Elin...

This is Elin. She is a wonderful 25 year old from Norway, with great English skills. Elin is also in the Children at Risk School. She is very funny and has a sweet natured personality. She is the oldest of four sisters. She is very talented with visual arts. Elin gives great massages. She also genuinely cares about how people are doing. Elin is one of Jillian’s roommates. We share stories of life, things that we are thinking about and things that are going on in our hearts and plenty of laughter. She is such a cool girl and a blessing to have around. If she could only eat one food for the rest of her life she would choose to eat a really good chocolate cake.

Jillian...

This is Jillian. She is a bubbly, 21 year old, from Michigan. She is in the Children at Risk School. Jillian comes from a family of 5 kids. She is the youngest. She has an adorable niece and a boyfriend named Nick. Jillian adds a fun dynamic to the class and always blesses you with a beautiful smile. She loves to laugh but has a gentle sensitive side to her as well. She is gifted in poetry and creative journaling. Jillian and I have good talks and love playing cards. She is an incredibly unique girl and special. If she could be an animal, she would like to be a penguin.

Rebecca...

I have decided to post pictures and a little bit about some of the people on the base here, both in my class and not. So let me start by introducing Rebecca...

Rebecca is 22 years old. She is my roomate and also in the Children at Risk School. She is from the Swiss-German part of Switzerland, but has wonderful English skills. She is musically gifted in singing and playing the guitar. She has a passion for working with child soldiers. Rebecca has twin fourteen year old sisters and a three year old brother. She used to work in a chocolate factory. If she could be a chocolate, she would be the kind with the bubbles in it. Her favourite place she has ever been in the world is South Africa. Rebecca likes to be in bed early (so I am learning to go to bed earlier as well) and she tends to talk to me in Swiss-German in her sleep. She is becoming a really good friend of mine!

Week 4 Summary...

This past week we had Ray and Joy Thomas come and teach us on HIV/AIDS and grief counselling for children. Ray gave us the facts on HIV/AIDS. He shared with us the statistics of the worldwide numbers of people who are infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. We learned about the ways HIV/AIDS is transmitted and about anti-retroviral drugs. Ray also shared with us about kingdom sexuality. Joy taught on how HIV/AIDS is a family disease and how to help people deal with the effects of HIV/AIDS in their family and community. Joy talked about how to help children deal with death and grief that they often experience as a result of HIV/AIDS. With Joy we also learned about play therapy and got to experiment with it as well.

The most impacting information for me this week was learning about the lack of HIV/AIDS education that is really being spread in Africa. I know there is a lot of information being taught but because of the huge stigma of having it and how many little villages there are, it is not enough. A new revelation that I got this week was about how many more teachings on HIV/AIDS need to be out there, and that maybe I might have a part in teaching about HIV/AIDS.

I was really challenged this week by Ray’s Thursday night teaching about HIV/AIDS and the possibilities of God permitting, sending, and withdrawing. I will continue to think on these things and get to know God’s character truthfully through the scriptures to come to a conclusion on what I think about what Ray was talking about.

Since about Wednesday of this week, internally, I have felt… off. I am not sure why and have not been able to fully think through all the things going on inside me this week. I was much more introverted this week then usual. Sometimes I wonder if I really am more introverted and just act like an extrovert or if I maybe am just a balance of both. I was able to work with a number of the SCF students this week on their shorts stories for their author’s night. I felt very blessed to have English as a first language, this week especially. My work duty had to be delayed/switched twice this week. I feel like the way I handled both of the situations were very good. This week I learned about the four calf’s on the farm here. The Leaky girls took me to visit them today. I love living here, with farmland and hills all around.

I am looking forward to this up coming week. Monday is going to be such a blessing to have a day off and just get work done, and I am sure the other speakers during the other days will be great. Also I am looking forward to Lindsay finally coming back, having her as a roommate and our class finally being together!

Week 3 Summary...

