So much excitement and anticipation for what is to come

Hey

Not much is new with me. I started classes this week and am really looking forward to the semester. Also I experienced bus ministry for the first time and am super excited about next week. We were unable to ride the busses this week because there were complications and we had to play with the kids as they were arriving in intervals since we were short busses. Next week we will be riding the buses and helping to run the Preschool program, this week we were observing more than doing so that we could learn the format, etc.

Tuesday we are opening the Fuse Box which is a hangout for youth in Langley after school. I am excited since we are planning all the activites and starting off the program for the year. All the groups that run it after us will be following our example and plan. Terrifying but also exciting.

I thank that Lord for everything that is occuring in Maple Ridge and the growth that we are experincing as a youth ministry. In the last two weeks we have had 45 new youth come to REV and expect to continue to grow. (Langley had 11 new people last week, so they are growing as well). I am excited to see these youth return and grow in relationship with the Lord. Right now many are coming out of curiosity and for something to do. We expect them to return because they had fun and felt welcomed. We had a number of skaters show up this week, which was awsome - we had gone to the skate park to invite them and they decided to come and check it out. They were then called and followed up with by some of the interns (something that we do with all visitors) and invited to come to different hubs (small groups). In my hub we had two come and in Steve and Kenny's cell (which is for younger boys) they had at least 8 new ones show up. I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store, He is moving in the lower mainland.

On another note here is a great video that we were watching this week at REV - something random and amusing (just like we are). It speaks for itself so enjoy. (the guys were joking that it was the inspiration for the REV albums).

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=7-NOZU2iPA8

I hope that it worked, my first attempt at adding a video.

I have been having many conflicts with my mom latey since we are such different people and have difficulties asjusting to the others personality and lifestyle. I am reminded of Paul Brandt's song "That's Worth Fighting For" and especially the following lines:

• "We've been around in circles 'bout a thousand times"
• "I can't believe I spoke to you that way"
• "how our two hearts are holding this much hate and blame I don't know"
• "I know I can't remember No I don't know the reason why we ever started fighting anymore"
• "If we could just loose the temper and find a way to be more tender"

Half the time we are fighting and I do not know what started it or why we are fighting, it is so petty but I do not know how to stop. I feel as though the only way that we communicate is by fighting and that really sucks. Please pray that I learn how to communicate more effectively and learn to adapt to mom's personality. Thanks so much.

I have my second interview at Starbucks on Tuesday and I am so excited but also rather nervous, I have never had a job before that requires two interviews. I just have to keep reminding myself that God is in control and has a plan for me that includes where I am to be working at this stage in time.

Well I best go and get some more reading done for classes, I have to read a book and do a report on it but it is not due until the end of the semester. I want to get it done now before I get to busy but it is hard to get motivated to do it when it is not due until after Christmas. Oh well at least it is a book that I think I am going to enjoy reading unlike many books I have been forced to read in the past. The book is The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey, for those of you who are interested.

Take care and God bless. Have a great week and I hope to hear from all of you soon.

no more burgers but lots of excitement

Hey everyone

So I have quit A&W after two shifts since I was not being trained at all and the job was more stress than it was worth. I have an interview at Starbucks on Friday so am hoping to get that job. I really should have listened to all those horror stories everyone was telling me about that specific A&W. Oh well you live and learn.

I started classes yesterday and am really looking forward to the semester. We have three classes each semester. So this semester I have Personal Bible Study, Life of Christ, and Basic Doctrine 1 (we will do part 2 next semester). I am so stoked. My first ministry link is Bus Ministry, which is the same idea as Metro Kids Ministry in New York. Every Saturday morning we will ride the buses and pick up kids, most from non-christian, broken homes, and bring them to CLA for a service and fun time. We then take them back home. During the week each of these kids are visited (although I do not think that we will be involved in that part simply because of time and the fact that we are on 6 week rotations so we would just establish a relationship and then be moving on). I think that this will be an amazing experience and am looking forward to starting on Saturday.

In other news I had a Sunday School leaders meeting last night and discovered that the person who I was team teaching with is no longer teaching so until a new teacher steps forward and volunteers I will be teaching every week. Which is okay since it is only for the second half of the service that I will need to be downstairs so I can participate in the worship service. Also I will be going over to Langley for the evening services so I will still be able to attend a church service weekly.

