Week one!

Hooray! We have survived the first week! As much fun as it has been, there was a lot of change to get used to. At the beginning of the week we were strangers, waiting to get to know one another and now that it's the end of the week, we're starting to feel like a family. We have only been here one week and God has already done so much in us. We're getting prepared for the times ahead, and God is giving us a lot of grace.


We really are so early in our stories... I can't wait for what's to come.




On Saturday we went on a lovely tour of Vancouver. We walked all along the water and really got a feel for the area. We also drove around downtown to see what Vancouver is really like. It was a beautiful day.



David (Canada) playing some good music.


Sorry I don't have good pictures for you all. I'm having a lot of camera issues. My Canon has been my good companion for the past 4 years, but I think it may just need to be replaced. I don't really know what happened to it. I'm praying that by Christmas I'll have enough financial freedom to buy myself a new one!

Thus Far

I thought I would give you all a look at what we've been up to recently. Although the program has just started, we've been up to quite a bit everyday. Everything can be a little difficult at times, and once in a while I find myself feeling really overwhelmed, but at the end of the day I really value my time here. God is really just working through a number of things as we go through the 101: The Art of Hearing God. We also started reading one of John Paul's books, Breaking Free of Rejection. It's quite a powerful book and honestly, I really didn't think I had an issue with that. But I've found it to be really good and helpful. I really think its worth the read, even if you think you have no issues in that area, you'd be surprised.

Tonight we had a guest speaker all the way from Africa! Samuel is a pastor in Kenya and his message was so good. I really loved Samuel's passion for not only Jesus, but for the word of God. I'm not sure I've ever met someone who loved the Bible and God's word as much as Samuel. It was really good to hear a lot of what he was saying. Most if it was things that I had already head before but for some reason I saw it in a new light. It's like I had finally gotten it, finally believed it. I took notes like crazy so maybe after going over them a few times I might add some tidbits of what Samuel shared tonight.

Tomorrow we have morning prayer (which I actually really like) and then we start up again with the 101 class. We started on Tuesday and we'll be having it 2 days a week until we finish up with it. Joni Cooper has been teaching it and its been interesting. I hadn't heard her teach before and she's a good teacher. I took the 101 quite a long time ago, almost 4 years ago so I'm pretty familiar with the material, but now that I'm older and I've experienced so much more as far as ministry goes, I'm really able to understand it and get so much more out of it. When I was younger it built a good foundation but now its so much more than that.

It feels really good to be here, knowing that this is where God wants me. Although I still might struggle with things, God has grace for us because we've been obedient in coming. The process of getting here wasn't easy, but if this is what God really wants for me, than there's no place I'd rather be. Although sometimes I feel all out of sorts as God totally rearranges everything in me, I'm happy and just so thankful.

The Arrival

Here we are! We've finally made it. Early in the morning Hannah and I set out to Boston airport to fly to Chicago, change planes, and fly to Vancouver. The day was a little stressful and we were definitely nervous about running into problems and just the overall experience of doing things that we've never had to do before. The first leg of the journey went over quite smoothly and we had high hopes that the rest of the day would go just as well. When we got to Chicago, it was a little rocky while trying to find out if we were going to be able to get on our scheduled flight or not. We definitely had some favor at the airport when Hannah, Ashley and I got bumped and were each offered a free round trip ticket on United!! How could we pass that up? Sure we had to wait around at the airport for another couple of hours while awaiting the next flight but it was worth it!

The flight from Chicago to Vancouver was the longest part of the trip. It wasn't until this part that I had begun to really feel just how tired and exhausted I was from the traveling and probably the lack of good sleep over the past few days. I was starting to realize just how far from home I really was. But it wasn't long before the excitement and curiosity about what's going to happen this year got to us and our spirits were lifted!



Hannah and I on the plane, feeling pretty fabulous.

When we landed in Vancouver we got through customs and everything quite quickly and easily. After customs we made a number of silly mistakes and stood in lines that we didn't need to. But it all worked out in the end and needless to say we were all more than relieved.

Bethany and Tyler Schiedel (Vancouver) picked us up at the airport and it was wonderful to see them again!! Jamie Bower (Canada) and Rebecca Wallander (Sweden) also met us at the airport in Jamie's truck to take all of our luggage and whatnot to the house. At the house we met up with the rest of the second year interns and we were reunited!

After such a long day we did a little bit of unpacking and went to bed. Rebecca Wallander's sister, Danielle, will be my roommate when she arrives from Sweden, but as for now I'm flying solo in our room!


I still have a lot of mixed feelings about everything, but as more things fall into place and I get more used to the house and the time zone, I'll be feeling much more settled.


When I have more time and patience, pictures will be added!!! Sorry, for now.

Tomorrow

As of 33 minutes ago, it's Tuesday, not just any Tuesday, but my last day in New Hampshire, and the United States for that matter, until I come home for a short break in December. I find myself sitting on my bedroom floor trying to sort out my feelings about leaving as I pack all of my favorite belongings into a big blue suitcase. For the past 2 years that we've lived here, this place hasn't completely felt like home. But now that I'm leaving, there's no other place I'd rather rest my head.


"And ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."- Kahlil Gilbran


Sums it all up.


For Jon, I think I'll miss him the most. Who said brothers and sisters couldn't be best friends too?