I am supposed to be reading right now because I have set myself an (unreasonable) goal to finish my book by tomorrow but this is just too funny. 

If you know or care about my life, you will know that I am directing Camp Peace After-Care this summer with UrbanPromise. If you don't know or care about me, you know now. Anyways, they want to rename After-Care with something a little 'cooler' so we sat down this evening and brain stormed/thought showered. This is what's left after the final cut... 

1. The Orphanage

2. The Camp Peace Effect

3. Camp Peace Remix

4. Camp Peace Unicorns (CPU, or Central Philipino University, props to Kristin)

5. Camp Peace Rebound

6. Camp Peace Rainbow kids

7. Peacetopia

8. Peaceopolis

9. Death-Row

10. LIFE-row

11. Camp Peace of Mind 

12. Camp Peace Keepers

13. Camp Peace Petting Zoo

14. Camp Peace Arch

15. Camp Peace iCare

Please do vote on your favourite option. This is a hot debate and there must be one winner.

What happens when you meet up with a sister you haven't seen in a little while, get in the car and just drive? You end up with sushi at UBC and too much to talk about. But the conclusions are worth blogging about.

1. Boys are stupid sometimes and Christians suck at relationships.

2. If Jesus was here today, it might be homosexuals climbing out of trees instead of tax collectors.

3. Pride and Complacency are holding us back.

4. South Africa is where it's at.

5. Practice cautiousness.

6. Just read the bible.

It was brought to my attention today that I am a relatively slow reader. 

I'm not a stupid person, I am fairly confident of this but reading books, no matter how interesting, makes me sleepy. Anytime of the day. Alot of the time I have to re-read parts because I start to zone out. 

That's just me. I prefer to learn things from talking to other people than from books. 

89% extrovert.

Our Love Language

Note that this was written during an intern retreat. Inevitably peeps started feeling carefree and silly.

(This is a collaborative blog entry. You will find exact replicas of this post on the following blogs written by House Mom, Debsy and R.Mal)

Everybody has a unique way of communicating with other people. Here, at UrbanPromise Vancouver, we like to ensure that the people around us know exactly what we are saying.

One of our favourite ways og doing this is by using a verbal device known as "Emphatic Repitition", a term coined by our very own Ms. Kristin Cato. Basically, when you feel the need to repeat a word/phrase that has just been used in conversation, repeat the word and emphasise the individual syllables with a slightly higher pitched voice and a little more force.

Here is an example conversation (names have been altered for the protection of the real life people involve):

Toby: Hey Fiona, What are you doing?

Fiona: I'm googling emphatic repitition.

Toby (high pitched and slightly forced): Em-pha-tic Rep-i-ti-tion!

Another element of our love language, which Matt Wall R.I.P contributed, is known as the "Grumbly Voice", and is often used to make a point. It is said with a strength and a confidence that can only come from God.

Here is a real-life situation in which the Grumbly Voice was applied, whilst doing the morning crossword:

Ryan: Ok Matt, Here's one for you

matt: Hit me with it

Ryan:  The clue is 'an X-Rated dance'?

Matt: bump n GRIND!

Note that GRIND is emphasised with a slight, raspy 'grumbliness' of the voice.

This is the love language of Urb-an Prom-ise. USE IT. BAM.

I met this guy at YAPS tonight (Young Adult Professionals...not Asian Professionals) named Hal Jones and the guy is a legend. His stories are inspiring and when he speaks he is honest and heartfelt. It is obvious why he is so successful in the missions field. I am pretty envious of Jon getting to go to Africa with this dude.

Hearing him talk motivated me so much to keep my dreams alive and start researching. As soon as I get home. Now. But then on the drive home, thinking more about it and where I want to go and what I want to do it hits me that its not something I can do right now. I need to spend time, quality time, building up a support base before I go down that route. And I have committed myself to doing that at home next year and at urban promise in the future. So it is hard and frustrating for me to hear and think about missions opportunities that aren't possible for me.

Short-term missions are still viable and something I am considering for Spring 2009 so as soon as global hope's timetable comes out for '09 sign me up!

All Missionaries are Christians....All Christians are Missionaries.

Community living is hit and miss. Sometimes it is a pain in the ass and I wish I could ditch that part of my internship here at urban promise and sometimes it is the best part of being here. This week, with old peeps coming back to visit, it feels like everything went back to normal. Staying up late watching tv, standing around the kitchen making smoothies and doing crosswords, playing man tracker at stanley park. 

I always assumed that when you worked in ministry you would, for the mostpart, connect with everyone you work with. You all have a common interest. You are all trying to live in a certain way. I THOUGHT. I couldn't have been more wrong. Despite the fact that we all follow one God and yearn to serve, we all have different idea's of what that means exactly. Why is that? Is that the way it should be? Is it something inside us, a feeling, a 'hunch', that we're born with that tells us how we will serve. And from the people I have met in the last year, the way you want to serve and where you want to serve definitely has a knock on effect on the type of person you are.

Matt came back to camp today. He was the only Camp Peace intern this time last year, he loved on the kids as much as I do and he left the same way I have to do in August. There was such a mixed reaction when he came back and it wasn't what I expected at all. It was delayed and cautious as well as excited. Some kids just didn't know how to react.

And it scared me. It scared me to think of coming back to visit and the kids not feeling comfortable. How am I going say goodbye to my kids (especially some of them) and give them closure and assurance? How am I going to give myself closure?

If you were a household appliance, what would you be?

This question sums up my day quite nicely

"...I am a competitor now and forever. I am made to strive, to strain, to stretch and to succeed...I do not trust in myself. I do not boast in my abilities or believe in my own strength....whether I am preparing, practicing or playing; I submit to God's authority and those he has put over me....I give my all-all of the time. I do not give up. I do not give in. I do not give out. I am the Lord's player-a competitor by conviction and a disciple of determination. I am confident beyond reason because my confidence lies in Christ. The results of my efforts must result in His glory."

I was reminded of this creed when my friend back home posted it yesterday. I just mentioned a few of the parts that stand out for me today. There is alot more, it's pretty long. These things that stand out for me are what I am aiming for spiritually. Like a mission statement. Self confidence, dependance on God and faith in His unconditional love for me. I'm practicing for the game in Vancouver, preparing for the game back home next year and I don't yet know when or where I will be playing the game. But I'm excited to find out.