Camp.

The last 9 days have been spent at "camp," which really means a lodge at the base of the mountains near Hope, British Columbia. It is actually really in Sunshine Valley (a village of about 165 people). Our time spent at camp has involved lots of playtime and sleeping/resting. I have loved being in the same bed for more than two nights and being able to spend a lot of time with all the children and other chaperones. Being together all the time as a family unit has been refreshing and renews my passion.

Our house here is surrounded by lots of trees and rivers. The children and I have spent many hours at the river, enjoying being surrounded by God's creation. I find that taking the time to slow down has been quite refreshing. I am thankful for this time of retreat and for the time to appreciate all that God has done for me and for the choir. And I must say that I have loved being able to go on walks! Whether alone or with Chelsea (my trusted walking friend) I am hearing God's voice. He is continually pouring into me and encouraging me. Words and thoughts such as these are what God is laying on my heart: resolve, excellence, character, forgiveness, potter and His clay, and a few others. I am not quite sure yet how they all fit together, but I think that God is teaching me a pretty big lesson. I have the resolve to live each day as best as I should no matter my circumstances, to live serving others with excellence, to instill character into the children and myself, to learn how to accept and give forgiveness freely, to know that I am the clay and my Father is the Potter and I am being shaped for His purpose, refined and put through the fire in the process.

This time at camp has been more than just campfire songs and games, it has been a time of renewal, a time of quietness, (even with African drums waking me each morning), a time of development. I have a couple more days here at camp before tour and concerts starts back up and I am praying that I make the most of it. I will take the time to be and to pour into the children by teaching them about life and the things of God. They are precious souls and I have the honor of pouring into them.

Please pray with me as I have conversations with the children, as I spend time with them, that the words that are spoken would be life changing. God's words and His truth will do nothing else than change us; so may these be the words that are spoken. May my lips drip with words that are sweet perfume to the Lord.

p.s. Here are a few pictures of our time at camp over the last few days: old train tunnels, parks, and laundry washing =)

Time flies...

I thought that I had just posted here a few days ago and then I realized that it has been two weeks! Time on the road is a concept all it's own. An hour feels like a day, a day like a week, a week like a month...not that times drags, because it doesn't. I think about all that is accomplished in one day and sometimes it surprises me how much we get done as a team. We grow, learn, are challenged, laugh, and sometimes cry. And this is life and I love it.

Right now I am sitting at starbucks enjoying free wi-fi and a vanilla rooibus tea latte. It's pretty wonderful that our church is located so closely. I have been to this same place a few times now which is pretty incredible because it's very rare that I frequent the same place more than once.

I'm sitting here thinking about perspective. Our perspective changes everything. I have a different view of life than the biker sitting at the table next to me who just probably rode about 5 miles as observed from his spandex and sweat, haha. Or my perspective is different compared to the two business people frantically scribbling notes and talking quite passionately. Each one of us see things differently because we are shaped by our surroundings and experiences.

The experiences that I live today prepare me for tomorrow.

So God what are you teaching me today? How are you preparing me for tomorrow?

Village 3

Welcome to my home.

Her name is Village 3 (so I'm not actually sure if I would refer to the bus as a she but if it was a ship it would be a she so why not. A bus is really just a ship with wheels right?!?!)

This is my beautiful front door.

First stop, my bedroom: complete with pillow and blanket. I have become quite well acquainted with this seat and it has been a faithful friend.

Extensive art gallery: drawn by Faith and I on one of our longer bus rides. I am partial to it; it may even compare to the Mona Lisa.

Powder Room: where hair is fixed before each concert.

My closet: don't be alarmed. I share it with 8 other people. Sometimes we even get our clothes confused and we end up changing twice.

Transportable dresser: holds everything from toiletries to slippers to books and movies. Bonus to this model of dresser is that it can go anywhere! If you need to move, it moves with you.

Living Room: a nice spot to get away from it all or visit with someone or even make a phone call home.

The "Bay" Window: gives a great view of the world outside.

Library: full of books, while most of them are children's books there are a few wonderful classics for all ages like Anne of Green Gables and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Pantry: midday snack? Craving? You can most likely find the cure in this little box, it's pretty wonderful.

Office: where much work happens. A place of great inspiration and where great ideas are born. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not.

Ah, and now for one of the best parts...a few of my busmates:

Mel: sitting in her bedroom talking on the phone to a dear friend. I love listening to her on the phone because she gets so excited!

Tony: doing "office work" a.k.a bonding with his itouch.

Amy: catching up on a few winks. And please note she crocheted this beautiful blanket herself! (and she is willing to sell it to the highest bidder)

And finally: the view from home tonight. Tomorrow it will be different. A different place, a different view...yet still beautiful.

Rocky Mountains

Today was a longer bus ride. We left Castlegar and headed to Salmon Arm, British Columbia. It took nearly 7 hours, over 300 km (on mountain roads mind you), and a ferry to get there. I enjoy the longer bus rides as it offers time for us to be together, just Choir 35, building our relationships with each other. Driving through the Rocky Mountains, surrounded by their greatness I was overcome with how small we were. Here we were, 30 people on a bus moving as one together. Life around us was huge and powerful and we were so small compared to what surrounded us, it reminded me of God’s greatness and His splendor.

