For the month of September, I was able to rest and relax. I was able to go and visit my family in Michigan for about a week. Then I traveled to Orlando Flordia for the CSM staff retreat. All the full time staff meet together and relax. We got to do to Universal Studios, Disney World (I went to the Animal Kingdom) and a variety of other activities.
Right after returning from Orlando, I repacked my bags for cooler tempatures and traveled with my boyfriend Josh up north to Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. (I've been dating Josh for 9 months now and it has been so much fun! I think he's absolutley wonderful) We first flew to Edmonton, Alberta and then my friend Pete Olsen drove us 15 hours north. I slept the majority of the time as we drove up and because of this I missed seeing wolves and the northern lights (grr). We had to drive through Wood Buffalo National Park and we got to see buffalo and black bears. It was so cool!
Josh and I stayed with Pete and Cindi Olsen for about two weeks. It was probably the most relaxing two weeks of my life :-) Honestly, we slept for the majority of the time and sat around watching movies. But we did get to do other things. We got to hike around the Slave River, climb around the Little Buffalo Park, canoe up the Salt River, and enjoy God's creation all around us :-)
One of the days we were there, Pete and Cindi took us up to Hay River so see the Great Slave Lake and also drop Cindi off to her meeting. We didn't end up leaving there until the evening and we had a three hour drive ahead of us. (Just as a reference point, to get to Fort Smith from anywhere you have to drive through Wook Buffalo National Park). On our way back to Fort Smith, I was sitting in the front and keeping my eyes peeled for any animals on the side of the road. I happened to see two sets of buffalo eyes and pointed them out to Pete. However, what I didn't notice was that there was an entire herd of buffalo on the road. We were slowing down as quick as possible and the buffalo had began to run out of the way, except one. It was honestly like a cartoon. The buffalo didn't move and lifted his head just in time for us to hit it with the side of the vehicle. After that we were all pretty juiced. One thing that Josh said was "I just was the face of Jesus and it looked like a buffalo" ;-)
After we were far away from the buffalo we pulled over to take a breather and relax a bit! When we pulled over we saw an amazing northern lights display. It was incredible and so beautiful. That is a night that I will never forget. I mean how many people do you know can say they hit a buffalo.
All in all, this trip for me was exactly what I needed to relax and get refreshed from the year! Thanks Pete and Cindi for letting Josh and I come and be slothes for two weeks :-) I loved it up there and I'm sure that anyone else who would go would find the same thing! Hope you enjoy some of the pictures!
Grace & peace!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
2007
As most of you know, I've been in Toronto for over a year working with Center for Student Missions as City Director. This particular adventure has been a combination of joy and hardships. I would say that this has been the hardest year of my life...but I wouldn't change it. I learned so much, not only about the job but also about myself and my relationship with my creator and friend, Jesus Christ.
I recently came across a verse that I would say pretty much sums up why I had such a hard year. Isaiah 2:22 "Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?" I laughed out loud at myself after reading this verse because this is exactly what I have done in the past. I have put so much of my trust in the people around me, thinking that they could do it all and I would just do what they said. Of course, I realized that this years theme for me was Trust in God Alone. God pretty much stripped me of all the distractions that got in the way of me trusting in God alone. I had no one physically there, for a while, to tell me what to do or how to do it. Yes, I had people who I could call and get answers from but the comfort of having another body there to do things with, was gone.
There were a few times that I would throw my hands up in the air and cry my eyes out, telling God that I couldn't do it anymore. If things were going to happen or get done He would just have to do it. Of course, after saying that and going through that, God would always get it done and use the groups that came in to serve. I have learned a lot from moments like this such as...just ask God to do it first and don't wait until you are melting down (it makes life much easier:-)
All in all, I have learned so much about how to trust in my God for everything and I know that I still have a lot to learn.
In conclusion, I would just like to express my absolute appreciation to all of my supporter who have prayed for me & this mission and who have given financially this past year. Prayer is a very powerful thing (something I have learned well from my grandma) and God really does hear them and use them. Please continue to pray. Although, I have not been reaching my fundraising goal each month, I really do appreciate your donations, whether they are one time gifts or on a monthly basis.
God is good all the time and I'm excited to be partnering with him on this adventure with CSM. It might be easier or harder next year but regardless I know that God is the only one I should be trusting in for my every need. My God shower you with His Grace and teach you to love people the way He truly intended for us to do!
Grace & Peace,
Holly :-D
I recently came across a verse that I would say pretty much sums up why I had such a hard year. Isaiah 2:22 "Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?" I laughed out loud at myself after reading this verse because this is exactly what I have done in the past. I have put so much of my trust in the people around me, thinking that they could do it all and I would just do what they said. Of course, I realized that this years theme for me was Trust in God Alone. God pretty much stripped me of all the distractions that got in the way of me trusting in God alone. I had no one physically there, for a while, to tell me what to do or how to do it. Yes, I had people who I could call and get answers from but the comfort of having another body there to do things with, was gone.
There were a few times that I would throw my hands up in the air and cry my eyes out, telling God that I couldn't do it anymore. If things were going to happen or get done He would just have to do it. Of course, after saying that and going through that, God would always get it done and use the groups that came in to serve. I have learned a lot from moments like this such as...just ask God to do it first and don't wait until you are melting down (it makes life much easier:-)
All in all, I have learned so much about how to trust in my God for everything and I know that I still have a lot to learn.
In conclusion, I would just like to express my absolute appreciation to all of my supporter who have prayed for me & this mission and who have given financially this past year. Prayer is a very powerful thing (something I have learned well from my grandma) and God really does hear them and use them. Please continue to pray. Although, I have not been reaching my fundraising goal each month, I really do appreciate your donations, whether they are one time gifts or on a monthly basis.
God is good all the time and I'm excited to be partnering with him on this adventure with CSM. It might be easier or harder next year but regardless I know that God is the only one I should be trusting in for my every need. My God shower you with His Grace and teach you to love people the way He truly intended for us to do!
Grace & Peace,
Holly :-D
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