Day: 1

This morning Anthony and I began our epic journey at around 10:30 am. It went pretty smooth, although my coffee from Dunkin' Donuts was less than appealing, but I persevered.

Pictures: Anthony(Virginia) and Myself


Fairly uneventful drive and we arrived safe and sound in West Haven, Connecticut where we met up with my friends Jeremy and Rachel Burden who treated us to a wonderful chinese food dinner, which compared to the "China City" restauraunt in New London was pretty much the most amazing dinner ever!

Tomorrow, it continues...




Pictures: The Basketball Hall of Fame


Pictures: Jeremy, a fellow Canadian who married into America

Writing a title is the hardest part...

I thought I'd give a quick post to update you all on what's going on. Currently there aren't many people around, 3/4 of them have gone home already, a few are still leaving tomorrow and the rest will be staying here. The semester officially ended last night with a commencement party that was amazing, there were games, prophecy and food, what more could you ask for? Oh yeah, and diplomas.


So today Josiah and I went to the Manchester Airport to drop off Jamie(Alberta), Brandon(Alberta) and Jesse S.(Michigan). It was such a nice day to go for a drive so me and Josiah had to stop and get a slush at 7-11 on the way home, but I'll be honest, they don't make them like they do in Canada.(Too frothy, I'm sure you can appreciate this Dan.)

While at the Airport Josiah and I saw this amusing sign.



So tomorrow Anthony and I are headed to Connecticut to spend the night with my good friends Jeremy and Rachel Burden, so that will be pretty much amazing. Then the next day we are heading to Virginia where I'll drop Anthony off at his house, and then I'll be heading to D.C. to stay with Anton and his family.

I'll be bringing my laptop so hopefully I can update you while I'm there.

Until later!

Live Free or Die!

Been an alright last week. Friday was a day of fasting and silence so that was pretty interesting. We started thursday night at 6:00 pm, that was our last meal for the next 24 hours. It wasn't too bad, I only talked twice, once I made a comment about a show I was watching to Noah, and another time someone knocked on our door and I greeted them. But I did better than some others! You really realize how much you do talk and how you take it for granted.

I found that I didn't really miss talking to people. I was ok with that, what I did miss though was quick communication, I couldn't just tell someone something really quick or ask a quick question, I either had to get creative with my sign language or write a note.

Picture: Self Portrait
I took advantage of our silent friday off and went for a long walk, I walked from my house to the girls house, it's about 5 miles and took me almost 2 hours. It sure was peaceful, but I have to admit, as strange as it might be, I missed talking to myself... Is that so wrong?

Then on Saturday there was a gathering at the New London Bridge, our home church here, for intercessor from around the area. It was a time of refreshing, a calling out of the intercessors who were all tired and beat-up. It was really good, there was something like 150-ish intercessors who came. All the interns were there helping set-up and run everything, so there was a whole lot of us around that day.

There was really good worship and some good words spoken by various pastors and others, some of it was repenting for not valuing them or understanding them, as many of us know many intercessors can be kind of eccentric, or they are always crying and waving flags and it's hard to understand how God has burdened them sometimes. The worship was incredible, one of my favourite services the whole time we've been here, just a unique presence of God was there and it was a lot of fun. There was a break for lunch and then more worship and after that, there was a ministry team and all of us interns who prayed for everyone as they left. All in all, it was a really great service and I think everyone left feeling refreshed and renewed.

Sunday we had another wonderful church service after which many of us headed to good 'ole Jack's for an after church coffee. Then Matt Stinton picked myself and Noah up and we went and watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which actually wasn't that bad. But what made it even better was what movie I saw was coming out this year, yes that's right, "Die Hard 4" but this time I noticed something curious.

As likely few of you might know, the motto on the license plates here is "Live free or die!"
Pretty extreme. But then again, New Hampshire is a pretty extreme state! After all, you don't have to have car insurance or wear a seatbelt(Disclaimer: I don't condone not having either...) Contrast that to the new Die Hard movie who's slogan is, "Live Free or Die Hard"
I have decided that this more than coincidence, it's fate, therefore I have concluded that everyone in New Hampshire should be forced to see this movie as it quite likely encapsulates what it means to be a New Hampshire-ite.

So if any of you would like to know what it's like to live here, just go see Die Hard 4 when it comes out, I'm sure it'll clear-up a few things for you all.

All nonsense aside, this semesters last day is Thursday, coming to a rapid close. Then I don't have school again until April 9th. "What are you going to do? Won't you get bored hanging around that sleepy hamlet of New London?" Well, glad you asked. I will not, in fact, be sticking around here. Instead, myself and Anthony Acevedo will be embarking on a legendary journey to Washington D.C., Anthony lives only 20 minutes away in nearby Virginia so I will drop him off there and go stay with Anton who will already be there at home in D.C.. So far, everything is leading towards a most excellent time. My goal while being there is to hopefully shake hands with the president, tour the White House and go to the Smithsonian, all the while seeing many memorials and relaxing.

Picture: This is what I expect will end up happening.


I'll keep you updated on how that goes.

It's all in the family

Picture: My Mom, myself and my sister Elisa at the airport this morning!
Well tonight's post is quite a mish-mash of different things. I'll start with my family visiting me! I had an awesome time with my Mom and sister visiting me all the way from Abbotsford B.C. Canada! Normally at this time in Abbotsford the snow is all gone and it's starting to rain like crazy as usual. Fortunately for them, New England did not disappoint them and it snowed yet again dropping 12 inches in one night, as nice as that was, it also prevented us from getting to New York as originally planned!


I showed my Mom and sister around the offices at Streams, they sat in for some classes, they hung out with everybody, we went out for coffee and generally just had a good time!

Picture: Jamie(Alberta) about unleash havoc
A snowball fight did break out and my sister was able to experience what it was like to be on the winning team. (The Canadians generally tended to dominate in this event)

There was many a face washed and many a body dumped, there was some flipping off the decks, some jumps and many frozen toes.

Also just this evening, we had a good-bye party for our own dear Kelly Guerra(Texas) who thankfully is marrying a Canadian from Vancouver Island. Although we are going to be very sad to see her go, we are so excited for this next chapter in her life, and I mean, since she's marrying a Canadian, she's practically marrying me, so I know I'm going to see her again!


As usual at one our intern shin-digs, there was much fun and merriment to be had and tonight was no exception. There was even a pinata and that obviously completed everything! Everybody knows it's not a real party unless someone pulls out a pinata, so we really had no choice.


Hmmm... What else, well I can update you on the grand prize from the Scavenger hunt, here is a picture of it in it's place of honour.


And here is a picture of what we have been having to deal with ever since. Some misguided people have accidentally been ascribing a little too much honour to us as you can see. But don't worry, we worked it all out.




So, in the last week we've had a little of this and a little of that going on, it's all been good and I feel very well rested after this weekend, so hopefully staying up to do this won't change all that! So you all have a great night and stay safe!

Smoke Signals

My my, you are blessed indeed, can you believe it?! Two posts in one night?! Unthinkable! Yet, I felt this was important enough to share with you.

Last week, someone, I'm not going to mention names, (it was Nathan. Nathan did it.) left their microwave caramel popcorn unattended while it was cooking and when he came back to see how it was doing, this is what he found.

Apparently he's not used to decently powered microwaves. Although we have nothing but forgiveness for Nathan, that didn't change how much the house stunk like burned sugar for the next few days.

Most of the time we are all pretty good cooks here, but every now and then, even something as simple as microwave popcorn and stump the best of us!

Ya bunch of Scavengers!

I know it's been a while but I'm going to stop apologizing for it, from now on you are going to have to take what you get! And with a good attitude! Well, ok, I'll try to be a bit more frequent, but it's been a busy last little while. Especially now that my Mom and Sister are here visiting me, I don't have as much time to do things like write to you all, so I'll try to write a few in a short amount of time.

So let's start from last weekend.

Jamie Bower and myself were given the great honour of planning a "day-O-fun" for one of our few free weekends. So on friday of last week there was the first ever First Annual Mostly Photo Scavenger Hunt! That means that you are in luck because I have many photos to show you. I didn't put them all up, because contrary to popular belief, I am merely mortal. I hope you enjoy them as I sought to choose some of the best.

We split everybody into 4 teams so there was about 5 people to a team and they had to run around for just over an hour to do as many things as possible. Most were photo's, some were videos, and some they had to bring things back. Instead of posting everything they did, it was an exhaustive list, I'll post what they were beside the picture.



9. Picture of WHOLE team (That mean EVERY team member in the same picture)

Team 1: Brandon(Wyoming); Danielle(South Carolina); Nathan(North Carolina); Claire(England)

Team 2: David(New York); Noah(New York); Abby(Michigan); Dan(Scotland); Rebecca(Sweden)

Team 3: Jessica(Virginia); Jesse(Alberta); Jesse(Michigan); Caleb(Alberta); Annalee(Massachusetts)

Team 3: Chad(Michigan); Kelly(Texas); Luke(Alberta); Sharayah(New York); Micah(New Hampshire)


Jamie and Myself weren't participating in the actual hunt as we were the judges and didn't want to taint our biases any more than they usually are.

17. Testing out some furniture -Team 3


26. Team member inspecting toys for quality -Team 4


21. Shaking a strangers hand -Team 1 -Team 2 -Team 3 -Team 4





6. The inside of a bathroom stall -Team 2 -Team 4



23. Some one wearing many sweaters (bonus point for having the most sweaters on) -Team 3


24. Synchronized somersaulting -Team 2


31. Team members dressed as opposite gender -Team 1


8. A funny CD cover -Team 3


13. Someone getting a vigorous face-wash(with snow) -Team2 -Team 4



10. a pyramid with at least 3 people (2 extra points if you get a stranger) -Team 2 -Team 4



We had to give Team 1 bonus points because Nathan took initiative and went ahead and put a soggy cigarette that he found on the ground in his mouth.



Believe it or not, that's not all I have for you today, I also have a few of the videos they did, so here goes!

3. 30 second advertisement for any product -Team 2 -Team 4





2. Dancing in front of an audience of at least 2 strangers (Extra points if the strangers dance too) -Team 1 -Team 3





1. 30 second film with as much plot as you can do in 30 seconds -Team 1 -Team 4





4. Short musical composition with at least 2 instruments of any kind and lyrics -Team 1






So there you have it. Last weeks scavenger hunt was a wildly popular success. You may be wondering, well, that's cool and all, but what did they get for a prize? Well, glad you asked. Actually, the winning team got a signed 8 x 10 of myself and Jamie(See the photo below), they also each got a small chocolate covered marshmallow easter bunny, along with a personal sized photo. All in all, I'd say they're pretty lucky!

Mystics & Miracles

Thought I'd write a little blog to show you all some of the books we've been reading since I've been here as well as some books I just like...


This is probably one of my favourite books ever, it's definitely one of my top three most influential books. I've already read it three times, but we are going to be reading Gene Edwards A Tale of Three Kings next semester. I can't wait! It's an easy to read, short and powerful book that talks about leadership. It's written almost like a play and it goes through the lives of Saul, David and Absolom. If you haven't read it, you definitely need to get on the ball.




Definitely one of my favourites so far, this 'lil gem we read in the first trimester, Needless Casualties of War by John Paul Jackson, is an amazing book on proper protocol regarding spiritual warfare. This book has totally changed my perspectives on spiritual warfare and what to do and what not to do, and how to stay out of trouble!


I just bought this on this last outreach, "Mystics & Miracles". It's a great little book with short sections on a whole bunch of different Saints. It gives you a great snapshot of their daily lives and how they interacted with God. I find it so faith building to read about the Saints and how they devoted themselves to just loving God and how because of that, miracles, signs and wonders just followed them. It's great because it talks about their humanness instead of elevating them to be these perfect people that never made any mistakes. Anyways, I recommend it so far, I haven't finished it, but so far it's good.


We've also read Prophecy, Dreams and Evangelism by Doug Adison. I liked it, easy to read and a great intro to prophetic evangelism. It also has a great reference section of non-religious words to use, so we can avoid using "Christianese" with people who have no church background.


The last book we finished was Engaging the Revelatory Realm by Paul Keith Davis. It was a good book, really in depth, the kind of book you really have to pay attention to when you read because there are so many good nuggets all over the place.









We've also read Unmasking the Jezebel Spirit by John Paul Jackson. It talks about a particular strategy of the enemy that seeks to take out pastors and churches.








We are in the process of reading The Throne Room Company by Shawn Bolz, so far so good, we are halfway through it and I have until thursday to finish it off, so I guess I'd better get cracking!



Well there you have it, there are some of the books we've read so far and there are more that I didn't list and more that we will be reading, but I'm getting tired of writing so this is all you get!

I leave you with a toy that I saw recently of our own dear savior Jesus, I thought it was kind of funny, so just like Jesus below, stay faithful and keep smiling everyone!