Unlikely anything of Consequence

2011-02-11T23:18:00.003-05:00

I suppose I really SHOULD do this again before another month and a half goes by with little chance to update. Camp season is upon us! It feels incredibly surreal to think that in something like six hours, the first team of Canadians will be arriving for 8 days of camp and experiencing a bit of Guayaquil.

This particular year more than any other, for some reason, I've had several flashbacks of my first trips here back in what feels like a lifetime ago. I've even caught myself feeling a little jealous of all of these youth that are just about to have their first experience, where everything is new and a little overwhelming. Where they're just along for the ride, free to just take it all in. To wrestle with things that feel 'normal' to me now.

But, that said, today I got to go spend time with a family I've grown quite close to, and make banana muffins, while having an actual conversation that didn't require constant dictionary checks (and THAT part I DON'T miss:P). I got to go check in with all the families from my Ecuadorian "Home(despite not living there anymore)" of Block 10 that will be hosting these Canadian youth for a night, and firm up the last details about what Canadians shouldn't eat here. I get to be on the end that goes to tell sponsored kids from our school that their sponsors (or sponsors' kids or siblings) are coming, and to share that joy with them over getting to meet or have a short visit with people that they have equated in their mind as valuing them from all the way in Canada (or elsewhere). I really am blessed to get to live this life; to be a part of this thing that God is doing here.

So thanks again for your prayers, and they would once again be greatly appreciated for this 2011 camp season:) Tuesday, February 15 marks the beginning of camp, and throughout the 5 weeks of camp i'll be doing some counselling (one week of junior high camp and one week of kids camp), some full-time Canadian-helping for one week, directing one week of kids camp (with an as-yet-to-be-determined co-director), and along for the ride for a long-weekend retreat for our youth leaders and other older youth our church community is invested in in some way or another.

It's sure to be an exhausting, draining time, but it always feels SO worth it by the end:)

Pray for God's work in the campers and in the staff over these weeks of camp:)

peace

***I'll try to devote a blog entry to pictures one of these days:)

Moving, among other changes...

2010-11-22T09:36:00.005-05:00

After quite a lengthy blogging hiatus, I reckon it's time to start up again.

I've now been back in Ecuador for nearly a month, after spending a phenomenal month home in Nova Scotia (and a weekend in Ontario)

One of the things I was praying about and considering during my time home was the possibility that it was time to move out of Block 10. There were a lot of reasons for it, and I was feeling that the direction my ministry/life seems to be going this year supported a small move. I wasn't necessarily prepared to up and leave a house that I was already settled into just because the living conditions weren't great, so I certainly wasn't planning on making any snap decisions.

I was hugely blessed by the opportunity to pray with my church family while home, and I am constantly blessed by all of your prayers and support throughout the year.

It turns out that God quickly answered that prayer for direction, as the night I arrived back in Ecuador I was informed that my landlady wants her house back by December 15th.

This also coincided with my second experience being robbed, while waiting for a bus at my usual bus stop. I did NOT want to leave Block 10 out of fear, and I don't know what decision I would have made if I were ABLE to stay in this house, but I'm feeling peace about the timing and the decision.

So, I began to look, and found a house to rent fairly quickly in Caracol, the gated community where the rest of our team in Guayaquil lives. It means i'm closer to the school, and it will be geographically easier to invest in the lives of kids that I already have relationships with, as well as taking on some more responsibility with the sponsorship program at the school. My roommate, Daniel, is also making the move with me.

It'll take a little bit of work to get it ready to move into, and it definitely means an increase in my cost of living, but again, i'm confident about the decision, and I trust God to continue to meet my needs; He has never let me down. So for all you praying folk, I'd definitely appreciate your prayers for what remains of my time living in Block 10; that i'd take advantage of it and spend time with the friends and neighbours and random kids I've become close to and that it will sharpen my resolve to be more intentional about COMING to block 10 to spend time when i'm no longer living here. Also, for the move itself, and the last things that need to come together in the new place, and for a good relationship with my landlord this time around.

Anyway, I'm going to run now, to get to school in time for class. more to come soon

peace

Christmas already...

2009-12-20T00:01:00.002-05:00

I must say, there have been things going on here these past months that I've thought worthy of sharing, but it just never happened.

In the 3 1/2 months since i've been back in Ecuador after a wonderful visit home, teaching in the school became fun for the first time ever, and I got to experience kids excited about learning English for the first time since I started teaching here. We're now almost done another school year, with our Christmas party happening in the school on Tuesday, and our teacher's dinner on Wednesday.

We celebrated the end of our year of youth group tonight, with a fun, but chaotic time playing games, eating, and watching a movie projected onto the wall of my living room, courtesy of a projector borrowed from a friend's work. We decorated shortbread cookies, thus allowing me to bring a little bit of my Christmas traditions here to Ecuador, although it's interesting to see the designs people come up with for Christmas cookies when you don't grow up with snowflakes, snowmen, angels and stars everywhere at Christmastime. I wish i'd taken pictures of the snails, butterflies, frogs, and snakes that people drew on their Christmas cookies, alongside my very North American looking ones:P

Anyway, I'm still alive, and an update IS on the way. God's been doing some neat things here these past few months, and I'm encouraged and excited by it. Please, those of you who still stumble onto my blog every once in a while in (usually vain) hopes of finding something new here, pray for me; For a real sense of purpose here, that I would BE light here in the way i live my life and interact with neighbours and kids and church, etc. and that I would continue to constantly seek to know Jesus more, and that He would lead and guide His church here and give us wisdom and empower us to follow.

Merry Christmas, everyone. peace

I promised myself i wouldn't sleep before blogging tonight

2009-05-03T23:47:00.002-04:00

It is now 10 minutes to 11. I have to teach tomorrow, but not too early, and i'm taking advantage of what I believe is the last of my 7 days of internet, until I buy more time.

I've missed all the opportunities to write about camp, and all the other activities as they were happening, and so It appears that I took the entire Ecuadorian "summer vacation" off communicating. However, I don't want this blog to be taken up with constant apologies for not updating more often every time I do actually write something, so I won't apologize. I'll just try for something fairly general here and resolve to do better in the future.

This camp season, my first ever here in Ecuador, was a huge, stretching, challenging, and crazy time. It started with a training weekend retreat for all the people who would be working over the space of the camp season. That was a weekend of sleep deprivation(I still have no idea how Ecuadorians can consistently function on so little sleep) and fellowship as we focused on Jesus' love for us being the motivation for our service. The retreat helped prepare for the busyness of camp in some ways, but in many others, simply kept me from being at all well-rested in time for our first week of camp; Junior High.

It was my first time at junior high camp in Ecuador.
It was my first time counseling at camp, period.
And certainly it was my first time counseling in Spanish. And added to those hurdles, was the lack of sleep. So now, with all of my excuses covered in that disclaimer, it was a challenging week, for me, and for others, but God was so Good. I let people down in more ways than I thought I would, and God certainly taught me a lot about what it means to work as a team, spending way more time getting under one another's skin than normal life allows. I learned about expectations, and trusting that God knows what He's doing, even when I get disappointed because something isn't what i'd hoped. I had a cabin of very different boys than I'm used to. In the end, it was a really good, stretching experience, and two of the tougher guys from my cabin trusted Jesus that week.

And, I'm just now realizing that it WAS in fact a bit too ambitious to try to write about 3 months in one entry. SO, I shall continue this later. thanks again to everyone who's been praying for me, for our camp season, and for this work here in general. peace

Oof.

2008-12-29T14:54:00.006-05:00

I´m sorry folks. I had planned to write a nice little update here and FINALLY introduce you to my house via pictures, but this computer is super slow and I´m not sure I´ve got the patience to write much. here goes though.
This is the view from the street. It used to have a very strongly worded sign out front, not-so-politely requesting people not to throw garbage in front.

This is my bedroom, and the last stop on our tour for the day. Blogger doesn´t want to work too well.

Anyway, I´m alive and well. Christmas Eve was full of loud parties, loud kids lighting firecrackers, and just noise in general. The Gringos stuck together and had a great meal and time hanging out with the Lucas Family in Block 10, and we even tried to have Youth Group on Christmas Eve. Now all that remains is the even louder night (So I´m told) Of the 31st.

Looking forward to a new year, with new challenges and new ways to see God working here in Ecuador. thanks, and keep praying:)

peace! I WILL write more soon.

I suppose I'm due for another one...

2008-09-09T20:57:00.002-04:00

hey all, I just noticed that it had been more than a month since I'd updated this. so here's somewhat of a play-by-play of my month, with a few tangents added in.

Well, shortly after my last entry, Angela, a good friend from Ontario graced us with her presence for a few weeks. We traveled to Cuenca to visit Daniel Lucas, which was great. She also stayed in Block 10 with the Vera's for a good chunk of her stay, and it was a really good visit for me and for all the youth in Block 10.

In that time I also had the opportunity to see my second concert ever in Ecuador. Now I have to say that I really don't like concerts much. I don't get terribly excited by being in a crowd, and even worse when it's a crowd of Ecuadorians. I'd just as soon sit in my room with headphones on. But, when am I ever going to get another chance to see Alex Campos in concert? So, we canceled youth group that Saturday, or rather, we invited the youth group kids to the concert (it was a free concert) and piled into the bus to take us on the long voyage to the south of the city. It being a free concert with space for only 18,000 people, we rushed to get there, get into line, and make our way in. Well, it was ridiculous. I don't like crowds at the best of times, and this was standing in a crowd for well over 5 hours, with latecomers constantly shoving their way through hoping to find a better vantage point. The concert started late, and first there was the typical banter and making the crowd cheer about how they want to be "crazy" for Jesus for half an hour. Then the opening act came out and did your typical cookie-cutter Christian songs with mini sermons in the middle of every song. I must confess that my attitude began to slide shortly after arriving, and after the 8th song by this opening act I was just about ready to lose it. Finally, after over an hour of that, a Pastor came out and announced that the offering garbage bags were going around, so everyone should put in lots of money (those poor guys fighting through a crowd of 22,000 to give people the opportunity to give). And then Alex Campos came out and the rest of the concert was brilliant. Anyway, that's my incredibly cynical review of that night. It was still definitely worthwhile and a really good time spent with a lot of youth and youth leaders from Block 6 as well.

Ok, and more seriously... I mentioned in my last entry that I was hitting nothing but dead ends in the house hunt. well, around mid-August the sister of the owner of the house I was looking at before came by to tell me that there was good news; her sister had decided to rent me the house. She came by and we looked it over and discussed it and it seemed good to me. The only issue was having to put money into the fix-ups required to make it livable. And here's where I learned another thing about Ecuador; nothing is easy. simple paperwork is a nightmare, and there are processes for everything. Well, this family who owns the house had bought it off of another sister of hers, with the intention of finishing the fix-ups and selling it. They ran out of money, though, so it was just sitting there. They had bought ceramic for the floors and bathroom and they said that all it needed was the installation of the floors and the bathroom, and they would give me a discount on my monthly rent until we were squared up. I was given a rough estimate of $400 to get it ready to move in. Well, not long into my commitment to fix it up and rent it, dozens of other small fixes became evident. Almost every day I would come home and be greeted with, "Well, Luke, they did a bad job on the floor so we can't lay the ceramic. We need to buy a bunch more cement to fix the floor", or "Well, Luke, when they were throwing down cement for the bathroom floor, they weren't careful, and they filled all the drains and pipes with cement, so now we need to hire someone else to come in and tear up the floor and put in new pipes."
And then they ran out of ceramic. So, i'm committed now, and I still believe that this is the house God planned for me, but man alive i'm up to nearly $800 spent already, with an estimated $400 to go. Had I known it would be this ridiculous a month ago, I wouldn't have considered it, but I'm trusting that it's where God has me, and the location and layout of the house is just brilliant, so I'm excited for it to be finished. Lord willing, soon.

And on the plus side, I'll be paying only $40 a month for rent for 2 years before they're done reimbursing me for the fix-ups.

School continues to be a headache, but I think I'm learning through it all. It's a blessing for me to be able to be in the school building relationships with these kids, and even though it means I have to suffer through the classroom time and discipline problems, it's well worth it.

Well... I think that's it. Please don't think things are going negatively. I hope I haven't painted a bad picture of life here. I wouldn't trade it for anything, and I'm content and learning lots.

If you think of me and are praying, please pray for wisdom and guidance for really settling into the church here in Bastion. I'm loving work with the youth and with kids club and i'm encouraged, but I'm sensing something more coming... not too sure, but just please pray that I'll trust God to prepare me for whatever He has. if you could pray that God would provide a fridge and stove for my house once it's done, that'd be swell, too, and just for His eyes to see people the way He does and to love unconditionally and for more relationships and opportunities to love people.

thanks again for your prayers. I don't know when I'll write again; I'm on borrowed internet right now and trying to take advantage of it. anyway, peace!

And here comes the novel

2008-08-06T17:29:00.002-04:00

Ok, I realize that this is way overdue, but it’s been pretty crazy here, and the internet is so unbelievably slow EVERYWHERE in Bastion. Anyway, I guess I’ll try to bring you all up to date on my first three weeks in Ecuador

So I got here after a ridiculous long day of flying (although otherwise uneventful), showed up in Guayaquil to find out that Janna was indeed leaving a few hours after I got here, and had a nice little surprise welcome to Ecuador party at the Vera’s. I didn’t get anything near enough sleep, and then woke up early the next morning to go check out the school and say hi to folks. I distinctly remember that it was nice.

It was good timing in the sense that I made it just as they were writing their first trimester exams, so I had that week off since they’d written English already. I spent that week mostly just goofing off, following the Vera family (where I’m currently staying) around, and adjusting.
Then that first weekend that I was there, Tim Horne arrived (his first time back in Ecuador in a year and a half) and he brought a team of Canadians to do some work in Bastion and to take some kids from the school to camp for a few days. We had six young Canadian folk in Block 10, and we were originally expecting two guys to live here, so the plan was for me to share my room with them. However, we ended up having two girls, and I was relieved of my room for four nights. It was a lot of fun though, and we got some painting done at the church in Block 10, as well as a bit of cement-splatting on the wall to smooth it all out.

