beach weekend!

Alaskan Girls!


takin' a walk


a night out in downtown Willmington...a very cute historic southern city


Joanna showing off her new pedicure























the "Oceanic" restaurant and piere taken off our back porch...nothin' beats listening to waves all night long!

Last week I celebrated my 30th with some of my girlfriends from around the country. I have to say it was a HUGE blessing! A couple of old AK friends flew over, Carrie from ID and Joani from OR, then four friends from CIU came up. We stayed four days and four nights at my aunt and uncle's beach house in Wrightsville, NC. The Lord blessed us with perfect weather and a relaxing and crazy girl bonding time! I am truly blessed by the amazing women God has placed in my life. Above are some highlights from the weekend.

show time!

Me and ElizaBETH...we're pumped to go to the show!


John and Tammi...THANK YOU for the fun night!!



2 of Britt's friends from Ap State came too


the East coast girl cousins minus one...Allison couldn't make it, we missed you!



Dinner before the show at Macaroni Grill...MMMMMMMM, GOOD!


This past Thursday I went to Charlotte to see "Wicked" performed at a fine arts place with my family. My aunt and uncle (John and Tammi) bought tickets for me and my DC cousins as a Christmas gift. I wasn't sure what I would think of it but it turned out to be really good. The jist of the story for those who don't know, is about how the wicked witch of the West and Glenda (the good witch) from "The Wizard of OZ" came into being. I've heard various reviews about the book, but the musical production is excellent! I recommend it to any theater/musical buffs! Thanks John and Tammi for the gift!

Cooper River Bridge Run

Post race shot of our team: Matt, Greg, me, Robin, Nicole, Anita


Me and the girls eating at Hyman's Seafood after the race, they have EXCELLENT seafood, if you're ever in Charleston GO! I've gone every time I've been in Charleston

Friday night I went to Charleston with some friends to run the "famous" Cooper River Bridge 10k. I guess it's world renoun and supposed to be one of the best 10k's in the nation. There are over 35,000 runners...yes thousand, the size of a small city running at one time.

Five friends and I went camping the night before, enjoyed broken sleep in the midst of a HUGE rain storm that night and ran the next morning. Camping was great, not very restful but my first experience in SC. The race was...CRAZY! They had shuttle buses taking people to the starting line (30 min. detour to go around the bridge) up until 8:30 a.m. The race started at 8:00 a.m. By the time we got to the starting line the Kenyan's and some others had already finished running.

It's a GREAT course, the bridge is really beautiful. Charleston on the whole is a beautiful city. One of my friends with us from LA said it reminds her a lot of the layout of Southern California...Palmetto trees, beach, trendy yuppie area.

We ran more for fun than for time b/c it was impossible to break free from the crowd and really GO at times, particularly on the bridge. For those interested you can check out pics from last year's race online at www.bridgerun.com. You can see the mass of people at the beginning and then the group of 6-8 Kenyan's that break free an run pretty much solo from the crowd the last 3 miles. I ran it yesterday in 55:45. The top male ran it in 29 minutes. The top female ran it in 32 minutes and something I think.

Overall impression of this famous race...GREAT course, beautiful area, WAY too many people, probably wouldn't do it again...unless I'm as fast as a Kenyan at some point in my running career and can break free from the crowd...ya, not gonna happen in this life!

summer plans...

So I've been sorting through my plans for the summer and have decided on a few things. I'm not going to take summer classes b/c I need to SAVE $$ right now so I have enough for fall semester and taking class means not working (all day/week intensive courses).

I WILL be working full time doing what I am doing now, PCA (Personal Care Attendant) for children with special needs. I'm working with 2 families and will continue through the summer with 40-50 hours a week, yahooo for hours!

My FUN news you ask??? I AM coming home for 3 WEEKS!! I just booked my ticket today and will be back in Alaska June 19-July 7th! I'm planning on working fireworks for the 4th of July again to help the budget and have time to see people, go camping and run the Mayor's Half Marathon with my dad! He got the running bug after my race so we're going to get to race together again. My aunt and uncle from Illinois will also be in AK during part of that time so I'll get to see them too! I'm looking forward to it and can't WAIT to see all my amazing AK people!!

spring time in south carolina...

...welcome to my neighborhood

fun at frankie's

of course a little dance dance competition!


Lazer tag anyone?!



