Just a Spoon Full of Sugar...

Since arriving at camp, I have been serving in almost every area here: kitchen, maintenance, the office, challenge course, and a few others. At first I found myself rather frustrated with a lack of consistency and a feeling that I was never placed in an area that I could put my gifts to work. It took me a while before I remembered that I'm not here to serve me but to serve others. The Lord also reminded me that I did after all, ask Him to teach me to be selfless...gently. He has been teaching me, and He has been so gracious with me.

This past weekend was family retreat. One evening, my friend Jordana and I were babysitting three kiddos. One of the girls asked us to tell her a Bible story because she had never gone to Church before and wanted to go to hear the stories. She was so thankful when we did and asked to hear "the story about Jesus on the cross" the next night. I guess sometimes I forget that we truly are reaching the unreached here, even at a Christian camp.

Today was my day off. I went with three friends into Duncan for the afternoon. I had the privilege of driving my friends standard sports car around Duncan as we searched for different unique stores to check out. It was a great afternoon that ended with crusing through some back roads on our way back to camp.

Tomorrow I will be spending the day serving on Maintenance and then in the Challenge Course, and then probably back on Maintenance. I love being outside here.

Nomads Land

The journey from Manitoba to the Island is one to be remembered. Arriving at the Winnipeg airport at 6am, traveling with a friend to Vancouver and being picked up by two brothers was so sweet. Next it was time to learn a new game...Crib...and I will say that the other team got SKUNKED! Then we hit up the beautiful Stanley Park for a picnic and some Frisbee...next stop the Tawassen Ferry terminal. There's something special about taking the ferry....can't quite put my finger on it, but it is epic. Shortly thereafter we arrived at camp excited for whatever we were to encounter next...

It seems as if I post at my most busiest points in life...coincidence? I think not. I have recently found myself saying "yes" to everything and then wondering where my time has gone. Yesterday as I was at a concert of a few friends, it hit me...He spoke and I listened. He said "you know, you don't have to see people everyday. You can spend a day with just Me here and there. Infact, I'd like that a lot." I responded with thinking "wow! really?" I know! how silly. Of COURSE He wants all my time and attention. I felt so much peace in this simple yet greatly needed bit of information. God is so good! How patient He is with me. Looking forward to my days spent just with Him.

Putting pictures on my wall...

Tonight, I had the privilege of celebrating the life of one of my brothers here at school. It was in the form of a completely unexpected surprise party. We begun with games and some snacks, and a special gift suited just for him (in the form of a dance to one of his favourite songs), also a note book on the table for people to write birthday wishes in, and then moving to sharing with him things we appreciate about him, asking him what his hopes for the future are and then praying over him. This reminded me of how important  it is to share our hopes with one another and to lift one another up in prayer. Even though I don't know this brother all that well, my heart was full of praise and prayer for his life and the things the Lord has done and is  doing in his life. Also, I was so encouraged to continue to strive to glorify God completely and fully with my life.  This is definitely a picture worth putting on the wall of my memories...one of celebration of what the Lord has done and also a reminder of how good it is to have friends who love God.

It's about time for breakfast...

I've been spending the past week on Vancouver Island...beautiful it sure is! It's been a wonderful time of catching up with old friends and making new ones. There is not yet snow here and I even saw a rainbow the other day! There has been a ton of rain, but I don't mind it one bit. While hiking to a waterfall with some friends, just a little ways up the mountain by camp, I was constantly thanking the Lord for the beauty He has surrounded us with. Oh how good He is to us! 2 Peter 1:3-11 3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Have I forgotten? How good He is to us to give us all we need! I know that it is not easy to simply have all these qualities in our lives but that is why we are to "make every effort". Lord have mercy on me as I attempt to have these qualities so I may never be ineffective as I do my best to live for you and bring your Kingdom to earth. What a challenge I have found these verses to be, I had to read them over and over again to even begin to grasp what they meant. May this blog, (though it is mostly me simply spitting out my thoughts), be a challenge to those of you who read it as well. May we not just settle with good enough, but challenge ourselves to truly live and to hold ourselves and one another accountable to the life we are to live as disciples of Christ. It takes a rare and true friend to call another on something they are doing that is hindering them and hindering the Lords work.

With Family For The Holidays, Events so far... -7.5hr trip from College to Winkler, gas light went on 30minutes away from the nearest gas station... we made it. - Finished knitting 2 toques. - Bought a Mac.. - Had some cousins and aunts over for Breakie...found out that when I was visiting my cousins in Kenya, a man tried to buy me for a camel.. To Be Continued....

Random

I like climbing trees and wearing plad. I am continually writing bits and pieces of songs. My big brother is the best. When I was little I wanted to be Shania Twain...and a farmer. Architecture is something I have always loved. I don't know what I want to do when I "grow up". I love to travel and am not afraid to do things alone..for the most part. I challenge myself often. Can't stand the mold that grows in my dorm room bathroom. I have turned into a little bit of a neat freak. I love learning. I want to learn a language fluently by being immersed in the culture. I want to stop running from things. Fishing is something I absolutely love but haven't gone since I was 13 or 14...and I have always been too afraid to take the fish off the hook. Going to the movies is something I do not fancy...usually. I'm a tad bit afraid of large crowds. Hockey is a sport I wanted to play but was not allowed. Underestimating myself is something I'm good at. I played flute for 9 years. I like snail mail better than chocolate, the Northern Lights, and a clean room. If I could be anywhere right now, I'd be at the ocean or dancing in Africa. Hard physical work is something I love to do. Running is my new outlet/cheerer-upper/enjoyment. I can be rather blunt. I do like wearing dresses. Road trips...mmm road trips..I'm in need of a road trip.....and snowboarding. I don't like to let others read my academic work..I'm very self-conscious about it. I wish I had more time to read and write and just be.