What's going on!!!!!!!

There are series of events that led to this day, and they are something to be put down in writting.
As you know that I had burnt myself volunteering at the seed, I love that place and I'm still going there very saturday to help out in the kitchen. After my burn, I got really sick during my birthday, so I spent it in my room drinking tea and soups. I had gotten this chest infection from the gymn that I go to work out every Tuesday night a few days before my birthday. When my birthday came along I was well underway in coughing and my fever was high and quite a few nose bleeds. I have never had soo much blood come out of my nose before. I told myself if I coughed up blood then I would take myself to the doctor. Thankfully that didn't happen and I was able to overcome the virus.
I was still under recovery when pastor Jonathan Overland (Grace Lutheran Church) from Okotoks called me on thursday night to preach for him on Sunday the 25th of this month. That sunday I had other things to do in the church that I'm involved with but I told him we will see what we can do. In the end it worked out for me to take his place because he had to to go a meeting down in the states and he didn't have anybody to preach for him.
After preaching, and feeling really tired I wanted to go home and sleep but Irys (my friend) wanted to go hiking in Kananaskas. I refuse of course but she insisted soo much and I gave in. It was Irys, Davyda (Irys' daughter) Bibianne (Irys' mother), Jonathan and Ray (Irys' friends) that went out hiking. and after about 30min of hiking we climbed down to the half frozen river and I sat on a rock, Bibanne sat behind me. About 5min of sitting a rock the size of a man's head fell from a cliff behind us missing Bibianne's head and hitting the top part of my elbow. I was in shock and that was gushing out of my arm. So to make the long story short, Irys rushed me to the hospital (at 170km/hr) and thankfully they took me in quickly, after some x-rays nothing was broken, to which I thank God very much. All I had to get was 6 stitches and some pain medication.
I believe that this is not just a freak accident, I know what I'm doing here in Canada, reaching people, teaching and preaching is making an impact (sometimes it seems soo ever slowly) and the devil doesn't like it. I believe that God prevented my arm from being broken because I'm in his service and so are my arms, and I'm grateful and thankful to Him always for protecting me and healing me.

Happy Volunteering!!!

Hi Y'all. This is what happens when you sometimes get sloppy at a job.
I got a kick out of it when it first happened, threatening to sue the organization, and one of the staff members, trying to get paid etc all in jest of course, and really trying not to scream and curse and yell and snap.

As some of you know that I volunteer at the seed for the homeless people every saturday since November last year. And this Saturday, 2nd of February, was no ordinary Saturday as I was later to learn that morning.
I volunteer from 9-1pm and hence in charge of cleaning after breakfast and making lunch and serving it.

We were making some frozen fries in the oven, and this seemed like an easy job compared to other jobs I have done there. when they were done I went right on ahead cleaning the racks in the massive oven they have over there. I had to carry them one at a time of course to avoid any injury or burns. I had placed 5 racks successfully on the counter ready to be scrubbed. Then one of the female helpers thought it would be a wise idea to move them, so I offered my assistance and proceeded to carry all 5 of them at once, trying to get some appreciation from the female helper. The idea was brilliant but the plan flawed, I misscalculated and picked them up towards the front a bit, and so they were a little off centered and instincively I tried to center them with my arm, then I realized why my fingers werent burning, and my arm sizzling. Of course the oven mitts are to blame cause they didn't cover my arms.
Now I have a 6.7inch mark on my arm to last me a life time. I think this will be a great story to tell my grandchildren, with that said let me get on that.

DEATH

I'm sure most of us know what it means to loose a loved one. A few years ago I lost my grandparents on my father's side, I didn't get to know them personally but they knew me. When I was in the states my grandmother to whom I grew to love (since she was my only grandmother I knew) passed away when I was a missionary to America. I couldn't go back home because I didn't have enough money to travel.
My Grandfather passed away shortly after his wife died and I was there to take care of him in our home. That was a bitter sweet time for me, I wanted more time with him but was denied, I am happy that he doesn't have to feel the pain he was feeling here on earth
Jan 29th 2007 my auntie died at an age of 54, and I couldn't make it to the funeral. she died suddenly leaving 3 children to my dad for caring.. All of them are in school and that's what my heart goes to right now. They dont have any family support except my father and he aint that rich. So I'm doing the best I can over here to support them in school.

Death marks the end of life, the limit, the end of change, where it's too late to do anything. The last words of a dying person are very important as we can tell by Jesus' death. Today I understand better the loss of a loved one. The suffering and developing process is often slow but thru Jesus we can emerge triumphantly.

In all the funeral burials we wear white in Tanzania symbolizing that the person has gone to be a better place.

I'm glad that all my relatives are Christians, and one day I will get to see them all.

Jesus is our comforter.

BREAKFORTH 07 Cont..

I just thought I might add a few other things that happened at Breakforth!
The one most awesome thing that happened was that I got to get closer to Jesus Christ as my personal saviour at breakforth. As I got closer, I got refreshed and encouraged and equipped to do the work that he has given me to do here in Canada for however long he wants me to be here.
I went to Bob Lenz, and he was talking about youth minisry leadership, and I was soo encouraged and challenged with what he had to say that I had to spend some time in prayer. I had been thinking about raising leaders from my youth group and to be a rejuvenating stream in these kids lives and that's what he talked about. He said 90% of Christians never lead another person to faith. And as a youth leader, there are countless opportunities to share the hope of Christ with young people, yet our greatest tool may not bea strategic lesson plan or evangelism technique. Continue to pray for me in this area.

