Week 2: I'm in Asia...?! -- May 7

9pm-ish

Hey! I'm in East Asia! What?!? So crazy, but I'm kinda beyond tired.

So, ya, after the four hours, I didn't sleep on the bus, I didn't sleep before the plane ride, and I only got a little sleep on the plane. I watched a movie and some TV including 'Being Erica' and 'Modern Family'.

So, one thing to remember, if you want to sleep on the plane, make sure you sleep during the simulated night time or else you won't be able to sleep during the simulated day time and the simulated sunrise will wake you up. I got to see some mountains (East Asian character for mountain)! So cool!



The hotel we are staying at is pretty nice. I can't complain. There is a toilet in our bathroom, but also it is a shower. The bathroom. Kinda funny.

Also, I think that it is odd that today was yesterday. In other words, I am blogging during the same day of being awake, but the time change was pretty severe. lol.

D.Fa

Week 1: Orientation -- May 6

Almost 8am

We have left the college and are going to the airport for our crazy 12 or 14 hour flight..? [more like 11..?] It's gonna be a bit long, but whatever. I hope my television screen works. Ya. xP [on the ride to Vancouver, it did not.]

Last night we played 'Catch Phrase' with some people. It was a lot of fun. [lol. balls on a stick. *hand gesture of balls on a stick*... *beep* "It was grapes." lol] Then we started watching 'Peter Pan'. I ended up accidentally falling asleep when I went back to my room to use the washroom. It was a bit cold again, but I don't want to complain about it 1) because biblically I shouldn't [Philipians 2:14 "Do everything without complaining or arguing"] and 2) I will soon desire to complain about the heat. xP

We played badminton. We learned some important stuff. We had an awesome praise and worship session and really prayed for a while. I really want to see God reward our faith and see all the stones connect. [The last day of Orientation we all took some stones and prayed in faith that we'd be able to give them to new Christians when they pray to recieve Christ, encouraging them that Jesus is the firm foundation and solid rock. Matt 7:24-27]

Ya. I can't wait. I'm gonna miss everyone I meet this summer. >.>

D.Fa

Week 1: Orientation -- May 5

Almost 8am

It's rainy again. It's been so nice and sunny most of the time though so I guess its ok. xP. God has really blessed us this week. Yesterday we had a bunch of sessions on sharing and the gospel including a session on apolegetics. We also got our family roles. I've been given the role of materials coordinator and I'm sharing the fun time coordinator position. This summer is gonna be awesome. I don't know how I feel about the day of rest, but I suppose it is a command, so I'll do it.

Yesterday the elastic band battle continued and intensified. I now have 15. I'd been thinking, there's probably like 150-160 or so maybe, so I've got like 1/10 of the bands. xP. I followed one guy and made sure I got the two he owed me. lol. [Elastic band battle: there was a game to help us learn to speak 'politely'. We were each given 3 bands and whenever you 'swore', meaning to say a Christian word, you would lose a band to whoever caught you 'swearing'.]

I was also told that I am good at East Asian, so that is a positive thing. I really want to be a circle head when I get back. That would just be the funniest thing ever. [There was an analogy in a session. Canadians are 'block heads' and East Asians are 'circle heads'. We want to adapt and become 'stop-sign heads' (octagons. both round and with edges, so in between) being able to relate with them, yet not becoming them.]

Ya, spiritual warfare / temptation has definitely not been a very strong problem so far, but I'm sure that when it gets down to it, it will be... I really pray that I will be fully open with my family and that we can all support each other in this.

D.Fa

Week 1: Orientation -- May 4

Almost 8am

Yesterday was full on, hardcore. We had so much to learn and take in. Especially manners [which is the 'polite' way to use Christian words while we were in East Asia. My blog was written in manners and as such I will need to change a significant number of words.] It's a real challenge to pray politely, I mean, I usually say 'Lord' at the end or beggining of most of my sentences while praying, so I have to break that habit. I suppose it's a good thing. Sometimes we end up praying the same way for a long time and it just ends up being so much less meaningful, so much less powerful, sometimes you forget that you have to pray from the heart.

