Hot, Hot, Hot

Well if you meet my mom you'll find out she's almost always cold and if you meet my dad you'll find out he's often too hot. I don't know whether to class myself as fortunate or not but I am like my dad in that I am always too hot. So, I try to complain as little as possible in the winter so that I can dish it out in the summer :). Then, when someone says "we always complain that it's too cold and then complain when it gets hot" I can honestly say that's not the case for me. I don't always succeed as the winters where I'm from are long and unpredictable and Winnipeg is not any better but I do my best to save it for this time of year.

As I write this now it is after 8pm and still holding at 26 degrees. Yesterday it got to 32 degrees out here and it's hot enough to melt ya. I find the heat difficult to bear and just want to stretch out on the floor and pray for cooler weather. I will admit that I am not looking forward to the heat in the sanctuary tomorrow morning and evening. At least when I mention a hot day in my sermon we'll have a point of reference to deal with.

It's been a good week three here in Robert's Arm and I can't believe I'm heading into week four as of Monday. I was pleased to get my flight changed to head out to BC to visit my mom and my cat at the end of August and look forward to that time and then time spent in Calgary with other friends and family. I am missing home a lot this weekend as it's time for the Calgary Stampede and I am missing the parade and Glenmore Temple festivities for the first time in years. In fact I've at least attended these festivities my whole life and have been participating since I was 13 or 14 years old. It's certainly one of those milestones of being away and one that really struck me today.

Good News

Fact #1 - I cannot do this on my own

Fact #2 - I do not have to

These two statements are both completely correct. As I have been spending my time in a variety of tasks here I am reminded daily that there is no way I could be an officer on my own strength. It is a job that is filled with ups and downs and a never ending supply of work, and struggles to balance time. I noticed this at CFOT and I notice it even more in the field. I still have many questions and much to learn and as I was reminded the other day - the beginning of wisdom is "I don't know".

The joy and fulfillment of my life is that I don't have to do it alone. Yes, I'm single, I haven't lost my mind and forgotten that fact, but as with all Christians I have God within me all the time. He will never leave me. When I am nervous, unsure or wondering what to do the answers may not come immediately but God is there as a source of comfort, strength and love to hold me up no matter what.

I've already learned a LOT this summer and have no doubt that over the next 6.5 weeks I will continue to learn even more, but through all that the reminder that God is more than able is a good lesson to keep at the forefront.

Robert's Arm

I have arrived in Robert's Arm, Nfld. and am in love with the view around here. It is fairly well known that I am in love with my home province of Alberta and think that there is little to compare with the breath taking vistas of the Rockie Mountains. However, I stand here today and tell you that the rugged landscape of Newfoundland is every bit as beautiful. I love being surrounded by the water - even with all the flies :).

The drive here was long but I got to stop in Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor and then up to Robert's Arm. I've since been back to Grand Falls and have also made it to Triton and Pilley's Island. I have on my list of place to visit - Springdale, Brighton, Long Island, St. Pierre and who knows where else. I am excited to see even more of this great Island than I have before.

In my time so far I have so far, attended a funeral, participated in my first wedding as a member of the clergy and made a few visits. I've also had a lot of fun sorting through clothes to make ready for the bag sale next week. It may sound boring but once you take into account that you're playing with clothes all day and the endless possibilities that presents you realize how fun it is.

I am enjoying this a little bit more every day as I get to know the community and people here better and look forward to my remaining time here. Look forward (or dread) to more blogging from me over the Summer as I expect I'll have a lot to share.

Congress

Well, there is so much I could say about this wonderful weekend here in St. John's. I have really, really enjoyed my time here and it has helped get me even more excited (if that's possible) for my Summer. It has been a time of reconnection, great music, wonderful worship and fellowship.

I found out that I knew more people here than anticipated. I mean I did expect to see some of the folks that I have run into, but many others have come up to me that remember me from when I lived here and others that lived in Calgary for a time. Then, after you add in all of the people that know my Dad or my Grandparents I think I know most of the people here. It sometimes leaves me feeling a bit stunned if the truth were told. I did see Fred and Wendy as well as Kerry and Cheryl and so felt like I was getting to see some family over the weekend :).

