Incredibly Random

So, this week has been pretty great...I've been able to see old friends and do some fun things, all the while letting my studies take the back burner (bad Jessica!)...I figure every once in awhile is alright...right?

On Sunday, I randomly went on a hike with Reg (one of my teammates) and some of his friends. It was an amazing day, with the sun heating up the surface of the earth to a temperature that satisified even me. It was amazing. We trudged into the plush forest (something we are lacking in rural Alberta), and eventually came to this serene lake. For some reason the only thing I could think of was somehow getting a boat up there for some of the best waterskiing and wakeboarding! Wow...talk about ruining serenity.

On Tuesday I had two more random and yet wonderful encounters. I was able to connect with a friend passing through the Vancouver airport and was also able to get together with Karin Armstrong for tea. It was so good to see her, and I came away very encouraged (as I often do when meeting with Karin)...it was as if not time had passed at all.

So, we come to an end of my random adventures as of late. Nothing totally out of the ordinary other than people being where they normally aren't, and me spontaneously hiking up hills, but a lovely week all the same.

Theme Thursday "Family Night"

So...there is no real explanation for this. We just decided to dress up this last Thursday and every following Thursday here on out. This one was family night. There's "maw and paw, creepy Uncle Wickenheimer (see if you can figure out which one he is), Grandpa Joe, Grandma Mary, little Betsy, and I'm not exactly sure who Dan is". Good times. Right Kyle?

Coup Continued...

My friend is there in Thailand right now and knows much better how this is affecting people than what the news portrays, so check out her first hand account here. Read both "my day" and "another first for me".

On another note, we had a role play in our conflict class today. We each had to make up a character and a history for this character, and each character had a role to play (thus 'role play') in this scenario. It was fun!!! We had it video taped and then we watched it and debriefed about it later. I found myself so lost in my role that I was actually feeling emotions after we were finished. Fun!

Coup in Thailand

Hey everybody. I am sure that you have been reading or watching the news and have seen the developments that have taken place in Thailand. There has been a coup with the military overthrowing the rule of Thaksin while he was in New York. They have declared martial law. Read more about it here.

Now, many of you have been asking what that means for our team heading into Thailand in January, and I have to say that I don't know, but what I do know is that we can pray. We can get together and pray into this situation and pray for the kingdom of Thailand. Pray for the teams and missionaries that are already there and for the kinds of things we are heading into. This thing has so many implications.

So, thanks everyone for your concern and interest. God's up to something in that nation...

Menno Fest

Now...I'm not a mennonite. That's obvious by my last name (Richards) and by the fact that I have only 6 first cousins. BUT, I do have lots of friends who are mennonite and so I gladly join in in their festivities and attempt to immerse myself in the language and culture, as I did today.

Let's just say there was a Menno Fest. Hundreds, nay, thousands of them flocking into a warehouse to play the 'name game' and eat roulkoukin (sp?) and vereniki. The MCC was having a sale where they raised money for....I'm not sure what (something good), but we went and ate lots and looked around at what you could buy.

You had your choice of creepy dolls...

Let's take a closer look at some of them.

Like this one...

Or this super creepy one...it scares me!

Or there's always no-face-robot-armed Barbie...the new generation of beauty!

Bethany found her favorite! It can do the splits whilst maintaining a super scary look on it's face.

And if you're not into dolls, you could always bid on some children...

Naw...just kidding. But it was a funny sign all the same. We had a great time, ate lots of incredible food and got to experience a bit more of the culture that's all around us. The wonderful Mennonites!

What You're NOT Saying...

I had the best class today. Seriously, I thoroughly enjoyed it. In Intro to Conflict Management we discussed non-verbal communication, and just how much that communicates. The exercize we did to prove this was fascinating and quite fun!! The prof had us pair off with the person we knew the least in the class and sit knee-to-knee with them. Then she had us close our eyes and get a sense of this person sitting across from us. From there we opened our eyes and began studying them and seeing what they "said" about themselves from their artifacts (earrings, clothing, hairstyle, accessories, etc.). Once we had spent a fair amount of time looking at each other we would take turns to say what we had observed..."I see this, so I assume this". These things varied from age, to what kind of pets we think they like, their political views, what kind of food they like. We were to say it without having any sort of confirmation from the person we were speaking about, until we were finished.

They would then correct what we got wrong or confirm what we got right. I nailed my partner right on! Everything I said about her was right. It kind of freaked her out actually. She didn't get me at all. That same old question about my age threw her off, and she pegged me at about 20...I figure I should just take the average between my real age and what people actually think I am and begin stating that as my real age. That would put me at about 23.

Anyway, basically we came down to this: people say alot about themselves without actually saying anything at all, and our assumptions of people can often be wrong. We need to get to know people rather than writing them off because of our snap judgements of them...just because people dress differently than us, and are interested in different things doesn't mean that we can't learn from one another. People are fascinating. Sit in an airport and you'll see more differences than similarities, but you'll also see the hand of God. He has made us diverse because he is diverse.

I can tell that people are praying because I'm not so much afraid of my classes anymore, but rather excited about this learning process. THANK YOU!!!!

