I started my internship at Presentation Convent on May 3rd, well that's when I flew to Aberdeen. I didn't really start until May 5th because my aunt who is also my boss didn't get here until the 4th late at night. I completed one of the 3 main things I needed to do while I was here. I planned and directed a 2 day retreat for high school girls. It was a challenge, but I made it through and everyone said I did a good job and it turned out well, which brings me to things I have learned during my internship thus far...(this is only some..there's a lot)
1. Be flexible. (I already knew this..it was just confirmed)
2. I was blessed with the "Cadillac" Peer Ministry team(as my Aunt calls it) back home and I won't have that everywhere I go.
3. Living in the same building where you work is pretty sweet. No expenses for commuting and you can wake up a few minutes before you should be in the office. Oh, and if you forget something, you can just go up and get it!
4. Living in the same building where you work can be pretty bad. The people who live here and that you work with see you all the time and you are with them all of the time so things can get a little tense.
5. Socialization with people my age is important. I am with these Nuns all of the time and there's n young adult groups because it is summer so I have been having to find ways to keep myself going. I found an adorable coffee shop in town that I like to go to, but of course getting drinks there costs money, so I try to go there as little as possible.
6. You are going to disagree with people. Sometimes it's better to just go with it.
7. It is frustrating when you do something as part of your job and then someone goes and changes it completely. I guess I can't get mad though..I still get paid.
8. Wheel of Fortune is awesome...and Sister Josita and I need to go on the show and play together because we are awesome at it!
9. Don't do laundry after 9pm if someone is staying in the room by the Laundry Room.
10. If you get scolded for things every day or every other day, shrug it off and learn from it (how I learned #9) and move on. Laugh about it if you can if it isn't too serious.
11. You are going to get in trouble if you are 20 and living in a convent with people who are no younger than 50. Accept it...move on.
12. Thank you letters are a must for almost everything.
So these are just a few things...
Next week I am headed to Iowa for a camp for hispanic middle school girls...They come on Monday and leave on Friday I think and I am driving the whole 8 or so hours by myself with a van full of supplies on Saturday (Mom Don't freak Out...it's okay!). Pray for me and everyone working the camp. Pray that we also make it there safe because there's a lot of water covering the roads that would make it easier to get there!!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Be Faithful. Listen. Pray.
My prayers today started with Isaiah 6:3-8, (Verse 8 is one I got from one of my favorite missionaries I know, so thanks!). Listening. Key to prayer. Listening. No matter how loud you yell, "HERE I AM, SEND ME!", if you don't listen to God's voice, we won't know where he is calling us.
I opened my Bible next and got to Sirach 6:5-17 which is a passage I have read many times before and I have notes written next to it, but none of that matter today when I was praying with it. Some things that stuck out to me were these words:
One word that I loved and thought was very important is "faithful". You can't just act like or be their friend for a week, you need to be there for each other and the retreatants after the weekly bowling trips, parties, and random hang outs fade. You need to be there for them once school starts and they are faced with struggles, hardships, and also great moments. You need to be a faithful friend.
I really like what I learned from some missionaries not too long ago and guess what?...we are ALL called to be missionaries!...so back to what I learned. While you are in ministry, be friends, be brothers and sisters to each other. As Peer Ministers, as Missionaries, we are called to minister to these people and to each other and I have seen a lot of relationships ruined with people because they tried to act on being in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship which effects their ministry. I learned that if this is what you think is right, God will open that door once your ministry is over in that place. We need to first learn how to be good brothers and sisters to each other and be out of ministry together before we can think about a dating relationship with those people.
Brotherhood.
Sisterhood.
I am not saying don't be friends with the opposite sex, but have a brotherhood or sisterhood as your main support. I saw how important and amazing that was on my NET interview retreat where there were these beautiful, Holy, men who were so filled with the Spirit that I wanted to just be around and hear about God working in their lives and talk about what we've gone through, but I learned that my small group that was all women made all the difference in the world. It was so rewarding because we had a common bond already that no guy friend of mine could understand and I'm sure it's the same for the guys. I look at an example of looking to Mary and Joseph for guidance. Women will learn and follow Mary and Joseph in different ways because of our connection with the two in different ways. Mary was a mother, Joseph was a father, a carpenter. Children look to their father's and mother's for different things based on their gender I think a lot of the time so it is the same with our spiritual life.
