2017 Year In Review

Hi Friends,

We hope that you've had a blessed Christmas time with your family. With the new year knocking at the door, we've spent a few quiet moments reflecting on our ministry and family life in 2017.

• 1 new baby!!
• 5 months of non-touring maternity leave
• 5 months of touring with 2 1/2 month on the road with a baby. Read about that experience here
• 1 USA music ministry tour
• 37 Concerts
• 6 flights
• 5,568km driven
• 5 years of music ministry full-time!
• 1 new music video created. Watch it here
• Hundreds of nappies changed!

8 1/2 months pregnant

Eric playing at New Life Believers Church, Victoria, Australia

We began the year pregnant and completing our last music ministry tour before becoming a family of three. We toured to different Victorian churches each weekend while being based at home.

Looking back it was a time of excitement, apprehension and growth of faith in God as we went head long around another blind corner of this journey. We each had moments of struggle, wondering and praying about how it was all going to work out. 

Monique singing at Glen Huntly SDA Church, Victoria, Australia

First family date when Ezra was 8 days old

Then 10th April came and with it we became a family of three. Our little darling Ezra Eric Johnson was born. For the next 4 months, I (Monique) was on maternity leave with Eric working on booking and administration from our home office. It was such a beautiful, sleep deprived, frustrating and joyful time before we faced the world of music ministry touring with a baby. 

Our first time taking a church service after Ezra was born at Dandenong Polish SDA Church, Victoria, Australia

Eric singing at Crossway North Church, Victoria, Australia

The remainder of the year included three tours; NNSW, SQLD, VIC and Oregon, USA.

Sing at Storyline Church, Oregon USA

Singing at 'Your Church' in Brisbane, QLD, Australia

House Concert at ARISE / Light Bearers campus in USA

Singing at Warragul SDA Church in Victoria, Australia

Sharing music at the Salvation Army in Leongatha in Victoria Australia

Ezra checking out the piano!

It was absolutely amazing to be back doing concerts together with our little roadie. After the 5 month break, doing concerts again was like an invigorating breath of fresh air. Each concert in every tour was amazing and special. We are so thankful to God for all the providential moments and to all the people who helped and supported us. 

Ezra fast asleep while Monique sings up in Maitland SDA Church, NSW Australia.

Cannon Beach in Oregon, USA

Eric getting some admin work done on a sunny afternoon with Ezra hanging out 

Ezra fast asleep after a concert in QLD, Australia

Off to USA with a baby on an extremely long flight!

Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, USA

Ezra exploring the keys! 

We also just recently put out a new music video for our song 'God Is Love'. 

It's been a year that we dubbed at the beginning as 'The Year of the Baby'. A year of change. One that has been both the slowest and quickest in our recent history. Yet one that has been filled with joy. We have exciting things planned for 2018 and we cannot wait to let you know more about that in the new year.

Happy New Year! 

Blessings & love, 
Eric & Monique

Merry Christmas!

Hello friends,

We’re sitting in our living room with Christmas music playing in the background, Ezra’s sleeping form on the baby monitor and a beautiful blue sky filling the window. And we just can’t help but hope that the weather man got it wrong and Christmas Day will be a hot one, rather than the 19c day that’s currently predicted. As we’re hoping for a hot one down here in Australia, we see our friends in the North are hoping for snow! Christmas is such a time for diversity. Whether it be climate, traditions, favourite holiday food, or the personal reactions and memories that Christmas brings. For some this time is full of happiness and family, for others it is a time that bring memories of those who have been lost. Thank you for all the beauty, love and support you have brought into our lives this year. We pray that within the reality of your moments this Christmas that Peace, Hope and Love will abide, and will abound in ways that can only exist when they come from our Redeemer, Jesus.

We appreciate and love you all. Merry Christmas! 

Eric & Monique

Travel Diaries - Crater Lake, USA

Have you ever visited a place that was beyond your expectations? For me this was Crater Lake in Oregon USA. Beyond beautiful. Breathtaking. Stunning. Immense. This is Crater Lake.

We were in Oregon, USA, while the state, mostly in the forested areas, was being extensively burned by forest fires. The smoke was at times intense and a couple of times it caused us to have to stay inside as the toxicity was too high for babies to inhale. It was to the point that we thought we might miss out on Crater Lake while we were in the south. But on a Friday morning, the last day we had available in the area, the smoke cleared and we made our way up to one of the most beautiful lakes I've ever seen! 

When we are on a music ministry tour, we often don't have much time outside of concerts. But when we do, we try to see a few beautiful areas close to our tour route. Even though we were only at Crater Lake for a short time it was completely worth it. We drove up from Klamath Falls, which is about 1 hour 30 minutes drive through quaint towns, vast fields and epic forests. The drive up alone is worth it and as we rounded the last corner, Crater Lake came into view in all it's glory. It surprised me that the spectacular views of the lake were only a couple minutes walk from the car park at the Rim Visitor Centre. We got out of the car and in just a short stroll were right on the rim of the crater. We spent the little time we had walking along the rim, finding view after stunning view with blues that need to be seen to be believed. Ezra clearly loved it as much as we did. Our walk took us to the Sinnott Memorial Overlook and the exhibit that goes into the park's geology and history. Retracing our steps we took one last look at the lake beyond all lakes before driving back to Klamath Falls and a weekend full of concerts. 

If you are ever in Oregon I wholeheartedly recommend Crater Lake, even if it's just for the morning. You won't regret it.