But either way, God doesn't care what you say. He hears what your heart says.

So, ya. Yesterday was awesome, finances have been dealt with and I can just relax with my family.

I didn't really realize that we wouldn't be going to a church in East Asia. That we have to be the pastor and the praise and worship team and the congregation. It'll be amazing to see how God and the Holy Spirit speaks through my family.

D.Fa

[PS. family was the 'polite' way of saying team, but I much prefer the word family. The 15 of us were a family, not a team. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and so I will continue to use the term family. From here on out family (when used during an EAP blog post) means my team unless otherwise stated.]

Week 1: Orientation -- May 3

Almost 7am.

Yesterday was great once we got off the plane. We got to meet so many awesome people. We took a two hour bus ride to a Bible College and moved into a res building. Each room has two people and a shared bathroom with one other room.

The weather yesterday was kinda exactly tha same as Ottawa. Mild, cloudy, rainy. Ya. Kinda strange how you move from one side of the country to the other and it's the same. Well, the houses are all huge here. lol. There was a suburb I saw from the plane. It was like all monsions.

Ya. We got to know where we are going and who is on our team and by a small probability, AL is on my team. I was prepared to be on different teams. It's gonna be interesting.

We have a pretty packed schedule. 8am-9pm with an hour or so of freetime. We also have 9-11pm to do whatever. I went to bed at 11pm, ie 2am Ottawa time after playing Settlers of Catan with my roommate, his friend and two other guys who are not involved in EAP. I had 8 victory points, but we had to go at 11pm, so, we all won. lol.

D.Fa

Week 1: Orientation -- May 2

Almost 11am.

So. We are at the airport and we are waiting until we can board the plane. I am bag sitting. I don't have a watch. It's kinda a gross day in Ottawa, cloudy, rainy, ya. And I'm a bit confused, but whatever. It'll work out.

Time to start living every second, every breath, every step, every thought, every desire for God. JK and HK got me a camera! So awesome. Just need to make sure I get a converter for the outlets while I'm in Vancouver or wherever we are going.

This is where my blogging will be for the next month and a half. When I get back... guh... typing all of this, ya right... Ya.

So excited!

Ttyl.

D.Fa

Day 2 of the lag.

Yo. I slept 3:30-8:30 am. weird, eh?

It seems that I get so much done now. like 3 hours feels so much longer. I like it.

Anyways, I went to church today in all new clothes from Asia and gel in my Mohawk (yes I have a Mohawk again, but it's way better.) and a lot of people said that they didn't recognize me at first. Everyone did in the end. My church family is awesome. Singing with all of them is awesome. Just being surrounded by that love, the love of God manifested in each of them and them as a family, so good.

Father's day was today. I feel like it isn't really celebrated as a holiday. Like it's hallmark cards and a couple tacky presents. In church it was so much more. About how our father's are simply modeling our Heavenly Father and all that good stuff.

Ya. I talked briefly to a lot of people. RL was the very first person I saw and I was sooooo happy when I saw him. I thought "awesome! RL's going to church every week again!", but no... first time since I left... T.T I'm still praying for him. Apparently someone is disciple-ing him now. Sweet.

Anyways, we went for lunch in a huge group and ate Mexican food. Like 12 times more expensive... I could eat for 4 days in Asia for that one meal. Tax and tip... lol. There are unseen benefits to everyone with the higher cost.

Then I've been here working on the email and playing tennis with my brother. My forehand died with all the badminton, but my serve is way better. lol.

I need to email the summer camp people and see a couple things. 1. I can't register for classes until the day after I leave... And, there's a wedding the day before I return... We'll see what happens.

Yup. I need a quiet time.

Ttyl.

D.Fa

PS. I'll start blogging tomorrow. I promise.