This topic is something that has been tugging on my heart since I left my interview weekend because I saw how much I loved having that Catholic Sisterhood and I wasn't focusing enough on it in my life back home. Peer ministry, no matter where you are needs to have a strong sisterhood and brotherhood before anything else. Without that, I find it really hard to really do what we are called to do. This last year I loved the women in the peer ministry program I was working in because the women were so supportive and understanding and that bond is like no other bond I could have with guys in my life.
I have watched many Peer Ministry programs change over the years and some things that I miss seeing is the brotherhood and sisterhood and Catholic Fellowship among the group, the energy and love that the programs used to be given and most of all, letting the Holy Spirit take charge of our lives in ministry and in our daily lives.
People may just be a part of a peer ministry program because it's just what's next to do to keep us busy in the program, it's fun, or it's cool, but LISTEN to where God is calling you.
Are you where God is calling you to be and do?
Praying for you all.
God Bless,
Erica Jean
I opened my Bible next and got to Sirach 6:5-17 which is a passage I have read many times before and I have notes written next to it, but none of that matter today when I was praying with it. Some things that stuck out to me were these words:
16-17 "A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds; For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself."
My Bible also had a note at the bottom that really caught my attention:14 " A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure."
I was asked yesterday if I would like to be included in a prayer chain for a retreat that will be happening in July, so I decided, why not! Today I prayed for the retreatants, peer ministers, Abbot Issac, the Youth Ministers, chaperones, and the Holy Spirit to come into every aspect of this retreat and the peer minister's lives so this could be the best retreat ever. These verses really stuck out to me though when I was praying for this retreat..."True friends are discerned not by prosperity but through the trials of adversity: distress, quarrels, sorrow and misfortune. Such friends are rare and their value is beyond estimation, a gift from God."
One word that I loved and thought was very important is "faithful". You can't just act like or be their friend for a week, you need to be there for each other and the retreatants after the weekly bowling trips, parties, and random hang outs fade. You need to be there for them once school starts and they are faced with struggles, hardships, and also great moments. You need to be a faithful friend.
I really like what I learned from some missionaries not too long ago and guess what?...we are ALL called to be missionaries!...so back to what I learned. While you are in ministry, be friends, be brothers and sisters to each other. As Peer Ministers, as Missionaries, we are called to minister to these people and to each other and I have seen a lot of relationships ruined with people because they tried to act on being in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship which effects their ministry. I learned that if this is what you think is right, God will open that door once your ministry is over in that place. We need to first learn how to be good brothers and sisters to each other and be out of ministry together before we can think about a dating relationship with those people.
Brotherhood.
Sisterhood.
I am not saying don't be friends with the opposite sex, but have a brotherhood or sisterhood as your main support. I saw how important and amazing that was on my NET interview retreat where there were these beautiful, Holy, men who were so filled with the Spirit that I wanted to just be around and hear about God working in their lives and talk about what we've gone through, but I learned that my small group that was all women made all the difference in the world. It was so rewarding because we had a common bond already that no guy friend of mine could understand and I'm sure it's the same for the guys. I look at an example of looking to Mary and Joseph for guidance. Women will learn and follow Mary and Joseph in different ways because of our connection with the two in different ways. Mary was a mother, Joseph was a father, a carpenter. Children look to their father's and mother's for different things based on their gender I think a lot of the time so it is the same with our spiritual life.
This topic is something that has been tugging on my heart since I left my interview weekend because I saw how much I loved having that Catholic Sisterhood and I wasn't focusing enough on it in my life back home. Peer ministry, no matter where you are needs to have a strong sisterhood and brotherhood before anything else. Without that, I find it really hard to really do what we are called to do. This last year I loved the women in the peer ministry program I was working in because the women were so supportive and understanding and that bond is like no other bond I could have with guys in my life.
I have watched many Peer Ministry programs change over the years and some things that I miss seeing is the brotherhood and sisterhood and Catholic Fellowship among the group, the energy and love that the programs used to be given and most of all, letting the Holy Spirit take charge of our lives in ministry and in our daily lives.
People may just be a part of a peer ministry program because it's just what's next to do to keep us busy in the program, it's fun, or it's cool, but LISTEN to where God is calling you.
