Again, I took no pictures this week, but for a different reason. We spent the week on land as the ship was dry-docked and I didn't have room to pack the camera. Not that I'd have had a chance to use it as there wasn't much beauty. Not going to lie, I missed the ship. My bunk at the Crystal Springs YWAM Base was shorter than the one on the ship and too small for me. I ended up pulling the mattress off the bed and sleeping on the floor.
I got to spend some amazing good times with God last week. We had a prayer and fast day and I never realised how even one day of fasting could help bring you closer to God. I didn't hear anything specifically from him, but simply spending time with him rocked my socks off.
We had speaking on Callings and Missions this week. What I took away from the week was that we don't have to get our calling before we head out on it. We can start moving towards something in faith and if our path changes along the way and heads to a destination we couldn't see at the beginning so be it. So now I'm going to step out and give God control. I'll make sure that I let him navigate and tell me where I'm to go. He's the captain of the ship, and I'm the helmsman, so ultimately it's up to me to obey his directions.
Tomorrow's the Big day for us. We're sailing to Fiji; 5 nights and 6 days at seas. It'll be an experience to remember. I am planning on NOT taking any sea sickness pills as I want to either not be sea sick at all, or feel its full force.
I purchased a rain jacket today, and a nice one at that. It's a light weight trekking style jacket with taped seams, sealed zippers and made out of the best...Gore-tex. And let's not forget the 40% off part, that's also a super bonus. It's a Kathmandu Jacket, which if I recon correctly, is similar to Canada’s MEC. Don't quote me on that one but I will find out more about the great outdoor shops the longer I'm here.
Still in the market for a tent and I still think that the best place will be MEC in Canada.
For those who don't know, I'm an uncle now. Me beautiful sister had a beautiful little baby. WOOT WOOT! Shout out to her.
OH! Exciting news, I've figured out my catch phrase for signing out of my Blogs...and a lot of other things...
Go Big or Go Home. This isn’t just a phrase to spure you on and encourage you on to grand adventures, but you also have to take in the second part. Sometimes it is better to "go home" as it were than to risk it all. It's another way to say "All or Nothing."
So folks, until the next time I get to post updates,
Go Big, or Go Home!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Orama and Beyond
So, no pictures this week because it was too beautiful for me to stop looking and go get my camera. Last week my front door opened out onto a goergious bay, yes we had to take a boat to get to land. It has an AMAZING view of rolling hills, mini mountains might be the best way to place them, This was on Great Barrier Island. Perhaps I can find a map for you and link it to the Title of this post. (We were in the Port Fitzroy area)
Orama is a small christian camp that exists to help people. It's a place of restoration. They also help to facilitate outdoor adventure camps for schools or other groups. It's an amazing place of beauty with hiking trails all over, and nothing but nature and people to be with. It was difficult to leave, and arriving in Auckland 4 hours later was a bit of a culture shock for some people. The harsh contrast between the little community and a large city. There have been many things I've seen on this trip that I've thought to myself that I'll never get to see again, but I think I will be back to Orama at least one more time.
While we were there I got the opportunity to go surfing, or splashing in the surf. Needless to say I did not do too well, but cool story. One of the guys I was surfing with started talking to one of the other guys out there, turns out he's in the top 25surfers in the world on vacation surfing the same spot as me...cool eh?
We're now in Auckland for a few days and I'm chilling at Frank and Colleen's house in the suburbs of the city. A very nice place I must admit. I didn't really want to get away from everyone else on the ship, but at the same time it may be a good thing to breat in some space.
SO much to share. This week's teachings was on Identity and our speaker was AMAZING! she's been through so much walking alongside God that he was able to use her story to speak volumes into each one of our lives. For me I came to DTS searching for a vision, a dream or a direction to take in life, but direction is somthing we get after we know who we are in God. If the direction is Point B, and knowing God is point A and all I wanted was point B then I've missed out on just how AMAZING and AWSOME (making it AMAZOME) point A is.
Oh, yeah there's not enough time in the day to study all the cool things in the Bible, especially when there's 4 more weeks of lectures that are all going to be so good and full of MORE stuff that I'll want to dive into and study.
