http://erickabennett.myadventures.org ERICKA BENNETT Serving The Kingdom - That they would know Him, by the way we love them. en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 19:47:21 GMT 30 http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=love-and-trust-held-at-gunpoint http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=love-and-trust-held-at-gunpoint Tuesday afternoon I got a phone call from a South African number I didn't recognize. The urgent voice on the other end of the line was Rusty Jackson - squad leader for The World Race. "We're okay, we're all okay... I'm fine...but we've just been held to the ground with guns to our heads and robbed. We're fine... I'm okay! Just CALL SETH."   To say I was upset would be the understatement of the year, though somehow God gave me the strength to calmly walk into Seth's office and explain what Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=i-will-not-be-silent-a-letter-from-zimbabwe http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=i-will-not-be-silent-a-letter-from-zimbabwe Call me an optimist, but I believe the biggest problem in the world isn't apathy, it's ignorance. I really want to believe the tragedies happening in places like Swaziland (which you've seen in my last 2 blogs) and now in Zimbabwe, happen not because people don't CARE, but because people don't KNOW. I, for one, want to be a voice speaking truth. I want to be someone who speaks light to dark places, and shouts for all the people who go unheard - the victims in this world - like the orphans a Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=i-will-not-be-silent--the-harsh-truth-about-swaziland http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=i-will-not-be-silent--the-harsh-truth-about-swaziland  I haven't had much time to slow down since I got home from Africa. No time to really think. No time to journal. No time to let everything I saw sink in...   But in the quiet moments I find here and there, God is starting to bring it all to mind. Today He brought to mind Elizabeth, the widow we found dying in the dirt outside her shack in Nsoko. Pastor Gift asked us to go and pray for her, so we set off on the dirt path. As Rusty, Molli, Faith and I walked up that afternoon, all of Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=the-nsoko-project http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=the-nsoko-project Still traveling (thanks to some delayed flights), but I'm back in America! Thank you again for all your incredible prayers and support. I could not do all I do without all of you amazing encouragers and prayer warriors in my life!  Please continue to pray for my heart - I'm missing Africa terribly and have shed a lot of tears over the past two days.   The good news is - now that I'm in the states (with high speed internet) I can post the video we've been working so hard on. This is Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=i-will-not-say-goodbye http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=i-will-not-say-goodbye I just had the most incredible morning at the AIM office in Swaziland! For those of you who know my stories, you will rejoice with me when I tell you I am spending the day with Kriek, just got to see Ncobile, and got to spend about an hour with Thulie and Senkhosi!   He was absolutely precious - giving me kisses and saying "I love you" and running around laughing and playing. I dressed him all up in the new clothes and shoes my mom bought (Mom, they fit PERFECTLY!) and he pranced aro Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=sanibonani http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=sanibonani Sanibonani! Or "hello to you all" - in SisWati! I made it to Swaziland!   I can't tell you all how excited I am to be here! I've waited over a year for this day. It's been surreal... driving back into Manzini, singing worship songs outside the big white house I stayed at last year, walking back past the squatter camp, and walking around the city... I can't express to you how my heart feels right now! It's such a peaceful feeling to know you are exactly where you should be...   I me Sat, 5 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=goodbye-jeffreys-bay http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=goodbye-jeffreys-bay Those are words I do NOT want to say. I really do love it here, and have been a little teary for the past couple of days.   I miss my team a lot- what a change from being with them 24 hours a day for a month! Now I see what "empty nest syndrome" must feel like. They left for home a few days ago and the loneliness is starting to get me. If you all are reading this- I MISS YOU! Please everyone reading - lift them up in your prayers as they are headed home and will need God's help to readju Thu, 3 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=meet-my-bodyguard http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=meet-my-bodyguard Okay, well he's not REALLY my bodyguard. Let me explain...   Before I left for Africa, my Mom gave myself and my teammates all cards with some scripture from Isaiah on it - and the heading, "God's protection is my prayer."   Well Mom, ask and you shall receive! My team and I got to South Africa (the 2nd most dangerous country in the world) and were placed into the care of who else but a former bodyguard! He hates it when we make a big deal out of it, but I must say he's lead a very Wed, 2 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=identity-part-1 http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=identity-part-1 For all of you expecting to hear an Africa story- about the kids or the people or the ministry sorry- thats not what youll get today. What the next 3 blogs are about is what God is teaching me now, about my identity in Him. Ive fought with whether or not to post them, and decided to go ahead, with hopes that my vulnerability will allow God to use me to break strongholds and bring freedom in the life of someone reading.  -------------------------------------------------------------------- Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=identity-part-2 http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=identity-part-2 My journal entry - June 21, 2008 I realized yesterday that Im not really dealing with the issues this makeup fast is bringing to the light. Im just enduring it doing it because God said to, and because my girls need me to, and because part of me wants to prove I can. But thats not enough. God wants to teach me a lot through this. And He wants to heal the wounds I have, and to break the bondage this has on my life. Ive got to be still. Ive go to get quiet. Ive got to press in and ask Hi Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=identity-part-3 http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=identity-part-3 From Come Away My Beloved, by Frances J. Roberts The Secret of Silence (Praise and Reproof) Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair! Song of Solomon 1:15 My child, do not let the words of others influence you unduly neither their praise nor their criticism. Weigh each for its proper value, and come back to me again. Only in communion with Me can you be sure of the truth. If I correct you, you know it is for your betterment. If I encourage you with a word of praise, i Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=a-quick-update http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=a-quick-update And I mean quick - as the internet place is closing (oh man how I miss free wi-fi)...   I have a 2 or 3 part blog in the works about what God has been teaching me this week when it comes to Identity (God had some great lessons in mind when He asked the 'pageant girl' to fast makeup! Can't wait to share them with you!) and I will definitely post them as soon as I get some time...   Until then - The team is doing GREAT! And I'm loving being with them! God is working in us Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=one-child-at-a-time http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=one-child-at-a-time We arrived at the Speel Clinic (which means play clinic in Afrikans) around 1:00pm. I was not prepared for what I found there. 200 children and just our team! They fought - literally FOUGHT each other for our attention. They clung to us - begged to be held - hugged us and wouldn't let go. So starved for attention! I wondered, when was the last time these children were hugged? Held? Kissed? Told "I love you"?   It was freezing outside - the wind was so strong it made it hard to stand. The Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=an-update-from-jeffreys-bay http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=an-update-from-jeffreys-bay Hello friends and family!   There's a lot to update you on here in South Africa, but again, very little time. WOW- taking care of 13 kids really takes it out of you! Mom, Dad (and all the Moms and Dads reading)- please know how much you have been appreciated in recent days!   Leading is a challenge but it's incredible. I really do feel I'm doing what God has prepared me to do - loving and caring for and ministering to students. Of course my call is still to care for orphans, it's w Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=were-in-jbay http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=were-in-jbay We made it!Just wanted to post a quick blog to say we're here, in J-Bay, safe and sound! Click here to read my "team update" - http://08ke0602rl1.myadventures.orgYou can check that link as well as my blog for posts while we're here - we'll be sharing updates and stories from the team there.I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be here - our contacts are wonderful and I really do love every single one of our kids - we have SUCH a great team! Please pray for me and for Frank as we lead - pray for Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=off-to-africa http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=off-to-africa Praise the Lord - the day is finally here! I have little time to write but I will say this much - we survived training camp, and my team is absolutely incredible! I can't wait to tell you about each of them, and about the memories we've already made together. God is growing us together as a family in amazing ways!More on that later - for now - it's time to pack up and head to the airport! Our first flight leaves at 9am - to Washington, DC - Jo'burg South Africa - Port Elizabeth South Africa - an Sun, 8 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=back-to-africa-the-details http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=back-to-africa-the-details Yes, that's right - I'm headed back to Africa! I can't tell you how incredibly excited I am - in less than 2 weeks I will be half a world away! Here are the details - as promised:Training CampJune 1 - June 7June 1 I will "disappear" (so to speak) to training camp. I'll meet my team and my co-leader and I will be with them day and night for the week. (So if you don't hear from me through phone, email, etc - know that's why). We'll be spending time in prayer, teaching sessions, and doing team-bui Tue, 27 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=a-support-update-big-news http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=a-support-update-big-news God has been teaching me so much lately! I have several blogs in the works right now that I'm excited about sharing with all of you in coming days, but first, I thought I should give you a little update on my support raising and share my big news with you all!SUPPORTSupport raising - what a challenge. It remains a struggle for me, but GOD IS FAITHFUL! Though I didn't reach my target deadline of May 15 (to be fully supported), I still trust God and know that in His perfect timing the money will c Sat, 24 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=who-will-cry-for-the-others http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=who-will-cry-for-the-others Such an unspeakable tragedy - Steven Curtis Chapman losing his precious 5 year old daughter Maria. I am overwhelmed that such an undeserving family would be going through this much pain. I've been thinking about it all day, reaching out to a friend who works for the Chapmans to let him know we are praying. I've been broken for them, and thinking of how much comfort and healing the family needs now and in the days to come. I found a blog today created for people to leave encouraging comments for Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=steven-curtis-chapmans-daughter-killed http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=steven-curtis-chapmans-daughter-killed My heart is breaking tonight for the Chapmans. Just a few weeks ago I was blessed to meet Steven at GMA Week as he spoke at our Artist Symposium about his passion for missions and adoption. I can't say enough good things about him - his love for his children, his family, missions, and "the least of these" was so evident and moving. I can't bear to think of the pain his family is enduring right now. How