Why I love Clark-i-stan so much...

Why do I love Clark-i-stan so much?

• I am daily reminded of what the Throne of the Father will look like one day when ALL tribes, tongues and nations are together.
• I am constantly reminded how easy my life is simply because I am an American and it keeps me thankful.
• I feel the love of the Father every time I enter a home and am offered some kind of food or drink even when many barely have enough food for themselves and their families.
• I am able to offer my neighbor a ride when I pass him walking to the store (and everywhere else) and I never see him without a smile on his face... that is pure joy.
• Dirty kids run to my car almost every time I pull up and I can't wait to embrace them just as the Father embraces my filthy self.
• I don't feel judgement around most of my foreign friends.
• There is always a story to tell... and they are usually pretty funny... and real.
• Because the Father has made my heart for these people.
• I get to be part of a ch'rch plant with one of the most incredible visions of bringing ALL peoples together.
• I get to watch the Father stir hearts of those that don't know Him yet.
• I am able to share with others the stories of where my foreign friends come from and make them knowledgeable about refugees.
  

  A little bird cleaning action!

  
  
  

   And of course, some of the children around wanted to help. :)

  
  
  
                           Celebrating New Years Eve with some friends.

Welcome to "Clark-i-Stan!"

Yes, you probably thought I was never actually going to post on here again, seeing that it's been since... June. :)  Really, I am just trying to get you out of the American mindset that things should be done in a timely fashion and thinking you know when to expect something...  So, SURPRISE!  Here we go again! :)

• Second half of the summer was nuts b/c I was taking two online grad classes and preparing to move in the midst of all that into one of the Refugee Resettlement apartment complexes. Had a couple of camps to speak at during that too... blah, blah, blah. The Father completely provided me with a roommate to move to Clarkston with and she actually just came back from living in Ethio for two years as well! How incredible is that??? She was a part of my larger team there after I was and that's how we got connected. She was still gone so I was trying to get everything set up by myself and that was just nuts... and took a really long time. I paid early to try and move in before Providence (school I teach at) started b/c I knew I wouldn't have much time then and I had my two classes still going on. That was a great idea in theory... but was an absolute mess when it all went down. Basically, nothing worked in my apartment: needed new carpet b/c there was a pet there before, AC didn't work, dishwasher didn't work and there was a broken window. Yeah, that really stunk. SO I fought for several days and had already prepared to move my stuff in so most of it sat in my kitchen for a week and a half b/c I wasn't about to put it all down before they changed the carpet. Long story short, I basically lived out of my car for a week, had to sing in a wedding in Auburn AL in the middle of that, slept on the extra bed at the old house some and was going INSANE b/c my life was all over the place all while trying to finish up my two classes and start back to Providence as well. Yeah, it wasn't fun and I literally had no time... not even to get done what I needed to!
• NOW, my classes are done, I am all moved in, my roommate is moved in (and she is amazing) and I am FINALLY feeling like I am kinda caught up with everything. Clarkston is my life and I absolutely love it here. It's just such comfort to me. Got home from school yesterday (Friday) and went to visit my neighbor for a couple of hours, then came home and had about 40 kids off and on over to watch a movie at our place. It reeked like the smell of sweaty kid for a few hours after, but it was all worth it and I go to bed with a smile on my face every night now. I. Love. This. Place! Hopefully I will remember to start taking some pictures and can add a little of that excitement on here as well next time...

  Pressing on towards the goal,

  Erin