My highlight was probably out last day of “work” since we had to hose down the inside of the church to wash the floor. (It’s fairly common to hose the floor down and sweep out the water with the debris instead of just dry-sweeping) SO we had a nice little water fight in the church, which ended with a big bag of laundry detergent being dumped in the floor to make an indoor slip and slide. I reckon it was pretty memorable for all involved, though the few Ecuadorians brave enough to venture it said the cold water made them sick after.

Then it was off to camp with the grade five and six students from the school, as well as about half of last year’s grade six class. It was a good few days, despite the cold (a few evenings even Canadians donned sweaters) and it was overall a great trip with a great group of folks from Ontario, building relationships with Ecuadorians, living and working and serving alongside one another.

Then they left and I simply crashed; I had quite a lot of sleep to catch up on. The following week brought on a major cold, a few upset stomach days, and a few other random health annoyances, on top of being my first week of English classes which I was ill-prepared for. It was great having Tim around for that extra week as well, since it gave me a few chances to chat with him about my plans and get his advice and perspective on some things as well.

Now I’m just trying to adjust and figure out the English teaching thing, since it turns out that teaching 18 hyperactive kids who don’t REALLY care about learning English is a fair bit different from the faithful little groups of roughly eight adults who would come to learn from the trainee students while I was taking my English Teaching course in Canada.

We’re preparing to start up our Kids Club at the Block 10 church this coming Saturday, which I’ll be involved with somehow. I’m also beginning to get involved with the youth group meetings on Saturday nights. I’m really very encouraged by the youth here in Block 10, who have taken on a lot of responsibilities and are dedicated to the Lord and want to serve Him.

Finally, my hunt for a place to live has thus far not yielded anything. I still feel strongly about living in Block 10, but apartments on safe streets and nearby enough are not terribly numerous. There is one unfinished house in a great location that was supposed to be for rent, but apparently she´s decided to sell instead of renting...

SO, for those who are praying; I’d dearly LOVE to get into my own place as soon as possible. I’m content here where I am, but it’s not my own. I don’t have the freedom to simply invite youth over to hang out, and I’d like to get to begin to actually settle in. Just pray that God will provide a place, or indicate where He would have me go. Thy will be done, and help me to see it. Also, as I begin to settle, for wisdom and a vision for my time here. I’m content to be working at the school and involved in ministries here and there, but I’d love to know my purpose.

Anyway, thanks again, and sorry it took so long to write, AND that you had to practically read a novel to get caught up. Blessings!
Peace

Wow

2008-07-14T23:19:00.001-04:00

So I'm off in a few short hours. This is crazy. More to come when I arrive in Ecuador:)

Please keep praying! peace

Just a few more days...

2008-07-09T23:05:00.002-04:00

And now, more news. I leave in 5 days. Tuesday, July 15th at 6:25am.
Am I excited? You bet. Am I nervous? Absolutely!

It seems like a pretty busy day of airport-visiting, really. I think I stop in 3 different airports along the way. I'm looking forward to arriving and beginning this new step of the journey.

You probably won't hear from me again on here until after I arrive, unless I post a frenzied excitement-saturated entry the night before.

I still have good-byes to say, people to see, Health Insurance to figure out, and packing to do before Tuesday morning, so please keep me in your prayers:) I reckon i'll forget something important anyway:P Thanks again, everyone:)

peace

Almost there...

2008-07-04T23:51:00.003-04:00

Well, I won't write a lot, because it would be rambling, more likely than not. I just this evening got home from an action-packed trip to Ontario. I spent from Thursday the 26th until Canada day rather lazily passing the days visiting with some very dear friends from Bible College days. Then from Tuesday until this evening it was non-stop running all over Ontario.

From Barrie to Peterborough to Belleville to Toronto to Welland to Hamilton to Barrie to the Airport in just over 3 days. It was a great chance to see people I hadn't seen in over a year and a half, as well as to talk to a few people and at one church about the work in Ecuador that i'm joining with.

After my little VISA scare, I was pleasantly shocked to learn that it was actually supposedly in Toronto on Monday, June 30th, after all. After a relatively short wait in the Ecuadorian Consulate in Toronto, I walked out with my missionary VISA, good for one year.

So... it's really almost here now. Things are getting more exciting and more real as they get closer. Anyway, thanks for your prayers, as always. I'm realizing more my need for them these days! I'll keep y'all posted about my (really soon, Lord willing) departure date.

peace!

Here I am, just outside of the Ecuadorian Consulate, with my VISA. Praise God! :)

Suddenly there's a whole lot going on...

2008-06-26T13:45:00.002-04:00

Well, since I last updated this, time has passed from a vague, unknown, hopefully-soon departure date for Ecuador to a still unknown, hopefully-soon departure date for Ecuador. The inconsistent, seemingly arbitrary Missionary VISA process which I was warned about has proved a worthy foe, but I trust the God who's working all things (frustrations and setbacks included) for my good.

My current and most recent dilemma requiring copious amounts of prayer is this: Last thursday I finally heard the good news that the office in Quito had finished with my paperwork and was ready to send things to the Ecuadorian consulate in Toronto so that I could then go pick up my VISA from there. In my haste, and with vague assumptions that paperwork would speedily arrive in Toronto, I booked my flight to Ontario; to visit with friends, and to have some opportunities to talk about my calling to Ecuador and the work that God is doing there; to create partnerships and challenge others to be involved in God's work among the poor in Ecuador.

Well, after calling the consulate a few times with no results, I tracked down the office in Quito again only to find out that for some reason, even though all the paperwork is done, it was not sent out, and the person in charge in the office is gone until tomorrow, meaning Monday would presumably be the soonest it COULD be sent out. And my flight home is on Friday.

So, would you please pray first and foremost that God's will be done (because I don't want to assume that the VISA coming in is what He sees as best right now and limit my prayers by what I can imagine or want to happen). Pray also for this time in Ontario; that it would be an encouraging time catching up with friends, and that God would grant opportunities to share about the work in Ecuador that He has laid on my heart. I still have a little ways to go before I'm ready financially and with tying up loose ends to go, and I need to NEED Him more... to cling to Him as my only Hope and to trust Him more. This is a crazy road, and each step makes it seem more real and exciting, but it's moderately terrifying at the same time. As Jim Elliot once said, though, "what need would we have of a guide, if the path was an easy one?"

Thanks for your prayers,

peace:)

anyone else getting bored?

2008-05-29T14:01:00.002-04:00

Well... I found out a few weeks back that there were some VISA issues in Ecuador, requiring my original Birth Certificate to be sent, and pushing my (hopeful) departure back a month, at least. So, now I'm back to waiting mode, still no job, and not a whole lot going on.

I spend most of my days typing away on nothing much at all at different coffee shops around the city, loving the bus system and the nicer weather. And other than that... Kids Club is over for the year now, except for a weekend away at camp this weekend.

Sorry for the boring post, but I figured I should do at least some semblance of an update. I'll try to plan something half-decent for my next one, since it'll be the 100th one in the history of my blog. For now, thanks for reading, and especially those who comment, even when there's not much to comment on. peace

still waiting...

2008-05-08T12:22:00.002-04:00

I don't know how much point there is in writing anything here. Things move forward, but not that fast. I've taken to riding the bus a lot more lately, which is a quaint novelty. I'm in town at my favorite coffee shop, trying to enjoy as much caffeine in these next few weeks as I can without dying before going to a Country with little but instant coffee and one Dunkin Donuts that i'm aware of.

Waiting for the VISA to come in. Still not sure where I'll live when I get there. Still not entirely sure of the date (though just under 3 weeks is still the hope) But all these things are in bigger hands than mine.

anyway, I haven't much else to report. please keep praying

peace

update

2008-04-07T21:01:00.002-04:00

Ok, so the car is now gone. Wicked providential timing, since it also allowed me to include the fee for my missionary VISA which is now (tomorrow) en route to Washington, where it will hopefully not be lacking in required documents, and can then be brought to Ecuador to commence the actual process.

Now begins the waiting and "friend-raising" portion of my (Lord willing) last month and a half-ish of time before Ecuador. So, if I talk to you in person, please keep me accountable for how I use my time these days. pray, if you feel led, that this time would be encouraging and beneficial, and especially that I would be daily more prepared for this big adventure. I'm stoked, but it still feels a ways off yet.

peace

it's about time...

2008-04-01T15:16:00.005-04:00

This will be short. I probably don't have the patience to put pictures from the Ecuador trip on here, since they are all on Facebook anyway. If you are someone who checks this blog but is not on facebook/ would like more information on the trip to camp in Ecuador, give me a call or send me an email. That said, it was a phenomenal trip, which i'm still processing.

Now, i'm home once again, putting everything together to obtain a missionary VISA to head back to teach and work in Bastion. Lord willing, this will fall into place for mid-May. Until then, I'm hoping to get some work, trying to figure out all the details that come with leaving the Country, and be as involved here as I can. Prayers would be greatly appreciated for the whole process, since it's all new to me, and there are lots of things I have to get organized.

In other news, after nearly 2 years of faithful transportation, Little Blue is no more. The safety inspection was up yesterday, and the trip for the MVI resulted in uproarious laughter on my part at the cost of $1590 to keep Little Blue on the road. She got her rejected sticker, and i'm left with 10 days to say goodbye, clean her out, and get rid of her somehow.

Peace out

2008-03-01T11:00:00.002-05:00

And we're off! leaving tomorrow for Ecuador for 2 weeks, then coming home for long enough to complete the Visa process, then back to Ecuador to teach English. please pray, and I promise there will be more to come later on keeping up-to-date on my life in Ecuador when it finally happens.

Right now, however, I'm an hour away from being done serving coffee, then it's only packing and last minute running around followed by one full day of traveling standing between me and Ecuador for a glorious two weeks in Bastion/kids camp at the beach.

and something lighter...?

2008-01-22T18:29:00.000-05:00

And here's a picture of one of my ADD moments during homework. The 'doorframe' in between the kitchen and the dining room is conducive to playing Spiderman. peace

things...

2008-01-22T17:39:00.000-05:00

School is hard... I find I have no time anymore. I've endured 7 (of 20) of the most painful days of school in my life and have become aware of how much of a rollercoaster are my emotions. I am swift to change my mind while self-satisfaction(pride?) comes crashing down in despair after just one class.
one mightn't think learning to teach English would be such an emotional affair, and maybe it's just the lack of sleep and constantly having ones' ignorance shoved in ones' face, but it feels like ages have passed.
But it's all for a purpose.

I've crammed in little other things, on top of the 40 hours IN class a week. Indoor Rock Climbing has become poetry to me, like a dance from each footing to grip. I'm learning more than English, and I'm content, overall.

Anyway, that's my attempt at an update before I immerse myself in Modals and Lesson Prep for the next few hours. Pray for me, if you think of it. that God would enable me to love my classmates and students as He loves them. That more than grammar and vocabulary would be communicated; and that I would learn more than teaching English. Ecuador plans have shifted again, and now it looks like i'll be home again after camp. The Visa process will commence then, and hopefully a swift return will be possible.

peace

stepping it up a notch....

2008-01-08T09:49:00.000-05:00

Breaking News: CELTA course is on, bringing with it truckloads of stress and severely limiting time that will also need to be dedicated to procuring a Visa for South American travel plans. I fear that I may indeed be too late to procure said Visa in time, which is a matter of great concern to me, and one necessitating much prayer.

Nothing like a swift kick in the face to wake one up from slumber and complacency. Hopefully just the right amount of stress to get me off my tush and get things moving, and hopefully a longer-lasting reminder this time that I am powerless and my need is great for a Saviour and a Guide.

And with that, you are now all up to date on my life. School starts Monday. It's going to be a bumpy ride for the next 2 months, for sure.

peace

2007-12-29T22:43:00.000-05:00

This weather is succeeding in making me despise this otherwise beautiful country. I can't make it up my driveway for all the ice; half the time Little Blue just struggles painfully to start because of the cold; One can't park on the street because of the plows needing to get by, and walking is a horror because of the slush either underfoot or splashed on you by passing cars. I'll never make it two more months.

well, perhaps that's a TAD dramatic, but still.

Anyway, other than that life is good, but I'm terrible at getting things rolling for plans... and I'm stuck waiting and praying that enough people will sign up for the TESOL course I want to take so that they'll actually run it.

anyway, this isn't much of a post, but I needed to rant about the weather.

peace

Ok, fine.

2007-12-12T17:29:00.001-05:00

Here is my latest blog post, in an increasingly irrelevant blog. Sure, I suppose once a month is better than never for some, but most of the comments demanding more of a commitment to writing here are from folks I talk to at least once a week, who get to hear all the news straight from me anyway.

Not that i'll give this up. at least not before I reach 100 posts... and once, Lord willing, i'm in Ecuador, this might become a more necessitated tool to keep people up to date.

But anyway... I am officially done bricklaying(applause) and the Lord provided a sweet little job at a coffee shop in Halifax where I am now working. So if any of you are ever in Bishop's Landing on the Halifax waterfront, stop on in to Caffe Ristretto to see if i'm working:)

Things are slowing down, schedule-wise, for the Christmas break, and i'm planning to put the finishing touches on my TESOL application this week and start getting ready for that.

anyway... that's about it.... or at least that's all that comes to mind at the moment. time for grilled cheese and potato and leek soup. peace

another month gone... when will i give up?

2007-11-11T20:34:00.001-05:00

ok, more of the same... still bricking(even though we're apparently getting into SNOW season early this year); still keeping ridiculously busy with kids club, youth group, Bible study, and now.............