Fletcher with his Saudi friends, Hakeem, Nasser, Hassan, and Muhamed


Noah and Nate heading to the batting cages



Kristin feelin' like a NASCAR racer


Me and my pirate lovin' roommate Kristin!


Nicole, me Hannah, Gloriana, Rachel

A group of my friends and I went to Frankie's Fun Park tonight. It's a step above Chuckie Cheese but not as upscale or wild as Six Flags. We had a blast! I was inviting a girl from one of my classes to come this past week and she said, "Oh ya, Frankie's Fun Park, I went there for my 12th birthday!" To which I responded, "Sweet, I am going for my 30th, you oughta come!" We laughed hard!

a new chapter??

This past Thursday was my 30th birthday. A little strange to be in a new decade, but fun too. Different people have different responses to turning 30. For me 30 is no biggie...my "quarter life crisis" came at 27. I don't know exactly why, but that was a year when life just really hit me. I wasn't where I thought I would be or maybe where I hoped I would be...married, having kids like the majority of the rest of my friends and making a "home."

The transient lifestyle of housesitting was getting wearisome. Being single and living in the seemingly barren land of AK also looked bleak. It was after that year that I had a shift of sorts...a heart change, life change whatever it was. I remember after turning 27 letting go of my "plans" and expectations and enjoying the journey of life...wherever that led. It was at that point that I had true peace about being single, about living transiently and not knowing "for sure" where I would be in 10 years. All my friends with families had life pretty much laid out...life seemed pretty predictable for them.

Funny thing, I remember my senior year of high school saying and even journalling how I didn't want to "live the American dream"... go to college, get a good paying job, get married, have kids, plan for retirement. That sounded at the time and still sounds like death to me. I don't mean ANY of those things are BAD. They are not by any means. I mean I knew then at 18 that that was not God's plan for me and even though it has sounded good at times, the past 12 years as an adult have been a journey I would never trade.

As I start a new decade of life I am excited to see where God will lead me. Yes I would love to be married someday. Yes I would love to be a mother someday. Yes I would love to have a "home/house" someday. Yes I would love to live overseas. Yes I would love to do full time ministry somewhere along side someone. But more than all those things, I want to live my life in recklace abandon loving and serving others and bringing glory to God with all that is in me. THAT is where I have found the deepest satisfaction in life and the most fulfillment. My journey thus far has been wild to say the least. I can only imagine what is in store!

Eight Days

Eight Days That Changed the World...

Palm Sunday: Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Monday: Temple was cleansed
The Greeks sought Jesus

Tuesday: Leaders questioned Jesus (issues with healing on a Sabbath)
Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse

Wednesday: Judas made a deal with the leaders (to later betray Jesus)

Thursday: Peter and John prepared the passover meal,
Jesus ate the passover meal with his disciples
(also known as the Upper Room Discourse)

Friday: Jesus arrest, trials and crucifixion

Saturday: Sabbath (day of rest)

Easter Sunday: Jesus RESURRECTED
Jesus appeared to his disciples in the Upper Room


Today was Palm Sunday, the day 2,000 plus years ago that Jesus humbly road a donkey into Jerusalem, a journey that would lead to his excrutiating death on a cross. The GOOD NEWS about this journey was the outcome of his death...HE ROSE AGAIN conquering sin, death and Satan FOREVER CHANGING HISTORY!

When people talk about the "good news" of the Bible, THIS is what it's about. Jesus wasn't just a man, a prophet, a good guy...he was 100% God and 100% man, a being like none other in history. Through his death and resurrection he restored a way for us to have a right relationship again with the God who created us. Not just in heaven some day, but right now here on earth.

Last semester my Gospels professor, Dr. Hulbert, talked about "The Eight Days that Changed the World" breaking down the final events leading to Jesus death and resurrection. I had never laid it all out before in a timeline format, but truly these 8 days we are going through this week were, thousands of years ago, days that forever changed history.

blessed...

This is an unusual blog entry today, but as I was spending some quiet time this afternoon at a park I wanted to say "thanks" again to my parents for spending their spring break and vacation time with me. It is rare, too rare, that I say "thanks" to my parents for things they do...maybe b/c I come to expect all that they do, maybe b/c I just simply take it for granted. Whatever the reason I thought I'd share a little note how much I appreciate my parents.

