I’ve had the awesome opportunity to travel away from my
squad for a week this month doing some prep work and set up for what is to come
in our next location. I was a little hesitant to leave the Philippines early
because I knew what exciting things were happening there but I was being
presented with a way to serve my squad. So I flew out to Hong Kong with Dennis
Ho and Jake Rodriguez, who quickly became my brothers.
For those of you that know me, I am generally a pretty
independent woman. Whenever anyone has insisted that I need a guy to do
something for me, I have feigned distress and a strong southern accent placing
the back of my hand on my forehead and saying “Oh yes, I need a big strong man
to take care of me!” I am guilty of thinking that I didn’t need help from
anyone, much less a man, and thinking I could do it all alone. Well the Lord
stripped me of that attitude pretty quickly on the race and changed my heart
before I even began traveling with Dennis and Jake. I have had to repent for tearing down my brothers in Christ,
for despising their calling as men and for believing they all have ulterior
motives. It is in God’s mercy that He has been changing my heart, confronting
my wrong beliefs and forcing me to change. The Lord has been “wounding my
wounds” as we like to say, by touching on the place in my heart that are still
tender from pain in the past. His timing is perfect, too because the old Erin
would have had a really hard time traveling with Dennis and Jake but instead I
got to rest a little easier and enjoy watching my brothers do what they are
created to do: be men.
Dennis and Jake, I found out, are two very honorable men.
They not only made sure I was safe in every circumstance, they made sure I felt
safe in every circumstance. They created what we came to call “the sandwich”
which really meant that they would surround me in the street or on the subway
to make sure I was protected. They also honored my perspective as a woman with
discernment and encouraged me in my giftings. They let me have the best bed in
our locations and even bought me chocolates when I really needed some!
So I am so excited to gain two brothers and look forward to
what adventures lie ahead for us!