ECUADOR MEETINGS!!!

that's right, I am finally, after years and years of missing camp in Ecuador, going this March! now this is doubly exciting, because........

I'M NOT PLANNING ON COMING BACK!!!

now, there are obviously still plenty of details to work out, but for now I will simply choose to bask in the warming glow of joy emanating from within my chest at the impending return to my favorite place in the world to be.

so... pray for me, if you will, because as I said, there are tons of details to work out, but God has led me so far, and I am trusting Him for this. So for now, I will content myself to think glorious thoughts of the not so distant future, in the meanwhile keeping busy with all the usual things PLUS fundraising for the camp trip and praying that I can do a semi-adequate job of teaching(co-teaching with Julia?) Spanish to the team.

anyway, that about does it for me at the moment. more to come! peace

Work, Work, Work

2007-10-04T19:52:00.001-04:00

Ok, so I moved. I now no longer live in Dartmouth (thank goodness) but now nearer to Halifax. I think it will be a good thing for me, and i'm pretty stoked about it.

I'm back to bricklaying, though I probably mentioned that in my last entry.

I'm working 50 hours a week, roughly, and other than that, I don't have much of a life.

so come visit me. I miss hanging out. I realize that makes me sound desperate and lonely, but oh well.

life is good, though. Still just following the tracks, waiting for a breakthrough of some kind; but waiting isn't always bad, i guess.

anyway, this is just to show that I haven't completely given up on the blog, though it seems as though blogs are beginning to become unpopular and boring.

anyway, peace

The overwhelming consequences of neglect

2007-09-06T19:43:00.000-04:00

Namely, that, having left my blog to lay suffering in the proverbial ditch for a lengthy month and a half, I now have an eventful month and a half to account for.

But I think that I shall not.

Camp was good, though. I might try to recall some stories at a later date, but for now, I only have about 20 minutes and then it's back to my (hopefully) temporary apartment that has no internet access.

I came home from camp, bummed off my sister for almost 3 weeks, and now I'm living in a tiny bachelor apartment in Dartmouth, though I'm technically only approved to live there until the end of the month. Anyone out there that hears of someone looking for a roommate, or notices an advertisement or anything for some kind of low-commitment housing situation (i.e. month to month lease), let me know, i'd greatly appreciate it.

I start bricklaying again tomorrow, and I'm still planning to take a rather expensive TESOL course in January to prepare for english teaching overseas, hopefully.
Ecuador has been pushed from November to March, Lord willing, and I'm generally feeling moderately content with my current lot. things are still very up in the air and there is no real feeling of permanence, but I have entered the adult world, even if only the tips of my toes, and I look forward to what the Lord has to teach me in this next stage of life, however long it lasts.

so, yeah... thanks for reading, if you are... i hope to write more soon, perhaps when i have more time in a coffeeshop to kill.

current favorite things: large bridges at night and Caedmon's Call's new cd: Overdressed.

oh yeah. Now the only sure fire way to get in touch with me is my cell phone, so call or text message me

peace

I'm still alive!

2007-07-28T19:46:00.000-04:00

It's been a while, and to be honest, I don't even know how many people still read blogs, since roughly half the people in my links no longer seem to write anything anymore. Perhaps the fad is over...

Camp has been good. it has been stretching, encouraging, challenging, and excellent. I've alternated between being "Tuck Guy" and "Candyman" and enjoyed getting to know campers, even though i'm not in a cabin of my own. Worship has been good as well, and i'm getting a bit more comfortable with my guitar playing, even though i'm still far from a virtuoso. Family camp is coming up and with that, a slight change in living arrangements for the week. The staff will all be in tents this week, since there is such a large number of folks there for camp.

In other news, I'm now officially homeless, since my mom moved into her new place this weekend.

I could tell dozens of stories about camp, and all the laughs and trials, but i'm sitting in a coffee shop with two good friends visiting from Ontario, taking advantage of the free wireless internet for the first time in my life, and I feel that I have ignored these friends for long enough.

I doubt i'll blog again before camp is over, but prayers are still super appreciated; that I don't forget why I'm there; for patience; for trust and that I would cling to Jesus; and that God would do some amazing things through me at camp.

finally, to those who have sent me emails or real letters, THANK YOU!!!! it honestly makes my day when I hear from people outside of camp, and I truly enjoy having to do an interpretive dance to "twinkle twinkle little star" or sing an opera song or do a wheelbarrow race to be able to get it. so PLEASE don't forget about me:) keep the emails coming, and I apologize that I don't really have time to write back while there... anyway, thanks for reading, and hopefully I'll remember enough of the experiences later to write about them then.

peace

Here goes!

2007-06-23T23:44:00.000-04:00

And in a scant few hours I will be departing the confines of the city and heading out to pursue my summer of liberty and glorious ministerial bliss at Malagash Bible Camp. The only thing that could perhaps make the summer sweeter would be mail from a few admirers, or at least friends. To facilitate the sending of packages or, from the less devoted fan club members, letters (just kidding, there isn't really a fan club) here is the address at the camp

You can email me by sending an email to bhill@malagashbiblecamp.com and putting my name in the subject box

OR the address is:

Luke Bruce

Malagash Bible Camp

8 Bible Camp Rd. RR#1

Malagash, NS

B0K 1E0

Prayers would also certainly be appreciated and desired.

And now...

2007-06-12T07:25:00.000-04:00

I'm going to be at Malagash Bible Camp for the summer... sweet sweet goodness:)

Oof.

2007-06-03T20:25:00.000-04:00

It has once again been a while, but this time enough interesting things have happened to merit an update on my busy life.

I don't remember where i left off... so I'm done at Planet Organic, that's really old news. I've been working for Cornerstone Interlocking Brick for almost a month now which has been a tremendous blessing. I got in my very first car accident, rear-ending a jeep during rush-hour traffic on the bridge coming home from work. no damage to the other guy, although my hood was a tad crumpled. I spent the week driving poor, hideous little Blue to and from work and ordered a hood from a salvage yard.

Then i went to camp for the weekend, to finish off the year of kids club. I left my car at Amy Sheldon's house and drove up to camp with her, Tim, and Peter. Camp was grand. and then, when we pulled into Amy's driveway when we returned home, i saw that my car's hood was far less grotesque than how i had left it. So, in short, I potentially wasted the 150$ for the hood that i no longer need. It was a much unexpected blessing, though, and i am thankful.

in other news, pray for me... I'm applying for a job that could be a really good opportunity, but i don't want to say too much in case it doesn't work out at all... either way my summer will require compromise and some plans will have to be thrown unceremoniously from my to do list, but it promises to be an exciting summer.

anyway, it's back to work for me tomorrow, after a full weekend of candy-filled children working tirelessly to sap me of any strength needed for the week to come. peace

It's been a while...

2007-05-04T09:16:00.000-04:00

I don't know how long this will be. There have been dozens of times i've thought that i've had worthwhile things to write here, but i've neglected it and let you all down. But I suppose i'm over it.

Starting with the most pressing issues of my life and current situation; I apparently no longer work at Planet Organic. The lack of communication and the general disorderliness of the place have conspired to prevent me from further employment within its healthy walls. That said, I have had a few painstakingly dull days of applying for jobs online. THAT said, I have heard back from a construction job, which I believe I will be hired for. Hooray!... ?

On another note, I still am planning on going to Ecuador, Lord willing. My own personal requirement for this is to take a TESL course, since it is my ambition to teach english while there. And here's where the wrench meets the gears; the course I finally decided on ( not that the decision process was TERRIBLY deliberate) is only offered in July for 3 hours every morning. Hence, the course is not quite possible with a schedule of 12 hour construction days. Therefore, my new challenge is: do I find a different job or a different TESL course? anyway, that's another pressing matter.

and with that, I leave you all, with a clear conscience having blogged. I will post some meaningless drivel soon, I promise. but for now, peace.

Oh yeah...

2007-04-09T20:54:00.000-04:00

Pray for me, if you think of me, I am finding myself in need of new employment, as I gave my two weeks notice at Planet Organic today. Was this possibly irresponsible on my part; quitting without even a prospect on the horizon? I think not. It was unfortunate, but unavoidable. So now, I start back at the beginning on this big, scary job hunt. Still waiting on income tax stuff, and trying to figure out this TESOL course business, but Ecuador still looms, ominous and terrifying yet beautiful and alluring. God is good.

peace

2007-04-03T12:18:00.000-04:00

Encouragement notes from a year when you thought no one cared... humbling, beautiful

Perceptions of a year... misunderstood?

A little less random...

2007-04-01T13:45:00.000-04:00

And just a quick note while the elation lasts. (or rather, a quick note of certain things that bring elation)

Today was a great day... er, morning, so far. I received from the hands of Sheilagh McNab at church one package from my family in Ecuador. The contents of said package were as follows: a box of Cocos cookies; a package of Cocos cookies in oreo-esque form; a brilliant cheap plastic soccer ball from a child's birthday party; a full, glorious sheet of Emelec stickers; precious words in a letter and a card.

That was beautiful.

ALSO, at church this morning I chatted briefly with Glenn, who I admire greatly, AND I get to help out with Junior High Youth Group starting next week.

So yeah, now off to enjoy the day. Hopefully kickin it down to Sunday Suppers later.

peace

Just a quick one...?

2007-04-01T13:24:00.000-04:00

I have a few things of note to expound upon, as I did promise Robin Baldwin that I would document some of our adventures here, to correspond to her photograph documentation of the evening not many days ago.

*I must preface this by informing the reading public of how much of an embarrassment I was to my sister in High School for some of the very kind of behaviour that she now goads me to commit.

The other night, my dear friend Robin Baldwin phoned me to ask if I wanted to do something. We made an extensive list of potential activities, but none of them seemed quite right. Then, in a moment of what I can only describe as sheer brilliance, Robin suggested a Scavenger Hunt.

Now, I have adopted the same theory on personal scavenger hunts of little importance as I have for lists of things to do before one's death: make it up as you go.

We began in Bedford Place Mall, due to the convenience and centrality of the location for both of us. I was struck with an insatiable urge to buy balloons. The elongated kind from which one constructs animals, swords, hats, etc. Hence, the first item on the list was to create something with balloons. ( a little general and open-ended I admit) After sitting on a bench making the story of Jonah and the 'whale' and receiving no small amount of odd looks, we moved on to our next location. I must also mention that this scavenger hunt was just as much an event of our secret club as anything else.

We attempted to visit and perhaps kidnap Jordan Draper, but he was out to the movies. We then tried to visit Rachel, but she was busy at the moment. So we took our sparklers (purchased at the same time as the balloons) and did some spying on the waterfront. We never figured out a label for that event.

The final, and perhaps most enjoyable event of the scavenger hunt that evening was a visit to Rachel's apartment. This apartment entryway is equipped with a video camera, hooked up to a channel on the television, viewable by anyone with a television in the building. We brought a guitar, called up to Rachel's room, and sang to her through the intercom while dancing and playing guitar.

Anyway, this was a long uneventful post, but I put it here to illustrate that friends are good, and a real gift from the Lord. I am super encouraged and challenged by dear Robin, and the evening was a blessing and completely random and bizarre.

peace

tagged... ?

2007-03-27T22:43:00.000-04:00

I first viewed the phenomenon on Julia Churchill's blog. Didn't really understand it, I suppose, though it should have been logical enough. So, the premise, I take it, is that when you are "tagged" you must write a blog post telling 5 interesting, perhaps little known, facts about oneself. In response to a "tag" from the dear Jenni Richard, here goes:

1) I have been mistaken for a large cat. Granted, it was by an old (hallucinating?) man in a hospital, but I have indeed been mistaken, and hugged, as if I were an extraordinarily large cat.

2) I have witnessed fishing by dyamite.

3) I have road rage. Not really the kind where you give people the finger, but the kind where you talk at them as though they can hear you call them idiots. I blame Toronto.

4) My favorite movie is Big Bird goes to China.

5) I bought a poncho from Ecuador for my high school math teacher because she had pity on me and passed me despite my complete incompetence in the subject.

There, now I'm not sure if I even want to perpetuate this silly fad, but I will anyway. I'm "tagging" Katie Horne, Nicki Chapman, Rachel Brooks, Sean McMullen(if he reads this) and Angela Horn(if she reads this) I do this not to annoy or provoke to anger, but because I am genuinely interested to see what facts you may share. I just want our friendships to go deeper, you know?

anyway, despite the lack of quality or content in this blog, I will sleep easier tonight, with an appeased conscience about this shortage of any content whatsoever on my blog.

In other news, quickly, life is good. I miss having guy friends around like Sean and Jay. I'm starting to work towards going to Ecuador, Lord willing (please pray) and I keep learning. peace

too many thoughts.

2007-03-11T23:04:00.000-04:00

But here I go anyway. Of course, having stated that i have too many thoughts, I will now proceed to forget most of them and leave a post that is devoid of any real content, but here goes:

Work has been the same. I'll get that out of the way, since all I typically have to say about it is something derogatory about customers. I'm up to 40 hours a week now, for now... and it's all mornings. I'm still toying with the idea of finding another job, but I usually give that idea up two hours into each shift.

I learned that I not only am capable of making both chifles and guacamole, but that I am rather proficient at it. That may seem insignificant, but I mention it because I find it nice to be someone's preferred source of guacamole. You might think there wouldn't be a big competitive scene there, but at a health food store, I'm up against some old pros.

My car finally made the transition from Ontario to Nova Scotia. At least, it will after tomorrow so long as it passes the safety test:P

More glimpses of myself lately. things to change, providing I stop putting it off.

Had a wonderful meeting with Patrick Hobbs last Wednesday, and looking forward to another this week. Encouraged. greatly encouraged.

none of these thoughts are the profound ones I swear were there last time I checked, but that seems to be the way with me. I must go to bed now. early morning tomorrow.