This past week we had a fantastic time seeing extended family, traveling the area, talking, eating, and resting. Dad and I went on three runs together...Charlotte, Charleston (bridge), and Columbia (on one of my favorite trails). Mom and I went SHOPPING and basically did an extreme home-make over in my room...THANK YOU!!! They paid for a car repair, gas, touristy stuff, groceries, AND new clothes (just because).

My friends everywhere have told me how blessed I am to have parents like I do. They have adopted some of my friends (from other states) as surrogate daughters and send them flowers for valentines day as if they were part of the family...making THEIR day! They have also adopted some of my friends children as surrogate grandchildren b/c they LOVE to LOVE on people! My parents are truly a rare find today and I am blessed to have them as my OWN!! Thanks again mom and dad for EVERYTHING!! I had so much fun with you!

segways??

Tammie coming down a hill


John...a natural, he drove circles around us (it was his first time driving too)


Mom and Dad doing their practice run in the field

While we were in Charlotte, my uncle John planned a surprise outting one day...a trip around a southern plantation on....yes, segways! When we first got there I thought, "awesome a plantation tour or hike!" Then we parked in front of a field with rows of segways and my comment to my cousin (we drove separate) was, "Segways? On a plantation, I wonder who does that?" Brittany smiled real big and said, "We do."

I've always thought segways were a little goofy, but after riding on off road segways for a couple hours around trails...it is a lot of fun!! For those Ellers and Burdines who may not believe it without seeing pics...here they are! Dad AND mom did it too! We had a blast! Great idea uncle John!

Side note, one segway costs approximately $6,000 so I have decided to forgo getting one of my own! My current CAR didn't cost that much!

spring break

Uncle John...happy 50th!


my first 30th birthday card...where does time go???


Me and Kristin (my roommate)


Me and Joanna


Cindy's wedding Saturday


Spring break got off to a fun start Saturday with my parents flying in from AK and my good friend Cindy getting married. Cindy, a friend from CIU, met Mike, the housing man on campus this fall. Cindy moved to Columbia this past fall to start seminary the same time I did. She had just finished 8 years of full time ministry in Fiji and decided to take a sabbatical of sorts out of the lime light and be fed for awhile. Just so happens she met Mr. Right, Mike Thompson and the rest as they say…is history! There is a lot more to their story, but in short, they are an incredible couple and I am excited for the ministry God has for them here in Columbia.

That same day my parents flew in to town and we headed up to Charlotte that night to spend time with my aunt and uncle, John and Tammi (my mom’s brother). John’s celebrating his 50th this month and I’ll be celebrating my 30th so we had a big family dinner that night.

John’s the family cook, so he actually cooked his own b-day meal…it was AWESOME!!! I’m adding some pics from the night…the meal started with one of my all time favorite appetizers, stuffed mushrooms! The meal ended with homemade key lime pie and butterscotch morang pie, AMAZING!! Thanks uncle John for the great birthday meal! We wrapped up the night with a round of the bean game…it’s a family classic now Kari, we’re all hooked and have our own game!

My parents are here for a week so I’m going to take them around SC later this week…Charleston, Columbia. Lookin’ forward to time with my family!

World Christian Week

This week was CIU's annual missions conference week, "World Christian Week." Classes were cancelled, we had special chapel services with a pretty incredible keynote speaker. Reverend Musekura spoke on reconciliation. A native Rwanda, Hutu, his wife is a Tutsi. He lived in Rwanda during the genocide and lost most of his immediate and extended family in it. Talk about reconciliation. His talks humbled me as an American, all the insignificant (in comparison) things I worry about reconciling. No one has killed MY family.

He preached his series on reconciliation from Nehemiah. I thought I'd share some of the highlights from his talks for those who are interested.

Session #1: Broken Communities (Rwanda, Sudan, Kenya)
Scripture: Nehmiah 1-2

3 Characteristics of Community Builders
* A Caring Man - we have become a prideful and self-centered people, we sit in the same pews go to the same churches but we don't truly CARE for each other, missions is dying because people have become apathetic

* Becoming Prayerful Builders - we need to ADMIT our sin, we will not begin to heal or see reconciliation until we confess our sin

* A Visionary Man or Woman - God needs us NOW, your "community" may be as close to home as your own family, reconcile relationships WHEREVER they are broken, God will give us vision after we are reconciled with people


Session #2: Preparation of a Community Builder
Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-10

