From Top left:
Tim (Vircilles), Josh, Cody, Joel, Dan (Clifford), Dan, Paul, Josh (JJ), Me (Melvin, or the Aussie)
On top of a mountain. See my lack of muscles.
This here is Paul. "Lance armstrong is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he has nice calfs, uuuummmmm mens calfs. (btw im not a gay.)" It's true he's not; but you do wonder sometimes...


End of a long day of hiking, with a lovely sunset.

Canada Log 3

Hello everyone, i do hope that yopu are all keeping well, and I hope that you are living on the Edge, in abandonment for your Creator.

There is a lot going on here in Canada, and as I hear a lot down under as well. I will really miss Steve and I hope that everything that he learns and goes through will glorify our wonderful Lord and Saviour.

Now onto the stories...

On the 25th - a thursday - the gang plus one more, headed out to a local town, called Moose Jaw about one hour away from Herbert. The plan there was to take $500 and simply by the Holy Spirit's prompting go out and bless people. we were to do whatever we thought was a good idea, or whatever God told us to.

So the first thing that we did was get a breifing on the situation. I will now go through the same thing with all of you because the stuff that has been happening is incredible.

The $500 comes from a Bible College in Moose Jaw, where they hold an event called Youth Quake. This is an event that packs out 6000 people into a chapel where the college gets huge bands playing at this event. This includes Switchfoot and Jars of Clay. This time round though they could not get the bands booked to play. They tried but it did not work. So the board sat down and thought about what theyw ere going to do with this situation. They came to the conclusion that in the past they only booked the bands because that is just what they did. They didn;t book the bands that God wanted or because that is what he wanted to do with the event. They did it because it was merely so. So this time they decided to do something else. They decided to go with what was happening in the town and college in this point in time and follow the Spirits leading. I'll come back to the event in a moment.

So at the moment God is doing some serious stuff in this college. He is moving in some amazing ways, and people are being saved left right and centre. This is an example. In comes Keith, one of the lecturers at the college, and is an amazing man of God that is profoundly gifted with Prophecy. And one day he comes into class absolutely drunk on the holy spirit. This man is doubled over and shaking with the Holy Spirit. The only man in his class that hasn't just been filling his head with knowledge on the Bible and God but actually intimatley knows God is the man that I labelled "plus one" before. He turns and says to Keith "your having a great day aren't you ey?" Keith's response is "Yep, (and under his breath as he's walking to his desk) praise Jesus". He is just having an amaziung experience. On top of this is the fact that there is an exam on during this class, and Keith eventually has to get himself together, focus and get on wiht the exam. But before he does this he asks the class if he would have their permission to hand them on a piece of paper something that God wants them to know when they hand in their exam. Their response is 'yes'. And so essentially what Keith has done is handed each one of his students in his class a written prophecy when they have handed in their exam.

Another thing that has happened in the college, is the hospital down the road has been sending every patient that they cannot nurse back to health or fix to the Bible College to get the people there to heal them. Whether the Dr is a christian or not, they are sending their patients to the college and people are being healed.

So the college board decided to go with what God has been doing in this college and the town and are giving people $500 to go out and bless people in the town and college. They also take out a video camera and film what happens to be shown at the Youth Quake event that is still on.

So the Soul Edge team and Jake (Mr "plus one") head out into Moose Jaw to Bless the town. It was an amazing experience. We first headed over to a bike store because we felt that God wanted us to speak to someone there. God pointed out an employee there that He wanted us to speak to but because He did not give us anything to say to him we said nothing. This apathy would be corrected throughout the rest of the day where we would not not pray or talk to someone that crossed our path.

So then it was onto the Hospital. We decided we would buy lots of toys and teddy bears to bless as many children in the childrens ward as we could. So we spent $400 on the toys and teddy bears to give to the sick children, and a really big pink fluffy dog to give to a little girl that had just gone through knee surgery and was with her dad. The guys that went up there did not get to see the toys handed out to the rest of the chiuldren because of a virus that was going through the ward at the time. But the dad of the little girl really appreciated the charity - We know that much.

Then it was onto A&W for dinner. We had dinner and then ?Jake told us to go pray for all of the staff. We only asked and they all said yes. So we did and they all loved it. It was all realy positive stuff and they all loved it. We ended up praying for two girls with a high 5 prayer with all the guys reaching over the counter and then Jake prayed for all of them.

Great stuff.

The next day Richard Myers talked to us during a session about vision and where we want to be and why and what we think God wants us doing in the future. I'm really excited about it all and pumped about what i could be doing in the future.

Then the next day is Saturday and we went hiking all day long. Got the pictures.

Then Chgurch on Sunday and God moved someting amazing with the song worship where The song Freedom Reigns by ____ larson. Firget the first name. God freed some people that nmorning and I got to play bass. Yay! Woo!

Thats all to report for the moment.

Oh and the nickname i have been handed by the group is Melvin. See if you can figure out why.