I got to meet Blake Burwash, I dont think I saw him since May 2005, and Krystal, and Angela Faas, and Dave Moody, and Chris Peatee, and Patti, and Megan Langager and missed Edwin Mendivelso, and many other more that I can't remember right now. It was good seeing all these people and I think all of them I hadn't seen over a year.

I should add too that it was good to get to know Becky Pears (alix's mom) this weekend. We had great talks and she has agreed to come on the board of youth ministry with me. I know it will be challenging, I think more so for her than me, but I think she can handle it if she perseveres, if we all persevere. I have been praying for an assistant ever since Sam left, and I think Becky is the one for this group. She is kinda busy with her work and stuff but she has agreed to come on board and tackle this.

BREAKFORTH 07

For you who dont know what breakforth is, it's a winter convention held in Edmonton Alberta Canada just 3 hours from Calgary (where I live). It has more than 10,000 people in attendance at the shaw conference center, this year we had Casting Crowns, Starfield and Newsboys play in the evenings. It was awesome!!! During the day we have workshops, so if you are interested in music and youth as I am you would go to Brian Doerksen, Paul Baloche, Robin Mark, Bob Fitts etc classes for music and Ken Davies, Bob Lenz etc. they were all phenominal.


Breakforth is an event that lasts only a weekend and costs a bit of money esp. if you dont live in Edmonton, but it's worth it. I can't wait for the next one in 2008.
It was a bit cold when we (Becky, Alix and I) headed out to Edmonton on Thursday the 25th of January. I was glad that I had brought warm attire to wear since the walk to the conference center took 10-15min from our hotel.

When we left Calgary it was 13C in the afternoon, when we arrived in Edmonton it was 3 degrees. Friday afternoon it improved to 4 degrees. I had thought that I was getting used to this weather thing here in Canada. I know global warming is not good but I wouldn't mind 20 degrees in the winter every now and then!

The picture above is Robin Mark's. If you have no idea who he is go to the search engine and type his name, I'm sure something will turn up. I like Robin Mark for one reason, and that is his songs are like hymns, which I call contemporary hymns. The church that I work at as a youth worker they love hymns and so when I want to introduce a good 21st Century hymn I go to Robin. I love his song Rivival, Days of Elijah etc.

Tower

Rina! Happy Birthday!
I know it's coming up in a couple of days, it's too bad you are soo far away, I could have given you a hug. I hope you are doing well in school.
Today I went to a birthday party of Pastor Bernie! He turned 75! I got a call from Irys to go, and I was debating if I should go or not. Since I work 7 days, Sunday nights are usually my time off for a little peace of mind.
Bernie looked great for a 75 year old. We did a bunch of hymns at the church and heard a bit of his testimony on how he met his wife and what he's being doing. He is a great guy and I wish I could get to know him a bit better.
It was fun hanging out with the Bedard's, and really nice to see Venysa, they all seem to be doing great.
I got a chance to hang out with Alix as well for a few hours then I had to come back home to prepare a message for the youth on Sunday. The youth group has been going well, this Friday we went to see a movie, "Stranger than Fiction". It had some funny parts and some eyebrow raising parts too.
I met with my lawyer on Thursday about landed immigrant status and stuff like that. I got my results from the International English Language Testing (IELTS) though I thought I could have done better the lawyer said it was good enough. I was hopeful thinking that maybe this January I could start on Landed immigration, but my lawyer advised against it saying that it would be wise to start on May. Reason being is that by then I would have completed one year of work experience. The process for landed immigrant takes 18 months, thank you for those who are concerned and praying about this.
During this time as I wait for this and do my job here, I'm reminded of the song that goes "You are my strong tower Shelter over me Beautiful and mightyEverlasting King You are my strong tower Fortress when I'm weak Your name is true and holy And Your face is all I seek"
I pray fervently that I will seek Him all my days.
Here's a good quote
"You have to start tithing when you have little if you are going to tithe when you have much."

Mountain

‘FAITH'—faith in Jesus for pardon, faith in the Father for providential provision, faith in the Holy Spirit for all grace.

I've been thinking about this faith thing and it's pretty cool. I feel a comfort as a Christian to have faith in my God that He is the key to anything that i really need in this world. So many times I have been enticed to walk by sight, to walk in my own understanding and knowledge but Faith is not walking by sight and if I keep doing this I'm not pleasing God, and of course that's what I am at. And it's soo simple, you know, this thing of pleasing God. All he asks me to do really is to have faith in him. The great chapter of our forefathers of faith (who by the way were not close to perfect) walked by faith and this pleased God. God says "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction fo things not seen... And without (that) faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." All this by faith of course, soo simple yet soo complicated because of my old nature that likes to see things physically in other words the the worldly way seems even simpler but really it's not. You might now what I'm talking about.

All I need do is believe him, and of course he will hear my prayers like when he says "call me and I will answer you and I will show you great and mighty things which you do not know." wow, that's pretty cool. His promises are soo sure and he is soo willing to fulfil them he also says in the good book "test me and see that I am good"

There is reality in His presence, and true support in His comfort.

Why not give you life as an offering to him a holy and living sacrifice.

Word of advice, Dont lean on your own understanding, but trust in him in all you do and he will pull you through!