God Prepares Us in 3 Ways
* By making us emotionally and spiritually restless - just as Nehemiah was broken over the state of the Israelites our pain for lost nations will overwhelm us, always prepare yourself mentally, emotionally, spiritually so when God says "GO" you're ready

* Pray - acknowledge the hand of God in your life, prayer = preparation

* Team - walk in UNITY, not independently, we have become "tribal missionaries" all working separately in our own groups or denominations


Session #3: Rebuilding the Walls
Scripture: Nehemiah 3-5

3 Important Principles
* Principle of Coordination and Cooperation - work TOGETHER, we die (emotionally, spiritually, burn out) because we we work alone

* Principle of Social Justice - be models of social justice, share your wealth, share the gospel but meet people's physical needs too

* Principle Learn to Deal with Confidence - build with confidence

answer to prayer...

Just wanted to give ya'll a quick update on our Chinese ministry. Since my last update another girl, Debbie, accepted Christ as her Savior. She comes from a very broken family life and struggles with self-esteem. Praise the Lord for her understanding and new found life in Christ! Pray for her to grow in her faith as she begins discipleship with one of our small groups.

Also I was able to meet 1:1 with all three of my students to start up our Bible study for this semester. All four of us are meeting tomorrow morning to do our next study. Also our Bible study at the Chinese Church this past Sunday went really well...discussion on relationships and purity. They were attentive and gave a lot of good feedback. One of the girls I mentioned before, Alice thanked me afterward for talking about various issues. She also asked me to be her accountability person. Praise the Lord for the work HE is doing in these students' lives! Thank you for praying!

China Ministry

I wanted to post an update on our ministry here with the Chinese high school students at Ben Lippen (the private international school on CIU's campus). We've met 2x this semester to do large group activities and catch up with everyone after the break. It's been challenging for me to make contact being off campus now. Please pray that I will be dillegent in pursuing times to meet with my students.

Some awesome highlights already: Cherry, one of our girls accepted Christ last week. The even cooler thing? She shared the gospel with two new Chinese students 2 days later! She couldn't help herself!

Another one of our guys from last sememster EG, approached one of our guy leaders about having accountability with some things he is struggling with. He has shown HUGE maturity in wanting to change and also is growing in his faith. Stone, the leader that is mentoring him said he read through most of Matthew on his own over a period of a couple of weeks. EG is making it a point to immerse himself in God's Word, praise the Lord!

Stone is going to be starting a leadership development training in mid April for those students that are believers that really want to do more. We want to train leaders to multiply and train more leaders...whether that be here or back in China. We are preparing students for this over the coming weeks through our discipleship groups.

Pray requests: We have two new guys and as of a couple days ago, another new girl student all from China that will be a part of our ministry this semester. None of them are believers. In fact the two guys are pretty closed off to the whole idea. Please be praying for them!

Pray for our discipleship groups. I have not started mine up again this semester b/c of scheduling conflicts. Pray that I will be able to meet with my students this week.

Pray for leaders to raise up and have a passion to do a more intense training in April so they will have a solid foundation to continue ministry when they move. Several students graduate and go to U.S. universities. Some move back immediately to China.

Pray for our next 2 large group meetings. This Sunday we are doing a lesson on dating and how to have healthy relationships. Next week we are doing an Easter lesson gospel presenation b/c it is the last large group meeting we will have before Easter. Please pray for clarity in our presentation of both lessons and for open hearts and minds.

God is doing truly amazing things in our students! We are blown away as a group. I would LOVE to share pictures with you but can't for confidentiality purposes (private school students). They are awesome!

Myrtle Beach Half Marathon

"Smile Anita!"....mile 11


Getting warmed up!


Joanna pinning on my back bib (never had a back bib before)


Putting my chip on my shoe...it's SO early!!

Woohoo!! I competed and completed my first half marathon race this past Saturday! A couple of friends drove up to Myrtle Beach with me to cheer me on for the event.

I was a little anxious to see how my knee was going to hold up for the race, but it felt really good! About the 9th mile it started cramping up a little but then subsided and I finished the last 3 miles at a 8:30 pace. My overall time was 1:56:27. My goal was to finish in under 2 hours so I was happy with my time. My uncle Dean won the Eller wager on times guessing 1:56:39. Sorry Dale and dad!