Team Academia

So, I got myself an Academic Coach today. Not because I'm an idiot (yet), but because I want to have that somebody to be cheering me on from outside my classroom, to be giving me points and tips in between tests, to be wearing sweatshirts with my name on it, and to be pushing my brain to do mental ''lines''. Alright, so none of those are likely the duties of my new coach, but I will be meeting with said advisor once a week to give me some guidance when I'm a bit lost. He'll take the time to show me the ''writing-a-paper'' ropes, which I am in desperate need of.

All of my classes have proven to be quite fascinating thus far. Foundation of Christian Mission is kind of walking through the Old and New Testament and showing how important mission is to God...that it is, in fact, His mission. One thing that is said over and over again is Misseo Dei...the mission of God, which is to seek and save the lost, and he chooses to use us to do that. I'm really excited about the rest of this course and how it will apply to where I'm heading and to the new things I'll be taking on while overseas.

I read this amazing article in Cross Cultural Communication which spoke about how globalization can be good and can also be quite difficult when we don't understand other cultures or when we translate things poorly...it spoke of this Pepsi ad that, in North America said, "Pepsi, it brings you to life". When translated into Chinese, it read, "Pepsi, it will bring your ancestors back from the dead". Now, I can't imagine that going over incredibly well. I'm sure the consumption of Pepsi in China dropped considerably.

I had my first class in my third course today. Now, this is the one that I think will be the most practical and most life changing. It demands that I take a good look at myself and how I deal with relationships and the conflicts that arise within them. Intro to Conflict Management...I think I have come to realise, already after the first day, that I avoid conflict much more than I had thought. I desire to accomodate and spare people's feelings, when sometimes the best thing to do is take the issue head on and work things through...to be honest and vulnerable with one another, because our lives are about building relationship and community, and both of those things will bring about conflict at one point or another.

So, I'm learning lots, even after the first week. Please pray as I'm still trying to figure this whole ''school'' thing out, and as I'm attempting to manage my time well. There is so much reading!!! Those of you who have your bachelors, and especially those who have their masters, I have a new and profound respect for you!!!! So, I have taken my 1/2 hour break to update you friends, and now it's time to stick my nose back in a book. Love from me and my team academia!

Photos

On the way out West...


















These face masks are supposed to be good for you. EEEKKK!














The hot new pad...


































My own bathroom!!! YAY!!!
















Please excuse the odds and ends thrown about. I suppose I could have cleaned up a bit for the photo. Good one Jess.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy a little glimpse into the beginnings of my life here.

School and other Stuff

So, I am officially registered for school now. I went in, stood in the line ups (basically followed the masses, as I wouldn't have known where to go otherwise), filled in forms, and bought some very expensive books. Classes start tomorrow. When buying my books the girl who helped me asked me why in the world I was taking a first year, second year, and third year course. I told her I was going to Thailand. I don't know if that answered her question, but it was the best I could do. I'm excited to learn, and interested in the courses I'm taking...I'm hoping that the papers will just write themselves.

Anyway, the real reason I'm writing on this fine Tuesday evening is because I met with my team tonight. Bitsy and I drove across the border into Sumas, WA and met up with Bob and Chris at Bob's Burgers and Brew (Reg was missing). We ate lots and talked even more. It's so good to be here!!! It was a fantastic evening of sharing vision, talking about opportunity and hearing each others hearts. SO much is going on!!! I really feel like we're joining in on something big that God is up to in Thailand!!! Seriously, there is some amazing stuff going on and lots to dream about and pray about. I have an amazing team of people that I already love and can't wait to get to know much better. Our team name is Hope for Thailand!!! How awesome is that? We are a group of people who are bringing the only hope there is for anyone, and that is Jesus. He's the one who can set people free.

So, there is many things to be excited for. This is for real folks!!! I'm going to Thailand, and our set off date is January! We have set a goal and we are praying that God will provide our finances and have everything fall into place so we can go then. But we are also holding that loosely because God may have another plan. I'm really just anticipating all that God may be up to and will be doing in the next few months, but even within this next year. Much to be grateful for.

Anyway, there are still photos to come of my sweet pad and some fun times in Kelowna. Peace.

What am I doing HERE?

Hello from the muggy, smog-filled Frazer Valley. I'M HERE!!!! I arrived in Abbotsford last night and unpacked my car and filled my beautiful room with what little possessions I have. It's quite amazing really. When I got to the house my little eyes popped out of my head...this place is MAGNIFICENT!!! (yes, the photos are coming)...basically I have the whole basement to use at my leisure, I have an incredible room (massive, poofy bed), a rec room with a pool table, free use of...well, anything really. They are attempting to get an internet connection into my room, they are going to set up a table in another room for me to use as a paint room, and me and the lady of the house are going to learn how to crochet together! It's really exciting. My socks have just been blessed right off!!!

So, things are going to be getting underway pretty quick here...not without me getting away on a relaxing holiday first though. My friend gave me a call last night and invited me to Birch Bay with her family (I think in the States) for Saturday and Sunday and I, after much humming and hawing, obliged. On Monday I register for school (how in the world do I even do that?), and then we start classes on Tuesday. It's insane!

That part of my world is filling up quite rapidly, but so is the social aspect of it as well...I now have my Wednesday mornings as a regular hang out with one friend, and then Thursday evenings are going to be a regular occurance with a group of friends...then there are get togethers with my team...whew. Anyway, there is much underway and I don't think I'm going to be bored. When I get more details about Thailand stuff, and about life in Abbotsford stuff I'll let you guys know!

Love you all and miss you lots!!!!