This past week we had the huge blessing of having Steve Bartel come and speak to us about street children. Steve comes with an incredible history of working with street children in Bogota, Columbia and directing a ministry called “Formando Vidas”. The stories he told and the wisdom he shared was absolutely inspiring. Steve shared with us about the three categories of street children: pre-street, on the streets and of the streets. We looked into what God’s heart for street children is, what the felt needs and actual needs of a street child are, and specific characteristics that apply to a lot of street children and their families. We were also very blessed to be given a sneak peak into the ministry that Steve directs. He shared with us secrets and practical tools that are involved in the running of “Formando Vidas”. Along with it was the impacting way Steve remained humble while teaching of how the ministry has been running for 25 years and of how to keep God at the centre of a ministry.

One of the most impacting things of the week was when Steve was talking about working with the kids God has called you to and that you do not have to, nor can you, save all the children. We have a responsibility to work with the children God has called us to and He will call others to work with the other children. One of the main new understandings I got this week was that it is possible! We don’t have to be discouraged. We just need to be walking daily with the Lord and letting Him speak into our hearts what He wants us to do. God was speaking to me particularly today after Steve’s story this morning, in the area of my willingness to lay a person down.

I have really developed a love for street people over the past year or so. This week confirmed a lot of observations I had made and been taught during my time on the streets in Toronto. The main question I think this weeks teaching brought out in me was in what way might God be calling me to work long term with people who are street involved. I will seek the answer by reading scripture and by seeking the Lord in prayer and listening to what my Wonderful Maker is saying.

Community life has been good this week. I have been in my bed by 10:30 (not necessarily sleeping though) at the latest every night except for one, which was an exception because my friend told me she was pregnant and I was so excited that I kept talking to her. Rebecca and I have been getting closer and sharing more with each other, which I absolutely love! She is such a cool girl and I love learning about her. Her heart, her dreams/visions, desires, her life and everything she has to teach me about this beautiful country she lives in. Intercession was cool this week. What a wonderful blessing to get to spend time admiring God’s creation and praying with our roommates. I love my work duty, with minimal frustrations. One of my favourite things about my work duty is the time I get to spend with Meleah during and after it is done. Jessica is also around a lot of the time which is so much fun. I love their hearts and their spirits. Richard also comes around and is highly entertaining for us in the kitchen. He is such a fun dad like man to have around. One thing I wish I had done better this week was, talked to Ann more and helped her feel even more welcome in our class. I am learning how to be even more of an encourager and complimenter (I know it’s not a word) more and more to my friends here. It is something 2 of my good friends from DTS have blessed me with, being encouraged and complimented myself that is. I pray that it overflows into my friendships back at home as well. I have processed some more this week. God is so cool and I have been encouraged and challenged a lot during my time with Him. I want to continue working on sleeping more and processing this week. I would also like to be spending more time just studying the scriptures.

This upcoming week I am looking forward to being taught about HIV/AIDS and grief counselling for children. I believe that it will be so vital to have knowledge in those areas, not only for our field assignment time but also for the rest of our lives no matter where we end up living.

Photo link...

If you are interested in seeing some of the photos from my time in Switzerland please click on the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1632&l=b5e98&id=508932531

Enjoy!

Week 2 Summary...

*** When I am posting my weekly summaries, it is actually what I wrote for my weekly summary that I hand in to my school leaders every week. That is why there is at times things written that you may not understand why it is there, it is usually a class requirement***

This past week the topic was “What if you Got Involved – The Biblical Basis for Social Action.” We had a number of different speakers this week. Ed Morales taught us about meditating on Scripture as well he taught us on justice and injustice. Michael Kelly continued teaching us on justice and injustice. As well with Michael, we looked at church history and the church’s involvement with government. Steve Good came in and talked to us about our hearts, God’s heart and seeking out what we can do to help children and families in crisis. Olivia Jackson finished off our week of class by talking to us about human rights and advocacy.

It is hard to pick the most impacting information of the week. It was a heavy week full of heart provoking things. One of the things I think I really soaked in from all the speakers was to think about what you can do and what God might be calling you to do. I am loving being reminded over and over again how important scripture is and to know it. It is amazing how the answers really are in the scriptures, if we would just take the time to read them and really seek out what God is trying to say thru them. Ed said something along the lines of “We have to start with Christ, before we act on anything.” How important that is, and how much I want that statement to be true of my life.