I think this blog system is too limiting. I need multiple sections for different topics and ideas that want to flow. If anyone knows of some other systems of webpage managment, that'd be great.
PEACE!
Orama is a small christian camp that exists to help people. It's a place of restoration. They also help to facilitate outdoor adventure camps for schools or other groups. It's an amazing place of beauty with hiking trails all over, and nothing but nature and people to be with. It was difficult to leave, and arriving in Auckland 4 hours later was a bit of a culture shock for some people. The harsh contrast between the little community and a large city. There have been many things I've seen on this trip that I've thought to myself that I'll never get to see again, but I think I will be back to Orama at least one more time.
While we were there I got the opportunity to go surfing, or splashing in the surf. Needless to say I did not do too well, but cool story. One of the guys I was surfing with started talking to one of the other guys out there, turns out he's in the top 25surfers in the world on vacation surfing the same spot as me...cool eh?
We're now in Auckland for a few days and I'm chilling at Frank and Colleen's house in the suburbs of the city. A very nice place I must admit. I didn't really want to get away from everyone else on the ship, but at the same time it may be a good thing to breat in some space.
SO much to share. This week's teachings was on Identity and our speaker was AMAZING! she's been through so much walking alongside God that he was able to use her story to speak volumes into each one of our lives. For me I came to DTS searching for a vision, a dream or a direction to take in life, but direction is somthing we get after we know who we are in God. If the direction is Point B, and knowing God is point A and all I wanted was point B then I've missed out on just how AMAZING and AWSOME (making it AMAZOME) point A is.
Oh, yeah there's not enough time in the day to study all the cool things in the Bible, especially when there's 4 more weeks of lectures that are all going to be so good and full of MORE stuff that I'll want to dive into and study.
I think this blog system is too limiting. I need multiple sections for different topics and ideas that want to flow. If anyone knows of some other systems of webpage managment, that'd be great.
PEACE!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Shipping Out
Well, I'm sailing out tonight at 19:00 h. We're heading to Great Barrier Island for a week and it's only going to be a 12 hour sail. From there we head to Auckland for a week so the ship can dry dock and then it's off to Fiji, six days and five nights on the water sailing in the deep blue. I'm so excited. How excited? SO excited.
I don't have manyd etails on what/where I'll be doing anything in Fiji, but I do know that I'll get a chance to help with the ship's clinic and eye tests and even visit schools to educate kids.
After Fiji, we're going to be splitting off into two seperate outreach groups. I've heard God telling me to go with the team to New Zealand. The plan is to fly into Christchurch and three weeks later end up in Auckland...Yup, that's the plan. We know the beginning and the end and everythign in the middle is up to God. We're going to spend a lot of time listening for guidance. I'm SO totally up for it.
To try and fill you in on what's been happening. Our alst week's speaker was talking to us on intercession and prayer, an amazing week if I've ever had one before. I'm so excited fro prayer and digging into God's word.
I've also realised that if/when I get bakc to a "normal" life, I'm not going to any any time to do anything else but read and pray...
I'm sure there was stuff I thought about putting here that I've forgotten about. OH Cathedral cove, it's the location where they filmed Prince Caspian, or part of it. The scene where the kids come out of the cave back into Narnia. It's actually wasn't much of a lcoation, but an awsome day trip one the less.
I ahd a crazy idea, or an awsome idea. hwo cool would it be to get a flight or a ship to the closest part of mainland asia and backpack my way to Europe and then fly/boat to eastern North America and backpack/hitchhike to BC?
I'm actually thinking about it. Of course it's not just a trip for me, but a chance to spread the gospel through the world.
I don't have manyd etails on what/where I'll be doing anything in Fiji, but I do know that I'll get a chance to help with the ship's clinic and eye tests and even visit schools to educate kids.
After Fiji, we're going to be splitting off into two seperate outreach groups. I've heard God telling me to go with the team to New Zealand. The plan is to fly into Christchurch and three weeks later end up in Auckland...Yup, that's the plan. We know the beginning and the end and everythign in the middle is up to God. We're going to spend a lot of time listening for guidance. I'm SO totally up for it.
To try and fill you in on what's been happening. Our alst week's speaker was talking to us on intercession and prayer, an amazing week if I've ever had one before. I'm so excited fro prayer and digging into God's word.