Thanks to those who were praying for my leg! I was soar after from racing hard, but there was NO sharp pain at all and NO limping afterward, YAY!! I'd love to do one again in the future but am going to take it easy for a little while. As far as races go, this was a VERY FLAT course. Five miles of it were right on the beach (on the road but right next to the ocean). It was really nice. I recommend it to any interested parties.

After the race...and a shower at our hotel, Joanna, Anita and I went back to the beach to study in the sun for a few hours before driving back to Columbia. It was a very refreshing weekend!

Open House

a crowd in our kitchen


our living room

This past Saturday night Kristin and I had an open house at our new apartment. We're finally settled and invited all our CIU friends over to see the new place. I also invited our neighbors...only 2 were home and one came, but it was good to start making connections with the people we live near. All in all it was a great night! We had about 30 people stop by...it was a crowded little place, but a blast to have people fellowship in our new home!

Fun thing? We are located about 2 blocks from USC international student housing so we can walk or they can WALK to our house! Woohoo! Some came over Saturday night. We are hoping to start a bible study here at some point. Right now I am focusing on getting to know my neighbors and building relationships with them. Crazy how we, as Americans, don't INTERACT with our NEIGHBORS! Why is that?!? Kristin and I LOVE our new location and the ministry opportunities that there are here.

race time!!

I've been traing for the BI-LOW Myrtle Beach Half Marathon since December and it is finally here!! I run this Saturday at yes, 6:30 a.m. I think it's the earliest race time I have had yet! Not sure why they start so early seeing as it's February and the heat isn't a factor, but I'll be done by breakfast time...maybe it's so people can eat breakfast twice?? For my non-runner friends a half marathon is 13.1 miles. A good long run, but short enough that you can feel human at the end.

I've been nursing an IT (illiotibial sp?) band injury the past week and a half so that may affect my results, but this is my first half marathon so I have no PR to beat! The Eller men have all taken wagers on my finishing time. By "Eller men" I mean my dad and his two brothers...all runners. They've all picked a fast pace and slow pace time that they think I'll finish in. What do they get if they win? Bragging rites! My family is a little competative...in a good way. :)

I'm driving up with my roommate and two other girlfriends Friday afternoon. Lookin' forward to a great race! I'll post my results when I get back! Thanks for the encouragement Ellers! AND thanks Dr. Doner for the injury advice!

spring semester's in full swing!

So I had high hopes of being on top of my blog this semester now that I have internet access at my new apartment, but that doesn't seem to be the case. After finishing my winterim class in Atlanta life took off...getting settled in our new apartment downtown, working on projects for my winterim class, starting spring classes and finding a job. It's been a bit busy to say the least, but life seems to be in more of a groove now.

A little update on things for those who have been asking and praying...I have a JOB!! Woohoo! I start tomorrow and will be working with 3 families in the area as PCA...no for those seminarians who have asked that does not stand for Presbyterian Conference it stands for "Personal Care Attendant." I'll be working in homes with children with special needs...something I am very familiar with having working 5 years as a speech pathologist in elementary schools. The pay is low key, but the job is also low key. I debated doing speech therapy this semester, but the material prep, paperwork, plan time is VERY time consuming OUTSIDE of work and right now my purpose and focus is SEMINARY. After praying and considering several options, this job was presented to me and it really fits what I want and need right now. I am thankful for this answer to prayer! Thanks for praying about it!

Classes you ask?? I am taking 4 this semester, Perspectives, Hermeneutics (how to interpret the Bible), Prophets, and Mobilizing Christians for Personal Evangelism. The Evangelism class is a great follow up from my winterim class. Right now we are practicing and learning the "One Verse Method" on how to share the gospel in a quick but complete way. If only I had had this when I did my "evangelism training" study with my youth girls years ago!! I am excited for all that I am learning and that I don't have to make all my own stuff from scratch anymore! Hermeneutics is probably one of my favorites, I love ALL my classes this semester, but Herm. is SOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!! For all my youth now college girls and any other interested parties reading, if you EVER get a chance to take a Hermeneutics class DO IT!! I will do my best to share snip its of what I am learning as the semester progresses. It is FASCINATING TO ME!!!

On the whole, I am thankful to be back studying and feel afirmation from God (even more so now than last semester) that this is where I am supposed to be and seminary trainging is what I am supposed to be focused on. The end outcome??? No idea. But that, I am learning, is the beauty of how God works. He'll let me know my next step when I need to know it. For now my job is to soak up this training and be available and obedient to go when and where He says in HIS TIME.