Tim

Canada log 2

Hello everyone, i hope everyone is keeping well.

i got to stay on my toes, a couple of the guys have fallen sick with a cold that has temporily knocked them off their feet, and seeing as i am not the fittest or strongest of guys a cold is something that i really dont need. in the mean time though i am fine. Doing plenty of physical activity which has not made my calves my best friend, as every time i straighten my legs they scream at me.

The reading is really beneficial - i am learning heaps. it is fantastic. While i may not be at school, my brain is being forced to stay sharp and alert. There are some amazing things that i have learned about various disciplines such as solitude which was todays and simplicity was yesterday's. They have made me aware of makiing sure we keep things simple, stay focused and always have our eyes on our God.

The morning sessions that we have together are amazing. We pull out one guitar, and ten guys in the room are singing their lungs out in praises to God. Hands are up and out, and there is usually at least one person kneeling, completely overwhelmed by the Spirit's movement in this house in a tiny little town called Herbert.

i am finally starting to get my bearings in this place, and am starting to relax around the guys. i am feeling more free to be myself, and let my sense of humour come out, despite one of the guys declaring how he hates aussie humour. Actually most of the time the guys can't keep up with me and spend time scratching heads wondering what i meant by that last comment and where the joke lies in it. Meh... makes for something different, and they are starting to get the sense of humour. n the meant ime though bi have to make sure i dont offend anyone ( not that i would set out to do something like that).

The timne spent at the ranch is really good. it's a 10 minute drive to the ranch and then its usually on to the feed lot where the cows are. about a 5 minute drive. There its out in the elements (the cold that is - usually about 0 degrees) and feed the cows and at the moment we've spent some time fixing a tractor. Then back to the house there and its coffee time! There we sit back and chill out with the food that Josh, and Joel's mum has prepared for us. That lady can teach us all a thing or two about hospitality. Her heart and joy to do what she does for all the guys is amazing.

The meals that are cooked are always great, and the guys never go hungry - except when we're fasting.

The physical exercise is great - we go for a 2 mile run most nights, and everyone comes away absolutely stufffed and sore.

The boys are all bonding really well, and are all top blokes. Not an annoying one amoungst the group. Josh and Joel are setting an amazing example and i am really trying my best to learn from them - and yes they are easy to tell apart. The uncanny thing about the group are the names. We have two Tims, two Daniels, and two Joshuas. i have no idea how that worked out.

The guy that i am rooming with is an amazing man of God. am only just becoming aware of the impact that he may have amoung the group when he starts spending more time wth all of us. He is a leader - literally, a leader on this course - and lives in Herbert. He hjas other things on at the moment, so he is only here part time at the moment, but he wl be coming to Kenya with all of us, so we will see much more of him.

Well small groups are starting - my first one - so i have to go.

Tim

First update from canada

Well I have safely arrived in Herbert Saskatchewan Canada.

It is good here. Very cold. It's about 2 or 3 degrees outside at the moment - and they call this beautiul weather... Actually the other week it got to -47 degrees celcius. im sure we'll have a day like that before i leave.

It is really beautiful over here. Wonderful white and dry and powder snow.

The craziest thing is going in the entire house ta the moment. A masive tea towel fight is ocuring. I think someone may come away with visible scars. One of the guys Dan is lethal with them. I tried but it was never going to work.

Dan just screamed in pain.

On the flight over i got stopped by Canadian immigration due to myself being scome kid appearing unable to self sustain while I'm here. but i got it sorted without lying. Dan not being able to do so. He said he was here to see family.

And there is another Tim staying here. So I think they will be calling me by my middle name edward.

we have what we are calling sessions. This involves some worship music led on guitar, and i tell you what there is something inspiring just singing like that with a room full of guys and a guitar. it is an amazing place to enter into with the Lord.

Well its currently lunch, so im going to have to suspend this blog and finish it later.

Tim

this is tim reporting from los angeles airport at terminal ttwo.

will in a cuple ofshours board a fkight onto calgary and yes tom you were right i have to go through customs there.
all safe andsound and have alrady been to starbarks.

out of time

cya

tim

The trip to Canada

Well hello blogees, glad to see that you are interested in the trip that I will be taking overseas, and that you wish to find out more by reading this blog.

By clicking the link it will take you to the website of the course that I am undertaking. It will tell you what the course is about, why it is being done, and what it hopes to acheive. It doesn't actually tell you what I will be doing on the course. So what follows is some the speech I gave at my fundraiser. It goes into detail about everything that will be happening on the course. Please don't be discouraged about the length.


When is it?
I shall be getting on a plane for Regina, Saskatchewan on the 19th of January. I will be picked up from the airport by the guys running the course and shall be driven to where we are staying in Herbert – a town north east of Regina in central Canada.

So what is happening in Canada?
Canada is where myself, and the other six guys undertaking this course will be trained and equipped for work in Kenya. We will be sharing a house together and living there for the following three months. There will be work in various ministries and disciplines so I will come away trained and equipped. This includes daily sessions and adventure trips.
The Daily sessions include immersing ourselves in the Bible which we must read in the following five months. We will focus on the inward, outward and corporate disciplines.

