I just had an amazing visit here back in Saskatoon! I had the chance to unexpectedly come back home for American Thanksgiving. It has been such a blessing to be around familiar places, people, and things! I haven't ever truly lived outside of Canada for more than a few weeks, so I haven't really experienced missing my country. I can no longer say that. Even though I was only home for a few days, I got to throw a great surprise birthday party for my dear Cody (he was completely shocked), have great visits with friends, be with my family, relax, set up some Christmas decorations, and participate in the first advent supper!
I am excited, however, to head back to Denver. There are sweet things ahead in our program! On December 17th, we are headed out on our outreach to Honduras and Nicaragua! How amazing!! We affectionately like to call our team the Nicaduras team. Since I am in Nicaragua for Christmas. I had Christmas in November. Oh home sweet home! Here are a couple of pictures from my visit:
I will try to keep updating this blog. I apologize for my lack of diligence in keeping it up to date. Especially when I am on my mission, I will try to do better!
The program that I am in here in Denver is a MUSICIANS dts. There's a little bit of emphasis on the musicians part there. It has been really an amazing experience to be in an environment where everyone in my school loves music or is themselves a musician. I don't know that I've ever really had that opportunity anywhere else. The school itself is not centered much around music, but more-so directed at people who find a passion in music. I would definitely categorize myself as such. I love music. Every single thing about it.
I can pin-point in my memory the day when I truly developed an appreciation for it. I was at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Regina around Christmas time and the radio was playing. The song "Breakfast" by the newsboys was playing and I did not know the song yet, but I just wanted to sing along and dance to it. I probably did both. The amazing thing about music is that it moves people, in one way or another. Whether they are moved to dance, sing, clap, sway, change, or simply stop and listen, it doesn't matter. The point is that music causes movement.
Another thing that has been so amazing being here in Denver is that there are so many people from different cultures represented. Music is this universal language that we can all share! How beautiful is that? "When words fail, music speaks." I mean, we have people from the United States, Germany, Norway, South Africa, Korea, Switzerland, Canada (woot woot), Kenya, and I probably forgot some.
Today I got the chance to share a song I had to write about wisdom. So I want to share it with the outside world, too. My friend Austin helped me out by playing the Jimbe (sp?), so props to him for the beats! Anyways... the song is about finding the fear of the Lord (the beginning of wisdom Prov. 9:10) when we come to the River of Life... no matter where we are at in our lives. We can be distant from God and He'll still grant us wisdom in those times too. It's an open invitation to come into a relationship with Him. It was fun writing this song. I hope you enjoy it!
Ywam is really great this week.
And here are the lyrics:
When our tongues were mixed, not by the tower, but by the lion
When our eyes weren't fixed on Him, we were false idoling
When the stones were small, but the faith was bigger than a giant
When the walls were thick, but we blew them down with the trumpets
When I fall: There's a River
When I call: There's a River
The River's deep. The River's wide.
There my soul is satisfied
I'm diving in. I'm going deep
Heavenly treasure I am seeking
At the bottom I find
The fear of the Lord can be mine
If I choose to swim in stride
I can come to the River any time
When our hope grows thin, like thie pictures on the magazines
When we spend our time on the useless, wordly things
When we come as one, and lift up Holy hands
When we lift our prayers, trusting God to heal this land