I'm Home, Yo!

Hey!

I've missed you guys! These last six weeks have been an amazing time seeing what God has been doing in East Asia already, seeing how he can use us, and really learning more about our relationship with Him. It's been up and down, but so many great things have happened and I can't wait to share them with you guys and everyone else.

We had no internet acsess while in East Asia, so I apoligize for there being no updates, but thanks so much for all the prayers and support you guys gave for me, for the project, for East Asia, for everything. Thanks.

Anyways, I was keeping a blog journal which because it was not online AL corrected my calling it a blog because it was a log not a web log, but I still called it a blog and labelled the cover "Incomplete Compostion: Log B". I wrote in it everyday up until yesterday and I plan to type it all up. So, please be patient. xP

I'll still be sharing great things with you anyways. xP Today was messed up though. I slept from 6am-4pm after scanning through my emails while drinking chocolate milk and what I discovered to be two-month-old, stale Frootloops (in East Asia where I was, there was very little cow milk, only sold in small bags like a juice box, although there was a lot of soy milk, but that's different. Also, there was no cereal). Then I woke up and the first few hours seemed to drag on forever. I cleaned the kitchen, answered my new emails (mostly from facebook) and turned on my cell phone.

I've also been procrastinating writing an email to my supporters. That will be done soon. Ya. So, I have two weeks here then I'm off to Northern Quebec. This means the 45ish blog posts must be completed in about 14 days as well as all the other stuff I have to do.

Ya. Apparently while I was gone some people from Armenia, Barbados, and Kyrgyzstan saw my blog! w00t!

Okay. I gotta work on the email. I'll keep you posted.

=D.Fa

The End of Waiting.

So.

Can I say I already miss some people?

I miss the YF group that we had Pho with today.

I leave tomorrow morning.

I don't know what to say.

Goodbye is too much.

Ttyl is too little.

So, ya. This is anticlimactic.

D.Fa





Oh, right, there is one thing I've been thinking today that I needed to blog about.

Bruno Mars.

His song 'Grenade' is pretty catchy. It is also pretty heartfelt. He talks about giving all he has for his love. Only asking for their love in return. He would got through all this pain, even dying for his love, but they wouldn't do the same. Do they love him back? What if he did die for them? Should they love them back then? What if everything came from them and they still don't even recognize that. Rejection sucks, but unrequitted love stinks too. What is God going through? HE did die for us and yet so many don't recognize this and so many don't love Him back.

Ya, I'm kinda feeling this song as a challenge to love God more for all He did / does for us.

Ya. XP.

Relationships are weird sometimes. What started with a very long shallow chat about pokemon, may have turned into, like, my best friend? Don't read too much into that though. xP. I'm gonna miss everyone. >.>

Ttyl.

D.Fa

PS. Important things must be said one on one, but I'm really not good at that.

Penultimate Post

So,

it is Saturday, April 30th. I leave Monday at 11:30. My bus pass dies tonight... I'm gonna need tickets for one day! what!? ya... but only because we're going for pho after church Sunday, which is great. Other then that, I should be moving very soon and I have a bubble tea meeting downtown at 3pm. Nothing else has been planned. Which means there is a likely chance that I don't see any of my friends from highschool before I leave. >.>

So, ya. I will more then likely not be blogging during my trip to Asia, but I may end up writing in a notebook things that I will post afterwards, or just post some of the highlights? I havn't decided. In either case, there will be great stories. xP

Ttyl.

D.Fa

Today.

Today.

Not much happened today. (the wedding doesn't count. I slept in. =P) I'm tying up loose ends, doing a bit more work at my parents' house, cleaning and emptying the house for the incoming pile of furniture from my grandparents' house. In any case, my parents' house is getting a lot cleaner.

Today I went to 168 Sushi Japan Buffet with RL and AL. It was pretty great again, although the guy who seems like he owned the place kinda challenged us to eat everything we ordered, so we finished it really quickly... xP Also, RL only ate teriyaki and rice.

Just now I moved a lot of stuff from 'the boy house' to CW and JS's house (my new house!). I moved everything that would fit in my parents' car, so all that is left for tomorrow when JW helps me is the table top, my dresser, two mattresses, 2/4 of the bed frame, an office chair and my bike (flat tire...)

So, ya. I'm dying to leave already. Vancouver for a week, then off to Asia!

Ttyl.

D.Fa

Super Awesome Springtime Fun

Did I ever tell you about how awesome the weather in Ottawa is..? Well in the last few days it's been like between like -2 and +21'C, super humid, super windy, hailing, chance of tornado, thunder storm, pouring rain, sunny and happy, cloudy, mild, cool, dry, breezy, the flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping at 5:30am NONSTOP!, a bird sang the song of healing earlier, the universe's physical constants are all super precise for the existance of life... Ok, so, that's a bit more than just the weather, but it's all super awesome.

My friend in Toronto was complaining a bit about the chance for tornadoes. WHY? I wish I was near a tornado!!! =D (super creepy smily face)

Ya. Today is awesome. The windows are all open, the doors are all open, the sun is shining ... *looks outside* what is that mass of fur in that tree?!?! OMW! IT'S A SUNBATHING SQUIREL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I am not kidding. I creeped a picture with a pair of binoculars. but when I got closer it jumped away. T.T)

Ya. Today is awesome. God is awesome.

I got my passport back!!!!!!! SO AWESOME! It's got my new visa and everything!!!! I'm super psyched now!

Gonna do a Bible study and then keep cleaning.

Ttyl.

D.Fa

PS. Dominica! w00t!

400 Shows I like.

So. This week I have spent my time mainly at my parents' house. Much of the 'free' time has been spent with the thing we call a television and I have come to like some programs. How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, The Office, Modern Family. These shows are quite funny.

It doesn't take too much to get highly involved in a show. Just a couple shows into a Easter marathon and Sheldon's quirks had already won me over. The Office took it's time, but gradually wore me down once I understood all the sub plots of the other characters below Micheal's racist and sexist and just overall rude commentary that fills up most of an episode. Modern Family always has a happy ending despite how crazy the plot becomes. How I Met Your Mother is quite funny. The clash between the characters, that although they are very different, they get along somehow and stick together no matter what.

I havn't really watched very much tv in a while. Just anime, but there are good comedies that are 'live action'. lol. I never said anime is better then everything. I never will. So, ya...

Ttyl.

D.Fa

PS. This post is not a list of 400 shows I like.

Temptation.

I feel like I should just give in.

It's our desire to sin. The devil can't make us, but he can tempt us as much as he would like to.

I feel like sometimes I should just go sinning while I'm young and just not care about any reprecussions, I mean, God can and will forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness if we truly confess and repent, right?

God created us in His image. He wanted to have a relationship with us. Why did we ever turn away? Temptation, a desire for control.

But honestly, God doesn't want us to sin. Sin is 'missing the mark', not meeting expectations. Sin goes against who He is and who He calls us to be. In the Old Testament he calls us to live holy lives for He is holy. He even says that He will be the one to make us holy, knowing our sins and desire for sin. We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Not to be cliche or anything, but the Ten Commandments are an easy reality check for whether we hit the mark or not as far as God is concerned. He says 1. You are to worship God alone. 2. No Idolatry, I am God and nothing else you make should be. 3. Do not take His name in vain. 4. Keep the Sabbath. 5. Honour your parents. 6. No murder. 7. No adultery. 8. No stealing. 9. No lieing. 10. No coveting. I for one have failed pretty much all of them. We all miss the mark.

He did the only thing He could. He is just, a crime deserves a punishment. The wages of sin is death, so only death could pay for our sins. Israel used to make sacrifices, killing spotless animals in place of themselves for their misdeeds. God sent Jesus to die on the cross. He was spotless. After 40 days in a desert being tempted by the devil He still didn't give in to him. He lived His life and gave it for our sins. By His death on the cross, our sins are paid for.