Oh, and I believe I decided I want to make a list of 100 things to do before I die. My personal twist will be deciding as an opportunity for something odd or noteworthy presents itself. So far i've completed one by going on a pub crawl. The second shall be waiting in line for an extended period of time for something to go on sale, such as the impending release of the final Harry Potter book in July.

anyway, hope that was random enough for y'all. in case you need some reassurance that there is still any depth to me at all... come visit me, i'll prove it! or something like that.
peace

On a lighter note

2007-02-20T13:26:00.000-05:00

Katie Horne, this is for you.

I promised I would post a story written and illustrated by me at the tender age of, let's guess 5 or 6. Replete with spelling errors and terrible plot holes that will leave you guessing.

The Three Lions
by Luke Bruce

(please note, any similarity to Goldilocks and the three bears is probably entirely coincidental. This is not plagiarized material)

Once upon a time their war some lions.
Their war 3 of them.
One day Moma lion mad soup Moma lion tasted the soup.
Its to hot lets go for a walk.
They met a wizard they wihd for a mansion.
A gil naned Leah sah the house and decided to go in.
She sah the soup and tasted the soup.
Theis is to hot and tasted the other bowl.
It is to sweet.
She tasted last bowl of all. theis is jast rit.
She sah the chars and sat down in Dadys char.
Theis is to hard.
She sat down in Moma lions char.
Theis is to soft.
She sat down in the last char.
She was tird she want up stars she soa the beds.
She jost ladd down a wich a-perd.

THE END

I wish i could also put up my masterful illustrations, but alas, i can't. anyway, this was my first entirely random post in a while. hope it ispires you to become writers yourselves. I personally think it shows enormous potential and I think I might approach some publishers to see if they can help me out. I also envision a sweet sweet Disney movie starring one of the Olsen twins as Leah and Jamie-Lee Curtis as the wich... i mean witch.

have a good day all. i'm off to get an oil change.

peace

oh yeah...

2007-02-10T17:20:00.000-05:00

I got two text messages today. I got more than two, but two that were of note. life has been good. i don't know what else to say. it's my weekend now, until Wednesday. church, soccer, Bible study, kids club, and hopefully switching my car to Nova Scotia somewhere in the midst of it all.

reading, prayer, magnetic poetry, guitar playing, and Boy Meets World.

more encouraged than before. thanks for your prayers. still trying to figure out my life.

peace

grocery stores

2007-02-10T16:52:00.000-05:00

Here's some things I like: my store has no conveyer belts at the cash; it has no bar code scanner, everything is nice and ghetto. there are price lists at each cash, and everything else just has price stickers. I like that if a cashier wants a price check, it usually involves getting someone from another department to check to see if one of the same items in the aisle still has a sticker on it. i like that the produce department doesn't have automatic spraying machines above the vegetables, but rather we have to remember to spray every 15 minutes from a spray bottle. I like that i actually feel like Alex from the old PBS show Ghostwriter when i stock fruit and make apple pyramids.

that has almost no relevance to anything, but i appreciate working at a store that hasn't jumped into the new millennium... heck, it hasn't even really made it into the 90's, really... it's quaint.

on the other hand, i just want to say that i don't understand customers. it's organic produce, not magic produce, stupids. a woman actually came in to complain that her clementines that she bought a month ago went bad too fast. she bought them when they were marked down from $12 to $4. it's organic, for crying out loud! it stays good for LESS time than non-organic. friggin heck. and the worst part is, we would have given her new clementines if we had them... a woman today came in to buy lemons. she seemed disappointed at the price and commented several times that she wished she had brought in her old ones to exchange them. she bought the crappy lemons as it was. the cheapest ones, the ones you assume are going to go bad, that's why they're cheaper. but she would have walked away with the good ones.

so i guess it's just a toss-up. i love the old-timey feel, but i hate the butt-kissing.

2007-01-30T20:32:00.000-05:00

Words. the elusive prey of my soul. I'm at a loss. I feel like i'm at the edge of something but I can't pin it down. Nor do I think myself able to describe it truly.

Kids club tonight. Both encouraging and thought-provoking, though perhaps not in a way that might be logically inspired by spending time "teaching" grade 4 and 5 boys. Or teaching at all for that matter.

This likely won't make sense. It doesn't really to me right now.

clarity, wisdom, understanding, vision, trust

peace

untitled again

2007-01-22T22:00:00.000-05:00

I am bored. already.

I'm going to say it's my own fault. I'm not used to life where I don't NEED to be in bed by 10:30 in order to survive the next day at work. I'm not used to a social life. I'm not used to Nova Scotia.

So... that said... I've got nothing else to say really. Lots floating around in my head, but not too much to put into words. I guess I just get to learn what I can learn, be content (simple as that:P) and yearn for something fulfilling. I don't even know what that might be, since I don't feel like I really fit in anywhere, but yeah... things are good. I just don't DO enough.

On a different note, I've been thinking about reading through the Bible again. I haven't done that since Second year at school... or maybe third. I made it almost halfway through when i was in Ecuador, but that was a while ago... Now part of me thinks it could just be assuage my irrational fear that i'm forgetting all the stuff I learned in Bible College, since I sometimes find I get annoyed with myself in church for not already knowing some small nuance that the speaker has decided to expound on. But yeah... I guess it's important...

I work, I drink coffee, and on rare occasions I actually get together with friends... I start helping at Kids Club tomorrow... and I get to chat with Glenn afterward. It's now almost 2 in the morning, and despite the ability to sleep in tomorrow, i really don't want to NEED to be in bed past 10:30... so i'm gone, peace, all.

P.S. my car is dying... I'm convinced of it. I'm sure I can push it for a while longer... but little blue is no longer in the flower of her youth. I actually had a dream last night about it bursting into flames... anyway... chao

oops, i forgot i was supposed to show these

2007-01-15T09:54:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pictures of me and some friends burning the old year on New Year's Eve, since i had told some people i would post them. it's not nearly so nice as an Ecuadorian Año Viejo, but you have to make do when you forget about the amount of work the body takes until scant hours before the burning. I think we named him Elton... and we went to the beach. it was cold.

ummm i guess i actually can't be bothered to put any more, really.... so yeah.... peace

2007-01-11T21:22:00.000-05:00

I'm never going to be happy. I'm pretty sure i've figured that out, or at least I have in theory. I still get disappointed when something looked forward to finally comes and it's really not better than what you had. Not that I think my expectations were entirely unrealistic when I decided to move back to NS, but still, after a month, there is nothing but to accept that my brain is going to tell me I was happier in Ontario... because that way I can let myself be miserable, because my own personal quality of life has decreased.... or something

Now that came across as way more negative than i'm sure I actually feel about it, but still. it's been one of those days I guess....

So my older sister moved back home, causing chaos to reign for a time. I hurriedly moved most of my worldly possessions down into the room that I now share with my little sister. I don't know quite why I mentioned that... but yeah... it's been adjustment after adjustment coming home, and I still have no real understanding of what's next...

Things have been good for the most part, and I realized today that I really have to make more of an effort to see people... because just sitting by the phone isn't awesome...

ummm yeah, I guess i envisioned more coming out here.... so I hate to disappoint, but I guess i'm not feeling this tonight... I'm gonna walk the dog, have a shower, then go to bed so I can get up in time for work tomorrow... peace

For all you who've been anxiously waiting....

2006-12-29T23:32:00.000-05:00

Well i guess i lied, and being in Nova Scotia with an internet connection has not helped me to faithfully blog, though i guess i can lay some blame on having a younger sister who spends most of her time on the computer.

so i've been back in Nova Scotia for over 3 weeks now... well almost a month really. it's been lots of adjusting again, and i'm still processing things i guess, but it has been an encouragement in many ways. The Lord provided me with a job out of nowhere, working at an organic food grocery store in Halifax. I'm still avoiding setting down firm roots, with a suspicion that this is not a permanent relocation.

Christmas came and went, and it was probably the most bizarre Christmas ever... which i say because we had my mom's boyfriend and his 5 and 10 year old daughter and son stay with us. i'd only met them twice so it was a little awkward, and I awoke to the sounds of tickle me elmo kicking the floor right above my head. Plus, they put a wicked pair of speakers in that little monster, so its shrill sounds of laughter can drill painfully right into your skull from 20 feet away. he also gave his daughter some drums... seriously, a 5 year old with drums... so i learned the value of teaching your children about an indoor voice at an early age... and added at least two gifts to the list of gifts never to give my own kids.

other than that, well, i can't even think if there's much else new. i have to work a 10.5 hour shift tomorrow, then it's 3 days off, and we're putting the most effort ever into our "old year" to blow up this year.

on a side note, i am painfully aware of the lack of deep, relevant conversation lately. I did however have an interesting chat on the idea of abandoning a December Christmas celebration. I say let the secular world have it and we just quietly move it to a time when it can be free from contamination by marketing and commercialism. I know i'm sick of hearing faint screams of the true meaning of Christmas barely audible amidst the noise of reindeer and political correctness. but oh well... i must go to bed, sorry it took me so long to get on here again.
pray without ceasing

peace

I'm Home!!! and I need a job...

2006-12-06T22:44:00.000-05:00

Well... after a long trip through snow, i am home. i was almost the only one on the road from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia, though i don't think the roads were bad enough to deter everyone from traveling. so with that, i miss my friends in Ontario, but it's nice to be home:)

anyway, here's a comic that i found hilarious... Perhaps it can only be truly appreciated by Will Ferrell fans... but man alive... it's from Cyanide and Happiness, a sometimes sketchy webcomic... anyway, no deep thoughts tonight, but I'm home, unpacking, preparing to start looking for a job(pray for me...) and thinking about the future. peace

And so I say goodbye... To Ontario, that is...

2006-11-30T23:18:00.000-05:00

One more day of work. Half a day even. Then some choir performance thing that I'm not sure of, then a trip to the bus station, then on to Belleville for the last leg of my Ontario tour. It's been a dynamite 7 months, and now I move on to things which may perhaps be bigger, and perhaps even better, although qualitative comparisons like that would be difficult on many levels.

I've traveled around, visited some more friends, went over 30,000km that I've put on my little car. I got to see Angela Horn last weekend in London, who I met when I was in Ecuador.

And now it's almost over. The 16 hour car ride solo begins on Monday. Pray for good driving conditions if you think of me, and maybe that I can find a job quickly when I get home.

once again, and especially since this will likely be my last post as an Ontarian, thanks for reading and commenting. I'll blog again when i'm home, and probably more frequently, since the internet will be available at all times.

anyway, thanks again to all the citizens of Ontario that I know. I've been blessed.

peace

and now...

2006-11-12T17:55:00.000-05:00

I have now finished paying off my student loan. interestingly enough, i managed to pay off my student loan before even getting the actual degree in the mail, though i finished all the work in April. Go figure...

in other news, a wild turkey ran out in front of me on the road today... i missed it, but it was my first wildlife encounter while driving.

i am also down to a mere 3 weeks left in Ontario before the big move back East.

ok, take care all... i'll write more some other time...

I had a thought... and i think it's gone now

2006-11-04T23:22:00.000-05:00

Well this is likely my only chance to blog, so i will, even though i have momentarily forgotten whatever it was i had deemed important enough to write about. I am currently at Sean and Ruth McMullen's apartment in Belleville, and as soon as i finish here Sean and i will begin playing video games again.

work is still going well, and i am within weeks of being debt free. i have now a mere month until my move back to Nova Scotia, if the Lord wills it. I have been challenged and encouraged in the last little while, and had a little yearning for something more as well.

so to begin... i explained the Gospel for the first time in months... i had a really good chat with a guy from work, and it encouraged me... and excited me... yet it also made me realize how dopey it is that i haven't done that in so long.

i recently discovered my proximity to York University, where my friends Danielle and Andrea from klbc days are studying. i hung out there this past week and met some super cool folks. i discovered that there is a Spanish church not far from where i am in Toronto that i would love to try out.

i got to see my grandfather today... first time in well over a year... it was nice...

so yeah.... that's my little update... nothing too exciting... i now live with an older couple during the week... being billeted with people who go to the church i'm working on...

i've been thinking again about how weird it is to travel around all the time and never really belong in one specific spot. i loved the environment at York and it made me wish i was studying at a "real" school. i loved it, but was still acutely aware that i was just a visitor... everyone was friendly but i wasn't one of them... then i leave for the weekend.... traveling has been nice and it's allowed me to see friends that i wouldn't have had i not had a car, etc. but yeah, i've talked about the whole nomad thing before and it hasn't really changed.

yeah.... so i apologize for the lack of structure or coherence, but this blog was mainly written because i knew i wouldn't have the chance for another little while.... so it'll have to do. take care all... peace

I went to a concert...

2006-10-04T20:23:00.000-04:00

I haven't blogged in a while... and i went to a concert. I went to West Virginia with Matty to visit Drew and Becca, and with some ulterior motives of going to see Caedmon's Call in concert. In short, it was amazing. you may have already read about this on Matty's blog, or in part on Drew's, but in case you haven't...