Steve started his talk by asking, “What moves us?” It has been cool to think about that this week. Children and woman working in prostitution, being abused and trafficked, and made to feel like nothing… kids living on the streets… people doing drugs to escape… All these things usually because they feel they have nowhere else to go or options of what do to, these are the things that move me. Being a mom and a wife and working alongside my husband in some sort of ministry also pulls me so strongly. So what does that mean for my life? What am I to do? Where am I to go? I felt God speaking about it this week to me, so I am continuing to pray about that area and use discernment.

This week in the community I continued to love it. I have moved past DTS talk with people and been able to dive deeper into friendships, seeking to hear what’s on people’s hearts and how they are really doing. I love those kinds of friendships. It’s funny because before I came here I was talking to my friend back home about the fact that I felt like my heart was so full with love before I left, and that it was hard to imagine that in a week’s time, I would know all these new people and even though I felt like my heart was already full, there would still be room in it for the new people I meet, and there really has been. I feel so blessed that I can love people so easily, especially the people that others have problems with. I love the … unwanted? … unaccepted? I’m not sure what the right word is; I just know that they are God’s children as well and need love. I just pray that it will be honouring and glorifying to God, because He is the one that created me this way. I want to be aware to always give him the credit for compliments that people give me. I need to get more sleep. I struggle with it at home as well. I’m such a night owl, but Rebecca is going to hold me accountable to being in bed way earlier. I’ll let you know on next week’s summary how sleeping is going! I am very excited for this week’s upcoming teaching by Steve Bartel. I have heard such good things about him and the way that he makes you think. I hope my brain can handle it. I think I might need to be processing more then I am. So those are my goals for this week: Process more and go to sleep earlier!

Justice???

What does the word justice mean to you? Do we live in a just or an unjust world? These are some of the questions of the week ... I'll post more later.

Children Statement...

I am here as a child representing the children of the world
We are the victims of exploitation and abuse
We are street children
We are the children of a war
We are the victims and orphans of HIV/AIDS
We are denied good-quality education and health care
We are the victims of political, economic, cultural, religious and environmental discrimination
We are the children who are not being heard; it is time we are taken into account
We want a world fit for children, because a world fit for us is a world fit for everyone

In this world,
We see respect for the rights of the child
We see an end to exploitation, abuse and violence
We see an end to war
We see the provision of health care
We see the eradication of HIV/AIDS
We see the protection of the environment
We see an end to the vicious cycle of poverty
We see the provision of education
We see the active participation of children

We are not the sources of problems; we are the resources that are needed to solve them
We are not just young people; we are people and citizens of this world.
Until others accept their responsibility for us, we will fight for our rights
We have the will, the faith, and the dedication
We promise that as adults we will defend children's rights with the same passion that we have now as children
We promise to treat each other with dignity and respect
We promise to be open and sensitive to our differences
We are the children of the world, and despite our different backgrounds, we share a common reality and hope.
We are united by our struggle to make the world a better place for all
You call us the future, but we are also the present

Adapted from: "A World Fit for Children"

Week 1 Summary...

At the end of every week we have the assignment of writing out a weekly summery, so I thought I would post it on here as well. Enjoy...

The speakers for this past week were Janna Moates who spoke on “Why we’re here – A Framework for Action” and Colleen Milstein who spoke on “A Brain Dead Generation”.

Janna taught about what God’s intention for a child is by looking at the roles family, extended family, local church, neighbourhood, state and national government, international government and NGO’s and the global church were created to play. She also taught us on the many scriptures that are found that speak about children, as well as about fighting for the causes and rights of the poor and needy. We were taught to ask questions, lots of them and to seek answers in the scriptures. We were also taught from Janna about the basic needs of a child, networking and what is making ministries fail or succeed.

Colleen taught on 8 domains that God might be calling us to work in. They are arts, economics, communication, science, education, family, government, and church. We looked at how God shows up in all the domains and is the head of all of them. We were also challenged on where we are at (our willingness) when it comes to where God might send us and what He might want us to do with our lives.

The most impacting information for me was the questions presented to us. Questions like “Can God really call me anywhere or do I have specific places that I am only willing to go?” and “What if the greatest spiritual battle of our time is being waged against children and we don’t even know it? What is Satan understands the value of a child to God better than the church?”

