I have officially been in Uganda for 8 days and 19 hours! And I have loved every moment of it! This past week has been a time of recovering from jet lag (whatever notion I had of jet lag being easy was a lie and a half!), getting my late luggage, becoming familiar with my neighbourhood and the culture, understanding how to live in a house of 11 people (that's the minimum!), and getting connected with different people and organizations with whom I have the potential of working over the summer. So, if you were expecting life changing stories, I'm sorry to disappoint, but there are still over three more months left; don't worry!

But that's not to say that this week hasn't been amazing!

Here's what I have been up to:

Tutoring music with students at Heritage International School.
Shadowing a middle and high school music teacher, learning by observing, and helping whenever I can.
Helping to drain water out of a flooded local children's library called, The Giving Tree.
Spending time with children in a juvenile prison with an organization called, 60 Feet (www.sixtyfeet.org).
Riding boda boda's, the local motorcycle taxi transportation that weaves in and out of traffic.
Tonight, I will be spending time eating with street kids at a shelter, worshipping God alongside them.

Who knows what other cool opportunities the future will bring! Right now, I am focused on making as many connections with people and organizations as I can in order to make the best informed decision as to where I would like to spend the majority of my time and energy. I know God has been allowing opportunities to come to me left, right, and centre. I pray that He will also guide me to which ones require the most of my time.

Nov 19, 2016

Sufficiently Independent

As such, the more we become aware of our insufficiencies and our dependency upon God, the more we will incline ourselves to pray unceasingly.

Sep 17, 2016

An Increased Awareness

An increased awareness of God's presence always produces an increased awareness of our sin. There is no way around it. One simply cannot look upon the true Jesus Christ and not be confounded by both the awesome holiness of God's glory and grace, and the awful sinfulness of our own hearts and minds.

Sep 10, 2016

Can I Have a Re-Do?

I apologize for not being clear. The only person I have to blame is myself.

It’s not because everyone is dumb. It’s not because Stoplight is too complex. It’s because up until now, I’ve been answering the wrong question.

Jun 17, 2016

Every. Last. One.

There, of course, are quite a number that fall on any point along this spectrum, but very few that seem to be balanced in the middle. Perhaps this is because of our human nature to dichotomize issues until we’re black and blue in the face.

May 17, 2016

Did God Change His Mind?

It was in that moment that I had done it. I had officially made up my mind: I was going to stay in Edmonton for the remainder of 2016. No one could convince me otherwise, not even myself - as much as I wanted to.

And yet, I did change my mind. Or was it God? Did God change His mind? Can God change His mind?

Jan 17, 2016

Even When I Don't Feel Like It

I started realizing that I didn't want to be here.

After having lived in the 'real world' for over half a year, and then coming back to theoretical books and work in classrooms, it felt as if there was no point. Why am I sitting in class when I could still be 'out there' doing 'better things with my life'? These are thoughts coming from a kid who loves school, and loves learning in a classroom setting.

Dec 29, 2015

Back in the Motherland (aka Canada)

As part of my re-entry assignment, I was asked to answer bunch of questions in my journal. As I answered these questions, I realized that there's no better way to help others understand where I am coming from, what I've experienced, and what I am thinking and feeling, than to share those responses.

Nov 23, 2015

DNA Transfusion

But is it true mentorship when you have to put the label of mentorship on it? I have always been discontented with the North American view of mentorship. It feels too mechanical, too impersonal. Is mentorship relegated to weekly/monthly checklist checkup meetings where only specific topics are discussed (particularly the taboo topics)? Is this the type of mentorship the Bible records? Or is mentorship something much greater?

Oct 25, 2015

Titles & Boxes

Though there were three new men, not one of them asked me this question. It did, however, come out through various conversations happening at the table that I was a Bible college student studying abroad and that I was planning on graduating in April. Boom. There was my title. No need to inquire any further. No need to ask the third important question.

Oct 12, 2015

Neither Here, Nor There

This wisdom may come from other people. It may come from using logic and my own thoughts. And it most certainly comes from understanding God's Word. But it just didn't seem spiritual enough. It didn't seem like the 'almost-graduated-Bible-college-student' way of making decisions. Balancing out pro's and con's, weighing out future regrets... This was not how I envisioned making this decision. It seemed too ordinary.