Erica Is Going on Tour

I thought this blurb from the KMBC website about Erica's choir was pertinent enough to share on the blog. I hope we will be able to make it to one of the concerts!

KMBC Women’s Chorus

The 2011 Tour features the KMBC Women’s Chorus under the direction of Mr. Jay Wisler, KMBC music faculty. The Women's Chorus features eighteen young ladies who are currently studying at KMBC. They have a beautiful sound and spirit that is sure to thrill and challenge all who worship with them in their concerts.

The KMBC Women’s Chorus will be on tour with sixteen concerts in eight states from February through April. The main thrust of the tour will be during the KMBC Spring Break, March 11-20, 2011. During Spring Break the KMBC Women’s Chorus will travel through Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Georgia. The choir will present concerts in churches from eight different denominations.

Erica's Thoughts On Holiness

Erica is currently in her second semester at Kentucky Mountain Bible College. She has not been home since January 3rd, so we are all missing her. Last Monday evening, Matthew and I stopped in to say "hello" after we sold Boris at Lee City. (KMBC is only about 20 minutes further down the road from the stock sale, so it was a good oppourtunity to drop by, even though we were wearing work clothes and pulling a hog trailer!). We only talked with her for about a half hour, but it was nice seeing her again. She is doing very well, and I am proud of her.

One of the slogans of the college is "Holiness unto the Lord". I have always emphasized holy living in my preaching, and I hope in my life. I am thankful that Erica is studying at a college that places a high premium on holiness. It is the major thing that attracted me to KMBC from the beginning. Erica wrote about Holiness for her Theology class this week and shared it with me. It was a blessing to read! I would like to share the first paragraph, here on the blog. It goes along nicely with my post from yesterday. No matter what kind of homestead projects we may get into here at Pure Water Hollow Homestead, we always desire to put the Lord first!

Now for Erica's words:

"I think that Holiness is reached when a person has fully surrendered their life to bringing glory to God. Holiness has to start with loving God completely, to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. When we love God in such a way, we will want to follow Him and keep His commandments. A life of holiness will not be hindered by habitual sin, or a constant lack of trust in God. Holiness has to be a desire and a commitment that begins in the heart at the point of Salvation and works its way out to be seen in the daily life. Salvation comes from the realization and rejection of sin and the desire for holiness. Holiness is the result of persistently seeking after God and constantly asking Him and allowing Him to cleanse you from sin. "

I don't need to add anything to the words Erica has written, but I would like to mention the verses God put on my mind while reading this:

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" Hebrews 12:14

"Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16

May the Lord's blessings be on each of you as you seek after His holiness and righteousness!

Where's Waldo, I Mean Erica

We have been rather sporadic in our picture taking, but looking over the past few months I was able to find several of Erica. This past year has been a major time of change for us and for her and it is too bad that I have not been documenting each moment. Right now I can't find any pictures of her graduation from our home school, but that happened back in May.

I think Erica had a good summer, working at McDonalds and wading in our river (among other things).

Erica had to quit her first job in order to make room for KMBC:

"You want fries with that?"


This is the car we got for Erica to go back and forth to college in. It has done pretty well, so far. (We won't mention the dead battery or the time she locked her keys in it while over at Natural Bridge and Matthew and I came out and delivered it back to campus late one Saturday night.) It is a 98 Dodge Intrepid:

In front of the dining hall at KMBC during one of our visits:

In front of Erica's dorm/administration building at KMBC. Offices are on the first floor and dorm rooms on the second:

Here is Erica in her dorm room one weekend when we were visiting:

These were taken at the new chapel dedication KMBC had on November 6th. Erica's choir sang beautifully!

Erica's roommate is also in the choir. Her name is Rachel Hersman and she is from Papau New Guinea:

Here are the songbirds with their lovely mothers:

And since everyone was dressed nice and it was sort of an historic occasion for KMBC, I shot a couple more pictures:

(Too bad I didn't get in any of the pictures. )

Erica came home from college last weekend for some birthday cake:



Little brother Timothy was especially excited:



They always lick their candles. This time Erica had 19, so there were plenty to go around:



We had a nice weekend visiting with Erica.

Then we got to see her again this week when Matthew went to KMBC for their college aquaintance days, Nov. 18-20. The theme this year was "Illegal" and was about the persecuted church keeping their faith in God. They had a great time, and the drama Catacombs was really thought provoking. Here's Matthew with Erica:

So, that has been a bit of what has been happening with Erica lately. We are looking forward to her being with us for Thanksgiving later this week. We miss her, but we know that she is preparing herself as part of God's master plan. It will be exciting to see what God has in store for her future!