I've also realised that if/when I get bakc to a "normal" life, I'm not going to any any time to do anything else but read and pray...
I'm sure there was stuff I thought about putting here that I've forgotten about. OH Cathedral cove, it's the location where they filmed Prince Caspian, or part of it. The scene where the kids come out of the cave back into Narnia. It's actually wasn't much of a lcoation, but an awsome day trip one the less.
I ahd a crazy idea, or an awsome idea. hwo cool would it be to get a flight or a ship to the closest part of mainland asia and backpack my way to Europe and then fly/boat to eastern North America and backpack/hitchhike to BC?
I'm actually thinking about it. Of course it's not just a trip for me, but a chance to spread the gospel through the world.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Everything in a Nutshell
It’s about time for another update. First of all, I have been denied employment with Cardrona Mountain Resort for this season due to a lack of available positions. I have no idea what I’ll be doing after DTS but I know I’ll hear something from God. At this point the only option left for snowboarding is paying for a course at Treble Cone out of which they hire some people. I think I’m going to take the course because either way I’ll be able to learn something, and my flight doesn’t leave until July so I’ve got time to kill.
The surf elective this week was cool, even though there was no surfing. The waves were all blown out by the wind, as it’s been most of the week. That means no dawn patrol (surfing at sunrise) and that we had to climb the mount instead. Dang worship and small group at the top of a gorgeous look out on the coast of an amazing place on a clear and brilliant day? KIDDING! It was awesome. I took some photos of the hike and the peeps, and they are, as usual, linked to the title of this post.
If you go snooping around on my photo bucket page you’ll also find some videos about the ship. It’s annoying to try to upload them all but It’s coming about. In hindsight I’d have done them all as one video but I doubt that the camera’s memory would permit me to do so.
Last Friday we got a chance to chill with the local youth group. It’s so sweet the way the leaders get the youth to do as much as possible: Event announcements, worship band, inviting new people up to the front to introduce them. In talking to the leaders they simply make sure to walk beside them at all times to provide guidance and to help them when they stumble. They also try to do a lot of the “grunt” work in terms of scheduling events, booking locations, making flyers and calendars. Other than that the youth love the same things as Canadian youth: Ping Pong, Foosball, candy, and chilling.
No more epic adventures like an all day hike, but we are planning a trip to what’s called Cathedral cove, the location for Car Paravel in the film Prince Caspian. That’ll be this Sunday and should be money.
In a couple of days I’ll know a little more about where I am going for the second part of outreach. I’ve let the staff know where I feel called to go based on the options that they presented, and soon, I hope, we’ll get a chance to meet in outreach teams to discuss our “plans.” In this case it will involve our plans on how we’re going to rely on God. ..Seems kind of funny...OR AWSOME!
That’s everything, in a nutshell, for now
Do I even need to say who it is signing out? Come on, who am I?!
The surf elective this week was cool, even though there was no surfing. The waves were all blown out by the wind, as it’s been most of the week. That means no dawn patrol (surfing at sunrise) and that we had to climb the mount instead. Dang worship and small group at the top of a gorgeous look out on the coast of an amazing place on a clear and brilliant day? KIDDING! It was awesome. I took some photos of the hike and the peeps, and they are, as usual, linked to the title of this post.
If you go snooping around on my photo bucket page you’ll also find some videos about the ship. It’s annoying to try to upload them all but It’s coming about. In hindsight I’d have done them all as one video but I doubt that the camera’s memory would permit me to do so.
Last Friday we got a chance to chill with the local youth group. It’s so sweet the way the leaders get the youth to do as much as possible: Event announcements, worship band, inviting new people up to the front to introduce them. In talking to the leaders they simply make sure to walk beside them at all times to provide guidance and to help them when they stumble. They also try to do a lot of the “grunt” work in terms of scheduling events, booking locations, making flyers and calendars. Other than that the youth love the same things as Canadian youth: Ping Pong, Foosball, candy, and chilling.
No more epic adventures like an all day hike, but we are planning a trip to what’s called Cathedral cove, the location for Car Paravel in the film Prince Caspian. That’ll be this Sunday and should be money.
In a couple of days I’ll know a little more about where I am going for the second part of outreach. I’ve let the staff know where I feel called to go based on the options that they presented, and soon, I hope, we’ll get a chance to meet in outreach teams to discuss our “plans.” In this case it will involve our plans on how we’re going to rely on God. ..Seems kind of funny...OR AWSOME!
That’s everything, in a nutshell, for now
Do I even need to say who it is signing out? Come on, who am I?!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Where to?
Well a quick little update right now. We've been given the potential locations for the second part of our outreach and I really need some prayer about which one to go to. So if anyone feels comfortable praying to ask God to reveal to me where to go I would greatly appreciate that. I am making point not to mention here what the options are because this is about me hearing from God. I'll most certainly let you know by Friday.
...peace out.
PS. I think that if you're reading this block and aren't officially following it, I think that you should be
...peace out.
PS. I think that if you're reading this block and aren't officially following it, I think that you should be
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Shenanigans
Well the past couple of weeks have been pretty sweet in and of themselves, just nothing SUPER note worthy. Yesterday the boys went on a little adventure to climb some trees and it was awesome, except for the part where my ankle’s sore because I twisted it last week. Oh yeah maybe I’ll start there.
Last Saturday we were chilling at the main beach at Mt Maunganui which is open ocean and gets some good waves. I tried the surfing, but there were a lot of people and a super strong rip tide, together that put a damper on the experience. After the surfing I tried building a sandcastle, but that got interrupted by some sweet skim boarding on a boogie board. That’s when everything went wrong; I tried to ride a wave, hit it wrong, went down and BAM sprained ankle. As a result I haven’t been running this week and feel a little lazy.
Anyways, back to the trees. We climbed them, took some photos, it was good and photos will be linked via this posts title.
Other things: This last week’s speaker was a Doctor with many stories about reaching patients through her work as a councilor. The topic was supposed to be The Language of Jesus, but it wasn’t about hearing Him. In fact it was about how we can speak his language to others; very insightful and motivating, especially in the area of education and academics.
I sent off an application on Friday to Cardrona Ski hill in Wanaka on the south Island. I don’t know if that’s where God wants me after the DTS, but if it is, I pray that he gives me favour throughout the hiring process.
Michelle, you’ll like this, one of the students here is a Swing Dance instructor from Hawaii. How awesome is that? Yesterday was super stormy so we weren’t outside, despite my continued and desperate attempts to get people to go to the beach with me. Anyways, we instead used a good chunk of time to learn part of The Big Apple dance. If I can convince some of the other guys to learn to dance we MAY do some partner stuff, but that looks unlikely.
I haven’t heard back from God other than to Stand Firm and be Patient (James 5:8 jumped out at me)
That’s all for now Folks...
Last Saturday we were chilling at the main beach at Mt Maunganui which is open ocean and gets some good waves. I tried the surfing, but there were a lot of people and a super strong rip tide, together that put a damper on the experience. After the surfing I tried building a sandcastle, but that got interrupted by some sweet skim boarding on a boogie board. That’s when everything went wrong; I tried to ride a wave, hit it wrong, went down and BAM sprained ankle. As a result I haven’t been running this week and feel a little lazy.
Anyways, back to the trees. We climbed them, took some photos, it was good and photos will be linked via this posts title.
Other things: This last week’s speaker was a Doctor with many stories about reaching patients through her work as a councilor. The topic was supposed to be The Language of Jesus, but it wasn’t about hearing Him. In fact it was about how we can speak his language to others; very insightful and motivating, especially in the area of education and academics.
I sent off an application on Friday to Cardrona Ski hill in Wanaka on the south Island. I don’t know if that’s where God wants me after the DTS, but if it is, I pray that he gives me favour throughout the hiring process.
Michelle, you’ll like this, one of the students here is a Swing Dance instructor from Hawaii. How awesome is that? Yesterday was super stormy so we weren’t outside, despite my continued and desperate attempts to get people to go to the beach with me. Anyways, we instead used a good chunk of time to learn part of The Big Apple dance. If I can convince some of the other guys to learn to dance we MAY do some partner stuff, but that looks unlikely.
I haven’t heard back from God other than to Stand Firm and be Patient (James 5:8 jumped out at me)
That’s all for now Folks...
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