Are you where God is calling you to be and do?
Praying for you all.
God Bless,
Erica Jean
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Adventures, Birthday, NET, Catching Up...
So Since I have last written (as I am getting worse at keeping up with this...sorry!) I have moved to South Dakota for the summer to live in a Convent to be an intern in the Vocation office to help with 3 different youth camps. One of them is for high schoolers, it's 3 days (June 14-16) and I am planning and directing that whole camp..That's Live Out Loud. The next one is a Hispanic Camp, L.I.V.E., and it is June 27-July 1. My role in that camp is a lot actually..I am in a small group there, putting together a video by that Friday of the camp (so no sleep for me!), doing a lot of pre-camp planning such as prayer services, organizing supplies, and sort of being a liaison between the Convent team that will be helping and the team in Nebraska that is planning most of it. The last camp is the Storm Mountain Leadership Camp in the Black Hills (July 25-29) and my role is very small in this camp pretty much. I am just going to be a counselor in a small group, which is a big task actually, but small compared to the other camps. I have a few things to plan for that but nothing major, and I have to take supplies to camp since they are all stored where I am staying. So that is my internship pretty much. As I said before, I am living in the convent, so I have a little room...very little..smaller than my dorm room, with a desk, closet thing, dresser, and a tall shelf thingy, tv, bed, and a rocking chair :) It's a really nice room though..and it has a great view of the prairie I think it's called and the starry nights are beautiful. I have this tree outside my window and the little flower blossoms fall off all of the time!
Enough about the actual internship...I celebrated my birthday here! My Golden Birthday--I turned 20! I had an exciting week for my birthday. I ended up in Nebraska/Iowa for the days leading up to my birthday. I went into this awesome Christmas shop in the Old Market in Omaha, NE and I had meetings on the 19th, but that night I went out to eat with two of the Sisters and we ate A LOT! Wings, Queso, Pizza, Fries...then DESSERT which was hot cookies with chocolate ice cream on top! (SO GOOD!) Friday, my birthday actually, I met Rosa (who is in the process of becoming a Sister) in Sioux Falls in South Dakota at Applebees and ate some more..queso and dessert shooter! Then I got back to Aberdeen and some of the Sisters met me at Culvers where I had Chocolate Custard and Fries....
Soo to say the least..it was a birthday full of food...and that's not even the end.. On Sunday, the Prairie House, which is where a few of the Sisters live, invited me over for dinner where we had hamburgers, chips, potato salad, apples and caramel, and then ice cream sundaes! I think it was a pretty fantabulous birthday. I also celebrated in Florida before I left there with some sisters and friends. We went bowling and just hung out and it was amazing <3
Other than those two things, I am just trying to figure out things here and with NET. I am leaving for NET on August 25th! I finally bought my plane ticket today! I have been praying a lot this summer about NET, for the financial donors, for the other NET missionaries, and for the strength to actually do this mission. It is going to be a change for sure, this summer is pretty good and they are long days sometimes, but nothing like NET I am sure. I have so much prayer support and support from friends, family and sorority sisters that I feel very confident about going after I continue to pray about where I am supposed to be going. I have been sending out a lot of letters asking for people to financially support my mission by joining the Partnership Program and praying for myself and the other missionaries, as well as the NET program. If you haven't gotten a letter, email me your address and I will be sure to get a letter out to you, otherwise you can go to NET's website (click here) to learn more about NET and their mission and to support my mission financially. If you choose to donate online, make sure you mark Team Member and write my name 'Erica Jean Boehm' so it goes toward my mission directly :) All of your support is greatly appreciated!
I will try to keep you all updated more often about my South Dakota adventures, in the mean time, please prayer for the development of these camps and that the Holy Spirit will really take over with them especially the Live Out Loud Camp which is coming up very soon and we started from scratch to plan!
God Bless,
Erica Jean Boehm
Enough about the actual internship...I celebrated my birthday here! My Golden Birthday--I turned 20! I had an exciting week for my birthday. I ended up in Nebraska/Iowa for the days leading up to my birthday. I went into this awesome Christmas shop in the Old Market in Omaha, NE and I had meetings on the 19th, but that night I went out to eat with two of the Sisters and we ate A LOT! Wings, Queso, Pizza, Fries...then DESSERT which was hot cookies with chocolate ice cream on top! (SO GOOD!) Friday, my birthday actually, I met Rosa (who is in the process of becoming a Sister) in Sioux Falls in South Dakota at Applebees and ate some more..queso and dessert shooter! Then I got back to Aberdeen and some of the Sisters met me at Culvers where I had Chocolate Custard and Fries....