I was sitting with Deborah for part of the ride and we listened to some music. As Deborah sang quietly I observed God’s handiwork. Not only could He create this rough beauty He could create something so intricate and delicate. He created Deborah to have a relationship with Him and to know Him. I watched as she tenderly worshipped her God. I could have stayed in that moment for quite a while.

She sang these words: Jesus I'll put You first/In my life nothing else will do/I'll spend the rest of my life/In Your house/Giving all to You/I'm so glad You're here/I'm so glad You're near/'Cause I need You/Yes I need You

Later that night at my host family we sat on the back deck, a soft rain hitting the lake behind the house and I listened to the girls laugh and enjoy their hamburgers. The night air held a sense of expectancy and I knew that God was smiling down on us. Here we sat: 2 Canadians, 1 Ugandan, 2 Kenyans, and 1 American enjoying His creation and reveling in the beauty surrounding us in Salmon Arm, British Columbia.

Today my soul was renewed.

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. (2 Corinthians)

Be still.

I am writing this now while sitting in Starbucks but going to post it later since I don’t have internet unless I pay for it and that’s not going to happen. It’s been one of those days where everything seems vivid and very real. I can see perfectly what is going on; things seems almost as if they were moving in slow motion. God is teaching me and the other chaperones so much right now and we are growing in Him daily.

The last few days the same thought has been showing up in paper words and in spoken words: stillness. “Be still and know that I am God.” A short and to the point verse that is difficult. Be still: how often are we still? How often do I, not just slow down, but practice the discipline of BEING STILL?

So, step one: be still. Be who you are and in essence shut up. Go before God and be quiet, practicing the discipline of quietness.

Step two: know that He is God. Look at the power in that statement. Know that I am God. He is God. I am not. I cannot control any situation, no matter how much I try because I am not God. Know Him as God, Creator, Savior, King, Lord, Judge, Groom, Almighty.

How do I go about knowing Him? Be quiet; be still before Him. Enter His presence and do nothing, just listen. Listen for His voice and know Him. Hear His heart, feel what makes His heart beat.

In the Old Testament God says who He is by two simple yet powerful words: “I AM.” I am God. I am Creator. I am Savior. I am King. I am Lord. I am Judge. I am Groom. I am Almighty. That’s it. That’s all I need to know because if I truly knew these things about Him my life would be different. I would not doubt or control or question because I would truly know His heart. I would know Him deeply as the I AM. The One who was, and is, and is to come. No other came before Him and no one will go after Him.

That truth changes me. It changes my relationship with Him and others. It changes the way that I live with these 29 other people on a bus for 15 months. It changes things. And while God is perfect and unchanging I am changing because I have not learned it all.

Please pray for me and the other chaperones that we would know God. There are times on tour when we try to figure things out on our own and then realize that we should have laid it at the feet of Christ. He is God and I will trust Him to show me the way and to be confident in whom He is and who I am in Him.

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes coma and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. God dwells in that city, it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it. The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts! The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Come, see the glorious works of the Lord: see how he brings destruction upon the world. He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.” Psalm 46

May Days

Here is a picture diary of our last couple of weeks. It has been a busy couple of weeks and quite wonderful at the same time. We have had many new and unforgettable experiences, the first being performing with Michael W. Smith!

[MWS photos courtesy of Uncle Vic]

Some dress up time, our girls' best!

Host family bowling, (above) Ivy: "Which ball is nicest to me?"

Poor Faith hurt her arm, she is so bummed but doing great learning how to do things with her other arm, she is on a quick road to recovery.

Day off at the lake, this one below is for Tony (haha)

Outing for Ice Cream!

They love to share =)

Black licorice ice cream, yummy???

That is it, for now at least.

Story.

I just got done reading A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. It has provoked a lot of thoughts in my heart and mind. Life is starting to look a bit different now though as I begin to look at it like a story with a series of memorable scenes as Miller calls them. Never have I viewed life like this before. My picture of things has been in events and accomplishments but it is slowly starting to view things as scenes. Tonight for instance was the perfect example. I was sitting with my host family and their daughter who is close to my age. We sat around the dinner table for over an hour talking about travels, cultures, ACC, adventures and I realized that I will always have this scene and it was beautiful to me. Perhaps it is being more aware of the beauty in things that are near.

Miller also talks about writing his story and making sure that when he sees Jesus face to face that he will have a worthwhile story to tell. Can you imagine if we all made decisions, even the smallest ones, in light of this? What story am I pursuing? Hearing this makes me realize how desperately I want to have an exciting story, one that Jesus would smile at. It doesn't mean that it will be free from hardship or failure, but I really wouldn't want it to be either. So, my aim will be to live a story that Jesus would be proud of. One that searches for adventure and purpose, that knows no bounds.

I am reminded of my time kayaking a couple years ago. It was dusk and the sun was just beginning to set. Praying and asking God what was next I noticed the moon. It was beautiful and full and then I heard, "Don't miss my sunset waiting to see what the moon will reveal." I don't want to be so focused on what is ahead that I miss where I am at now. Right here, this is where I belong.

It is my choice to create the scenes and live the story.