The inward are:
§ Meditation
§ Prayer
§ Fasting
§ Study

The outward are:
§ Simplicity
§ Solitude
§ Submission
§ Service

The corporate are:
§ Confession
§ Worship
§ Guidance
§ Celebration

As we work through those things we will be going through topics covered in various books including things on leadership, how to go about reading the Bible in order to get the most out of it, the Holy Spirit, and the Kingdom of God.
Reading the Bible in five months is going to change and grow my self-discipline. I will grow vastly in knowledge and wisdom as well as falling more in love with God as he reveals so much to me through His Word.
This in conjunction with the books that will be read my head knowledge will be ever greatly expanded. This of course is no use unless this is also matched with heart growth and action. These things will be addressed through the general challenge of adapting to a very new environment where I will be sharing a room with a couple other guys and sharing a house with nine guys all of which are between the age of 17 and 21. You can feel the testosterone already!!! That of course is a minor challenge in comparison to what this course is also offering – I will get to these other aspects of the course in a moment. The Daily sessions also include much prayer time among the group and many bible studies. These things will create unity among the group where we will learn to support each other in the challenges we face, as well as learning to become attuned to the needs of other people. The group will also spend time with the father of the two men running the course who is the pastor of their local church. This time will be spent to help guide the group during our training time and focus us in what we are trying to achieve and get out of the course and the time we are spending there.
What I have just outlined is the day-to-day activities of the group. This will become our routine, and what each day will generally involve.

The next thing to address is the adventure aspect of the course.
The Weekly Adventures will include but are not limited to:
- Snowboarding
- Paintball
- Hiking Trips
- Day Hikes/Camping
- Boldering
- Ice Fishing
- Sledding
- Bow hunting
- Night hunting
- Night Hikes
- Survival camping
- Night Hawk training adventures (that is surprise training sessions)

We will also go on Adventure trips. There will be three of those. These will be:
- Snow Boarding In the Rocky Mountains
- Hiking In the Rocky Mountains
- Snow Camping in Northern Saskatchewan

There will be two main adventure trips. These trips include traveling somewhere a distance from the base for a more extensive adventure. One of these will be a trip to Banff which is located in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta Canada. This trip will take place in mid January as a break from the intensive training as a team building time. The group will be staying in a family Cabin located in Banff. Most of the time there will be spent snowboarding and hiking.
The other main adventure trip will be a trip to Northern Saskatchewan for a snow camping expedition. The group will be outfitted with gear from Steve Maier who is a certified wilderness and mountain guide. We will be staying in wall tents with wood stoves. The group will be camping up in the bush of the rugged country of Northern Sask. This trip will take place in February; and even if it is cold it is still on…. That is; cold for a Canadian winter; ie around -30 degrees Celsius.
The weekly adventures aim to provide opportunity for team building and to experience new things in the outdoors as well as having fun. Some of the weekly adventures will include trips to places a few hours drive away where others will take place closer to the base.

In Canada there will also be times of ministry to various communities in Canada. There will be a ministry trip to Northern Saskatchewan to minister to the indigenous people in Pelican Narrows. This trip will take place later on in the course in the month of February. This will be a long week end trip, as it is an eight hour drive up to this part of Sask. The ministry will involve outreach to the First Nations young people in the area. Outreach will be done on a real practical level building relationship with the local youth, Drama, and music.

We will be ministering to these people due to this area suffering from alcohol abuse and high suicide rates, and many abusive homes and dysfunctional families. There is a lot of opportunity to bring the Kingdom of God into their lives, and the guys really believe that the Lord is moving among the First Nations people. The trip to minister on a reserve will be a completely different experience and life changing time.

There will also be ministry opportunity to inner-city Regina a city that is a two hour drive from Herbert. One of the opportunities in Regina is to serve on the Love lives here Bus, which is a bus that goes out at night to serve the homeless and Prostitutes in the inner-city. There will also be opportunity to do street evangelisms, which I am really looking forward to due the simple matter of having such a great opportunity to bring the love and grace of God into their lives.

We also hope to do some prison ministry, which would involve speaking to the prison inmates and doing music, drama and building relationship. Many prisons are set up for Christian organizations to come in and be able to speak with the inmates. This would be a great opportunity to reach out to the lost and provide opportunity to minister and be changed.

So what is happening in Kenya?

The trip to Kenya will begin in London when we board the plane to Nairobi Kenya. The Soul Edge team will travel together. We will arrive in Nairobi where we will meet up with the arranged transport. The main contact in Kenya is Daniel and Marlies Hoogteyling who are running an orphanage outside of Nairobi. Daniel and Marlies formerly led Soul Survivor Holland and have been in Kenya for a few years now.

Much of the work and the things we will be involved with will coincide with the needs of Daniel and Marlies; serving them in any way that we can. As they have been working in Kenya and know the local people our contacts will come primarily through them.

Projects will include, local ministry to the community we are staying in; clean up projects, music and drama. There will also most likely be some building projects and possible renovations and painting. Much of the details of the projects have yet to be planned as we are working with Missionaries. More details will follow as we work that out with the Hoogteylings.