Gung Hei Fat Choi! Happy New Year!

The theme of the week has to be Chinese New Years, welcoming the year of the rat. Let's just say, I'm glad no rats were released along the streets this week.
Living practically (not even one block away) in Chinatown is quite an experience at this time! Tinseltown Mall is, for once in it's lifetime, packed full as people from all over the city of Vancouver. There are children dancing, women singing, colours flying everywhere, and loads of market stalls everywhere selling everything from Chinese hackysacks to socks ($10 for 5 pair!)
To top it all off, the annual parade occurred this morning through Chinatown (Vancouver, I've heard, has the second largest in the world), with The Salvation Army representing with our crisis vehicle and a handful of volunteers (many from 614 Vancouver) decked out in red jackets and tossing candy. I didn't get to see much of the parade myself because I was standing by the soup truck (crisis vehicle) in the cold wind waiting to be in the parade ( we were the last to go out), but I could tell there were brightly coloured dragons and lions, dancers, marching bands, red envelopes, and fire crackers involved (which scared the living daylights out of me when I walked through them I must say! Quite unexpected as I've never seen a Chinese New Years parade before!) Although the rain we got was a bit of a downer, it was certainly a neat experience that I will always look back on.
The holiday officially kicked off on Thursday and ended tonight, but wow, do the Chinese ever throw a party! The past four days have just been one giant celebration it seems. There is something to be learned here. Party on!

Finally, the youth marching regiment ahead of us was handing out recruitment flyers for their kids program so Major Venables (PR department) came up with a solid idea - next year we're handing out Jesus invitations.

Praise the Lord!

Megan S

P.S. Second term is going fast. I love the classes. I've been under a lot of stress lately. I miss Jordan a lot.

Peace

My Report

It has been a while since I have written on this blog.
Since we have been back from our break it has been pritty buisy and a little overwhelming.
I like the classes we are doing and I'm learning alot about myself and how I need to organize my priorities a little. I have been struggling a little with how to be more social and to receive blessing from others in the community.
If you can keep me in my prayers I need some assistance with paying off the rest of my tuition by the end of the year. I want to be debt free by the end of the year so I can continue in the ministry that God wants me to be in. I'm working my way into becoming an officer and could use some prayer from anyone who is willing to pray for direction and encouragment for me.
I'm starting to get along with the Incendiaries and finding out that is not as different as living in Dauphin where I was living in Community.
I like Doctrine class because it's helping me understand my beliefs better than I know. We just started doctrine #5 and I have to say there is alot in that doctrine that is truth and I'm happy to know that I'm apart of a great calling knowing that I'm depraved and by faith through grace the Lord has saved me from my transgressions.
I have been up at x-Culture helping out with the floor hockey that has been happening on Monday night. It has been a good thing to have youth come out and just have fun and learn how to play fairly and have a little devotion through it. We are also trying to put on a little hip hop thing on the same night.
I've been hanging out with Pete and Marnie alot and it has been fruitful. I plan to spend as much time as I can on weekends and with my new desciple.
Please keep me in your prayers and hope to hear from you all.
Love Rob
Gideon Warrior

Life.

Life lately has been interesting.
Theres been a lot of ups and downs.
My life with God since my last blog has been an up. Yes, it hasn't been perfect, but it's been better than before.
I am deeply falling in love with the bible. Rations are my favorite time of day.
I've been spending time in the war room, but not nearly enough.
I was in there yesterday, and never wanted to leave.
God has been teaching me alot latley about who he is. It's a good thing to know.

I've been trying to form better relationships with the people down here.
With some I feel its going really well, and with others, not so much.
I don't know if thats because of me or them.
It's probably mostly me though.

I'm putting alot of stress on myself that doesn't need to be there.

I don't have enough patience with certain people, and there are things I just don't want to deal with.
I guess I should listen to what I've been telling people latley.
God is bigger than our problems.

I'm really enjoying the classes we have this term. Extreme Prophetic is probably my favorite, although, I love them all.
We have some great teachers.

I love Re-Cre-8, so I'm really glad that I get to take on another night,
also, I just started doing a kids program called "Shining Stars" I love kids, and stars are my favorite shape. I have a feeling this is going to be a good thing.
I found out that it's my friend from L.O.M.'S birthday coming up. I need to think of something either to do with her, or to give her..

My mom is getting ready to sell the house. I don't want to go home because I don't want to see what it looks like. All my stuff in boxes, everything getting painted neutral colours.
It's a wierd feeling. I don't want her to sell the house, because I don't want to lose the security I have in that house, it's the one Ive grown up in.. But at the same time, I can't ever imagine moving back there after living in the Empress.

God is my security, not my house.
He will last longer than it will.
He is stronger than it will.
That's the attitude I need to take in it.

Even with all the stress, and despair and whatever other bad feelings, I wouldn't trade this year for anything.