Hi everyone!

It's hard to believe that it's already the start of week 3 of training camp! So much has happened in the past week that I'm excited to tell you about! As you know, Hung Ling (ERM's contact from Myanmar) has been here for the past week and a half. We've had classes with him where he tells us all about his ministry over there and then opens the floor to any questions, we've sung for him, we brought him to Chocolate World (he loved the tour ride), he watched us ride the zip line and the power swing since he claimed he was too old to join us because he has 6 kids and we had a dinner for ERM alumni to meet him and learn what his ministry includes. Hung Ling tried his first hot dog and pizza in the past few days and he tells us daily that American's eat too much. He will be heading back home in the next few days; at the end of this post I will tell you some of his prayer requests so that you can join me in praying for his ministry. By now we have learned a total of 13 songs that we are working on memorizing as we speak (via spotify). :) Today we learned our very first song including sign language which we are also working on memorizing and getting the rhythm down for as soon as possible. Since it is Labor Day today we got to sleep in a little bit before our day started, although it's been a very relaxing day since we were given a good amount of free time. Today one of our classes was a discussion on how we could use social media as a way to make people more aware of the needs around us and areas that Encounter is involved. Although we are already 2 weeks into training camp we haven't had a single problem involving the unity of the team, which is pretty miraculous when you think of 20 kids just out of high school being together basically 24/7. So, praise God for already growing our teamwork and friendships. I have been learning a lot recently about doing things with the wrong motivation. I can make everyone believe I love doing something easily enough but God knows my heart and He knows the reason I am doing whatever I am doing. Until I have the right heart attitude and motivation, no good will come out of that action. Hypocrisy is, I believe, one of the biggest issues in the Church today. Why would an unbeliever want anything to do with us if we tell them to do something and turn around and do the opposite. We say "gossip is a sin" but then we go and talk about someone negatively as soon as they leave the room. Gossip is one of the biggest reasons for disunity in any group of men and women. I'm so thankful that God is protecting this specific group of young men and women from gossip, so far. We all pray that this year would be the first of ERM's teams to not be dis-unified by gossip or anything else, and I know the entire Encounter ministry would appreciate your prayers in this area as well. Ardy Parlin (ERM founder) has been having us read through the book "Reflecting His Image" by K.P. Yohannan and it is phenomenal! I strongly encourage you to read it if you haven't already, and if you have - read it again! The first and fourth chapters felt like they were written for me. September 12th is Encounter's yearly community concert in which the team sings 10-12 songs for whoever wants to come. This concert is for people who might not know what Encounter is, but also for anyone who wants to come and be encouraged through music. I'm very excited to continue to learn music and to see what God will teach me and us as a team in the next few weeks. Thank you again to those who have supported me or are praying for me and the team. 

Here are some ways you can join me in praying:

Prayer requests for Hung Ling:

-125 orphans being cared for by missionaries need $1 per day per month to cover expenses such as 

education, food and clothing. 

-10 missionaries in the mountains of Myanmar each need $50 per month, if it is a married couple they will need $100

-new van for Hung Ling and his family of around 40 children (6 his own) will cost around $18,000

Prayer for me and the team:

-unity, unity, UNITY

-finances (each team member must raise $3,500 for our trip to Africa as well as $200 per month)

-that our voices would blend when we sing

-that none of us would just get into a routine, that each song, each service would seem new to us at each church

-that would do the work needed to memorize music and sign language so that we are ready to travel in 3 weeks

For any questions about the ministry, team, or Myanmar....visit www.encounterrevival.org