do you deal with such a senseless tragedy? In an instant, this whole family's world was Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=for-all-the-mothers-taken-too-soon http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=for-all-the-mothers-taken-too-soon Give a Mother's Day gift in honor or in memory of your Mom here.As mother's day draws near, I am reminded of my own mom, and all the ways she took care of me throughout the years. So many of us are blessed with loving mothers who we want to honor on Sunday, the special day set aside for them.But this year, my mother isn't the only one who comes to mind. I am haunted by the knowledge that in Swaziland, there are thousands of mothers that were taken too soon by AIDS and poverty, leaving over 130,0 Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=if-he-cant-make-you-bad-hell-make-you-busy http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=if-he-cant-make-you-bad-hell-make-you-busy "If he can't make you bad, he'll make you BUSY."A catchy little saying (full of truth) from my friend Nathan. He was talking about the enemy, and he was right! Satan has made me so busy lately, that I felt like I couldn't breathe. And I certainly couldn't focus on the Lord.I realized it a couple of weeks ago - I realized just how much I'd been living the "Martha" lifestyle out of Luke 10. I could justify it all day - what I was doing was MINISTRY after all! There are needs! Orphans dying! I have Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=pray-for-dama http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=pray-for-dama Today is a special day - today is the birthday of Damaris Baya!Dama is one of my Compassion children - one of the needy children God called me to sponsor a year and a half ago. She is a beautiful little girl in Kenya, who I love, even though I've never met her. Art and running are her favorite activities, and she also sings in the church choir! She is one of 8 children, and her parents struggle to care for her - usually making less than $20 a month for their entire family of 10 to live off of. D Thu, 8 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=thank-you-savannah http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=thank-you-savannah Dear friends, family, and supporters -Just wanted you all to know we made it back safe and sound from Savannah! We (my roommate Caroline and I) had a wonderful time being on the road, meeting so many new friends, recruiting for AIM, and sharing our hearts about God's call on our lives!I have a couple of stories that I plan to share with you (via blog) but for now I just want to say a few thank yous...THANK YOU Sharon Brown and Savannah Christian School - as well as all the wonderful teachers and Wed, 7 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=praying-for-our-men http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=praying-for-our-men I recently stumbled across this blog from World Racer Jeanette Wheeler.I thought it was an amazing opportunity for us as women of God to do something incredible on behalf of our men, and immediately was on board. Today, I'd like to give you the opportunity to join us as we fast and pray for the men in our lives (and maybe those you don't even know yet!) Read part of Jeanette's blog here: A couple of weeks ago I was fasting and the Lord clearly asked me to pray and fast again. "Pray Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=the-sound-of-hope http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=the-sound-of-hope So, I hope you're wondering (from yesterday's blog) "What is The Sound of Hope"? This is a brand new campaign at AIM, and it's what God used to bring me here. Back in July, God gave me a vision to use my music to raise money for orphans. Little did I know, God was telling Seth Barnes the same thing! (well, not to use MY music... but to use music - in general- to care for orphans). It all came out in a little lunch meeting where I JUST came up to ask Seth's advice on how to start this project. Th Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=gma-week-the-dove-awards http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=gma-week-the-dove-awards Okay, first off, let me apologize for the 'cliffhanger' kind of sign off on my last blog (ie- "I'll tell you tomorrow", and then I didn't tell you tomorrow)... SO SORRY! Needless to say, the enemy has still been at work. All the 'free time' I thought I would have in Nashville didn't happen. As a matter of fact, nothing happened quite like I'd planned! It was a busy week with very little down time. I slept very little and ran around a LOT! But overall it was an exciting time and I pray the Lord w Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=community-is-beautiful http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=community-is-beautiful I'm taking a quick break from packing up before I hit the road again (I can never stay still these days, ah my crazy life!) to update you all after my last post requesting prayer. First of all, let me just say-THANK YOU!Thank you to all of you who responded in prayer, and with so many encouraging words! I knew it was the enemy keeping me from posting that at first, no doubt Satan didn't want me to be encouraged and prayed for by all of you. I'm so thankful I was obedient and vulnerable, and so t Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=please-pray-for-me http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=please-pray-for-me It's after 1 am and I'm still at work. It's just been one of those days where it seemed like nothing went right - the enemy wouldn't leave me alone, and I've felt defeated, overwhelmed, and TIRED.It's my own fault. I've got a few too many passions in life, and I have a hard time saying no. I love to be on the go all the time, and I want to use everything I have - every idea, gift, talent, and ability - and take every opportunity that comes along. It just seems sometimes that everything collides Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=the-hope-house http://erickabennett.myadventures.org/?filename=the-hope-house Each month, I send out an email to a list of people who want to live out James 1:27. It's a way to update them about how to partner with us to care for orphans around the world! Below is the copy from my letter this month, explaining how to help the orphans I fell in love with in India...The HOPE House"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."James 1:27If you feel Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT