http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org Erin Brumit - Matamoros, Mexico en-us Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:22:40 GMT 30 http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=quick-update http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=quick-update After a couple comments to my latest blog about Hurricane Dolly I just wanted to let everyone know that I am not currently in Matamoros.  I will still be home in Tennessee for about another month, but many of the people I have minstered alongside and to are still in Matamoros as Dolly pours her rain.  I do ask that you please continue to keep the people of Matamoros and Brownsville in your prayers.  Thanks & God bless!  Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=hurricane-dolly-headed-for-matamoros2 http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=hurricane-dolly-headed-for-matamoros2 I am sure that many of you have heard in the past couple days that hurricane Dolly is headed to the Brownsville, TX/Matamoros, Mexico area.  Matamoros is where I have been working with Adventures in Missions for the past two years.  Matamoros is a city that floods very easily (I have seen it flood twice myself due to heavy rain storms), and many of the houses in the poorer areas of town are not well built.  Please join me in praying that God would protect the people of M Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=traveling-judys-birthday http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=traveling-judys-birthday   Im finally back home from a couple weeks of traveling and visiting family, friends, and supporters.  It has been great to have time this summer to catch up with so many of you.  I was in Bumpass, Virginia for Aunt Judy's 50th birthday party, and we had a blast!  She decided to go with a hot pink theme rather than the typical black of a 50th birthday.   She thought she might as well have some fun turning 50.  (When I turn 25 in August Judy and my cousins wi Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=quick-update-from-erin http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=quick-update-from-erin  I am enjoying the time I have this summer to spend with my family and close friends back home.  I have finally been able to get some rest after a busy year in Matamoros, and God has been using this time to refill me in preparation for another season in there.  This week I am at Myrtle Beach with my parents, and soon my cousins will be here, too.  They are really more like my little brother and sister, because we have spent so much time together as we have grown up.  (Wh Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=update-from-mexico http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=update-from-mexico   I have been home for almost two weeks now, and my mom has been keeping me busy with work around the house. We have been painting all week, and we still have a lot more to do! A few days ago I received an update from Tony & Kelley Crumbley, who helped with the FYMs this year, about some of the people I was working with in Matamoros. I thought you might like to know what has been happening there since I came home. Enjoy!   After a quick breakfast Martin and I Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=support-update http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=support-update Over this past week I have been looking back over my budget to make any necessary changes for the coming year and my different role with AIM in Matamoros.  When I return to Mexico in August my budget will be $800 per month, which is a little less than it was this past year.  My monthly supporters from this year were committed to around $700 per month, with special gifts making up the difference.  During June and July I will be at home and will not be receiving a check from AIM, bu Fri, 6 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=all-for-the-glory-of-god http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=all-for-the-glory-of-god Lately I have been reading through the book of Isaiah, and the past few chapters have given me so much awe of the Lord in seeing how all He does is for His glory.  In reading through Chapters 43-45 God says that He created us for His glory.  That is an amazing thought to ponder, that we were created to glorify the Lord, the Creator of everything!  He goes on to say that He wipes out our transgressions for His own sake.  Even His forgiveness and redemption are to bring glory t Wed, 4 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=the-next-step http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=the-next-step Now that the FYM program has finished and everyone has gone home, many of you may be wondering what I will be up to in this next season.  Waiting for an answer from the Lord was a long process, another lesson in patience.  I have known for a few months that I was supposed to continue working in Mexico after the FYM year, but I was not sure what that would look like.  I looked into a few different options, which all sounded good, but I wanted to find the perfect thing.  A Mon, 26 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=a-great-year http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=a-great-year Today Naomi & I dropped off all the FYMs at the airport in Brownsville.  The young men and women who left today are not the same ones we picked up in September.  It's not that we changed students as some part in the year, but God has done so much in each of them that they are returning home different people.  The past nine months have not been easy; we have had more challenges than I have ever seen in my life, but through it all I have seen God do so much!!  I thank God f Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=debrief http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=debrief This week Naomi & I took the whole FYM team back to South Padre Beach for our end-of-the-year debrief.  Gary and Nancy Lengkeek came down from AIM's Gainesville office to help us process through the events of this year and to prepare us to return home.  This final debrief is such a vital part of missions, as we have all experienced so much during this year and grown in many ways.  Please keep the FYMs in your prayers in this time of transition as they return home on May 15th.& Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=the-heavens-are-telling-of-the-glory-of-god http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=the-heavens-are-telling-of-the-glory-of-god "The heavens are telling of the glory of God, And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge." Psalm 19:1&2   God has been reminding me lately of how nature reveals His glory.  Matamoros has been in a drought for a few months, everything is dry, brown and very dusty, but last Sunday it began to rain!  And it continued to rain and rain and rain, until the streets flowed like rivers.  It was Sat, 3 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=photos-from-antonias-house http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=photos-from-antonias-house I finally found a good internet connection, and I thought you all might like to see some photos from the construction of Antonia's house.  You can see even more in My Pictures.  Enjoy!                                 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=antonias-new-home http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=antonias-new-home Yesterday afternoon we put the finishing touches on Antonia's new home!  It is a small, bright yellow house that took a little over a week to build, and it is a blessing for Antonia and her family to finally have their own home.  The building itself went well because we had all worked with the short term projects that the same type of build house; we also had a lot of help from the neighborhood children.  We enjoyed spending time with Antonia, Clara, and their families.  Anto Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=a-home-in-need-of-a-family-part-ii http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=a-home-in-need-of-a-family-part-ii As you may have read in my blog A Home in Need of a Family, two months ago the FYM team had planned to build a house for Lupita's sister-in-law Mari, but another church beat us to it.  We then began a search for a family needing a home, as the FYMs had already raised enough money to build it.  A month ago we found another prospective family, but that fell through as well.  We decided to go to Clara (who houses the Bible study I am a part of in Granjas) to see if she knew of a Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=the-zoo http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=the-zoo FYM Mexico devoted last weekend to building up the team before jumping into leading Johnson Ferry's week long project.  As a part of this we spent Sunday afternoon in the zoo.  We saw flamingos, rhinos, hippos, and a lot of monkeys.  It was a great day to just have fellowship with the team and invest in each other's lives right before a very busy week (and seeing all the animals was fun, too!).  It has been easy lately to forget how important the team is while we have been so Sat, 5 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=god-of-restoration http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=god-of-restoration A little over a month ago I wrote to you all to keep our FYM team in your prayers.  Since then, Naomi, Jason and I (with a lot of help from Gainesville) have been making a plan for the team to finish out their year in Matamoros.  We have moved into a new house (as you saw on my last blog), we have gotten back into our normal ministries, we have continued our morning classes, and we have seen that God is faithful.  Though many things have changed, we have been able to see Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=our-new-home http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=our-new-home After a couple weeks between South Padre Island and AIM's short term trip base called the Gateway, FYM Mexico finally has a new home, and it is beautiful!  The house is large enough for all ten of us, which is a blessing as we do not have to divide up the team.  We even have a little yard with playground equipment (though most of us are too big to use it.)  Not only has God provided a new home, He has been bringing together so many things during these past couple we Sat, 1 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=do-not-fear-or-be-dismayed http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=do-not-fear-or-be-dismayed As many of you know by now, FYM Mexico is passing through some very rough times.  A couple weeks ago, one of our leaders became involved in some things that he should not have been a part of, and since that time Naomi, Jason and I have been seeking the Lord's direction (with a lot of help from our leaders at AIM) as to where to go from here.  We have been so blessed by everyone who has come alongside us in this struggle of losing a leader.  As hard as it is, I know that God will b Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=a-home-in-need-of-a-family http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=a-home-in-need-of-a-family In a little over a week 10 college age students from Canada will come to Matamoros, Mexico for a week-long project.  They will be working alongside the First Year Missionaries who are already involved in ministry in many areas of the city.  As a part of the project, they will build a house for a local family in need (similar to the one in the picture, which AIM built a couple years ago).  We have already ordered the supplies and are taking care of all the needed preparations, but Fri, 8 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=agustin http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=agustin I would like to ask all of you keep Agustin, one of the youth from the church, in your prayers.  (this is a picture of his house a team built last year).  He has been a Christian for a couple years, and had recently begun attending a church closer to home in order to encourage his brother to come with him, but for some reason he has stopped attending that church as well.  I know that deep down he still has a love for the Lord, but I believe he has been hurt by someone or something Fri, 1 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=thank-you http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=thank-you I would like to say a special thanks to everyone who donated clothes for the people I work with in Granjas!  I brought about half of it, and my parents will send more with a friend who will be coming to Mexico in February.  The team of FYMs that works in Granjas and I divided up the the clothes according to the needs of families we know.  Yesterday we went by the house of one of these families, and the clothes fit perfectly!  The children were so excited about their clothes f Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=matamoros-part-two http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=matamoros-part-two After three days of driving with a couple teammates, I arrived back in Matamoros on Monday.  I am looking forward to another season in this area that I love so much.  I have already visited my friends in Granjas, moved into a new place, and chased down our leader's dogs in the mud with my Jeep.  We will soon be back to our normal routine; however, today it has about 40 degrees, and the community has really shut down because of the cold, so the team has&nbs Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=prayers-for-kenya http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=prayers-for-kenya I hope you all have had a great holiday season.  I have loved spending this time with my family and friends back home, but I am also excited to get back to Mexico to continue the work there.  For now I have a prayer request for all of you.  I am sure that many of you have heard about the rioting going on in Kenya, and I would like to ask all of you to keep the people of Kenya in your prayers.  Some of the people AIM works with are being greatly affected; you can rea Sat, 5 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=victory http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=victory Happy New Year!  After three months in Matamoros, Mexico I am back home in Elizabethton, TN for Christmas Break, enjoying some time with my family and friends.  It has already been such a blessing to have time to rest at the Lord's feet and be refilled in His presence.  During my time in Mexico (and continuing even now at home) God has been teaching me more about walking out the victory that we have in Him.  So often we allow ourselves to be bound by our past, by our fea Tue, 1 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=construction http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=construction Last week three men, Greg, Marcus, and Jay, from Berean Bible Church in Columbus, Indiana came to the FYM base here in Matamoros to help with construction around the church.  We all enjoyed this break from our normal schedule, though it was hard work.  Altogether we were able to complete so many projects!  We sealed the roof, painted a new room, and poured A LOT of concrete.  This was a great opportunity for the FYMs to learn more about teamwork, while als Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=lupitas-haircut http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=lupitas-haircut Until this week Jenny, Chad, and I had been visiting people in Granjas on Sunday mornings, in addition to the time we spend there during the week.  Last week Lupita asked if any of us knew how to cut hair, and luckily Jenny has been giving haircuts for a while.  So a week ago Sunday. Jenny took her comb and scissors to Granjas and gave Lupita and her neice a haircut.  We enjoyed just spending some time with Lupita, her kids, and her neice as Jenny worked o Tue, 6 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=el-norte-ya-llego http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=el-norte-ya-llego Monday our first cold front for the season rolled into Matamoros (called el norte, which means the north).  The First Year Missionaries were able to get a taste of how cold it can get once we are further into winter.  I enjoyed the break from the hot weather, but I'm not really looking forward to thirty or fourty degree weather with little heat.  You really have to learn to layer up the clothing.  Please be praying for the people of Granjas to st Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=looking-for-a-van http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=looking-for-a-van Hola!  Espero que ests bien.  Things are going well here in Matamoros.  I have been here for one month today!  I have a request for all of you.  We are currently looking for a new 15 passenger van.  The ones we have been using have been giving us a lot of trouble, so we are looking to purchase a new one.  Our budget for a new van is only $5000, but I am sure that with your help and that of some other contacts we will be able to find the one for us.  If any Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=granjas http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=granjas I hope you are all doing well!  I have been in Matamoros for almost a month now, and I'm beginning to find where I fit in this ministry.  Things are much different coming back as a leader than they were as an FYM, and God is stretching me through the added responsibilities.  I have a prayer request for all of you.  Pedro, who is over the ministry in Granjas has gone home to Oaxaca, Mexico because he has been sick for a while, which means that I will be taking on more responsi Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=enjoying-my-day-off http://erinbrumit.myadventures.org/?filename=enjoying-my-day-off Today (and every Monday) is my day off, so Naomi and I are taking some time to use the internet and keep in touch with friends/family/supporters.  This Thursday the FYMs went to four different colonias to try and decide where to do their WOW ministries.  I drove the team going to Estrella and Granjas, so I took advantage of this time and visited a couple people from the church.  I visited Carmen, her daughter Cristina, and granddaughter Elvia (the girl in the picture) in Mon, 8 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT