Interesting fact of the day - Turns out it takes longer to fly from small town Saskatchewan to LA as it does to fly from TO to London. Ok, maybe not that interesting, but my journey thus far.
I made to LA in one piece. I arrived and was instantly whisked away to the beach to tan on the hot sand. I was told this was probably the only time i'd see the ocean this trip so enjoy! I'm now chilling in my friends flat for the day before I'm handed off to the GCM crew and we try figuring out the latest details on the Sudan set up.
It's been quite an adventure trying to plan this trip. With our contacts speckled throughout the world everything has been done via phone and has been quite confusing at times. Just three days before I was suppose to move our main contacts on the ground in Sudan told us there was miscommunication and they are not able to partner with our work. Not good considering we leave in less than two weeks... So i'm glad i'm here and maybe we can collaborate better, i dunno. Anyway, that's sort of the latest.
LA is hot. We're in the low 100F's here and you can definitely tell. I've been a little emotional since my arrival as well. Well...actually for the last week before I left to. I always forget how much moving takes out of you. Especially when you don't know where you're moving to or really where you're moving from... lol. It's good though. Life is an adventure and I am loving it.
Will be able to do a little email before I head out on July 3rd so if anyone wants to take advantage of that, now would be the time. :) Big loves to all.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Dining for Darfur
Hey Guys!!
I'm back in Canada, rested and recovered from Thailand (will try to have email updates and pics out SOON!)
While I'm back I'm trying to focus on getting ready for what's next.
I'll be moving to Sudan July 1st. A team from California will be traveling to Africa and then July 20th they'll be traveling out of Africa. Leaving me behind. =) I'm so excited, and will have more details out via email.
One thing I am doing while back is a dinner for Sudan. In the province of darfur, genocide has been pronounced and it's the first time in history it's ever been named while it is still going on. I'll be living in the south but all ticket proceeds will go to aiding those hit the hardest in the west, Darfur.
I'm back in Canada, rested and recovered from Thailand (will try to have email updates and pics out SOON!)
While I'm back I'm trying to focus on getting ready for what's next.
I'll be moving to Sudan July 1st. A team from California will be traveling to Africa and then July 20th they'll be traveling out of Africa. Leaving me behind. =) I'm so excited, and will have more details out via email.
One thing I am doing while back is a dinner for Sudan. In the province of darfur, genocide has been pronounced and it's the first time in history it's ever been named while it is still going on. I'll be living in the south but all ticket proceeds will go to aiding those hit the hardest in the west, Darfur.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Random ramblings after another trip to the district
Day two in the red light district. I'm not quite sure how to word everything that's zooming around in my head. I keep replaying every conversation every smile, every stare.
My friends and I headed to the district just after dark. I was more nervous this time as I knew what to expect and the heart strings it would pull. The bar I sat at was pretty packed this time but somehow I was still able to talk to one of the girls after buying her a coke. She was incredibly sweet. She spoke english really well and told me her story of how she had to start work in the industry after her husband died. Before that she and her husband had been world travelers and had even lived in Europe for a while. She told me about some of her old dreams and aspirations but how now none of it will probably happen. She said all she has time for is working, sleeping and cleaning. That's right, most girls only get about two days off a month and "you can imagine all the spider webs that come after a few weeks!" (lol yes she too had a deep loathing for spiders) My heart went out to her as she recalled the pain of her husbands death, and said her only friends now are at the bar. It's like what can you do? How can you show her how much she's loved? We talked for just under an hour and when I left we hugged and she asked if I would come back. "Nobody talks to us. Well, they talk but they don't want to hear us talk" All I could do was tell her that our conversation meant a lot to me and just how valuable she was, hoping she caught it.
It's so frustrating. They do their job and you see them dancing and working the guys but when you actually look in their eyes you wonder how people can't see the pain oozing out of them. "It's their choice, they like it" can be the debate but really, most of them are working in the bars because in Thai culture the women must support the family and when it's not them paying the bill the families can work up massive dept. One girl was 19 and had only been working five days. This was her story as she had a nine month old baby at home and her parents dept to pay off. In desperation she turned to her last resort as most of the girls do.
Uh. Everything inside me wants to cry out for justice for the girls, how long will we let this issue go on, why the heck are we all so silent!
lol. I was planning on just saying some stories and leave out my emotions but haha, I guess i'm not there yet. We're heading out again tonight and probably every night until we go. lol my apologies for the randomness of it all, guess that's the nature of a blog.
Everything else is going great. I'm in love with Thai food even though my mouth hasn't stopped burning since I got here (slight exaggeration but it's still very spicy) My team is also amazing and we're having a blast everywhere we go. Oh! Please continue to pray for the kids. They're amazing and were totally blown away when we told them our God was nice and really liked them. However...translation has been quite the challenge. Only a few days left with this batch so please keep us in your prayers!
My friends and I headed to the district just after dark. I was more nervous this time as I knew what to expect and the heart strings it would pull. The bar I sat at was pretty packed this time but somehow I was still able to talk to one of the girls after buying her a coke. She was incredibly sweet. She spoke english really well and told me her story of how she had to start work in the industry after her husband died. Before that she and her husband had been world travelers and had even lived in Europe for a while. She told me about some of her old dreams and aspirations but how now none of it will probably happen. She said all she has time for is working, sleeping and cleaning. That's right, most girls only get about two days off a month and "you can imagine all the spider webs that come after a few weeks!" (lol yes she too had a deep loathing for spiders) My heart went out to her as she recalled the pain of her husbands death, and said her only friends now are at the bar. It's like what can you do? How can you show her how much she's loved? We talked for just under an hour and when I left we hugged and she asked if I would come back. "Nobody talks to us. Well, they talk but they don't want to hear us talk" All I could do was tell her that our conversation meant a lot to me and just how valuable she was, hoping she caught it.
It's so frustrating. They do their job and you see them dancing and working the guys but when you actually look in their eyes you wonder how people can't see the pain oozing out of them. "It's their choice, they like it" can be the debate but really, most of them are working in the bars because in Thai culture the women must support the family and when it's not them paying the bill the families can work up massive dept. One girl was 19 and had only been working five days. This was her story as she had a nine month old baby at home and her parents dept to pay off. In desperation she turned to her last resort as most of the girls do.
Uh. Everything inside me wants to cry out for justice for the girls, how long will we let this issue go on, why the heck are we all so silent!
lol. I was planning on just saying some stories and leave out my emotions but haha, I guess i'm not there yet. We're heading out again tonight and probably every night until we go. lol my apologies for the randomness of it all, guess that's the nature of a blog.
Everything else is going great. I'm in love with Thai food even though my mouth hasn't stopped burning since I got here (slight exaggeration but it's still very spicy) My team is also amazing and we're having a blast everywhere we go. Oh! Please continue to pray for the kids. They're amazing and were totally blown away when we told them our God was nice and really liked them. However...translation has been quite the challenge. Only a few days left with this batch so please keep us in your prayers!
Thailand!
Hey guys, I made it to Thailand. Things are going really well I love the people and the culture, I'm melting in the weather but i like the heat so it works.
Yesterday was quite the day as we jumped right into working with the "working girls".
How to describe it I'm not really sure. I feel my emotions are still a little fragile and as I search for the words to describe what I saw.
The day began with worship as we joined all the women from the ministry we're working with. (They help women get out of prostitution and rehabilitate them into 'normal life') As about 70 women sang their hearts out praising God for his goodness, you could hardly guess that some of them walked the streets just 4 weeks before. After we were shown around the center seeing where the women now work, learn basic life skills and get healed and whole from their old lives of abuse.
Following lunch, we got a thorough orientation from the director and did a little tourist outing by the river side then proceeded to do a 180 from the morning and headed to the bars.
Honestly, I still just feel speechless. Part of me didn't know whether to weep or be sick or just feel numb. I'm still processing so please forgive the randomness but in short, here was our night.
In teams of four, along with the other ministry, we entered various bars at one of the districts here. All around were men of all ages, all nationalities and girls. All half naked, all fully abused. We entered cautiously, I've been researching this scene for a few years now but nothing ever fully prepares for seeing it. We barely stepped in and the air felt x10 thicker and you suddenly just want a shower on the inside. In the Buddhist religion they believe you're a woman because you didn't do enough good in your previous life to be a man. Women must obey and no matter what do whatever the man asks. When you look into the eyes of the women you see the pain and brokenness of that theory, poorly masked by make up and a string thong.
We sat in a corner and ordered some cokes. (Usually ordering non-alcoholic drinks spurs such curiosity that the girls come talk with you) Well it worked and a few girls came and sat down with us. They kept smiling saying how much they liked us, that there was something in our eyes. In their broken english and my four words of Thai we spoke about their kids, Canada, and attempted a Thai lesson (unsuccessful but they loved it) They were extremely sweet and even knowing I was surely not a client it was interesting seeing them rotate through me all wanting to ask my name and me attempt to ask theirs in Thai. The smiles on their faces were the only thing that kept me from bawling my eyes out.
After a while we went to a middle eastern hotel. When we arrived my team was confused as we thought we were going to keep working with the girls that night. Little did we know this 'normal' hotel lounge was bustling with trafficked girls. It was worse then the Red light as it appeared so normal but when you stop and start paying attention it was so corrupt. Here the women sat at tables waiting for a man to walk over and "chose them" to come "dine" with him. A friend and I got a chance to speak with a girl from eastern europe who was twenty two. She had just received a degree with computers and had been in here a month. Our hearts were completely shattered as she recalled her favourite things from home and her desire to return. She was so hard yet so open. I still feel nauseous thinking about her story and the other girls. Just the way the men entered the hotel restaurant scouting out a girl like they're buying meat at a grocery store. After spotting her they'd nod and wave and on command the girl would get up and head to their side. I was taken aback as I sat beside our girl and had a man summon me. I pretended I didn't see him until we were heading out the door and again and again he motioned asking if I would like to come sit. I was so annoyed and want to just blurt out "I'm not for sale and neither should these girls be" but instead just shook my head No and stuck to my girlfriends side. (Not wanting to draw attention to myself or the team)
With that said some of you might be a little annoyed also, but to think, is there any difference if the injustice happens to me or to someone else? Your daughter or theirs? (don't worry dad, I'm being safe)
So yes, there was our night to the bars. I still feel like emotionally I'm walking on eggshells with the matter. As weird as it is though, every time I'm faced with radical injustices like war, famine, poverty and now the sex trade, every time I feel I fall more in love with Jesus. It's like I feel every morsel in my heart shatters at the sights but I know that as much as it hurts me it tears him up even more. I witness their horror for a couple hours he sees it day in and day out. I love them in that place and he wants to take their place. It's unfathomable to me how good he really is yes, even in the Red Light.
Yesterday was quite the day as we jumped right into working with the "working girls".
How to describe it I'm not really sure. I feel my emotions are still a little fragile and as I search for the words to describe what I saw.
The day began with worship as we joined all the women from the ministry we're working with. (They help women get out of prostitution and rehabilitate them into 'normal life') As about 70 women sang their hearts out praising God for his goodness, you could hardly guess that some of them walked the streets just 4 weeks before. After we were shown around the center seeing where the women now work, learn basic life skills and get healed and whole from their old lives of abuse.
Following lunch, we got a thorough orientation from the director and did a little tourist outing by the river side then proceeded to do a 180 from the morning and headed to the bars.
Honestly, I still just feel speechless. Part of me didn't know whether to weep or be sick or just feel numb. I'm still processing so please forgive the randomness but in short, here was our night.
In teams of four, along with the other ministry, we entered various bars at one of the districts here. All around were men of all ages, all nationalities and girls. All half naked, all fully abused. We entered cautiously, I've been researching this scene for a few years now but nothing ever fully prepares for seeing it. We barely stepped in and the air felt x10 thicker and you suddenly just want a shower on the inside. In the Buddhist religion they believe you're a woman because you didn't do enough good in your previous life to be a man. Women must obey and no matter what do whatever the man asks. When you look into the eyes of the women you see the pain and brokenness of that theory, poorly masked by make up and a string thong.
We sat in a corner and ordered some cokes. (Usually ordering non-alcoholic drinks spurs such curiosity that the girls come talk with you) Well it worked and a few girls came and sat down with us. They kept smiling saying how much they liked us, that there was something in our eyes. In their broken english and my four words of Thai we spoke about their kids, Canada, and attempted a Thai lesson (unsuccessful but they loved it) They were extremely sweet and even knowing I was surely not a client it was interesting seeing them rotate through me all wanting to ask my name and me attempt to ask theirs in Thai. The smiles on their faces were the only thing that kept me from bawling my eyes out.
After a while we went to a middle eastern hotel. When we arrived my team was confused as we thought we were going to keep working with the girls that night. Little did we know this 'normal' hotel lounge was bustling with trafficked girls. It was worse then the Red light as it appeared so normal but when you stop and start paying attention it was so corrupt. Here the women sat at tables waiting for a man to walk over and "chose them" to come "dine" with him. A friend and I got a chance to speak with a girl from eastern europe who was twenty two. She had just received a degree with computers and had been in here a month. Our hearts were completely shattered as she recalled her favourite things from home and her desire to return. She was so hard yet so open. I still feel nauseous thinking about her story and the other girls. Just the way the men entered the hotel restaurant scouting out a girl like they're buying meat at a grocery store. After spotting her they'd nod and wave and on command the girl would get up and head to their side. I was taken aback as I sat beside our girl and had a man summon me. I pretended I didn't see him until we were heading out the door and again and again he motioned asking if I would like to come sit. I was so annoyed and want to just blurt out "I'm not for sale and neither should these girls be" but instead just shook my head No and stuck to my girlfriends side. (Not wanting to draw attention to myself or the team)
With that said some of you might be a little annoyed also, but to think, is there any difference if the injustice happens to me or to someone else? Your daughter or theirs? (don't worry dad, I'm being safe)
So yes, there was our night to the bars. I still feel like emotionally I'm walking on eggshells with the matter. As weird as it is though, every time I'm faced with radical injustices like war, famine, poverty and now the sex trade, every time I feel I fall more in love with Jesus. It's like I feel every morsel in my heart shatters at the sights but I know that as much as it hurts me it tears him up even more. I witness their horror for a couple hours he sees it day in and day out. I love them in that place and he wants to take their place. It's unfathomable to me how good he really is yes, even in the Red Light.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
The rock star kids of today. Location: Ontario, Canada
Happy Easter weekend!
Things are going so fast lately oh my word. As most of you know, I'm back from Ecuador. It was fun but before I could even finish processing it seemed I was off on another jet plane this time to Ontario, Canada to speak at a kids Conference. I had a great time as I got to work with super stars for a week. (aged 4-13)
Honestly it's such a joy seeing kids really get God. So often as adults we can analyze everything to death, putting "friendship with God and hearing his voice" at such a distance, something complex that only 'special' people can achieve, (pastors, preachers, old fashion big haired ppl stuck in the 80's attire...) And we think heaven forbid kids could ever understand such a thing! But when you don't hold out on them, only giving them cake and cookies in the gym, they learn a lot and eventually stop calling church "the snore" and start having a real friendship with God. Here are a couple stories from the week, I'll try and keep it short.
Our first day they learned the reality of the kingdom and how to hear God’s voice. It went great and at the end to practice hearing we sort of played little games with God such as “If you could take me anywhere in the world, real or pretend, where would you take me? Why?” Or “Jesus, if you could give me any present what would it be?” Well after the latter question God told one little girl he wanted to give her family a new laptop. Lol. She didn't really understand why, "maybe just 'cause he loves me?" Well literally about an hour after getting home there was a knock at her door and out of the blue her family was given a brand new, fancy pants, fully loaded laptop! So like God to tell a kid what he's up to. Just because she asked.
The last couple days we take them out to the streets to hear God for other people and love on strangers, heal the sick and whatever else God decides to do. So we make cards with a message or picture from God and then ask him who he wants to give it to and where they are. Well one little boy makes a card and says the man’s at the mall. "He’ll be a native man, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, no hat no mitts (which was actually quite hard to find in the winter) and the man will be near something orange." So we’re walking through the mall and we see a man who matches the description. “Well I’m not sure if it’s him, where’s the orange?”. Well the boy turns around and the walls in the store behind us are all bright orange! We chase down the man and the little boy hands him his card and the man gets totally rocked and is amazed at the card and how God spoke to this little boy just for him.
The stories of numerous as the kids touched heaven and brought it down to earth. They’d see sick people and get all excited “Look, there’s a guy in wheelchair!” not because they delight in his pain but because they delight in the fact that they have access to the answer. They would pray and ask Jesus where the sick people were in the store and God would lead the kids right to them and they’d get to see God’s love manifest as the people were touched in ‘aisle 2’.
It was great. lol. Life doesn't stop long though as Monday I'm off to LA to meet up with some of my team and then head to Thailand on Tuesday. I'm so excited for this trip, Thailands been on my heart for a couple years so I can't wait to see God radically show up and see a bunch of new babies bring the kingdom. Man he's good.
Things are going so fast lately oh my word. As most of you know, I'm back from Ecuador. It was fun but before I could even finish processing it seemed I was off on another jet plane this time to Ontario, Canada to speak at a kids Conference. I had a great time as I got to work with super stars for a week. (aged 4-13)
Honestly it's such a joy seeing kids really get God. So often as adults we can analyze everything to death, putting "friendship with God and hearing his voice" at such a distance, something complex that only 'special' people can achieve, (pastors, preachers, old fashion big haired ppl stuck in the 80's attire...) And we think heaven forbid kids could ever understand such a thing! But when you don't hold out on them, only giving them cake and cookies in the gym, they learn a lot and eventually stop calling church "the snore" and start having a real friendship with God. Here are a couple stories from the week, I'll try and keep it short.
Our first day they learned the reality of the kingdom and how to hear God’s voice. It went great and at the end to practice hearing we sort of played little games with God such as “If you could take me anywhere in the world, real or pretend, where would you take me? Why?” Or “Jesus, if you could give me any present what would it be?” Well after the latter question God told one little girl he wanted to give her family a new laptop. Lol. She didn't really understand why, "maybe just 'cause he loves me?" Well literally about an hour after getting home there was a knock at her door and out of the blue her family was given a brand new, fancy pants, fully loaded laptop! So like God to tell a kid what he's up to. Just because she asked.
The last couple days we take them out to the streets to hear God for other people and love on strangers, heal the sick and whatever else God decides to do. So we make cards with a message or picture from God and then ask him who he wants to give it to and where they are. Well one little boy makes a card and says the man’s at the mall. "He’ll be a native man, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, no hat no mitts (which was actually quite hard to find in the winter) and the man will be near something orange." So we’re walking through the mall and we see a man who matches the description. “Well I’m not sure if it’s him, where’s the orange?”. Well the boy turns around and the walls in the store behind us are all bright orange! We chase down the man and the little boy hands him his card and the man gets totally rocked and is amazed at the card and how God spoke to this little boy just for him.