Why should we sin? God tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." There is always a way out. It's our decision.

Now the real problem is that. We have freewill. We can make our own choices. It's so much harder this way... Even knowing God never fails me, God is good, God has a perfect plan for me, God has a purpose for my life, God wants an intimate relationship with me, God knows all, God called me to Him... Why would I keep turning away?

Ttyl.

D.Fa

The Weight Continues

And so another day has passed and I am still in the Glen House (ie. The boy house) and am actually much more packed then yesterday. Today I packed up my closet and all my stuff in the rest of the house that I had yet to pack such as dryer sheets and pans.

What did I do today?
-Good Friday Service. Awesome.
-Walked home. Awesome. (I kinda have the desire to walk home from everywhere and I have now walked home from church. yuss. and actually the church is maybe going to move soon. Bonus, I have now walked home from our possible new church (because it was en route) I also learned that SC is more awesome then I had thought and that intermissions can be very awkward)
-ate a cucumber and cheese. Random.
-went home to pack. Random. I realized I only have two t-shirts that have no writing on them. They are both the same colour, but I only like one of them. Now I have to choose which of my other shirts I care the least about (because, where I am going, no clothes will return the same way they arrived.) Shirts with writing on them are, however, very sentimental because they are each an event or a club I've been in or a souvenir t-shirt or something of similar ideas.
-bussed another box to my new house and cleaned. lol... I get focused on small details. You know the borders around floors, the little white trimming thing..? Well, it had not been cleaned in a while. Also there were a number of cobwebs especially on the second floor.
-borrowed ankle weights from JS and am still wearing them.
-walked home (boy house) and returned a pair of keys on the way. Also walked by a couple day cares, old elementary school, a park, a couple of old friend's houses, work etc.
-bought McD's for my brother (without a coupon)
-watched How I Met Your Mother and The Office. Both are good shows, I admit. I kinda want to go to Scranton now. Just from all the hype. We also watched Wipe-Out. The puns are quite funny, but really there is no plot and the competition is just a joke.
-walked home (boy house) and b(r/l)ogged.

That is what I did today.

Also I was told that, because I have a certain way of over texting and a certain way of doing so, I should compile a guidebook 'How to Text: Texting Etiquette' or something like that. I would like to do just that, but I'll actually be text free for the next two months. T.T I will do this however, by using a blog draft and just adding tips. I feel 100 tips or rules is enough. When I hit 100 I will publish said blog post. Don't expect anything until mid September.

Ya.

Ttyl.

D.Fa

PS. Have you ever heard of 'cast notes'? At MHS for a drama production, each cast member would, the week of the performances (often closing night by procrastination), write and deliver a note to every other cast member. Commonly found in cast notes are fond memories that they have shared, a memorable funny thing someone else has done, a funny comment someone (including possibly the director) has made, future plans, encouraging words, 'break a leg', a doodle, something creative, etc.

SC made what I am calling 'Friend Notes' because he's moving back to Toronto for the summer. They are all really cute. xP We love you SC! 'Open up SC. *slap*'

Officially

I am done my first year of University

I am moving the rest of my junk to CW's room tomorrow

I am living in my parent's house for the next week and a half to 'babysit' my brother. Keep the house from burning down, you know?

I am probably not getting a tennis membership this summer, but that may still change, so I guess it's not official, especially because I have enough cash in my pocket right now and have been thinking a lot about doing it even if its only for a couple weeks here and there and Septemberish...

Feel like I failed Linear Algebra even though I know I have around an 89...

Can't wait for East Asia!!!!!!!!!

