Oi. Oi. Oi.

Standard apologies for the lack of posting. Internet was down. Fought with it. Lost. Suffered withdrawal...

Freakin' technology.

So apparently I got linked on the third space site. What fun. Any folk who occupy the Peterborough area should check them out. I'm telling you, they rock harder than a cradle full of quintuplets...

All that being said, things are going good out here. Walked up a cliff yesterday and then attempted to jump off it... repelling is so horribly unnatural. In addition to that classes have started, I wrote my first paper this past weekend and I start my placement tomorrow afternoon. Two days a week I'll be working in a skatepark in North Van. I can't skate. But hey, I'll trust that God had something to do with my placement and take it from there.

I'm pretty stoked. And I am definitely going to pick up a 'can't skate' t-shirt.

the long walk

I have just returned from a two day long outdoors trip... where I encountered God, learned about my community, and scared away a bear. The first week of Lifeteams has been in every facet, interesting.

It has also had some challenges.

To get to our cabin in the middle of nowhere, we had to hike for three hours with all our gear. I've never even really been on a hike and really am not all that capable of it. So I did what every incapable Christian would do when forced into a seemingly impossible task: I prayed diehard.

The prayers seemed to work for the hike in. Somewhere in the middle of it I got a runners high, and felt like I could probably keep going forever if it came right down to it. I made it to the cabin tired but happy.

The hike home today was different. I was already sore and right off the bat I felt something snap a little in my right leg. I was having some issue breathing and within minutes I was at the back of the group. Despite my best efforts, I remained at the back of the group, having major difficulty keeping up. This had continued for about an hour to an hour and a half when another lifeteams student, Andrew, slowed up to walk beside me. He walked with me for a bit without saying anything and then finally he looked over at me and said 'You know I could take your pack.'

I looked over at him and said, with effort, that no, I wanted to do it by myself. I trudged on. I just wanted to do this on my own, by my own power, not accepting help. So I carried my pack painfully, until Rob called a short rest stop to eat. I put down my pack, and sat down, trying to figure out what was wrong with my leg, and drinking water out of my bottle.

When I looked up, Andrew had put on my pack.

I looked at him and shook my head, wishing he'd take it off so that I wouldn't have to accept help from him. He just looked at me and adjusted his own pack, trying to distribute the weight evenly. I wanted to take the pack off him, to tell him that I was fine and could carry my own gear, but I knew I'd be lying. I was just having a hard time admitting that I was too proud to willingly accept help when I really needed it.

He carried my gear all the way home.




lessons in grace...

.west

So I flew into Abbotsford yesterday morning and spent most of the day trying to sleep off the jet lag. It's great to see Sara and her fam again. They all seemed pretty excited.

Kiel picked me up at the airport and we followed it up with the promised lunch. What a nice guy. The lesson here is that he should skip school everyday.

Lifeteams starts tomorrow (!) afternoon. What craziness. There is a butterfly convention going on in my stomache.

We'll see how the ever anticipated first day goes. I've just looked forward to this for so long, I sincerely wonder how it's all going to go down. I still feel unprepared, but I don't really know how I could expel that feeling... maybe break in my hiking boots...

In the meantime, I guess I'm just going to rest up so that I can be operating at a hundred percent tomorrow. Eating good food (fresh fish is awesome) and sleeping good sleep. I should definitely spend some time with God today too, talking over stuff.

Tomorrow's a big day.

. slightly conflicted

I am simultaneously and legitimately feeling two things. Too many goodbyes today, and I was saddened. That and I'm really awkward with goodbyes. I never know what to say or do. I felt all shy tonight, which was genuinely disconcerting. I'm rarely shy. I attended a lovely bbq at the vyn's new place, but felt shy all night. I think I need to accept this occasionally shy side of myself... despite it being annoying.

As much as I am bummed about saying goodbye to about ten great folk today, I am honestly happy about leaving too. I like adventures, yes I do.

This is my last sleep at home, I'd better get to it.

... 

I've started this post about four times over the past week.

Seriously, it's not like I haven't had any thoughts and feelings to share with the world. It's just that they're all sort of mopey. The boys are leaving for university this weekend and I'm kinda bummed to see them go. I said some goodbyes last night and have more to come in the next few days. In the meantime, I guess I'm busting out the suitcase and starting, once again, to pack.

I start Lifeteams a week from tomorrow. I'm feeling better in that I have my second prayer partner, Daniel. He's commited to supporting me in prayer, and that is exciting. I'm figuring out last minute details like who's picking me up from the airport (looks like Kiel Landrigan won the draw there). I'm looking forward to seeing my west coast fam again, and this feeling is mixed with the inevitable sadness of leaving my fam here. I think I'm growing accustomed to this feeling.

To all those beginning new things this fall; sincere blessings in your endeavours.

.folded