The stories of numerous as the kids touched heaven and brought it down to earth. They’d see sick people and get all excited “Look, there’s a guy in wheelchair!” not because they delight in his pain but because they delight in the fact that they have access to the answer. They would pray and ask Jesus where the sick people were in the store and God would lead the kids right to them and they’d get to see God’s love manifest as the people were touched in ‘aisle 2’.
It was great. lol. Life doesn't stop long though as Monday I'm off to LA to meet up with some of my team and then head to Thailand on Tuesday. I'm so excited for this trip, Thailands been on my heart for a couple years so I can't wait to see God radically show up and see a bunch of new babies bring the kingdom. Man he's good.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The tragic tales of donuts gone bad Part 2
Ok quick little update that I find well sort of funny.
So we´re all still recovering from our donut horror from yesterday. Today we were standing properly but still feel the after effects and are watching what we eat. The guy, Everett that was really sick yesterday did not go to the hospital but after we left him was still quite weak. Later that night while talking to his house family he suddenly got really dizzy and passed out. While unconcious his body went into convulsions. He´s now more then ok and up and walking around. Pretty scary that a donut can do that to you. However in my defense he did eat a quesadilla with sketchy cheese as well. Maybe that was what did it. Oh the joys of third world dinning.
So we´re all still recovering from our donut horror from yesterday. Today we were standing properly but still feel the after effects and are watching what we eat. The guy, Everett that was really sick yesterday did not go to the hospital but after we left him was still quite weak. Later that night while talking to his house family he suddenly got really dizzy and passed out. While unconcious his body went into convulsions. He´s now more then ok and up and walking around. Pretty scary that a donut can do that to you. However in my defense he did eat a quesadilla with sketchy cheese as well. Maybe that was what did it. Oh the joys of third world dinning.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
The tragic tales of donuts gone bad
So today after a delightful breakfast I was craving something sweet. I thought it was perfect with a little pastry shop across the way to check out their donuts and other pastries. And hey, while I´m there I might as well buy some for the whole gang ( at $.35 a pop i thought it sounded good) So I got home and everyone rejoiced, however after a bite or two the praises ended and everyone started binning the so-called donuts. True they were quite sketchy and tasted like they were made when my mohter was my age but no bother I´ll finish not only one but three and try my best to enjoy my pastry. Not a wise move. Three of us pressed in to the end and three of us couldn´t stand by the end of the night. One guys is so sick we might have to take him to the hospital. So much for a pleasant trip to the donut shop. Note for future travelers. If the food tastes strange and not the way it normally does. Just say no!
On a happier note, we went to a village one wednesday! We were up at 3am for a five hour car ride out of town and up a mountain to visit some kids of a little school. I loved it. It reminded me of the Congo winding up a mountain on crazy roads, passing the clouds and clinging on to the person beside you for dear life everytime another car comes from the other direction on the one way...road. When we got to the village my spanish got a workout as I tried my best to make friends with all the little kids. THey were so cute and didn´t seem to mind the mix of french and portuguese and at the end were hanging all over me stroking my skin and petting my hair saying ¨You are REALLY white!!¨Before we left we gave out hygene supplies and hoped the little raggamuffins use them before we began our 5hour trip back home.
Next week we leave again to the coast this time to preach at villages and train up some teachers of a school. I´m excited to get out again to the bush! It may not be Africa but it will do for now!
And just some extra fun little pics.
Horse back riding in the country ;)
img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAh0QACDYRNV4ubkpq1Tc1e03xGf2BTIXfxOf086DMwmy8XfKjnEEyZgTfgiK01rfKO9ZARRIG7qDF8fvzxvpNEmxr9g_vAaXdbR5-ymlWLA3nuiaqzet4DSnN7poVYaqMtUgrLpUF270/s320/DSC00424.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164826543642308370" />
Me posing with one of the guards from the men´s prison
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