Soo to say the least..it was a birthday full of food...and that's not even the end.. On Sunday, the Prairie House, which is where a few of the Sisters live, invited me over for dinner where we had hamburgers, chips, potato salad, apples and caramel, and then ice cream sundaes! I think it was a pretty fantabulous birthday. I also celebrated in Florida before I left there with some sisters and friends. We went bowling and just hung out and it was amazing <3
Other than those two things, I am just trying to figure out things here and with NET. I am leaving for NET on August 25th! I finally bought my plane ticket today! I have been praying a lot this summer about NET, for the financial donors, for the other NET missionaries, and for the strength to actually do this mission. It is going to be a change for sure, this summer is pretty good and they are long days sometimes, but nothing like NET I am sure. I have so much prayer support and support from friends, family and sorority sisters that I feel very confident about going after I continue to pray about where I am supposed to be going. I have been sending out a lot of letters asking for people to financially support my mission by joining the Partnership Program and praying for myself and the other missionaries, as well as the NET program. If you haven't gotten a letter, email me your address and I will be sure to get a letter out to you, otherwise you can go to NET's website (click here) to learn more about NET and their mission and to support my mission financially. If you choose to donate online, make sure you mark Team Member and write my name 'Erica Jean Boehm' so it goes toward my mission directly :) All of your support is greatly appreciated!
I will try to keep you all updated more often about my South Dakota adventures, in the mean time, please prayer for the development of these camps and that the Holy Spirit will really take over with them especially the Live Out Loud Camp which is coming up very soon and we started from scratch to plan!
God Bless,
Erica Jean Boehm
Friday, April 29, 2011
Royal Wedding
Today was the Royal Wedding of Kate and William...ohh so beautiful! :)
Before I get to that though, let me brief you on my day and such..
I had blood testing at 7am so I left by 6:30 this morning then cam home by 7:45, showered, and left to go to 8:30am daily mass at St. Mark. After that I decided that it wasn't worth going home since I would fall asleep and miss an appointment I was supposed to have at 1:30 so I decided to shop instead since I still need some clothes for my internship and for NET. After that I got my haircut, went to my appointment then I went to Channelside for my first Hooter's experience with Chelsea. Then I got to hang out with my mom and shop with her in Brandon for other stuff I needed for the next year which was a lot of fun actually. Amanda Arce, one of my amazing sorority sisters, and Charles AKA Sparkles came over for food and to hang out for a little bit which was awesome since I leave on Tuesday :)
Okay, so back to this wedding...it was AWESOME. So beautiful and...well, beautiful. Her dress was amazing and the style was gorgeous.
Now to what was really great...I got to go to daily mass this morning at my church. It was at 8:30, so I showered really quick when I got home and then headed to mass. Daily mass at my church is great..I don't know why I love it so much, but I do. It's a big worship area with few people, but the people are very much there. Fr. Ed, one of my favorite, if not my favorite, priest presided over mass this morning and he talked about The Polar Express in his homily which was awesome since I love Christmas, I love that movie, and his point was legit.
Whenever I receive the Eucharist, I really remember why I am Catholic. He is fully present here, not just symbolically. How totally amazing is that....
Anyway, since today is a good day and there is no better time than the present, start going to daily mass when you can..even get up earlier to go maybe...just as if you were getting up early for the Royal Wedding, but this promise is much more amazing. :)
See you in the Eucharist.
God Bless.
-Erica Jean Boehm
Before I get to that though, let me brief you on my day and such..