This week I was challenged to think about the kids in my life already and think about which children are in a place that they really need me or someone else to “come just for them”. Which child needs to be reminded they are significant? I really was able to better able to understand God’s intentions for children this week. During times of my own healing I have had it prayed over me again and again that the things that happened were not what God wanted for me, and it is amazing to really have a scriptural basis of what He did want for me and for the millions of hurting kids. Something this past week also has taught me is how valuable a child is to God. I have always loved working with kids, but more and more I am beginning to look at a child and love them because God loves them. Not because they are cute or say funny things, but because they were created in the image of Him and I have a responsibility to help them become who they are meant to be … God said so. As well I feel like the things I learned this week and have yet to learn are going to significantly affect the way I am going to be a mom to my own kids, as well as with the children I will work with in the future.

This week we were assigned to read Motivational Factors for Work with Children At Risk by Steve Bartel of YWAM, Colombia. It was definitely something that made me think about my motivation factors for being here. I also thought a lot about how often so many people to go on to the field with not bad motivations but not the right one and how it totally makes sense why it is that people are burning out so fast. I can recognize in me that my motivations do have to do with having compassion for the kids and a desire to obey God’s calling. I can also see in me, already and growing stronger daily, the desire to bring honour to God. God is in the business of restoration and healing and bringing His children back to Him. I pray that my motivations will become more and more centred on being used as a tool in those areas and that I will glorify God and honour Him in all I do.

Some of the questions this weeks teaching brought out in me are, where is God calling me / what kind of ministry is He calling me to? And I have been really challenged on the question “Am I willing to go anywhere?” My answer used to be without a doubt, yes. But somewhere along the lines I have narrowed it down a bit, so I am left wondering, is it narrowed down because I have a clearer view on what God is calling me to or is it because of something else? I will continue to seek answers to these questions through prayer and reading scripture and really just listening to what God is trying to say to me… I’m scared… willing to listen, but scared.

This week in community I feel as though I did well. I love living in a community and it is not something I normally find that challenging. I was able to listen to a couple of my new friends stories this week, which was amazing. I love my work duty, which is cleaning up the dishes after lunch. I enjoy doing an act of service that makes a difference. I am beginning to learn to love reading my Bible again, which has been a struggle all my life. But knowing how relevant the Bible is and how many answers are in it, especially for the type of things I am learning about, makes me feel passionate about reading it again. I love learning what I am learning about, though I can tell I will probably cry daily for the next 9 months. I just feel really blessed to be here and to be meeting the people here. I feel really at peace about being here, like I am exactly where God wants me. I really just love being here.

His children...

Our topic this week is: Why we’re here – A Framework for Action. Our speaker is our school leader. Her name is Janna. She is a wonderful woman with a huge heart for the children who live at risk and for those that God is calling into those children’s lives. We started class on Monday talking about how we ended up at the school and sharing scriptures that have influenced our journey here. We went on to be given an enormous amount of depressing statistics of the world’s children. I was going to share some of those figures with you but I’ve decided not to because it is not the numbers that count, it is the individual lives that make up the numbers that matter. God knows and created every single one of the children who live in a circumstance that He did not want for them. They are the result of a life being lived in a fallen world. But God cares and he wants us to care as well. Here are seven things I learned today about the intention that God has for His wonderful little ones:

1- God creates every unique person as a child with dignity.
God intends that no one prevent a child’s life from fulfilling His purpose. Respecting the image of God in every child demands a Christ-like response to nurture them throughout childhood.

2- Children need parental love in a broken world.
God intends for all children to be raised by at least one loving, committed adult.

3- God gives children as a gift to welcome and nurture.
God intends for children to thrive in stable and loving relationships.

4- Society has a God-given responsibility for the well-being of children and families.
God intends children to flourish in a just society.

5- Children are a promise of hope for every generation.
God intends that each generation will extend faith and fullness of life to the next. God intends that this generation grasp the centrality of children to his purposes for our time.

6- God welcomes children fully into the family of faith.
God intends for churches to provide children with opportunities to know him and fulfil their calling in the body of Christ.

7- Children are essential to the mission of God.
God intends that His church be a witness in every community of His transforming power, so that His purpose for every child can be accomplished.

So it begins...

The course I am taking here is called Children at Risk, so the stuff I am going to be learning about is going to be intense and heartbreaking. I feel like I am going to be crying a lot.

On Thursday night 2 girls and I watched "Invisible Children". It is an incredible documentary that 3 American guys, with little filming experience, made during their time in Africa in 2003. They tell the story of children who are used as weapons and children who are the victims. The film exposes the effects of a 20 yearlong war on the children of Northern Uganda. These children live in fear of abduction by rebel soldiers, and are being forced to fight as a part of violent army. It is hard and intense to watch things like that because it is unfortunately the truth of so many young lives.

Last night we watched a movie called "Innocence Lost". It follows a couple as they look into different situations that children are facing worldwide. Some of the areas they went into were:

The UAE (United Arab Emirates) where children are being kidnapped, as young as three, from villages and brought into Dubai to be a camel jockey.
The Soviet Union where young kids are being imprisoned for petty thefts and their cases are taking long periods of time before they are heard before a judge.
Greece where children with special needs are being basically thrown/hidden away by their families and put into institutes that are not equipped or staffed to deal with the amount of patients they have.
Togo, Africa where young girls are being sold for as little as $30 to live in another household and basically be a slave for the rest of their lives. As well as young girls being given to priests as his wife, to pay for the sins of someone else, usually a family member.
San Jose-Costa Rica where young girls are being pimped out and force to prostitute themselves in order to survive. Male tourists on the video were recorded as saying, "The girls enjoy what they do and they want to do it. They like knowing they pleased a man." (I almost lost it at this point. It took everything in me not to scream at the TV. They are just children. They feel disgusting and worthless. They hate it, they just don't know any other way..... oh Lord how I want to be involved in showing them another way.)
The last place they went was to Central America. In Guatemala they interviewed many street kids who are addicted to sniffing glue. They say that they use it to forget. When one child was asked what he wanted to forget his response was "That ... I exist." The homeless children are often beaten and have even been raped by members of the police. (How does this happen? How is it that those who are supposed to protect do harm? I have heard that this happens from my friends on the street in Toronto as well. I have been missing my street friends and those who work with them a lot today.)

Some of the quotes that really struck me during the movie were:

“That child needs to be hugged. That child needs a teddy bear and that child needs to be told that someone loves them. They are only children.” – worker on street children

“Necessity wears an ugly face” – young female prostitute

“Children are victims of a society that doesn’t really give a dam.”

“The biggest killer of street children is not the bullets, it’s not the glue, it’s the world’s indifference.”

The movie ends by saying “Until children are given a voice, everyone of us must speak for them” and so while I know that these next months are going to be incredibly tough and full of tears, it is my prayer that at the end of this course I will be better able and more equipped to speak for these voiceless, precious children of God’s.

Burtigny, Switzerland

Yesterday was my first full day here. It hasn't been that busy, they are allowing us to get settled in, explore the area, and get over jetlag. My flights here were both good. I sat by myself on both flights. My luggage arrived safely and I made a friend on the train that was very kind and chatty and strong. He must have been since he carried my bags on and off the train for me. A girl called Helen came and picked me up and I got to the base just as dinner was starting. The base that I am staying on is in a cute little village. It is surrounded by hills and on non-cloudy days has an incredible view of the French Alps and a beautiful lake. The base even has cows! Very cute! I am sharing a room with a girl called Rebecca. She is from Switzerland, but not from around here. As of right now there are 4 girls and a guy in my course. We are still hoping that a married couple from Rwanda will be joining us next Tuesday if they get their visas. Yesterday we just reviewed the syllabus for the semester and there sounds like there is going to be a lot of really good knowledgeable speakers. We also have quite a few books to read and assignments, but I am excited!!! Today we were assigned our work duties. I am on clean up after lunch, so I will be doing dishes and cleaning up the dining hall. Below are a couple of photos that I have taken over the last 2 days. Enjoy.

His plans are the best plans ...

This past week I had an amazing week! I got to go to Saskatchewan to see Chris and his family. I traveled there with another friend of mine, Dave. I am not sure what even to write because I am so in awe still of how much God taught me this week, how many ways He showed up and how His plans really are the best plans! I am almost at a loss of words because of everything (in such a good way)... maybe I'll just type and see what comes out...

We flew out Monday night and arrived in SK after many hours of plane delays due to weather, but we were there. I love being in Regina. It's weird, but it feels so natural to be there, just like as if it was my home. I love Chris' family a lot as well. They are so much fun to be around, chat with and laugh with. They teach me a lot about following after God simply by being. It is such a blessing to be around them. It is also a huge blessing to get to be around Chris. I am so proud of the man he is and continues to become, and I'm just so proud to know him. I love talking with him and that I don't have to be ashamed to cry in front of him. I appreciate so much the way he actually listens to the things going on in my heart and life and the stuff God is teaching me. People like him are rare these days. He is willing to seek after God's heart and the actual Biblical truth, even when it is hard to hear and even to understand. He helps bring that out in me as well, the desire to know actual Biblical truth. God taught me a lot this week in the area of Biblical truths. I learned new things particularly in the area of blessings and curses as found in Deuteronomy 28. There is a lot I am still processing about that so those thoughts will have to be saved for the next blog.

Traveling with Dave was also quite the time. He made me smile and laugh many times. He helped get me a wonderful extra day in Regina (although he doesn't see it that way, I do) He distracted me and held my hand as I cried on the plane ride home. I got to comfort him during take offs and landings and a missed flight, lol. Dave is such a quality guy. He has a heart of gold and I love knowing him and the ways he allows me into his life.

Here are some pictures from the week: (it's not letting me upload them right now, so they will have to wait)

Missing Him...

This morning as I was driving, I thought of a friend of mine that I miss a lot. I miss them so much, so often, that I often say that my heart literally aches because of it. So I started wondering what is this missing thing and where did I learn to identify this feeling? Did someone teach me that when I think about someone and tears come to my eyes and my heart hurts, that is what missing someone is? How did I even learn that I could miss someone at all? Some days I wish I didn't know this feeling.

As I kept thinking I was reminded of a blog I read back in the summer. It was about this little girl cuddling with her mom talking about how one day they would get to be in Heaven with Jesus. The little girl said to her mom "I miss Jesus." It made me cry when I first read it, because it was so cute and innocent and I thought "Me too!" It brings tears to my eyes now, because I long for that in a lot of ways now. To be so connected to Jesus, to spend so much time with Him, getting to know Him and His heart. To have such a childlike faith that I long to be with Him everyday of my life. I want to miss Jesus more then I already do...

I Could Sing of Your Love Forever ...

Over the mountains and the sea
Your river runs with love for me
And I will open up my heart
And let the healer set me free

I'm happy to be in the truth
And I will daily lift my hands
For I will always sing
Of when your love came down

(Chorus)
I could sing of your love forever
I could sing of your love forever
I could sing of your love forever
I could sing of your love forever

Over the mountains and the sea
Your river runs with love for me
And I will open up my heart
And let the healer set me free
I'm happy to be in the truth
And I will daily lift my hands
For I will always sing
Of when your love came down

(Chorus)
(Chorus)

Oh, I feel like dancing
This foolishness, I know
But when the world has seen the light
They will dance with joy
Like we're dancing now

(Chorus)
(Chorus)

When I first became a Christian this song was one of the first "worship" songs that I learned. I loved it right away. I loved the words, the tune, and the things it made me feel. I loved being able to sing about this kind of love I was experiencing for the first time in my life ... this kind of love that you can only receive from God. I loved the lines "I could sing of your love forever" because I couldn't imagine not singing of His love forever, and I still can't. This song just holds so many memories for me as well.

It reminds me of Muskoka Woods and the Saturday Chapels and the Praise and Prayer Services, and just sitting down by the lake in the canoeing area pouring out my heart to the Lord.

It reminds me of being in Thailand with my DTS outreach and being in this temple that you could sense there was so much spiritual darkness there, and singing this song without even realizing I was as I wandered throughout the temple. It was also during my DTS when I truly did start to let "the healer set me free" and what an amazing journey that has been.

It reminds of Romania, where I sat by a river with my little autistic friend Zjolt in my lap. He couldn't speak a word and was antsy most of the day, but sitting there in my lap I began to sing this song for him and he instantly settled down and we just cuddled as I sang to him, over and over again coming back to this song.

It reminds me of this summer getting to hang out with baby David at teen mom camp, and how at nap times and at bed times as I rocked him to sleep this was the song I kept singing.

It also reminds me of this past week as I walked up and down the hospital halls with my friend from high schools' baby, Memphis, in my arms, singing her to sleep with this song once again. Baby Memphis’ twin brother, Hudson, died last week at 6 months of age, and she has also been sick. She was able to come home on Wednesday though, which is very good news. Wednesday was also her brother's funeral, which is why I was with her at the hospital, while her family was at the funeral. That day was very bittersweet.

It is my prayer for all of these kids that just as they were settled to sleep or to calmness with the words of a song about how amazing it is to love God, that they will learn to do so all the days of their lives. It is also my prayer that I will never forget how amazing it is to love God and that I will truly always sing of His love forever.

Beauty tips by Audrey Hepburn...

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, reclaimed and redeemed.

Never throw out anybody.

A weekend like this...

I just got home tonight from a weekend spent at Muskoka Woods. Muskoka Woods used to be my life. I spent all my summers there. I worked some weekends up there during the year, and at the very least visited lots all year long. I also attended a Muskoka Woods Bible Study group for the last 6 years on and off depending on where I was living. Muskoka Woods is becoming a lesser part of my life as time goes on. My best friends are still from there and I still love it, but I don't spend my summers there anymore (as of this past year) and I visit less. One thing that is still a huge part of my Muskoka Woods life journey though is the memories I have and the bible study group. This weekend 16 of us gathered up at Muskoka Woods for a bible study leaders retreat. It was a phenomenal weekend. Camp was bare of people, except for us and a few of their staff that were around. A camp that at any given time usually has at least 1000 people on property was empty! It was also empty of snow, much like the city, which was sad and good in its own ways. We spent the weekend doing this thing called "life lines". Basically we were given the opportunity to share our stories of our lives and learn about everyone else’s lives. After each person shared we encouraged each other with our comments and through prayer. It was absolutely amazing listening to everyone. God was totally present as many tears and hard things were shared. What a privilege it was to get to share a weekend like this with all the wonderful people that were up there. I completely felt such a renewed since of love for many of my friends that were up there. (I also got to see my friend Emily at MW and have a sleepover with her which was awesome because I love that girl a lot.) God is so good and always knows exactly what we need!

"And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." ~Matthew 6:28-34

I love having visitors!!!

Something that I have picked up from my mom is hospitality. She has always loved having people over for meals and visits. I am very much like this as well. One of my favourite things about having friends who live in different provinces and countries is being able to visit them and even better having them visit me! I have a wonderful friend Jay, who I have posted about on here before. He is from Manitoba. I absolutely love having Jay visit me and when I get to visit him. The time we spend together is always fun and entertaining. I purely enjoy Jay's company. He came 2 weeks ago to stay with me and visit some of his other friends as well. While he was here we went out for lunches, dinners, went trampolining and shopping, went to the ROM and a Leaf game, celebrated the coming of 2007, got a new car and hung out at my place a lot. It was fun laughing with, and sometimes at, him. I love having a friend as good as Jay … He is pretty wonderful!

What happens in a year???

It is 2007 already? I feel like it was just yesterday that I was becoming a blogger and now here I am a year later, wondering about what has changed or not changed in my life....

I am now a college graduate
I have made new friends
One of my dogs died and I now have a new puppy
I don't work for Muskoka Woods anymore
I still love the colour blue, daises, and being creative
I volunteer more
I have learned how to let my heart love again
I have rekindled old friendships that are now huge impacts in my life
I have fallen more in love with God
I have visited friends and had friends visit me
I read more and watch TV less
I try to listen more and talk less
I am consistently trying to be more encouraging, patient, loving and forgiving
I know what I am going to be spending 9 months of this year doing
I am learning how to play a guitar
I still love art, music and random adventures
... I am still me ... another year older, and hopefully maybe a little wiser, but I'm still me