Last point for any of you who are in the Maple Ridge or Langley areas and are looking for somehting fun to do on Wednesday (Maple Ridge) or Tueadsay (Langley) nights you should come and check out Revolution at Christian Life Assembly. It is an amazing time and I can guarantee that you have never experienced church like this before. Come and see.

Take care and God bless, have a great week, until next time.

update

Long time, no post

So what have I been up to, hmm where to start.

I have been accepted into the CLA REV Internship so will be busy with that for the next year. This last weekend we had a retreat together to get to know each other and what the Internship will involve. We went to Seymour - it was absolutely amazing and so much fun. So it looks like we will be in Langley Monday and Wednesday and in Maple Ridge on Thursdays and a combination of the two on Sunday's. I am so excited for the year and to see what God has in store for me and the others. I am looking forward to seeing where God will lead me as well as the others and to see how much we grow. I believe that God is going to take us farther than we can imagine. So stoked.

In other news I have been promoted to Grade 5 in Sunday school - which is exciting because I will have the same group of kids that I had this summer. I was just starting to get to know them and their personalities and am really looking forward to getting to know them more and watch them develop.

I spent today applying for jobs and was hired on the spot at A&W and start tomorrow. It will definatley be interesting. I will be starting in the kitchen but will also recieve training for the storefront. I am not really excited about the job so far but am going to still give it my all. I beleive that God has opened the door and given me this opportunity for a reason so I want to be obedient to His voice and leading. So I will stick it out until something else comes up and I know that I am to move on. Then again once I start I might find that I absolutely love it and never want to work anywhere else, but I am not going to hold my breath.

God bless all and I will update you more later. FYI - comments are appreciated

Where has the time gone

Wow I find it difficult to believe that it is already August. I am now settled in Maple Ridge again and am adjusting to living back with my parents. So far it has been pretty good but then I have not been home that much either. I spend most of my time at my sister's taking care of my nephew. I love spending my days with him, they are rarely boring or predictable. I feel very blessed to have been given this opportunity to spend time with him and bond with him since I missed so much of his first year.

I have started teaching sunday school again and am having a ball. I continue to be amazed at the wisdom of children, they can be so profound sometimes. This week coming up is VBS with the theme of Power Lab and I am so excited and glad to be helping out. Although I know that I will be exhasted by the end of the week with helping with the VBS in the mornings and then taking care of my nephew in the afternoons. But it will be fun and I will enjoy every minute of it.

I will crash on Saturday and sleep most of the day then head to REV camp on Sunday for six days. REV camp is the talk of the church in the summer and I am looking forward to going, as I have never been before. Since I am to old to actually go to camp I am going as a volunteer in the kitchen which will be great, reminicent of Timberline. Ahh memories.

September 5 I start the REV Internship that I applied for and I am so excited but also a little apprehensive as it will stretch me and challange me so much but I am ready. More info to follow on this program once I get started and settled into a routine.

Life is great and I am loving every minute of it. God Bless

hey from me and the kid

'l,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,............gfg][gg Hey all
hope everything is good with you. If this post id strange it is nn because my 1 year old nephew is helping me type.

I am doing great and am having a blast with him this summer. Tonight we are staying at my parents and will probably go to the water park tomorrow for the first time. He loves his pool and bath so he should have a good time. We have errands to do tomorrow as well. We will probably take the bus into town, which will be an adventure.

I started teaching Sunday School today and it was amazing. I ha0d 9 kids in grade 4 which was lots of fun. It is such a joy to teach them again. It is interesting mm nsince I had many of the same kids in my age 4 and 5 class that I taught before I moved away for school. 0.

Well the family is leaving for the night after a f2amily dinner for all the bir0th2017days aroun0d th2is 22222time. So we better go and say goodbye.

Talk to
you later. Love 5you a5trnd hhhhGodBless.

hope this wasn't too hard to


read0.

settled and busy

Okay so I have been back for a week now and am finally feeling settled in. I spend three days last week with my nephew. It was a ton of fun although he is teething so is kinda cranky. I am looking forward to starting a regular schedual with him next week since last week was crazy and messed up with it being my sister's first week back at work and this week is messed up with the holiday. I am so busy the next few days I do not know when I will get all the errands done that I need to. Lets see here is my schedual, so far, for the next week.

Today - Canada Day - family BBQ from 2-5, also need to finish a paper
Tomorrow - help dad with papers during the day and REV in the evening
Thursday - meetings with Doug, Justin, and Pastor Antonio (hopefully I can catch all three) then to my sister's in the evening
Friday - babysit all day and spend the evening at my sister's
Saturday - scrapbooking for Autism with my sister
Sunday - Church then to my sister's for the night
Monday - Wednesday - babysitting all day and spending the nights at my sisters
Wednesday night - REV

Busy but should be fun. Sometime before saturday I need to get my Japan pictures printed and buy a scrapbook for them so that I can start it at the scrapbooking day. I also need to get into my storage unit and organize it as well as pick up some things that got dropped off there by mistake, such as my coffee cup, my jewlery, and all my hair stuff. I also need to apply for jobs. I am planning on working at Tim Hortons near my sister's house (since I have been told that I am basically guaranteed a job there) Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights since I will be in that area. Then I need to get another part time job closer to my parents for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday while I am in that area. Hopefully this will give me enough to put money into savings to start paying off student loans and to pay the bills in the fall cause if I get accepeted into the intership I will not be able to work more than 10 hours a week so need to save as much this summer as I possibly can.

Well I better go and work on my paper but I will touch base with you later. Love you and God Bless.

sorry

To my family

I am sorry if I hurt any of you in the last post. I was upset and frustrated and was not very nice. I am sorry. I love you all.

family frustrations

So I am moving in two days and it has been planned for three weeks that mom will come and help me on friday and dad and my brother will come on saturday to load and move everything. Well then my brothers girlfriend wanted to come and that meant three vehicles, so then mom wasn't going to come. Then this morning my mom calls to tell me she is coming even if it means that there will be 3 vehicles because she doesn't want to cause conflict and put my brother in the middle of it. But yet it is apparently okay to put me in the middle of it since I have recieved calls from basically every member of my family complaining about the situation and wanting me to deal with it even though I am no where near any of them. I also do not understand why my sister is involved and is so uptight and stressed about it when she has nothing to do with the moving and has never planned to come and help so it does not affect her plans at all. As much as I love my family there are times when I wish I could just walk away and no longer have a family. But then I miss them and I love them to much to leave them.

So I move in two days but I am not sure exactly how it will work or who will be here to help maybe I should just sell all my stuff and move back to the coast on the Greyhound so that there is no conflict for the family to deal with and no one is inconvienced or left out.

hurt and confused

I am amazed at how you can be friends with someone for years and then discover that they really do not know you at all. They have a version of you in their head and chose to remeber things that you say and do to support this vision rather than actually listen to what you are telling them. Since doscovering this I have been analysis my friendships and the views that I have of people and I can not honestly say that I know all are 100% acurate, but then I guess that is the thing - you do not realize you do not know someone until something happens. Although even with the events of the last while I do not know if this friend realize that the image held of me is not acurate. While I was enlightened that this person does not know the real me, is this person being enlightened that they do not really know me? I do not know. Sorry I realize this probably sounds very strange and crazy, but hey that is me so what do you expect.

I am reminded of the song by Jaci Velasquez that goes "This is the real me, am I the girl that you want me to be? This is the real me, Can you face it, Can you feel it, Can you take it, Can you deal with, The real me" (and yes for those of you who know the song there is a line missing because it does not fit with what I am saying). I have spent the last few years discovering for myself who the real me is and I must say I was rather hurt to discover that my friend (maybe more??) does not know who I am.

Now I must get back to packing, oh that is right I am going to watch a movie and have some fun instead. Take care and God bless.

Finally something to do

So the SL marks finally arrived so I have been able o finish most of my stuff for work there is a bit that I will have to leave up to my partner to do on her own though but it should not too bad.

Packing is moving so slowly, I had forgotten how much I detested packing. I do not mind moving I just hate the preparation leading up to the packing. Oh well it is part of life.

Further than that my heart is breaking for my friend and her family right now as they are going through so much. I wish that I could do more to help, but I will do what I can and that is pray and let God have control of the situation. Please join me in prayer for this family.

I am getting super excited to move back home and reconnect with family and friends - I feel like I have been gone for so long. I know that I have changed in many ways but I am still the same as I always was just older and more sure of myself and my path. It will be interesting to see how everyone else has changed over the past four years as well.

where did it all come from

So I am starting to actually feel like I am accomplishing something. Yeah. Other than that not much is new except that I forget how steep of a hill MacIntosh is then I walk up it and remember. It feels great to be able to walk to and from campus though, very refreshing.

One other question, who brought stuff into my house while I was away because I am pretty sure that I did not have this much stuff when I left. I am not sure where it all came from. I think that I will blame Adam though, it feels like a good day for everything to be the cousins fault. Love ya anyway Adam.