I had blood testing at 7am so I left by 6:30 this morning then cam home by 7:45, showered, and left to go to 8:30am daily mass at St. Mark. After that I decided that it wasn't worth going home since I would fall asleep and miss an appointment I was supposed to have at 1:30 so I decided to shop instead since I still need some clothes for my internship and for NET. After that I got my haircut, went to my appointment then I went to Channelside for my first Hooter's experience with Chelsea. Then I got to hang out with my mom and shop with her in Brandon for other stuff I needed for the next year which was a lot of fun actually. Amanda Arce, one of my amazing sorority sisters, and Charles AKA Sparkles came over for food and to hang out for a little bit which was awesome since I leave on Tuesday :)
Okay, so back to this wedding...it was AWESOME. So beautiful and...well, beautiful. Her dress was amazing and the style was gorgeous.
Now to what was really great...I got to go to daily mass this morning at my church. It was at 8:30, so I showered really quick when I got home and then headed to mass. Daily mass at my church is great..I don't know why I love it so much, but I do. It's a big worship area with few people, but the people are very much there. Fr. Ed, one of my favorite, if not my favorite, priest presided over mass this morning and he talked about The Polar Express in his homily which was awesome since I love Christmas, I love that movie, and his point was legit.
Whenever I receive the Eucharist, I really remember why I am Catholic. He is fully present here, not just symbolically. How totally amazing is that....
Anyway, since today is a good day and there is no better time than the present, start going to daily mass when you can..even get up earlier to go maybe...just as if you were getting up early for the Royal Wedding, but this promise is much more amazing. :)
See you in the Eucharist.
God Bless.
-Erica Jean Boehm
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
It's been WAY too long...
Let me do a quick update on my life. A few big things that have happened since January. I will be serving with NET Ministries, which is a 9 month mission program, starting in August of this year. I have been really busy with everything going on. I went to Immokalee, FL this weekend with some other students, Dr. Woodard and his family. I learned so much and still haven't really figured out my feelings yet. It was a lot to take in in a very short amount of time. I am doing my final art project on Immokalee farm workers though which will be really awesome hopefully.
Okay now to real stuff..
I have been stressing out a little bit because I am leaving May 3 for my summer internship in South Dakota and I have a lot to get done before then, specifically raising $4200 for NET and getting my life in order and packed for this year. It's crazy to think that in less than 150 days I will be flying into Minnesota for 9 months of serving with NET. Tonight I really just needed to talk things out so I went to my sister's room and just spilled out loud because I wasn't sure what to do. After the fact I realize that I keep thinking about my plans...It's not about me!! God's got this crazy awesome plan for everything and things will work out how they need to.. How awesome is that..I don't need to worry.
Well, I will write more about NET and SD later so everyone know what is going on more, but until then, Breathe and Smile <3
God Bless,
Erica Jean Boehm
Okay now to real stuff..
I have been stressing out a little bit because I am leaving May 3 for my summer internship in South Dakota and I have a lot to get done before then, specifically raising $4200 for NET and getting my life in order and packed for this year. It's crazy to think that in less than 150 days I will be flying into Minnesota for 9 months of serving with NET. Tonight I really just needed to talk things out so I went to my sister's room and just spilled out loud because I wasn't sure what to do. After the fact I realize that I keep thinking about my plans...It's not about me!! God's got this crazy awesome plan for everything and things will work out how they need to.. How awesome is that..I don't need to worry.
Well, I will write more about NET and SD later so everyone know what is going on more, but until then, Breathe and Smile <3
God Bless,
Erica Jean Boehm
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Original
You are an original work of art....you do not need to change who you are to please anyone...
Listen to this song...it is EPIC..and she's a Catholic artist!
I read in one of the many books that my mom has given me this excerpt today...
"Do not try to change who you are; change the way you look at things. Expand your viewpoint."
I think this happens every minute of my life practically because I am constantly learning new things about life, and myself..so my views change which ends up changing how I act...
I just wanted to share that little bit with you all.
God Bless.
Remember that you are LOVED!
-Erica Jean
Listen to this song...it is EPIC..and she's a Catholic artist!
I read in one of the many books that my mom has given me this excerpt today...
"Do not try to change who you are; change the way you look at things. Expand your viewpoint."
I think this happens every minute of my life practically because I am constantly learning new things about life, and myself..so my views change which ends up changing how I act...
I just wanted to share that little bit with you all.
God Bless.
Remember that you are LOVED!
-Erica Jean
Friday, February 18, 2011
Lord, I'm Overwhelmed...