We went to the concert. we got there an hour early, and we were practically the first ones there. we purchased copies of Andrew Osenga's new cd, and waited for 45 minutes. then the crap... i mean music started. a whole hour of some italian man singing... a little bit of rap, a little bit of "i can only imagine" and chock full of cliche lyrics, repeated several times for emphasis. this performance, however, only served to help us truly appreciate the performance of one Mandy Mann, the wife of Caedmon's manager. she was fantastic. then, of course, the performance by Caedmon's call. it was amazing, minus the audience contribution. no one laughed at any jokes, and at one point an older couple yelled out, "the music's too loud, we can't hear the voices"

but the best part is yet to come. following the performance, we went to get Andrew Osenga to sign our cds. we chatted briefly and he invited us to a pub on the campus to watch him and Mandy do a few more songs. So we hung out with the whole Caedmon's crew for over an hour. we listened to some fantastic songs, and i'm not going into more detail than that... but we hung out with Caedmon's Call... in a pub. Andrew Osenga even mentioned us in his blog,

"The show was part of a week-long festival and it was a very random crowd. There were a couple guys that drove twelve hours from Canada. A little crazy, but very appreciated. During that show the speakers cut out and the folks in the crowd let us know. It was more awkward than helpful, I won’t lie. Nobody laughed at my Colin Firth joke either. I’m sure that’s their fault.
After the show Mandy and I got invited to play a glorified open-mic night at the campus bar. It was the coolest old-fashioned ice house. Three floors, totally round and wooden and kind of awesome in a “this place is so weird it’s awesome” kind of way.
I played a bunch of my solo tunes and Mandy sang a new one and some Patty Griffin. Danielle and I did an old Indigo Girls song (Ghost) and Cliff and I played Sarala for our sound guy Mark, who was having a rough night (”we can’t hear the voices!!!”). Our friendly Canadian friends and their Kenucky counterparts came with us. Our whole band and crew came, something that never happens enough , and we just had a blast."

now i'm back in Toronto... working... trying to think deep thoughts... i want to be in a band...

take care all

2006-09-21T21:02:00.000-04:00

Well i believe i've decided that i'm way better at reading other people's blogs than i am at making myself put down my own words.
it's been a while.. and i'm sure i actually HAD some interesting thoughts to put down... but they have been long forgotten...
still working... getting closer to no more school debt.... and still trying to figure out details for moving home (when, why, etc.)

I think i came to some realizations for why it's getting to be time to move home... i guess mainly because it IS home. it is exhausting being a constant visitor... always a guest. i don't have many friends who have moved away from home, and certainly none who live close by... so any time i want to visit or spend time with friends, i am an intruder, even if invited. i can't keep on that way. i love visiting and i love all the friends i can visit, but it always ends... they go back to their lives the way they always live them because they have stability and I, I remain a nomad. maybe it would be different if i lived on my own all the time, not being nomadic for the purpose of work (though i'm not saying that that's how i want it.) But i need some roots... i NEED to be involved and to feel some sense of belonging... like i am where i ought to be...
anyway, in many ways i like that feeling; that not being home... or, rather, i would like to harness that feeling for good. i am not home. i don't want to be too comfortable. heaven will be grand. nothing here needs to matter so much, if only i could believe strongly enough; have enough faith.
so that's me... pray for me, if you would. i have decisions to make, and things to figure out. things i want and people i will miss either way my path veers. please do not take this post as a complaint, and i do not want anyone to think that i regret being here or am at all resentful of their "stable" lives. anyway, take care all, and thanks for patience and kindness... peace.

Sometimes i don't know why i bother...

2006-08-26T00:04:00.000-04:00

I've been asking myself a lot of why questions lately... rather, i've been meaning to ask myself a lot of why questions lately. i really wish i understood what i believe about things, what my reasons are behind doing anything. i've been torturing myself wishing i was elsewhere and doing something different; something more exciting and fulfilling. i wish i knew my purpose and where i fit into the big scheme of things here, or anywhere for that matter, because without that i fear i'm never really going to be able to put myself out there and do anything.

i'm also afraid of what i'm becoming. thoughts of Ecuador and "better" days have floated through my head with alarming frequency lately, and i see myself becoming too North Americanized again. i hate appearances and meeting people's expectations of what we are to be. i hate that we can't live simply; i hate that I can't live simply. just yet another source of confusion...

well that's some insight into me i guess...

anyway, i'm back in Ontario, getting closer to debt-free(though that's a relative term) and looking forward to losing those shackles and moving on to what comes next, no matter where it happens to be.

reading Blue Like Jazz again and loving it...

that's about it.... peace....

Live from Fall River...

2006-07-29T00:21:00.000-04:00

Ok, so it's now 1:20, though my body still thinks it to be 12:20 due to the time change that i actually forgot about until we reached New Brunswick.

It was a pretty uneventful drive, and 15 hours later we arrived at my house. it felt wicked weird being here with my own car, and with a sold sign on the lawn, but i'm stoked about this visit. i'm pretty afraid i wont want to leave come Friday, but on top of that, i got some super nice letters from Ecuador that came with Janna Fox when she was home for a visit... and now i want to go back there more than ever... so once again i am filled with a new resolve to pay off my student loan and just find a way to kick it back down there... we'll see what happens... for now, i'm just planning on enjoying time with my mom, some dear friends i haven't talked to in ages, and actually going to church for the first time in a while.

eel fishing, swimming, hiking and used-clothes shopping are in the plans, and i'll try to say more later. peace out all, and Lord bless.

it's been so long...

2006-07-21T13:42:00.000-04:00

I have been to a wedding in West Virginia... it was great aside from driving a total of 24 hours in order to be there for 48... but it was worth it. Andrew and Rebecca Mackay are now married and i am happy for them.

there, that sums up the past weekend...

Now... I am finally getting to go home for a visit. this may actually have been the longest stretch i've spent away from home at once, basically from last July to the present, with no plans to move back for at least another few months... My mom is selling our house, so this will be my last time to be there before she moves out. And i also have another wedding to attend in New Brunswick.

One year and two days ago i left for Ecuador... that's a long time ago... i'm not quite sure why i mentioned that, but i was thinking about it the other day, and wondering if and when i'll ever get back... anyway.... oh well...

and finally, i'm looking for a church near Woodbridge... er Nobleton... Toronto area... i'm guessing the readers won't have much insight or suggestions.... but if anyone happens to, then let me know... i fear i'm going crazy with no purpose during my week and i need to meet some people, find some way to be involved... anyway, pray for me if you think to. Life is moving slow and quick, i'm restless and i still have $4000 to pay off school debt.... peace

The post in which Luke discusses the past few weeks as well as his dislike of ScotiaBank.

2006-06-23T14:22:00.000-04:00

Well much has happened since i last blogged, and i will inevitably leave out some little happening of the past few weeks since i'll forget, and also, you could hear about many of the highlights by reading other people's blogs... davidlisson.blogspot.com for one.

anyway, i had an eventful week and a half with my dear sister Rachel visiting. I haven't been shopping as many times in months as i went in that one week, but it was good. we went to downtown Toronto twice, once to explore and find a place to watch the first World Cup game Ecuador played, the other to find the Kensington Market. i survived an almost full week of work on top of hanging out with my sister and Nicki, and having a birthday in there too.

Then last weekend I was surprised by some good friends throwing me a little party for my birthday. We ate, some of us sang karaoke, we went grocery shopping... all in all, a pretty sweet evening. then we went to Canada's Wonderland for Christian day... ridiculous.... a million people all crammed in and it was freakin hot to boot... but anyway, it was fun. i probably won't say anything more about it here because you can honestly just read it on David Lisson's blog. It's enough to say i am thankful for great friends.

I have been working for almost 2 months now. at my job i am paid by cheque. the first paycheque was taken into a Scotiabank in Toronto, where i was told they would have to put a 6-day hold on it unless i brought it to my home branch. so i go to my home branch where i am told that i can change my home branch and my home branch will always be able to cash it without putting a hold on it. Then the next paycheque i go to the branch in Belleville with the intention of making it my home branch. there i am told it is unnecessary to change home branches because the paycheque comes from a Scotiabank account. two paycheques cashed with no trouble, and then today... i go in, expecting the usual no-hassle cashing of the cheque. the teller punches some stuff into the computer and tells me that i will be having a hold on my cheque. a half-hour later it finally gets sorted out that no one ever should have cashed the cheque without a hold on it, and the manager declared she was going to find out who did that for me and give them heck for it. anyway, Scotiabank is now not my favorite bank, because my theory is; no one there knows what they are talking about.

anyway, work is going well, life stays the same for a while, and i don't see any changes in sight, but i'm already getting restless....

anyway, Lord bless... peace

This is not as fun as it used to be...

2006-05-27T23:42:00.000-04:00

Blogging, that is. this is yet another forced blog, but i guess it must be done.

I have been over the U.S. border twice in the last two years. one of those experiences was pleasant. the other was not remotely pleasant. we will therefore look at the less pleasant experience, because conflict is more interesting to people than the peaceful alternative.

to begin with, i was taking a little road trip with Mattymac to West Virginia... not WestERN Virginia, mind you... in order to pick up Andymack.

*More background information so that the border problem will make sense: i just switched over my Nova Scotian drivers licence for an Ontario licence. in Nova Scotia there is no waiting period for your licence to arrive in the mail... so i was completely without any form of photo ID for 3 weeks.*

We foresaw this as a possible problem before leaving, but i DID have a photocopy of my passport, which i figured would be better than nothing.

SIDENOTE: avoid women border people. super power trip, 'nuf said.

anyway, so we get there, i hand over my birth certificate and the little temporary paper licence, explain the situation and offer the photocopy of the passport because at least it links the name to the face... the dude takes it no problem... then the woman shows up. she takes one look at the passport copy and flips out, berating her co-worker for not noticing the "fraudulent document" i tried to give them. they looked through our stuff. asked us accusingly why we had guitars with us (what the heck?) accused Andymack of being an illegal immigrant, and called us nervous liars. finally, after 15-20 of the most stressful minutes of my life, they let us through with a pleasant "have a nice day"

best part: my licence had arrived in the mail THAT DAY:P

the trip was awesome, i would strongly recommend biscuits and gravy, West Virginia is pretty awesome, and the Smith family is probably the best of them all. and apparently you can get away with frivolous purchases by lying to friends and family alike by telling them that "i was kickin it down by the river and this hobo comes up and gives it to me..."

this was long, and just a super brief summary of the trip... but yeah, good times, and 12 hours in a car didn't even feel close to that with Mattymac and then Drew as well on the way home.... sweet.

other than that, I'm just working... though we've had a fair bit of rain lately... my sister may very well be coming to Ontario for a week and a bit to hang out for my birthday, which is exciting beyond belief.... and yeah, i can't complain.

more some time next week or so... peace out

...

2006-05-06T20:16:00.000-04:00

OK, not too sure what to say... so this is yet another post about what's been going on in my life since i last posted.

i have graduated from Bible College... rather, i have finished with Bible College and simply must wait to receive the actual piece of paper from Prairie.

i finally got my car, and i started working...

Living at the Mackays is a pretty sweet deal....

wow... the obligatory post was flippin boring... sorry.... anyway, i'll try to think about some more stuff to say during my boring weekdays... anyway... peace out.

Let's try this again...

2006-04-17T20:14:00.000-04:00

Ok, this will be short, i will blog again soon, but for now i would like to share with you all an experience from last year at KLBC.

It came to our attention that many students of third and fourth year were not persevering to the end, so after one of the four third years dropped out, we initiated an informal "Survivor" At this point, April, 2006, of the 5 students at the beginning of last year, two remain: Josh Anderson and myself.

I believe the end of survivor always ended up with the people who had left the island voting for the winner, but Nicole is the only one who reads blogs, though i fear that Jim and Jordan would both vote for Josh... I had thought of some wicked scheme to get Josh kicked out of school, thus clinching for me the title, but that seemed a little inappropriate for Bible College, so i will let you all vote for me... or Josh... but essentially, the point is, in two weeks i am done Bible College forever.

in other news, i will, Lord willing, have a car sometime soon... here it is

Forced to blog... against my will....

2006-04-05T22:02:00.000-04:00

Well anyway, this is pretty much entirely for the benefit of Mattymac... although also for those of you who read my comments who would potentially be offended by Mattymac's use of swears. So then, here is my life... again, for those of you who aren't bored with it yet.

I now have two more shifts at Tim Hortons. they are on Friday and Saturday. Hence, i only have ONE more time that i will be forced to shave anytime in the near future.

I also only have like two more weeks of classes left... quite possibly forever.... which i suppose i've mentioned before, but hey, i'm kinda proud of making it four years in the bubble.

My future is unclear, but there are some neat looking options... i'm looking into buying a car so that i can have the transportation necessary to work building churches for a while. it's a neat opportunity because it will be a good source of imcome, great experience, and good exercise... so that seems like a good thing to me... and i'll also hopefully be living at the home of Matthew Mackay and family for weekends at least.

Things are looking up, i guess i'm mostly excited to be finishing school... Luke Bruce B.A.M. looks cool to me, and then moving on...

i'll apologize that this blog was rushed, and therefore contains almost no new information or any anecdotes to impress y'all with, but there's something about being coerced into blogging against your will..... anyway, apparently call center girls in belleville think i'm hot... cheerio

The end is in sight...

2006-03-22T10:52:00.000-05:00

OK, don't know what to say here, but it has been a while, so i'm updating.

I don't think i'll bother going into anything that has happened since i posted last, but we'll see.

So i have a month left of classes, a fact of which i am thrilled. I have less than three weeks left at Tim Hortons, another fact of which i am thrilled. I have no real idea what is happening after school, a fact of which i am not AS thrilled, but all in all i can't complain.

I was reading in the book of Mark the other day... 10:17 in fact... so yeah... this guy comes up to Jesus, kneels before Him, and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him, follow the commandments. He then proceeds to name the commandments that have to do with our relationship to/loving one another(don't murder, don't steal, don't commit adultery, don't bear false witness, honor your father and your mother). Note He does not at this point list the commandments that have to do with loving God(you shall have no other gods before Me, no graven images, not taking the Lord's name in vain, remember the sabbath). The man responds that he has followed these commands since his youth... Jesus, looking at him, loved him(v.21)
"You lack one thing: go sell all that you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."(v.21) disheartened, the man goes away sorrowful, for he had many possessions.

Thoughts from that: (1)This man followed the commandments that told him how he ought to act towards his fellow man, but apparently he did not follow the commands that told him how he ought to act toward his God. (2) Jesus LOVED HIM, and asked him to give up what he had, or had been trusting, and to follow Him. Loving God and having a right relationship with Him... Jesus offered that. this man could have inherited eternal life through knowing and following Christ, who LOVED HIM... it's just unbelievable. The two greatest commandments, summing up all the others are to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and to love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:30-31) Jesus asked this man to give up all that he had, but He offered so much more. He offered a way to follow the other commandments, and thus to inherit eternal life. That real love of God should make it easy to forsake all else and follow Him. Though we don't have Christ physically here to follow, we can still know Him, and what He is like from the Bible, remember Him, and follow Him in the way He walked....
Anyway, it challenged me... hope it makes sense there.

So... I think that's all i've got for today... no new information about my life, where i'm going, what i ate for breakfast, boring junk like that:P Pray for me if you feel led, about my decisions for the future. where to go and where to live, where to work, and about maybe getting back to Ecuador someday... Lord bless, take care

Peace

2006-03-01T11:35:00.000-05:00

Due to the persistence of the many fans of my blog, i am now updating again, since it has been a rather lengthy period of time since you were last graced with my eloquence.

Let's see... This post will discuss a) Tim Hortons, and b) "Spring Break". I may decide to go off on another tangent that has not been set for in my "introduction" but we'll just see how I feel later.

In my last post I mentioned that i was hired by Tim Hortons. it has now been nearly a month since that fateful day when i was hired, and well, it's a pretty garbage job. Here's a list of things i don't like when customers do: Come through drivethrough and order, for example, "decaf coffee 2 sugar" me: "what size?" Customer: "yeah, decaf." Me: "what size?" Customer: "Yes, decaf 2 sugar." it has gone on for up to 3 times i think, when the customer finally gets frustrated and then i get louder and he says "large" like i was supposed to know that all along.
The second thing that tends to bug me is having to ask everyone who comes in what they want in their coffee. believe it or not, people that come in will also say "coffee" and then i have to ask "what size?" and they say "yeah, coffee" again. they usually get the what size part after repeating it once though. then they just stand there, so you have to ask "Cream or sugar in your coffee?" and no matter what they take in it, they say it like you were supposed to know already... even if it's like "oh, 2 cream and 3 and a half sugar."
With that said, i could complain a little more, but that's enough for now... and i am thankful for the job.

b) Spring Break didn't really exist for me this year. it was the least relaxing and least productive break ever. i worked only 15 hours that week, but was also helping at the conference at KLBC, which kept me chained to the main building for almost all of friday and saturday. the Highlight was, of course, seeing Rachel Brooks and Bev Clarke, meeting people who had lived in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

I would strongly recommend anyone who has not done so to go on a secret midnight picnic. it was not terribly secret, nor did we start at midnight (rather, at 11) but it was grand. i would refer anyone interested in pictures to Rachel Brook's blog. but i will say that: hot chocolate in a park made on a campstove is great; trying to make chocolate popcorn by mixing hot chocolate powder in the oil is gross; and popcorn made on a little campstove in a park with no hot chocolate powder in it whatsoever is quite delicious.

Sorry for the length and seemingly pointless nature of this post. I will also let everyone know that i am behind in my schoolwork and i absolutely can't wait to be done school, to be known henceforth as Luke Bruce, BAM

P.S. Matt Foreman is a geek. But he probably won't read this because all he does is tell people to read HIS blog, he is not in the habit of checking other people's.

More later...
HA HA HA... funny picture

Still alive.... though nothing much else to add

2006-02-05T20:27:00.000-05:00

Hey all, i really had hoped to get to the point where i would begin blogging about meaningful things again, like things that bug me, or my suggestions for solving the worlds' problems... but i haven't... and to be honest, i don't know whether that's gonna happen soon, or if anyone even cares:P

but, let's see... i am now working at Tim Hortons... i have 4 courses at klbc, i have three months of Bible school left (forever, i can only assume...) and i have no clue about the summer, much less the rest of my life...

that's my little update... And Mattymac was out this weekend... and i'm not gonna lie to y'all, it was awesome. I'm thankful for friends, and real ones that you can talk to for hours, realizing that you're both idiots, yet being cool with each other, and thankful together for the grace of God in all our lives.

So... i start training at work tomorrow... the rest of my life goes on as usual... thanks again for listening... peace out

*disclaimer* this picture was not taken this
weekend.... though i don't imagine that's important...

Live From KLBC...

2006-01-22T19:26:00.000-05:00

Well i'm getting off my tush and posting again since it's been quite a while... i got back to KLBC just over two weeks ago, and got a nice little surprise party to welcome me back. Some awesome friends from last year drove up for the weekend and we had a blast. Needless to say there was a Piñata, some good food, pirate things, a sweet game of snow soccer, etc.

Then the bubble of joy was slightly deflated as all non-students returned to their places of residence that were not here, but yeah, it's good to be back i guess... since i only have 3 months left of school, and there are some good folks kicking around this year too.

In other news... things are good. I guess as a sidenote, this isn't really a make you think post, more of a let y'all know i'm still alive since i haven't posted in a while post. so i think i decided not to do choir this year... rather, i should call it the "performing arts group".... and that frees up weekends.... the Lord is good, He provided a student loan after the shock of finding out i got rejected for one... so though it's a loan, and my first one at that, at least i can be here and finish this off.....

thanks for listening....

Lucas

Merry Christmas, etc.

2006-01-01T17:55:00.000-05:00

Well i am now home. that is good, and at the same time, not as good.

All the flight home information is now irrelevant, because i've been home for more than a week. the flight was good, although i didn't get to leave until 8 hours later than my ticket said, since they canceled my flight without informing me:P but i am home, that was the relevant part.

So, i got home, had Christmas, it naturally came out of nowhere since i only got to be home for 2 days before it came. it was spent with sisters and mother, and common-law brother in law, and my dad at different times (hopefully that isn't offensive... it is technically accurate)

so now, i'm back to school, Lord willing, to finish of at KLBC. i arrive late (quite the rebel) on the 6th in Ontario.

so, i'm home, i'm alive, i'm wandering aimlessly trying to figure out what really comes next, but it's ok, what need would we have of a Guide if the path were a familiar one?

2005 is dead, and i should know, i've watched it die 3 times, though only one of them was at the actual end of 2005... burning an effigy representing the past year, thanks Ecuador, for saving me from the monotony of simply shouting "Happy New Year" at midnight, and giving me a sweet excuse to use gasoline, firecrackers, and ringing in the new year in a more.... metaphoric way.... metaphorical...? meh

Lord bless y'all

Lucas

home again home again

2005-12-19T12:29:00.000-05:00

well i´m down to 3 days... today was the last day teaching in the school, and there was a little party for me with grade 3 and 5. really sad to be leaving, but it´s time. today is busy with visiting, paperwork for Prairie, buying last minute things and spending time with family.
thank you all for your prayers for this past 5 months, it´s been a blessing and an amazing experience.

last night was the Christmas pageant type thing, as an evangelistic outreach in the soccer field here in block 6... so cute

tomorrow is the official goodbye day at the school

wednesday is my last day and the Christmas party for the kids at the school....

Peace out

in Him
Lucas

Less than four weeks to go...

2005-11-25T11:21:00.000-05:00

just a quick update. I´m going to Esmeraldas with Abel today, and won´t be back in Guayaquil until saturday i think, so that guarantees no communication with anyone for over a week i reckon. hopefully i´ll get around to telling y´all how it went sometime after i get back.

in other news... there isn´t any really i guess.... wow time goes by REALLY fast... and i am making a table for my Ecuadorian mom, which is fun....

random, and not necessarily edifying, but that´s my life these days... well not really, there´s more to it than that, but that´s all i´m posting for today...

oh yeah one more thing, it´s fun when you get to the point where you can read books in another language. i´ve read about half of Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis in 2 days:)

peace out,

Lucas

Where has the time gone?

2005-11-22T12:13:00.000-05:00

Well i know it´s been ages, and to be honest i don´t even remember what i wrote in the last entry. i will say that i am now down to less than a month left in Ecuador. i passed the 4 month mark, and 4 weeks from tomorrow i am done. Now, this is a good thing and a bad thing, i suppose. this may well just be a little personal reflection on my time here and how i feel about that...

One thing about living in a poor area in Ecuador, is that you are relatively free from the distractions of internet and tv, which sucked up countless hours of my life in Canada. this can lend more time to Bible reading and other such spiritually beneficial activities.

well nevermind i´m almost out of time and my brain stopped reflecting...

anyway, not much longer:) and i think i´ll get a trip to Esmeraldas in before i leave.... ummm pray for me, for wisdom on how to use my time that i have left, for finishing the KLBC internship part of this time that i still have to do, that i can trust the Lord to meet all my needs for the rest of my time here and for the semester at klbc to come... yeah, that´s all for today.... not much new, as usual:P

peace out

disculpe

2005-10-19T12:07:00.000-04:00

Hey all you who still visit every once in a while to check and get disappointed (or not care) that i haven´t posted anything. i still don´t have much time for this post, because i´m due for english with grade 3 in 10 minutes. Life keeps going on, Rachel has now been here for more than 2 weeks, which is my excuse for not updating. It´s been pretty non-stop and she doesn´t enjoy sitting around waiting for me to finish online.

So for minstry: I didn´t end up preaching at church 2 weeks ago, but i´m on for tonight, and i´m feeling a little better about it. our guys Bible study isn´t really going anywhere, so if y´all could pray for guys in Block 10 of Bastión Popular. there isn´t a lot of interest or commitment to God there, so we´ve had very few people out each monday since we started 5 weeks ago. this past monday not even one guy came out... youth group and kids club are going well, and i must say it makes a huge difference actually being involved in ministry after 3 years in the bubble that is Bible College. so yeah. relationships are forming more, and i´m being blessed immensely by my time here.

The next 2 and a half weeks with Rachel will be busy too, with trips to Quito, Riobamba, and wherever else we can manage to get to. but i shall try to improve on my communication here and in personal correspondence. thanks so much to all who have written me emails, it is really encouraging.

yeah, so i´m alive, life keeps going on, and i value your prayers.... anyway, Lord bless.... thanks

Don't Fret!

2005-10-07T21:54:00.000-04:00

I am not Luke, I am Nicole. But since Luke hasn't updated, I shall. Luke is still alive.

i´m going to the beach

2005-09-08T13:16:00.000-04:00

Ok, so Campamento de Adultos is this weekend. i sincerely hope i don´t need to put a translation for that, and i´m excited for it. it should be a good weekend, and getting to the beach again will be grand.

i´m starting actual teaching next week. by which i mean i´m planning lessons for some classes.

monday at 7:30 is my first official ¨Bible study¨ in block 10. pray for me and Daniel, that God would give us words, guidance for themes, and that He would bring the kids out that He would have there.

umm personally, i´m doing pretty well.. learning a lot, and being encouraged and challenged. Glenn comes this weekend too, so i´ll get to see a familiar face from home.

less than a month until my sister comes to visit

please pray that i might find the area that i can be most useful in here.... and just that it would be a productive time both for my growth and that the Lord would use me to minister to others.

thanks.... peace

Where does the time go?

2005-08-31T12:05:00.000-04:00

It´s kinda hard to think of what to write, since everything just blends together... it´s almost September. I´d like to wish Mattymack a very Feliz Cumpleaños and apologize that i lost track of days and forgot it was coming so soon.

so klbc starts up soon, it will be my longest time away from Bible school, which is a funny thought, though the Lord´s teaching me a lot here. I have also now beaten my previous record for time spent in Ecuador. not by a lot, but last time i was here for roughly 5 weeks, i´ve beaten that.

school is going well, i am enjoying classes, and the kids, church things are going well, and i´m a little more than an awkward outsider in kids club and youth group now. not much else to say i guess...

wow, i apologize, my life really is more exciting than this, but i honestly can´t think of more to write about at this point in time. Adult´s camp is coming up on the 8th, so i´ll get back to camp for the first time in three and a half years:P

yeesh, more later, sorry, and thanks for your prayers. they are needed:)

Lord bless, friends

in Him
Lucas

Teaching and general life

2005-08-08T14:25:00.000-04:00

First of all, i continue to thank you all for your prayers and comments on my blog.
My first week of teaching was for the most part uneventful. i´m currently helping with 3 different english classes. Grades 3 and 5 are with Anita, who is a national, but her english is quite good and her teaching is great, so all i really do is help occasionally with pronunciation. i also am helping Janna with grade 6, which has a reputation for the worst class in the school. i guess, i´d have to agree, but it´s a good experience to be observing teaching and helping out here and there. on tuesdays and wednesdays i teach computer class to the grade 5´s and 6´s with Bethany Horne.

I get to spend the recess time playing with the kids, either playing futbol, or ¨la cogida¨ (tag).

Bueno, aside from that, í definitely have my work cut out for me in block 10, as there is currently not that much of a faithful Christian community there. Most of my time so far has been spent playing soccer with them, chatting now and then, and trying to build relationships with them. my spanish is improving, (i hope anyway) and overall i am encouraged.

Home life (meaning my ¨home¨) in block 10 is really good for the most part. it´s been and continues to be an adjustment having three younger siblings added to my life, but i´m sure it´s no different than anyone who has grown up with occasionally ¨annoying¨ younger brothers and sisters. Amarilis and Wacho (my Ecuadorian parents) have been a tremendous blessing and encouragement to me, and i have been blessed by many a good chat with them (Sorta helps make up for you not being around, Brooksy, but don´t worry, you´re irreplacable)

Just to make all you Fall River folk jealous, i made it down to the new camp property with a group of adults and youth from the church. with machetes in hand we hacked down trees, weeds, and worst of all, a garbageload of thorns. there was also a baptism at camp that day, and we prayed about the camp and sang some praise to the God who both created and provided that land for His glory.

One final thought, and to this i wouldn´t mind some feedback: I have just finished reading ¨A Chance to Die¨ the biography of Amy Carmichael for the second time this year. I´m also in the midst of a biography on Hudson Taylor. Both of these were missionaries during a time when it was viewed as absurd to adopt any of the cultural practices of the people they ministered among, specifically the clothing. Now by rejecting that missionary custom and wearing the same type of outfit as the Indians and Chinese, respectively, they were received more warmly, and given many more opportunities to preach the Gospel than they would have had if they had simply remained the conspicuous ¨foreign devils¨ that the rest did. Now how does that type of thing apply to working among the poor? I, unlike the rest of the people i live among, don´t have to work every day, i have a certain amount of disposable income that can be spent on cola and candy, regardless of the fact that i share it, it sets me apart from them, and i can´t identify with the type of life they live. Though i´m sure they don´t all resent us, i couldn´t imagine taking someone seriously who appeared to have such an easy life. I was informed the other day by a dear friend that the perception from some people is that us Canadians that come are loving towards them and their kids, and we don´t tire easily of picking them up and hugging them, because we have no problems in Canada. I was even asked the other day if we have AIDS in Canada, the perception is just of this wonderful fairy tale world. Now it is my prayer and hope, that that misconception would be shown to be wrong, and that instead of seeing my nationality, they would see my Lord.

anyway, thanks for putting up with this long post, i do love you all, and hope all are well... thanks again, in Christ who makes us one in Him,
Lucas

super short

2005-07-30T18:56:00.000-04:00

Preaching was... interesting, but imagine your first time preaching to an audience you don´t really know in a language that is still pretty foreign to you... neat experience though:P

i have youth group tonight, in 2 minutes to be precise, and i had ¨club de ñiños¨ this morning. i start teaching on monday, or should i say helping teach. so pray for that. pray also for relationships with the older guys in Block 10, that i might encourage them and the Lord might use me there. thanks for praying

in Him
Lucas

almost a week

2005-07-25T17:49:00.000-04:00

Wow, it´s been 5 days now that i´ve been in Guayaquil, Ecuador. I am gradually getting used to dogs and roosters barking and crowing (respectively) at all hours of the night. The Veras are amazingly gracious and i´ve been blessed by them so much already. They are also helpful at giving some background information on some of the kids and youth that i´m meeting.

So much has changed since 3 and a half years ago... i can´t even figure out where to begin.

Well anyway, here´s a super brief summary of my time in Bastion so far: i pretty well wake up early, read my Bible in the hammock, have breakfast, play soccer with kids in the street outside the house. eat lunch... well ok, í can´t give much of a summary right now... the kids are on vacation for a week, and i´m building relationships with kids and youth in Block 10.

Please pray for me, i´m doing the Bible study on friday for youth group... so prayers are coveted.

anyway, life is good, as is our Lord Jesus Christ:) peace out all and thanks for praying

in Him
Lucas

Hola from Ecuador!!

2005-07-20T19:28:00.000-04:00

thanks to all who prayed, i got here safe and my luggage made it too, so the Lord continues to show Himself good to me. it was the most brutal time of travel that i´ve ever had, but don´t think that i´m complaining too much, it was profitable as well as i was left with much time for reading and prayer in the airport and during the flights...

I left Halifax at around 4 o´clock, and that was delay #1, i arrived at the airport in Newark and frantically rushed (though with 7 hours before the flight it was hardly necessary) to get to my gate for later, and then waited the 7 hours, which turned into 8 or maybe a little over. the biggest nuisance was the flight to Guayaquil, because though it was supposed to be a direct flight from Newark to Ecuador, they apparently were burning too much fuel so we had to land in Panama anyway. after waiting in Panama for someone who could give us fuel, we experienced another delay because there was a massive thunder storm. so as a result of my arriving 5 hours later than i was expected, the group of folks from Ecuador that had come to welcome me had to take off for school and the like, so it was just Tim...

Anyway, let me just say that whatever feelings of nervousness or anxiety i had before arriving disappeared as soon as i got out of the airport. the smells and the sights were just as i remembered... so i got in, had a nap, and went out with Tim and met some guys from the high school he teaches english at and we worked on putting a new backboard on a basketball net at the high school. and tonight i´m off to Block 10 of Bastion Popular for the wednesday night meeting. i´m staying at the Hornes for tonight, and then tomorrow morning i take my stuff and get out to the house i´m staying at for the next 5 months.

thanks for praying! Lord bless, all

not long now

2005-07-19T01:00:00.000-04:00

It's 2:00 right now, and i need to get up early because i am praying with my elders at around 7, but i just thought i'd mention for prayer that i'm just realizing that i should have made sure there would be no problems with my passport before now, because i hear that some countries won't let you in if your passport is expiring within 6 months of your arrival, and mine expires 6 months from yesterday. so please, if you could remember to pray that i'll have no problems with that. thanks. as for the deatils of my flight: I leave Halifax today at 3:15 in the afternoon and then i'll spend 7 hours in the airport in Newark before my flight leaves for Guayaquil. i arrive at 4:30 in the morning, and i have no idea what happens then... so praise God that He knows what's going on:)

thanks all, peace out
in Him
Lucas

Wow...

2005-07-18T00:57:00.000-04:00

Ok so it's super late, but i just figured i'd mention that i am less than 48 hours away from leaving for Ecuador... and it doesn't feel real at all. i take my second malaria pill later on today, and i have almost finished packing i think. being home has been good in some ways, and i thank the Lord for it, but it's time to move on again:) praise God for His work in us and His great love. Thanks to all who are praying and to all my dear friends who have encouraged me over the years... Lord bless...

Thinking about this lately: Jim Elliot, from Shadow of the Almighty at one point in his life stated that he desired that his life would be an exhibit to the value of knowing God... unreal, so keep on striving to know Him.

Lord bless, dear friends

less than a week

2005-07-12T22:43:00.000-04:00

Hokey smokes... well i have less than a week now.... i shall be on the plane bound for Ecuador in exactly one week, barring problems at the Halifax International Airport which have been so prevalent lately... so please, pray for me if you remember:)

I took my first malaria pill yesterday.... and i learned that possible side effects range from trippy dreams to hair loss:P so we'll see what happens....

I also had a bit of a scare from the missionaries... because i got an email saying that they assumed i decided not to come since they hadn't heard from me... it was a bit confusing, but all is well i think, and as it stands now i will be helping doing computer classes twice a week, and helping teach english to start... so we'll see where it all goes, but i'll keep y'all posted.

In other news, David Brainerd was an incredible man.... i listened to a biography on him by John Piper, and it just blew my doors.... anyway, i'm not going to elaborate, so hopefully on my recommendation you'll run out and listen to it...

more later,

my sister is home, and that's been amazing, so that's cool too.... sorry i'm boring:P

In Him
Lucas

2005-07-06T14:39:00.001-04:00

Jenn with the same eel

2005-07-06T14:39:00.000-04:00

Carolyne with an eel... hope you can see it

2005-07-06T14:36:00.000-04:00

Carolyne, Amy, Jenn.... with an eel

2005-07-06T14:35:00.000-04:00

Me with an eel... just a little one though:P

More details to follow...

2005-07-06T00:15:00.000-04:00

So it's super late and i'm off to bed soon... but i just returned from the first successful eel fishing night of the year. i am proud to say that a total of two eels and one catfish were caught this evening. many special thanks to Amy Sheldon, Jenn Hogg, and Carolyne Etter for the grand evening... and Bob from Bob's Bait for providing us with the means to catch said aquatic creatures.

In other news... less than two weeks until i'm on a plane for Ecuador... please continue to pray for me, it's getting even more exciting and hard to believe it happens so soon... and in also exciting news, my sister comes home in less than three days:D

My first malaria pill is on monday:)

i tried to put pictures, but it didn't seem to work... sorry folks... i'll try again tomorrow.

And now even more time has elapsed...

2005-06-30T23:47:00.000-04:00

So I post again, with less than 3 weeks until my departure for Ecuador, and just a smidge over a week until the return of my dear sister from Germany.

So what to say? my visit with my dad went well... this is my first attempt to put a picture on here, and i think it worked... so this is a Waterfall with me standing near it... in Cape Breton.

So Ecuador is soon. i'll have to pick up my malaria pills quite soon because i have to start taking them before i go. i still need to figure out a few things, and finances for that and for school after, but i have been challenged by a part of Hudson Taylor's biography that i must be able to trust God... not God AND the little bit of money that makes me feel secure at the moment. if i am doing His will then i have no need to fear that He will continue to be faithful... it is quite late so hopefully that came out in an understandable way. i just need to be content with not being secure and knowing where everything's going to come from, or else i might not be cut out for missions work:P

So thanks to all who are praying. i can't believe how fast the past two months have gone, and i'm sure the next 2 1/2 weeks will be insane. i miss you all.

Lord bless

Hi from Cape Breton

2005-06-22T09:15:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note, i'm at my dad's until friday night... it's going great, and i even got to drive today.... for the first time in three years.

For all you Rita fans, i just need to say that i'm in the same town that she has a house in, and, get this, i got my picture taken outside of her famous tearoom, but i couldn't go in because they were filiming some TV thing inside.... i was so close to good ol Rita.... but oh well... i thought of you all...

And with that, i'm off to drive some more.... maybe go to a waterfall for a bit.... peace out

Time for a rant...

2005-06-18T14:51:00.000-04:00

Ok, so i figured i would have had something to say about my church sooner than this, but i suppose it has been decent for the most part....

my personal issue number one: I don't fit in at my church... not that i think i ever have, but my focus is different, my theology is different, and neither i nor they will budge on our convictions or opinions.

personal issue number two: what is the big deal about having a seeker sensitive church? when did church become less about public worship as the body and more about bringing people in, being careful to not offend them, and hope that they come back to get more fluffy happy Christianity tossed gently at them? a friend of mine went so far last night as to say that "a church that is not entirely seeker-sensitive WILL NOT grow... it's impossible..." so my church's goal is to become a completely seeker-sensitive church by this September...:
Along the same lines: can a church that is entirely focused on making church the place to evangelize actually produce mature enough Christians to send to the mission field? i was also kind of taken aback by the accusation from the same brother who pointed out the need for seeker-sensitivity that "the believers who want to grow have to go to a Bible study during the week, or else they probably aren't serious about their walk with the Lord anyway"..... so yeah.... this is my church.... i probably wouldn't have too much of a problem with the small group thing if anyone from my church actually invited me to or even told me about the options that we have for small groups.....
Finally, part of the plan for outreach into the community is to have worship services as an outreach.... by which i mean nights where we sing.... seems pointless to me to have unbelievers involved in singing things they don't understand or mean to a God they don't know, in order that hopefully they enjoy the experience to keep at it.... now my understanding may be off as to what exactly the plan is for these evenings..... but still.. it causes frustration.

On the other hand: they are generally a very caring group of people... and i can't really accuse them of not wanting to do the Lord's will..... so yeah... this whole thing arose as a result of our all night prayer night last night... it was for the most part really encouraging, but the rest was frustrating... i probably could have used some private prayer time in there instead of always praying with a group.... anyway... that's my life...

In other news: i bought "A Chance to Die" the biography of Amy Carmichael by Elizabeth Elliot yesterday and that brought on another for me... you see, i think it's just plain wrong that there are way more copies of the biography of that American Idol guy that sings "if i were invisible" at the Christian bookstore than there are of solid people like Amy Carmichael, who spent 53 years of her life in India without furlough.... dozens of copies of the biography of the dude who wrote the Purpose Driven Life..... AHHHH.... our North American Christianity scares me....

so Cling to Him, He's all we've ultimately got, and all we truly need

Lucas

It seems i was misinformed

2005-06-14T23:03:00.000-04:00

So just a quick note to say that, as opposed to previously stated information that i was leaving on July 15th or 16th for Ecuador, my flight is actually on the 19th. This works out swimmingly because it means an extra 4 days with my sister. In addition to this, i also get the opportunity to fly by a different route than previous trips to Ecuador... this time i get to stop in Houston, Texas.... that's all that's new, i had a "Bible study" time with some guys from my church tonight and it was really cool..... peace out y'all

Garbage

2005-06-12T22:11:00.000-04:00

well here's a new record for me three posts in one night... but as it turns out, i in fact did not lose my first post.... so you got it twice.... hope there were no inconsistencies between the two:P

sincerely
Lucas

Blast this stupid thing

2005-06-12T22:04:00.000-04:00

Ok i think i lost my last post... so here it is in a condensed form...

Happy birthday to me soon... i miss Ontario... no friends here...

This week: monday=birthday Tuesday= painting at the pastor's house wednesday-??=working for grampy Thursday(hopefully) = first eel fishing venture weekend = potentially going to Cape Breton to visit Dad... :

Pray for: Ecuador plans:), time with family, work to keep me busy, spending time with the Lord.... not near where it should be.....

anyways, thanks for your prayers and friendship:)

in Him(what a thought!:) )
Lucas

Happy Birthday to me

2005-06-12T21:37:00.000-04:00

This post is really just an opportunity to give kudos to me for being born... in approximately one hour and twenty-two minutes it will be the day commemorating the day of my birth.... that's all really.... i sure wish i was in Ontario for it though, since i have no friends:P

and on to more important things: church was good today. i get to paint on tuesday at the pastor of my church's house. wednesday i go to my grampy's again which i should be more appreciative of, and Lord willing this week will mark the first week of a very short eel fishing season since i leave in roughly a month.

I get to introduce myself to my church next sunday, since there are so many new people that don't know me at all... so that should be good, and i hope to gain some good prayer support for while i'm in Ecuador... that's really all that's new.... except oh yeah, i might be going to my Dad's next weekend for a visit.... so pray for me about that....

thanks everyone who reads this, and thanks for your prayers... one final thing i'd appreciate prayer for is work for the last month i'm in this country... i hate being lazy... well i like it... but it's wrong and slothful... so yeah.... with that, i now depart, to count down the last 61 minutes until my birth"day" begins

A long-awaited update... or maybe not

2005-06-08T09:11:00.000-04:00

Ok, i've been chastised for my lack of posting, and it got me to realize just how lazy i've been and where my priorities have been since i've been home. typing a few brief words on here really doesn't take that long, but i've spent more hours than i want to count watching tv and wasting my life.