My clove of garlic is not growing

JS is one of my favourite YF. He could easily be on a list of 'Cute Things' which I felt strongly to create when he sent me a facebook message containing the phrase I tweeted yesterday. "im sure u ll be ready to translate God's love by the summer no worries God tells u what to say"

Exerpt

So, yesterday I was feeling kinda funny. I was also having a gmail chat conversation. The following are lines that I typed that have been removed from context and not changed in anyway.

me: I'm all packed!
me: moving
me: probably wednesday. >.>
me: I feel like I've packed my room into a box and won't be opening it for 4 months. xP Like 'my life' has been put on hold.
me: lol............... It's weird.... I even rearranged my room so I could get at all the dust and now it's not my room anymore. Especially because its just a plain, empty white cube with a white bed.
not to mention the echo.
me: ... the echo only formed because I packed up my room. Same with the bareness of the walls after taking down my shelves and pictures and posters and calendar and stuff.
me: lol..... but your walls are gross. lol... I like the walls in everyone else's rooms. xP

I feel the need to add a couple of the person to whom I was 'speaking' with's lines. At this point he told me to "Get Out." and that "Fake hardwood paneling is the best wall option in the world."

me: false

We then went on about how "I'm not going to get out just because I, currently, don't appreciate fake hardwood paneling." and how "If you don't like it, get out. Because I love it."

me: Right now the kitchen is really bugging me. The cobweb above the table and the dead flies on the light. I must clean them... xP
me: I can understand why some short people may not notice them, but you're tall... lol

To which he replied "ya, but I don't really look up that much."

me: lol

I thought that convo was longer. Meh. In any case I hope you found it mildly amusing and informative as to how I am currently feeling about packing and moving and the whole thing.

Also, yesterday I watched 10 episodes of an anime named "Majou Shoujo Madoka Magica" because a friend recommended it. It is not a normal "mahou shoujo" (magic girls) anime (like sailor moon or mew mew power..?). It is a lot darker. The last two episodes have been delayed due to the earthquakes / tsunami in Japan. But they will be airing April 21st. Now that I've seen it, neither I nor my friend can wait for it. I'm actually praying for it. Praying for anime? Weird? kinda. But what I'm praying for is that the gospel would be either in the last two episodes, or that something very easy to start a spiritual conversation off of would be in the episodes. There's already been some stuff like trading your soul for one wish and self-sacrifice. I can see (in my head) how if the main 'evil magic girl' sacrifices herself for her friends it would be extremely easy to relate to the gospel. I don't want to spoil anything... so... unless you watch it I won't be able to talk to you about it. It's a really good show though. Most 12 episode anime are. (not that 1000 episode anime can't be good.) I digress. I am also praying for my friend. He's taking a whole 5 course summer semester. So, ya.

Also, I've felt again that a day spent on yourself for no other purpose is completely a waste of time. I mean, I studied like a couple hours that day, but mainly sin was taking up most of my time. That is too vague. After I studied, I watched anime for 5 hours before my exam and did absolutely nothing productive. I should be spending my 'extra time' growing closer to God as time is running out before EAP, not wasting whole days at a time... I have like 2 weeks left...

Ya.

Ttyl.

D.Fa

The palest ink lasts longer than the sharpest memory.

So, this week I have been really encouraged.

The thing though is that I have been encouraged by the past, more specifically by things that have been written down when God was really working in the lives of the authors.

So, I was thinking and I realized I still haven't posted about my Campus for Christ Sharing Testimony from the week after Summit. So here it is. lol.

"Random Evangelism":
"My name is Dylan. I have been going to OCBC for a couple years and I have heard some things about C4C. My general impression is that everyone went out alone and just talked to as many people as possible in a quick, random evangelism.

I am usually very shy when I meet people for the first time, so talking that much with, basically, strangers really scared me, on top of which I feel I don't know enough to properly share with others. So basically, I never really shared [my faith] with anyone until these last couple weeks.

Summit and C4C in general really encouraged me and pushed me to go outside my comfort zone. There was training and I got to meet a lot of other C4C members.

