ministry :)
The trials in ministry this past month or two have not been easy - but we are taking the high road & choosing to see the Lord's hand and not grow weary. I listened to a student pray this morning that "we wouldn't be afraid of the gospel and we would preach it without fear". If they are praying that, then I better be living it!! I had the opportunity this Wednesday to pray with someone as they gave their life to the Lord. That is one thing in my life that is so exciting that it always feels like I'm doing it for the first time. Sometimes I get so excited that I forget how to pray the prayer of repentance!! But God has grace and is working more in the heart of the other person than He is through my words. That young lady is such a beautiful person and I pray that you also get to share in the my joy by praying with someone in your sphere of influence to receive Christ as their savior :)
