On April 18th, it will mark exactly 6 months of living in Brasil. Sometimes when I walk down the street I just think to myself, "Dude, what am I doing here! When I could be back in Canada, eating delicious home cooked meals every day that don't consist of beans and rice, make some money, go to school, and live the simple life." But then the next question after that is ALWAYS, "...but is that what God wants for me?" Funny how that happens. Then I think, "... well maybe he does have a plan for me back in Canada!" There's no reason why he wouldn't, right?

These are just some questions that eat at me every day, and there's a little voice inside of me that keeps saying, "JUST BE PATIENT!" But as we all know...patients is a very difficult quality to obtain, and coincidentally it's something we want right now!
By the way, the only reason I'm writing this is because I wanted to write about something that's been on my mind alot, and this beats everything.

My experience in Brasil has been incredible, and there is absolutely nothing in the world that I would exchange for these last 6 months. Learning about the God who created me is one of the coolest and most exciting things to ever experience. And learning about the ways He can and is using me is even cooler! But my biggest fear is stepping out of His will, and I pray that I will never cross that line again in my life. So one thing I ask of whoever is reading this, is that you would please keep me in your prayers! And thank you so much for your love and support, it means the world!

Seeing and living the change in my life.

Well, we've introduced 2009 and for most of us at master's, alot of change! I've learned alot in these past few months of being here in Brasil, and one thing I remember quite clearly is that there is a time when a leader is separated from their old life and removed from their comfort zone. It might sound too simple to be something that significantly sticks out, but let me explain. For alot of people today, we have a routine. A routine that if you don't follow, people might think your crazy. Everyday routines such as getting up in the morning, going to work, coming home, eating, sleeping, and repeat. Or long term "plans" like going to university, getting married, having 2 kids, work, work, work, retire. OK, let's get one thing straight before I continue. I'm totally not saying theres anything wrong with doing or planning any of those things I just mentioned. But, If you have a routine and an exact plan for your life that your comfortable with, how do you expect God to work in it the way he wants to? Comfort doesn't help you grow. Alot of the time when we're in a place of comfort we feel like we don't need God, he can wait. But discomfort, discomfort is what will break your pride and the way you think. Discomfort is God's way of telling us he is preparing us for something even better!

Right now in Master's Commission, alot of change is taking place. Sometimes I'm scared, sometimes I'm really nervous, and alot of the time I'm uncomfortable. But these are all just my feelings! And these feelings are not from God. I'm learning to trust God in every aspect of my life, and am learning everyday that when the devil tries to weaken me with these kinds of thoughts, God has the ability to turn it around and strengthen me, that any circumstance I'm going through is so small compared to the God I serve.

So I'm welcoming this change. It's a new year, and I believe, one of the most important years of my life, so please keep me in your prayers. The best is yet to come!

My first month in Campinas

Hey guys! For the last month i've been living in Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Lately my life has had some crazy twists and turns, and it was only God that I ended up in this city, with these people doing what im doing. It was almost like a series of events that God put together to build me up to this point, Masters Comission. Every day brings something new! And I dont think I've ever been so busy in my life! Our week goes something like this - Tuesdays we go to a Creche called Nova Jerusalem. A Creche is a non profit school/daycare that provides care for young children on a frequent basis. The children at the creches we work at are mainly from the favellas, aka slums. Our team provides english classes, dance classes. Most of all we try to build relationships with the kids, and give them the love that alot of them have never had. Wednesdays were at a different creche called Creche Anna, we do the same type of thing there, our focus is more on english. Thursdays we have our classes at masters, and in the evening we do street ministry. Our team gets coffee and cookies together and heads to downtown campinas ministering to the homeless, the prostitutes and the street kids. Fridays we have classes in the morning and Creche Anna in the afternoon. Saturday mornings, Lucilene ( another girl in masters) and I have started english class with a few children in Pastor Richards neighborhood and in the evenings we usually are ministering at a church, as well as sunday morning and evening. Then MONDAY is our lovely day off! It sounds like alot because it is, and Its not always easy and its not always fun, but Gods doing crazy cool things in my life and its worth it.