"Lord I'm Overwhelmed...I often lose sight of You. Please rejuvenate my soul and help me look to You for strength and comfort when I need it most. Remind me that I can't control everything and that it's okay that I'm not perfect. Amen."-Whispers of Joy, Day 47
I have been sick since last week Wednesday and I honestly don't think that I have gotten anything completely finished since then because I have been so worn out. I finally went to the doctor today though and got some antibiotics and other medicine to take and after a long night's sleep last night I already feel better.
The sickness has set me back a little bit though because I haven't been staying on top of a few things that I have been needing to stay on top of so it has just piled up, so I am overwhelmed.
I was sitting in Marmion-Snyder tonight with some sisters who were on RA duty tonight though and I was working on one of the projects that has been needing to get done when one of my fellow peer ministers came along and I was reminded that it's okay if things maybe don't get done as planned and that's when the Holy Spirit came along and worked wonders! It was amazing how things fell into place after that. I was so worried that I wasn't going to be able to focus on this retreat this weekend that I will be at because of everything I had going on, but now with that off my plate there's one less thing to worry about!
I sometimes get so caught up in life that I forget for a second that it's God's plan not mine. Even though I can be a perfectionist sometimes, I have to remember that what ever happens will be perfect in God's eyes and it will all work out according to His plan.
Pray for all of the retreatants, chaperones, youth ministers, and NET Team 2 that will be at Bethany Center this weekend. <3
God's will be done.
Peace and Love,
Erica Jean Boehm
Sunday, February 13, 2011
It's the little things in Life
"Take time in your day to be inspired by something small--the scent of a flower, a hug from a child, an 'I Love you' from your spouse....Then thank God for the little things in life."-Whispers of Joy
I got a new book of daily encouragement quotes called "Whispers of Joy" for Valentine's Day from my grandma. I opened it up to day 43 which is today, well yesterday but I haven't slept yet, and that quote was on the page.
Today I had the opportunity to go to Busch Gardens for our leadership conference for school. We got to listen and participate in a leadership presentation from this awesome speaker. Even though most people, including myself didn't want to be there for numerous different reasons, I got a lot out of the speaker. He was very easy to relate to and pretty cool. He explained leadership in such a simple way and demonstrated it very well. After the speaker was done, we got lunch and then had the next 7ish hours to wander the park.
Wandering inside the park was a lot of fun even though I hadn't slept the night before really and I was sick, but I still really enjoyed it even though I probably looked like I was sleeping. Being able to interact and just watch people today that I knew was awesome. Watching a bunch of college guys on the bumper cars, looking at peoples' roller coaster pictures, looking at orangutans, running out of the snake area, and just learning about animals makes me so happy. The simple things are sometimes the best things. I didn't have to be at Busch Gardens to be having fun though...I could be in an almost empty room and have fun with people..I mean have you ever hear of toothless vegetable!
Stepping back and remembering the simple things is hard sometimes, but those are sometimes the things that mean the most.
Someone telling me they like my pearls or my shoes, or I look at peace or am calm or I have a good joke...it's stuff that I don't notice really..but it's awesome to hear. So thanks God for people such awesome people and experiences in my life..
Peace,
Erica Jean
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Falling in the water--PRAISE GOD!
So this morning...
1. I missed my 8am class.
2. I couldn't find my flip flops, so I put on my $3 WalMart shower flip flops.
3. I was running late for my painting class and on the way to my class I fell in the courtyard because the pavement was wet.
4. I broke my shower shoes when I fell.
5. I was late to class.
6. I am sick.
7. PRAISE GOD!
What I think about each of those things:
1. No big deal...I'll figure it out...and I got extra needed sleep.
2. My shower flip flops are Teal-ish..cool color!
3. It gave my jeans some character because they got darker because of the water.
4. I get to get a new color shower shoe and I got a reason to walk around barefoot.
5. Only 10 minutes.
6. It gives me a reason to sleep.
7. Praise God!
This week has been phenomenal. I have barely gotten any sleep, but I gained 16 new, amazing, beautiful sisters because of it. I missed something I probably should have gone to, but I got to be somewhere else and it helped me relax and just laugh for awhile.
Everything we think is bad or sets us back really has something good come out of it..with every no, there's a bigger yes!
-Erica Jean
1. I missed my 8am class.
2. I couldn't find my flip flops, so I put on my $3 WalMart shower flip flops.
3. I was running late for my painting class and on the way to my class I fell in the courtyard because the pavement was wet.