After Summit was 'the plunge' where everyone was encouraged to break a faith barrier and take their faith a step further. For many first years this meant sharing the gospel with someone on campus for the first time. That is what it meant for me.

The first time, me and [SS] went to the food court. We talked about the usual way [SS] shares with others and then we prayed that God would lead us to the right person.

After praying, we turned to the person sitting right beside us. His name was [J(?)]. He was an international student and had been taking philosophy. Recently they had been thinking about the meaning of life and he was interested in speaking with us. As we went through the 'Knowing God Personally' booklet he recognized Revelation 3:20 [Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.] He said that he had seen a movie and after [SS] had inquired, it had almost definitely been "the Jesus Film". [J(?)] didn't accept Christ that day, but seemed interested in follow up.

Afterwards [SS] told me more about "the Jesus film" and how in China to see the film you have to be in a private screening with headphones. The fact that [J(?)] had seen it is amazing. God had already been working in his life.

My second attempt at sharing was on Wednesday. I again asked to see if anyone could come with me and everyone who responded was too busy. So I was left alone and was pretty frightened. I wasted like 40 minutes reading my email and blogging before I made up my mind. In an hour if I hadn't already gone sharing, I would go. I prayed that God would calm my heart, give me courage, that He would guide me to the right person and that He would give me the right words to say.

Less than 3 minutes later BC walked over and sat down with me. BC was someone I knew from highschool. We had very similar schedules throughout highschool, but we don't really talk too much. However, I had felt before that I should share with him and I felt it again.

I'm not very good at explaining things usually, but we went through the booklet and there were a lot of questions to answer. I think I managed to get most of the point across. BC had heard most of it before when I invited him to a youth outreach event. If BC hadn't shown up when he had I probably wouldn't have shared that day.

These two sharing experiences I've had since Summit have shown me a number of errors in my image of C4C sharing.

1. You are never alone. Whether you go sharing with another C4C member or not, God is there too.

2. You don't need to know every point in the Bible to share the gospel. The Holy Spirit will give you the words and the booklet gives you focus.

3. There is nothing random about it. You make an effort to set aside an hour and a half, you ask God to guide you and God will provide you with someone. [Although this point can also be expanded past a strict 1.5 hour setting into a more daily walking with God with your whole life open waiting for the opportunities God gives you. (Don't compartmentalize God!)]

4. It isn't just about getting to as many people as fast as you can. It is about having an actual conversation with another person.

2 Timothy 1:7-8 For God has not given us a Spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord... but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God."

Yep. That is it. 3 pages of graph paper written in pencil on a bus ride from home to school on a friday afternoon. God really was showing me that He does great things. Whenever we take steps in faith, He helps us along and does great things.

Ya, I thought this might encourage someone. It's hitting me. lol. I read today that the first thing Jesus said to his disciples was that they would become fishers of men, ie bringing others to Jesus. The first thing He said. If you aren't fishing, you aren't a disciple. That line also hit me.

Ttyl.

D.Fa



PS. Re:title of blog post. The jot notes in pen are clearer by far then the full copy in pencil.

PPS. Two Door Cinema Club is a really cool band. xP

The song played on repeat all of Tuesday:

The song played on repeat all day Wednesday:

Thunder Storms and Pasta

So, yesterday.

Yesterday started off with me waking up at 5 am. Guess why? Thunderstorm! Yay! But the coolest thing was that the power was out and that the storm was practically directly above us (which I later realized isn't as cool as I thought, or maybe it is..?)!!!! So, it was just like nonstop flashes of light outside my window! You couldn't see the lightning, just the light, rain was pouring, all my housemates were awake (RL was at his parents) and JR ran outside... lol... After about half an hour the lights turned back on and I realized how silent and dark it was a moment earlier. I mean, now there were all these little things buzzing and a bunch of small flashing lights and ya... I went back to sleep, but kept my phone on to wake me up. I later read a facebook status "Somebody must have been playing Song of Storms over and over last night..." lol.

