Hello Everyone!!

It seems like yesterday that I published my last post. This week went so fast and so slow at the same time. On Tuesday our sign language teacher, Shannon Parlin, arrived and started teaching us. Shannon is the daughter of Ardy's brother, if you were wondering. :) So, Tuesday night we started lessons and we have learned 3 songs in sign language so far. We know 2 completely and the third we are still trying to get down. So, basically all my free time is spent listening to my Encounter playlist and watching the 2011 ERM team sign the song that is hardest for me to learn sign language for on Youtube. Today we started dramas, which I wanted to have no part in because, well, I don't act. But this year the board is having all the team members involved instead of letting us choose to be. But actually I'm glad! I've heard so many people say that they wish they had gotten out of their comfort zone or share something amazing that happened when they did. I know that God is pleased when we are willing to be in uncomfortable situations for Him, and I know that He will use this for good. So, dramas today wasn't that bad at all! It was actually fun. :)  It's actually really neat because the drama I started learning today relates to me really well and the character I am playing is very much like me. But, no more hints now. You'll have to come see for yourself, Lord willing. Now, along with learning the words and signs in my free time, I have to start memorizing my part in the drama. My brain is getting jam-packed, which isn't a bad thing but it can get overwhelming when I rely on myself. Before Shannon leaves next Wednesday we will know 4 songs in sign language. As of now we have learned about 15 songs and are still learning more! One week from yesterday is the community concert...which is....crazy. The Sunday after that (the 14th) is the first day we will be serving at a church. However, instead of spending a week at this church like we do with most, we will only be at this one for the one Sunday.  It's only a few minutes from the camp so we will go there in the morning and come back after the service. We will then spend our last two weeks at the camp before heading to the first church that we will stay at for a week. After that, every week will be spent at a different church. So, three more weeks of training camp before we are on the road! We're halfway through training camp, folks! I can't believe how fast the time has gone by, but it really does feel like I've been here forever at the same time. I always wondered what people meant when they said that and now I know. I figured out that the closest we will be to Wisconsin is Alto, Michigan, if you feel like traveling a good 5 hours to see the team. I'm extremely excited to start serving in churches, and even if you aren't able to come see the team for yourselves there are many people who enjoy videotaping the team and put the videos on Youtube. Soon you can just type in "Encounter Revival Ministries" and find this years team! You can even look it up now and watch past teams including Alaina's two years. On Wednesday our last team member got here, making our team complete. Josh was involved in an accident 3 days before training camp started and broke his femur. It's a miracle he's even alive and we are so excited he was able to join us so soon after such a major break. This week God has been teaching me a lot about love and forgiveness. To treat others the way I would like to be treated, to forgive when I have been hurt. I am striving to love as Christ loves and I am encouraging all of you to do the same. It's a struggle. It really is. But it will be so worth it! How much more will people be touched and ministered to if you put their needs before your own. I don't think I have any more news for you, except that I climbed to the very top of the mountain this week. It was pretty exciting :) everyone should try it at least once in his/her lifetime. The new team members pictures were put up on www.encounterrevival.org this week, check it out! Also, for updates and news about the team "like" ERM's facebook page! Talk to you all soon! Thank you so very much for your prayers and support. 

In Christ,

Anna 

Prayer Requests for myself and the team:

• health for everyone, colds are spreading this week like wild fire and it's extremely hard to sing when you're congested
• Josh's leg to heal quickly and that it would be easy for him to learn all of the music and signs to catch up to us
• continued unity in the team, we have been blessed with no conflicts as of yet (praise the Lord!)
• finances for all team members (not just me) to come in. That God would provide for His servants and that we would all trust Him fully
• finances for Encounter as a whole
• the ability to learn the sign language for another whole song, including the one we started learning
• that we would not get into a routine. That each song would touch our hearts and that we would mean every word every time we sing it.