4. I broke my shower shoes when I fell.
5. I was late to class.
6. I am sick.
7. PRAISE GOD!
What I think about each of those things:
1. No big deal...I'll figure it out...and I got extra needed sleep.
2. My shower flip flops are Teal-ish..cool color!
3. It gave my jeans some character because they got darker because of the water.
4. I get to get a new color shower shoe and I got a reason to walk around barefoot.
5. Only 10 minutes.
6. It gives me a reason to sleep.
7. Praise God!
This week has been phenomenal. I have barely gotten any sleep, but I gained 16 new, amazing, beautiful sisters because of it. I missed something I probably should have gone to, but I got to be somewhere else and it helped me relax and just laugh for awhile.
Everything we think is bad or sets us back really has something good come out of it..with every no, there's a bigger yes!
-Erica Jean
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Too much Fog....
I just went to USCCB to read the Mass readings for today and they are really awesome... READ THEM HERE! The second reading is what I focused in on though. All I can think about is "God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called."
I went to Tampa last night to hang out with some friends and ended up about 45 minutes away from Leo and didn't leave there until close to 3am, which isn't that bad except there was so much fog and it was so thick that I couldn't see more than a few feet in front of me the whole way home even with my brights on. As I was driving I decided that I wasn't going to be able to drive on the highway any longer and thought it would be better if there were street lights so I decided to go home instead of back to Leo which would take about 10 minutes off my drive too.
Next thing from last night:
Last night I learned some things that really got me thinking...I learned that my life could have been completely different if I would have not done something that I am a part of now and waited for another opportunity that was coming, and that opportunity is exactly where I wanted to be. It got me a little bummed because I thought I settled for something less, but in actuality, what I am a part of now is exactly where I am supposed to be.
I was thinking about everything from last night and I realized that this is like our faith journey sometimes..Our path gets fogged up by what could have been or should have been or what WE want, so God throws something in front of us so we have to go home to Him to find out what is real and where HE wants us.
I love where I am now and I wouldn't be the person I am without everything that has happened in the last year especially. It's so great to see where God wants me to be and go down that path even though it is easier to go down our own paths sometimes. He doesn't call you for what you are qualified for, he qualifies you for what He wants you to do. A year away from home...I know He will give me what I need to get through the year away :)
Challenge: Bring God into all of your decisions and see what He wants you to do.
Love,
Erica Jean
I went to Tampa last night to hang out with some friends and ended up about 45 minutes away from Leo and didn't leave there until close to 3am, which isn't that bad except there was so much fog and it was so thick that I couldn't see more than a few feet in front of me the whole way home even with my brights on. As I was driving I decided that I wasn't going to be able to drive on the highway any longer and thought it would be better if there were street lights so I decided to go home instead of back to Leo which would take about 10 minutes off my drive too.
Next thing from last night:
Last night I learned some things that really got me thinking...I learned that my life could have been completely different if I would have not done something that I am a part of now and waited for another opportunity that was coming, and that opportunity is exactly where I wanted to be. It got me a little bummed because I thought I settled for something less, but in actuality, what I am a part of now is exactly where I am supposed to be.
I was thinking about everything from last night and I realized that this is like our faith journey sometimes..Our path gets fogged up by what could have been or should have been or what WE want, so God throws something in front of us so we have to go home to Him to find out what is real and where HE wants us.
I love where I am now and I wouldn't be the person I am without everything that has happened in the last year especially. It's so great to see where God wants me to be and go down that path even though it is easier to go down our own paths sometimes. He doesn't call you for what you are qualified for, he qualifies you for what He wants you to do. A year away from home...I know He will give me what I need to get through the year away :)
Challenge: Bring God into all of your decisions and see what He wants you to do.
Love,
Erica Jean
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Thanking God for 4 new brothers and 16 new sisters!