So first: my life.
Nicki came and we had a good visit. working at Malagash Bible Camp for a weekend was great, although i got put with the grade 2 boys who ate candy at all hours, (like as soon as they woke up:P) and didn't really listen to me because they had never met me before... good times anyway though.

My Ticket is booked for Ecuador, so now that feels like more of a reality. i leave on the 15th or the 16th, i don't remember... and i return on the 22 of December. i've begun to look for resources and helps on the internet for teaching english as a second language to kids in elementary school... so if anyone who reads this knows any good sites or has any good ideas, let me know.
Aside from teaching english, i'll be helping with a kids club and a youth group. most of all i'd ask for prayer that i'd get a chance to spend lots of one on one time with some of the younger guys, as well as the fact that it's been three years now since i've been there, so pray that i can pick up where i left off in the relationships formed when i was last there.

In other news, my little sister comes home from Germany in roughly a month now, so i'm super stoked to spend time with her before i leave the country. I'm reading the book, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney and i've been challenged by the chapter on the spiritual discipline of worship, as it's something i've struggled with much of late. Sincerity is my biggest problem, and i tend to criticize many of the contemporary worship songs of the day because they make me lie to God...in song.

so that's my life, one of many current struggles in my walk with God, and another reason to be thankful I have a God who is huge and mysterious, yet who faithfully guides us into a greater knowledge of Himself:)

Until next time
in Him

P.S. Congratulations to Matt and Ruth Cook

2005-05-19T23:25:00.000-04:00

Hokey smokes, i just can't believe that they just had a baby. so Congratulations to Matt and Ruth. check it out at http://www.matthewcook.blogspot.com

I guess it's about time for a post

2005-05-19T23:03:00.000-04:00

I'll apologize (if necessary.) This is merely an update on what i've been up to, no deep thoughts to ponder.

Well, since last posted i've been home for more than 2 weeks now. I've spent 6 days working with my grampy, which has been interesting. How's that, you ask? well he's selling the house he spent the last 30 years in, and he's virtually never thrown anything out. The worst of it is that even now he still wants to keep the most senseless stuff (I lugged 54 big garbage cans full of dirt from his garden that he decided he still wanted, as well as about 200 windows that he collected for some reason and he still has 350 cement blocks that he wants to move to his new place-just in case he can make some money off them.) It's been stressful, but i'm thankful for the opportunity to work and keep busy.

In other news the Lord is faithful and Church has been surprisingly good since i've been home. It's sad that I was so pessimistic about it, but it's been good. Praise the Lord that through my church i have a chunk of my trip to Ecuador paid for now. My ticket is being booked this week i believe, and the money part is coming together. so yeah, it's neat to see that the Lord has everything under control, and is so faithful. please pray that i'll trust the Lord for the rest of the money and particularly for figuring out money for when i go back to KLBC in January.

In other news, I go to PEI this weekend to the farm with the youth group, then on tuesday Nicki comes to visit, then on the next weekend we're going to Malagash Bible Camp to help with the end of the year retreat for the kids club from my church. life is busy, but good.

KLBC people. don't be shy, come visit me:P and other than that, i'm still praying for you all. It's so sad but even after three years of Bible College my devotional life isn't anywhere near consistent, even immediately following a great year in that environment. So discipline yourselves for the purpose of godliness (1Tim4:7) Lord bless

And with that...

2005-05-02T21:08:00.000-04:00

Ok so i am now home in beautiful Nova Scotia. I honestly still don't think it has sunk in that i'm away from all my friends in Peterborough for 8 whole months, but suffice it to say that I already deeply miss everyone from KLBC this year.

So, Graphite was incredible, I was blessed by my friends and we had a great time. grad was good, i finished all my work finally, and now i'm home after a long long time in the Toronto airport today with my "best bud" Rachel Langton.

so what's next you ask? well i don't even know... tomorrow is resume day.. i mean wednesday is resume day, since our printer doesn't work:P at some point i'll be off to my grandparent's place to do some work for them for a few days, and i'll do some odd jobs for a woman up the street as well. then i still need to meet with the elders and start figuring out Ecuador.

so, in conclusion, i would covet your prayers for me, and remind you to pray for one another that this summer might be a time of great growth. i still have a lot to plan for Ecuador, so yeah, that would be cool. i promise to try to keep y'all updated that bother to read this:P

so thanks to all you KLBC folk for a fantastic year. i can't wait to see all of you (or most anyway) again next year...

a special note for Mattymac - i miss you already, and i'm flippin a kidney missing out on coffee with you. i love you bro. remember the plan...

in real conclusion, 1,2,3 email me. 2,3,4 email me more.

Oh Majesty unspeakable, my soul desires to behold Thee. I cry to Thee from the dust.
Yet when i inquire after Thy name it is secret. Thou art hidden in the light which no man can approach unto. What Thour art cannot be thought or uttered, for Thy glory is ineffable.
Still, prophet and psalmist, apostle and saint have encouraged me to believe that i may in some measure know Thee. Therefore, I pray, whatever of Thyself Thou has been pleased to disclose, help me to search out as treasure more precious than rubies or the merchandise of fine gold: for with Thee shall i live when the stars of the twilight have vanished away and only Thou remainest. --- A.W. Tozer The Knowledge of the Holy

Nearly there now

2005-04-25T17:20:00.000-04:00

Well here goes. i'm taking a break to celebrate the moment where i passed the 10 assignments left mark for assignments left to finish for tomorrow. 9 assignments left. now on friday night this point seemed so far away, but i'm really almost done. good day today really... despite getting 2 hours of sleep due to ridiculous amount of coffee consumed in a desperate effort to stay awake and study for History exam today. the Lord is good, i'm not dependent enough, and i'm almost done another year of Bible College... yes that's right, one more year and y'all will need to refer to me as Luke Bruce... BAM! (exclamation mark for empasis... it's not a "Bachelor of Arts in Ministry!")

so Grasp onto Jesus this summer i say to you KLBC folks that read this especially. He really is all we have ultimately, and He is more than sufficient.

now onto the last 9 assignments... or parts of them that still remain for me.

p.s. listen to Andrew Peterson... seriously, i've listened to "High Noon" like 50 times in 2 days now.

This is insane

2005-04-23T20:29:00.000-04:00

I'm under a self-enforced house arrest while i finish the ridiculous amount of work that i procrastinated on all semester. so why am i taking the time to post? well it's a procrastination technique for one, and i haven't done it in ages.

Anyway, the end of the year is near, and i struggle with the fact that due to my irresponsibility i don't get to spend the last few days enjoying the friendships that i've built all year. anyway, i guess we learn the hard way some times.

as another note, Ecuador plans are shaping slowly, but the Lord is good and my church is going to support me in some way at least. that is a blessing, and it made me think about the fact that despite the fact that i've barely talked to them in the past three years while i've been at Bible College they are still praying for me and there for me. So the Lord is good, i'm a slacker, and i've still got roughly 15 assignments left to do by Monday so i'm off.

peace out
Cling to Him
Lucas

p.s. my mom and my sister were actually in Rome when they picked the new pope, even though they didn't get to see him. still kinda neat.

I suck at titles

2005-04-05T23:47:00.000-04:00

Well it's been a while yet again, but here i go again.
only 3 weeks of class left - and way more work than that to do in it. but by His strength i'll make it through. on top of that i need to try to find a job for the 2 1/2 months of the summer that i'll be home, and find a way to afford Ecuador this summer and school next year.

Philosophy is an interesting subject - although one that would make a LOT more sense if one had an actual teacher as opposed to a book. but consider this: how can we TALK about God? i won't be able to write it down terribly accurately, but it seems that this issue that we so seldom think about does actually require some thought. can we use words the same way to describe God as we do to describe anything else in the world?(that is, use univocal language) since God is so far beyond anything that our mere language can convey, do we need to then conclude that we use words, but they are entirely different in reference to God than anything else(that is, equivocal language), in which case we are confounded because we lose our ability to understand language consistently and to distinguish between what we mean.
now i recognize that that was probably more confusing that question-answering, but it's an interesting thing to look into... (although it would probably make more sense to ask someone who knows something about philosophy rather than just read a dumb book.)

ok so on to more. ummmm..... ok never mind - the 12:00 shutting down of the mind just occurred, so it's off to bed for this chico...

Lord bless

Cling to Him

Lucas

It's all happening so fast!

2005-03-21T00:15:00.000-05:00

I miss my Mohawk
Seriously, i don't know how to put pictures up, but it was sweet, and fleeting, lasting only long enough to take a few pictures:P

Only 5 more choir performances left!
Which is pretty cool, since i'm getting tired of it, although it was encouraging tonight, and despite the fainting and asthma attacks it went pretty well i think:)

Things are shaping up nicely
So it's cool how God works stuff out, and i'm getting super excited to think that Ecuador this summer might really be a reality. i have a place to stay with the same family as before, and thanks to His goodness, i'll be a lot more prepared to minister this time...

It'll be a wonder if i make it through the next month
But then i'll be down to one last semester and i'm done and y'all will have to refer to me as Luke Bruce - BAM:P haha ok so anyway, that's my little update

Cling to Him - He alone is sufficient

Good Luck and Pig

2005-03-09T23:30:00.000-05:00

Viel Gluck und Schwein

So my little sister is pretty great, and i knew that already, but out of the blue i get this card from her today, and on the front is a picture of a mouse and a pig, and it contains nothing more than the words "Good Luck and Pig" so after i stop laughing about 5 minutes later, i read the card, and she makes speculation as to what on earth that could possibly mean for about half the card, then she says that the mystery is solved and she found out that pigs mean good luck in Germany, so that's a rather well known phrase there apparently. So now you know...

But all that aside, it was an encouraging letter from her, and i was also blessed in that the Lord provided yet again for my needs at just the right time through her. it made me consider the verse in Philippians 4:14-17

Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.
You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone;
for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.
Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.

So yeah, this wasn't the first time that my sister has helped me out, and, as much as i can't identify much with Paul's situation, i'm pretty broke, and above all, it's an encouragement to see in my sister the willingness to give out of love and just for me to see how the Lord's been working in her and how she's grown over the past year. so yet again, at just the right time, God provided for another little while. We have no reason to doubt His faithfulness, but we fear far too easily.

ok so that's it for now, i need to sleep, peace out

Cling to Him

Luke

just two more months....

2005-03-03T22:56:00.000-05:00

To begin with, i'd like to point out that at this point in my academic year, i'm pretty much doomed. despite my best efforts to convince myself otherwise, i've managed to do a near perfect reenactment of last semester, which leaves most of my schoolwork for half the semester. i just can't seem to learn, can i?

on a more positive note, i've made my important decision for the summer coming; and it looks as though i'll be travelling to Ecuador in July, Lord willing, to do my ministry internship with Tim and Lillian Horne for 5 months. this is really exciting for me, since i haven't been to Ecuador since March of 2002, but it comes with a lot of challenges... so if you think of me at any point between now and December, pray for me. but the Lord is faithful, so i'm attempting not to worry.

and that's all for now.....

...

2005-02-23T02:18:00.000-05:00

Well, much time has passed, apologies to all who read this, but life's been the same story since i posted last anyway, so i'm not too concerned.

Pride... again. this time, in the form of Christian service. not in the sense that i begin to think that i am better in Christ's eyes for doing it, but in the sense that i feel dejected when i feel that people don't respect my spiritual wisdom and experience to come to me for help. To feel that no one values your input, or listens at all, because they think you have nothing worthwhile to say.

i guess self-pity ties into all this too, but man alive. John the Baptist was able to step down after being the big guy on the scene for a while, because he knew he wasn't worthy of Christ. if i'm hoping to have Christ speak through me and convict and edify through me, then i need to be getting to know Him more, so i can realize that as long as He's being made much of, then it doesn't matter that it isn't me in the spotlight for doing it.

so what do you do with feelings? what's the point in sharing with people anything? they let you down

ok so on a positive note, i had a great evening today at the Premseler's house, and i feel somewhat more motivated to get moving on plans for the summer now. after struggling with it for a few months, i feel that Ecuador is the place for me this summer, so i'd appreciate prayer from y'all about that, just preparation and guidance and finances and all the joys that go along with it.

in conclusion lately, i'm sure i've been difficult to be around lately, but..... that's a long story that i haven't figured out yet.... peace out

cling to Him

Can't seem to figure it out...

2005-02-05T01:32:00.000-05:00

Well it's been a while since I last posted, and in that time i've gone through such a wide range of emotions i don't think i could possibly take you through the rollercoaster that is me, but for the most part y'all have been patient with me, so thanks for that.

I would like to start by ranting briefly about my issue with contemporary praise songs. not to blanket them all in a quilt of generalized wrongness, but for the most part, if my mind is really active while i'm singing, i often just can't do it, which is a shame because i like to sing.
I struggle with the idea that lying to God and boasting to one another in song about how well i'm doing in obeying His command to love Him and follow Him and give everything to Him should really be considered something that exalts Christ. Instead, why not recognize that I am powerless to love Him and obey Him apart from the Grace that He gives. I can delete myself from every one of these songs, because anytime I manage to do something right it's not me but Christ in me. The emphasis of worship is on Christ. what He has done and how worthy He is.

That said, perhaps everyone is just doing better than i am and can actually say with a clear conscience that the words they sing are true for them in their experience. I don't mean that it's necessarily wrong to sing that we love Him, but man alive do we ever exaggerate in these songs!
(if by chance the previous bit is a little incoherent, know that it is nearly 1:00, and perhaps i was just babbling or used wrong words)

ok next topic. though i had a pretty terribly attitude about this spiritual life emphasis week, it was helpful and necessary and good.

now i'm going to bed. more on my inconsistencies and flaws to come later...