Well talk to you later
God bless

too much free time

So far it has been a very frustrating week. First not having a computer at home sucks, I had not realized how much I used it and for how many different things. Oh well I can survive for another week and a half. Secondly, there is nothing that I can do for work since all the forms are saved on my partners drive, that I do not have access to, and she has yet to show up as things keep happening so that she can not make it. This would not be that big of a deal were I able to progress with the non computer side of things. But we have not recieved the rest of the marks in yet and those that I do have I already have done all I can with them. We do not have marks yet since neither I or my boss were around much for the past month to make sure that they were sent, since the department, as per most, have to be hounded to keep up with requests.

So nothing has been happening on the work front and little has been happening on the school front since I am having trouble finding the motivation. Ah well I will buckle down and get it done. It is very easy to procrastinate when you do not have much to do, which is unusual for me. Usually I can not procrastinate much at all since there never is a later in which to do things. I most definately prefer being over busy to having little to do especially since I can't even catch up on sleep since I have none to catch up on.

Oh well I am having a nice time relaxing even if relaxing is driving me nuts. Soon enough I will be too busy to know what to do with myself again; and for a bit I think I will actually appreciate it but then I will want a day to do nothing again.

On a further note I have entered the world of facebook, I know finally gave in. So if you are on there look me up.

Take care and God bless.

out of place in Kamloops

It is so weird to be back in Kamloops and know that this is it. I have been having very mixed emotions about moving back home. I still believe that it is what I am supposed to do but there is so much here in Kamloops that I am going to miss.

I am at the school now, since this is the only internet access that I have, and am trying to motivate myself into getting work done. So far it is not working so well although I have checked my emails and am now posting here.

There is not much new with me other than remembering how much work packing is. I forgot how much stuff I had so I am trying to sort through things and get rid of stuff that I do not have any need for rather than pack it down to the coast with me. I am trying to organize my packing so that as my things are in storage I will be able to easily find what I am looking for if I find that I am needing something that is packed away. It is an interesting time.

Yesterday was miracle sunday at church and we had a visiting pastor from Glad Tidings in Chilliwack preach, he was amazing. Listening to him it is easy to see why Glad Tidings is succeeding so well, God is there and is the leader not man. Both services yesterday were amazing and I am very glad that I was there but it was weird I no longer feel as though I belong at BTC which was further confirmation that I am supposed to move on to the next stage in my life. The church that has felt like home for so long no longer does, it was a very weird experience. I realize now that I was a place in my life where I needed to be ministered to and not have a leading role. These past four years have been a time of searching and learning who I am and what I believe and as such I was in a position of needing ministering rather than giving. I now believe that I am ready to reenter the ministry realm. I was talking to the Children's pastor at the coast about becoming invloved with the sunday school again once I am back down there. He was very open to it and apparently there is a position with the grade 4's opening up this summer and that is the age group that I would love to work with the most. God is good, he keeps giving me these signs of confirmation that I am heading in the right direction and he is preparing the way for me. I am so excited to see what will come next.

Love you all, take care and God bless.

going back to the 'Loops

Hey all

So I am heading back to Kamloops in a little while, once my ride gets here and we get packed up. It feels very weird to know that this will be my last trip to Kamloops for a while and that I will be paciking everything up while I am there. It feels weird but right, this is what I am supposed to be doing.

Time is flying so fast it is hard to believe all that has happened and all that I have done over the last few years. Sometimes I feel like I am watching a movie of someone elses life or am having a dream and will wake up soon and discover that all this has not actually happened and I am still a little kid. In some ways that would be great but for the most part I do not want to live my life over again or go back and redo anything since everything that has occured has made me who I am and I rather like who I am. I will continue to live life to the fullest, follow God's leading, and have regrets as I begin this next stage in my life. I am excited to see what happens.

Love you all and God bless.

back in Canada and I have no clue what time it is

Hey everyone

So I am back in Canada and my body is totally messed up with a combination of Jet Lag and cold. I woke up around 3 this morning wide awake even though I had not gone to bed until 11. We will see how the rest of the day goes and hopefully I can get onto a normal sleeping schedual soon.

I have decided that I will spend June in Kamloops finishing up SL stuff and school work. Also packing up my apartment. The weekend of June 21 I will be moving back to Maple Ridge and will spend the summer between my parents and my sister's places, which will be rather interesting but should be enjoyable. I will be taking care of my nephew since my sister is done her materninty leave and if I look after him daycare can be put off for a while longer. I am excited to take care of him since I have already missed so much of his life and do not know what is coming next to know if I will be around for much of his years to come.

After the summer I will remain here on the coast working part time, doing my last two courses through Open Learning, and participating in the internship at the church (as long as I am accepted). That is roughly the plan for now although I am sure that it will change at least a little bit as time progresses.

Well that is all for now but give me a call or drop me a line cause I want to see you all.

Love you and God bless.

coming back to Canada

Hey all

So I have made it to the airport and have about 7 hours to wait until my flight leaves. I will be able to check in for the flight in a couple of hours until then though it is killing time and shopping.

I am glad to be coming home it has been fun but I am ready to return to my real life, if there is such a thing.

See you all soon, I will be in Maple Ridge until friday then will be in Kamloops again. Will post more specifics later.

Love you all. God bless and take care.

Hemeji

Hey Everyone

So it is almost time to come back to Canada, I am ready but there is also so much more that I would love to do here. Ah well guess I will have to come back again. So I spent the last day and a half in Aso hiking the volcano and relaxing, it was beautiful and amazing. However, today I forgot to put on sunscreen and am a little burnt but that is okay.

Now I am in Hemeji, back on Honshu Island. I will spend the night here and then see the castle first thing in the morning, I have been told by a number of sources that it is the best one in Japan. It is still the original wood castle that was built so many years ago, most of the others are concrete replicas cause they burned down. I am excited it should be interesting since the inside is unchanged so I will be able to see how ppl lived there as well as see the museum stuff. Apparently there are all these hidden passage ways and staircases for defence. I am hoping that there will be an english guide available since there are apparently some that work there but you can not book one ahead of time.

After the castle I am going to head back towards Tokyo, I will have to see how time is going for whether I stop in Osaka for a bit or not. Then Monday morning I will hang out around Tokyo then head to Narita airport to check in then fly home. I leave here at 7pm local time on monday and land in Vancouver at 12 noon local time there on monday. So does that mean what I do from noon to 7 here does not exsist since I redo the time in Vancouver? what kind of trouble can I get in to (just kidding).

So I left my wallet on the train in Miyazaki but thankfully got it back right away since the train went out to the airport then returned to the station I had got off at and the ticket seller who was helping me contact the train ran out and retrieved it for me. Thank you Lord. Another interesting Japan memory and experience.

Well this will probably be my last post from Japan but we will see. Once I am back in Canada I will update on what will happen then since I have reached a desicion (at least I am pretty sure that I have reached a decision). Love you all, miss you, see you soon. God bless and take care.

Oita

Hey Everyone

So　I am in Kuyshu now in a place called Oita. I have not yet gone to Aso. I am still deciding if I will go there tomorrow or go farther south to another volcano and then make my way back up to Aso via Nagasaki. Last night I stayed in Hiroshima since I did not get away from Tokyo until 4 which was okay since I really enjoyed exploring Dream Island but made it too late to come all the way to Kuyshu. I am having a lot of fun and only got completely lost once today. Well will post more later got to go have some dinner.

Love you and miss you. Take care and God bless.

end of course and out on my own

Hey everyone

This morning we are going to Dream Island then the course is officially over. After that I am hopping on a train for about 7 hours and heading to Kyushu. I am excited but also a little bit scarded. Tom has taught me a lot of practical stuff about the trains and travel in Japan which will definately be helpful.

Well I got to go and write a quiz but I will talk to you all later. Take care and God Bless.

Tokyo is crazy

Hey Everyone

We survived Tokyo station, the largest in Japan, however we did loose Tom, the teacher. It was crazy how many people there were and how congested everything was. I am not so sure that I like Tokyo, there are too many people in such a small place for my likings.

Last night we went to a buffet where we had to cook our own food on the grill in the centre of the table. It was good and I was glad to have a break from rice and noodles. Actually it was all you can eat and there was a bunch of fruit so that is mostly what I ate. My stomache is felling much better now, the fruit definately helped.

Today we are meeting the president of Tokyo University, then exploring Tokyo a bit, and at 2:30 we are going to the Canadian Embassy for a tour. It should be fun.

Tuesday we have a quiz in the morning and then are going to Dream Island, made of garbage. The course officially ends at noon and then I am heading to Kuyshu, very excited.

Well I got to go but I will post more later. Take care and God bless.