The General was a great speaker and I enjoyed each of his messages. Commissioning was a very moving and exciting time as I watched friends become the latest Salvation Army officers. I am thrilled to see 7 heading to my home division and I wish them and all the other new Lieutenants God's blessings in their ministry.

Now for me it's off to Robert's Arm and that should be a great time.

First Year

Well, here I am facing down the end of my first school year at CFOT and about to embark on my Summer assignment. Everything here is winding down as we hand in last assignments, pack, clean and rehearse for commissioning. I have 3 days before I head out to Newfoundland for congress and then my Summer Assignment. There are lists upon lists as I figure out what to bring, what to do and how I'm going to manage it all before I go. The joy for me of a deadline like this is what I don't finish isn't getting done before I leave. I live for those do or die deadlines :-).

The past ten months (give or take) have been incredible for me in so many ways. I have inexplicably found that I love academic classes. Not all aspects of them of course, but I really get into the many discussions we have and I love the research. History is my real passion and as soon as a course contains that then look out the big geek has arrived. Academics were a big area of concern for me when I was coming into CFOT and while I still have some hurdles to work through they are certainly not a big concern now.

My field placements have been amazing learning experiences at both my Sunday brigade and my mid-week field. I have learned a great deal from my supervisors at those locations although in many ways it simply becomes clearer how much I still have left to learn. That whole "still have left to learn" aspect is really the theme of my training time. It seems that every time I turn around I find something else I still need to learn or work on.

It has been an amazing 10 months with amazing experiences and God has really moved in my life. I really can't wait to see what he has in store for me over the Summer and then in year two of my CFOT time.

Jasper Fforde

Okay, I know I'm not the only one to have read the above author's books because someone recommended him to me, but sometimes that's how it feels. So I'm writing this to recommend him to others as every time I read his books I find something new and always enjoy the humour.

The books are fairly recently written (last 10 years) and there are two series. The first and longest series is about a literary detective Thursday Next. It starts in 1985 but it's a different 1985 - key events in our history happened differently and so things like the Crimean war are still happening, and there is no travel by plane. The books are very funny and not only about some light reading. You need a decent grasp of classical literature and politics over the years to fully understand some of the differences.

One of the things I really enjoy about his books are his plays on the English language. I mean the name of his main character (Thursday Next) in an of itself is a bit of a laugh. For example in one of the books there is discussion around a shortage of the letter 'U' and so the decision is to change words like neighbour in one geographical location to neighbor and have it viewed as a spelling idiosyncrasy...if that idea makes you chuckle a bit or even smile then you'll probably enjoy this author's books. The first book in that series is called The Eyre Affair.

His other series is so far only two books long and is a kind of spin off of the Thursday Next books. It's a mystery series based around nursery rhyme characters and is also very funny. The first book in that series is called The Big Over Easy.

He has a new book out called Shades of Gray and I'm excited to read it and see if it's as good as the other books.

All this to say - read Jasper Fforde's books. They are very funny and well worth the time if you're looking for something fun and fictional to read.

Field Placement

Well I'm still trying to blog more frequently although I'm only somewhat succeeding in that but here's another one in my seemingly endless attempt to communicate in this fashion.

Part of the training college program involves a variety of practicums. In our first semester this involved touring some of the various facilities that we might be going to in our second semester as well as helping out with various events The Salvation Army in Winnipeg was involved in. Our second semester has us placed at a field placement that we attend every week from January to June. I have been fortunate to be involved with one of the day programs run here in the city and have loved it.

What's been really great is the getting out and learning through hands on opportunities. The group of people that I was working with are so open and willing to help that it made my job easy. I am sincerely going to miss my weekly sessions there and look forward to maybe stopping by in the fall semester just to say hi.

The comment was made at our field supervisors appreciation lunch about lasting impressions and this has certainly made one on me.