I woke up at like 9:30 and just lay in bed until 10. I just didn't want to do any work. I still don't, but yesterday was my last day before my week of exams started, so I should have started the cramming.

At 10 I talked with my EAP support coach. He doesn't like how I don't really answer questions.

I then had breakfast/lunch and watched anime.

I then wasted like an hour and a half drawing a diagram to represent my support raising for project. I drew block letters of EAP on graph paper with each block being 50$ I need to raise. It took me a long time to figure out how big to draw the letters and then to colour it in with the support I have so far, colour coded to each person, and then I accidentally did it wrong and I admit it was a huge waste of time.

I knew I should have been cramming for my CHEM exam today, but no... I kept wasting time.

I studied for a couple hours while playing songs by Two Door Cinema Club over and over and over again and then I ran off to my new house to have a meal with my new housemates. I saw CL and MC on the bus.

There was a lot of raised voices at my new house, mostly caused by me and the whole 'splitting a room in half' business and how that effects the rent. It seems that DK, CW and JS 'debate' quite a bit. In any case, CW prepared a pasta meal for us and we all had some with light dinner conversation. Following that we had a 'house meeting' to address issues with common areas and chores and just things in general. The last topic raised was really awkward. It was DK bringing up the fact that we don't tell each other that we love each other as much as we should. He argued that as Christians we should be more loving because we know a bit more about real love through Jesus among other reasons. The most awkward point (debatably) was when he said he could easily write more about what makes each of us special then he can for a school paper.

They tried wrapping up the meeting quickly so that I could go home and study, but the things I saw were that a) they do love each other, b) they pray with each other, c) they don't hold back anything from being discussed. These are all things I wish I saw more of at my house. I have yet to see a couple of my housemates pray.

Ya, when I got home I watched a couple episodes of Modern Family with everyone. It's a good show that always has a moral, warm and fuzzy ending.

Ya. So I wasted all of yesterday. Then this morning I woke up at 6:50 and did everything quickly so that I could go and then I decide to clean out my closet. >.> Ya. Wasted a half hour making a pile of clothes I don't want to / havn't been wearing that I can get rid of because I really have only been wearing like 8 shirts and there were like 25-30 in my closet. The first step in moving is to get rid of everything that is useless to you.

Ya. CHEM exam asian fail. Probably.

Ttyl.

D.Fa

PS. I started moving yesterday. Even though I only moved one thing and I never use them. lol.

When you get the same comment 30 times.

So, I know what my impression on Merivale drama is. My laugh lives on in the memory of all.

Tonight was the closing night for MHS' annual musical 'The Drowsy Chaperone'. It was like the best musical I have seen in a while, not only because I haven't actually seen one (at merivale) in like 3 years, but because it really was an amazing production. Absolutely everything was so good. I was laughing so much and I wish that the memory of it would last forever. Every person was excellent in their roles, the music was great, the lighting was simple, but great, in short, I loved it.

I gave so many people hugs today.

High school musicals are just like the best thing ever. You spend like 10 hours a week in rehearsals with the same 20-30 people and really build relationships that last. I miss them all again. lol. They are like a really widely extended crazy family, but I love them all.

I definitely don't tell people I love them enough. I guess one reason is that it's such a loaded word. In our society, 'love' has such a shallow limited meaning sometimes. 'love' isn't just 'romantic' or 'sexual'. The term 'brotherly love' is not equal to 'bromance'. Love is in it's true form unconditional and everlasting, greater than any problem and greater than any can imagine. Love is so deep, wide, long, high, so unfathomable and so real and yet people have given up on it. People have taken and accepted a shallow 'love', a 'love' that is sometimes even orchestrated and... I could keep going on and on.

Even I don't truly know what love is. If I tried to comprehend it on my own, I wouldn't be able to.

I don't say this enough, but I really mean it. I love you.

D.Fa