"Into marvelous light I'm running,
Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth,
You are the life, you are the way"
This weekend I had the opportunity to go on a retreat to grow closer to God and also learn about a fantastic program called NET Ministries which stands for National Evangelization Teams. This weekend is something that I can't even explain really because it was just so EPIC. If I had to describe it though, I've decided that "Spirit-filled" would be the best way to sum it up. Everywhere we went and in every session, especially prayer time, the Holy Spirit was definitely there and it didn't go unnoticed. Also the people, not just the staff, but the young men and women on retreat were so filled with the Spirit too. I can't say that I have been able to be on a retreat where I've noticed the Holy Spirit's presence as much as I have on this retreat. The young men and women on retreat were just beautiful and holy people and it showed in everything they did. They were glowing. There were 4 men and 13 women and they are my brothers and sisters. The men on retreat were so different from each other but each of them were glowing with this awesome love they had inside of them and it was really great and inspiring to see such Holy men. The women were no different-they were so accepting and open to the Lord which makes them so beautiful. (I am praying for each and everyone of you!)
After the retreat was over, some of us spent the night so we didn't have to travel at night and the fellowship was AMAZING that night (Saturday Night). We played games, the human knot being one of them, while the men were still upstairs and we did a Jesus Chain (I am pretty sure that is what it was called and Santiago will correct me if I am wrong) and just hung out. After we went to our respective area of women and men dorms, the women just sat and talked and shared in one of the rooms for awhile then some of us went to the chapel and had 1am Praise and Worship time which was BEAUTIFUL! There was dancing, shouting, clapping, singing off key, and just so much joy coming from myself and other beautiful women.
This morning(Sunday), some of us woke up around 6:15 to go downstairs before Adam (one of the men on retreat) left to go home because we wanted to sing Happy Birthday since it was his birthday today. I thought it was great. The things that we did this weekend made it feel as though all 17 of us have been friends for years but really we didn't even know each other for more than 36 hours probably. There were so many jokes, so much laughter, and amazing LOVE present among us this weekend as we were filled with knowledge, more love and the Holy Spirit.
One of the parts that I enjoyed a lot, which is actually every part of the retreat, but this was cool on a different level, was when we got to opportunity to share our 3 minute personal testimonies with the group. We were barely given an hour to write it before we were supposed to be sharing. I liked the rush though..I enjoy challenge. I found my main topic to talk about while I was praying during a few minutes we had before sharing time and I didn't write anything down because when I did try to write something down I found it wasn't where God was leading me to go with it. In the end, I prayed that the Holy Spirit would just speak through me and I would say exactly what needed to be said.
This weekend was filled with challenges and taking steps closer to God. The main place that we were challenged to go further was in Praise and Worship. We learned about expressive prayer, which I think is awesome and we kept getting told to go further and open ourselves up to the Lord. All weekend I felt so comfortable and at home during Praise and Worship. I enjoy being able to clap and raise my hands while singing and praising and that's what they challenged us to do, open up to the Lord.
On retreat it was so easy to open ourselves up because I had so much time for personal prayer and we had what would be called team prayer because we were all praying together. They taught us how to P.R.A.Y using this acronym. P=Praise.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Something BIGGER
"Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life, something heavenly"
<3 Sanctus Real
I was talking with my friend Mary on Facebook chat earlier today and in the middle of our conversation she sent me the beginning of the lyrics at the beginning of this post and it got me listening to the song. I forget about songs sometimes because I start to listen to just one band or something sometimes, but this song, after she said the lyrics and I thought about it, the song popped right back into my head and I was singing it. Anyway, I put it on a little bit ago after reading the Gospel for tomorrow...I read the Gospel and was thinking about it and listening to what God wanted me to take from it, and it brought me back to that song surprisingly.
The part of scripture that really was stuck in my mind was this part:
The part of scripture that really was stuck in my mind was this part:
"Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples
to set before the people;
he also divided the two fish among them all.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And they picked up twelve wicker baskets full of fragments
and what was left of the fish.
Those who ate of the loaves were five thousand men."
-Mark 6: 41-44
How something so small can feed so many people is amazing, but it reminded me of the Eucharist then first. Every week, every day, when we gather for Mass, the same thing is done with the Eucharist. AMAZING! After that I was thinking about how after we receive the Eucharist, we go out into the world and serve others. We are just one person. One person in this big world. What can we do as one person? I got thinking about that... As one person. As a child of God. As His, I can do so much. I just have to take that step and then keep stepping. It's amazing how much one person can do if they keep giving.
TobyMac's Facebook page earlier this week had a post on it that really caught my eye..
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