Friday, August 25, 2006

Quick update from Germany

You may be wondering what this picture is of. The answer is, well, not much. It is the bedside stand in my room here in Germany - and this is the first successful picture I have taken using my new camera (eBay-purchased, of course). I took quite a few other pictures before this one - only to realize that they weren't actually taken. Apparently my camera needs a memory card to work (ie, there is no internal memory). Anyway, found a memory card so problem solved.

For those interested in geography, I am currently in the little town of Hochsauerland, 2 1/2 hours north of Frankfurt.

This is my first time online in three days - I think that's a two-year record. :) Have had a wonderful week of volunteering, bookselling/giving, ushering, meeting people, moving boxes, early morning power-walks, listening to fantastic ministry, and much more. Every three years, OMers from all over the world come together for an "international forum" (ie, conference). That's what this week has been. Tomorrow I move on to the Netherlands for another conference - this time for orientation with "new recruits" like me.

The theme of this week has been *total* transformation: "the whole gospel in the whole of life for the whole world." Transforming lives and communities. Strangely enough, this is the same idea Leaside (my home church in Toronto) has been studying. I know, though, that both OM and Leaside have been influenced by John Stott's writings in which he calls Christians to avoid, at all costs, dividing the "spiritual" from the rest of life. The result of succumbing to this danger is Christians who think, look and act like the world. How true is this of me?

"Search me oh God and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; see if there is any wicked way in me. Lead me in Thy way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24)
ar TORONTO, CANADA | 2023+

APRIL


MAY

27 Sat (1) 11am Commencement speaker at R. University, (2) ~3pm+ time w/ V/AR+
29 Mon (1) 9:30am VT prayer, (2) 3pm mtg DerCh - Mississauga
30 Tue (1) 10am ph call (AA), (2) 5:30pm video mtg (IsTan), (3) 8pm neighbourhood prayer mtg

JUNE
1 Thu (1) 11:30am Zoom mtg (LM), (2) 4pm mtg (VS,KBr)
2 Fri (1) 10:30am ph call (PVDW; SL w/ boys; ~J working)
3 Sat SL w/ boys and MG
5 Mon (1) 9:30am VT prayer mtg, (2) 2pm Europe call, (3) 5pm mtg/walk (YM)
6 Tue (1) 11:30am lunch (GD) - St. Jacobs, (2) 4pm mtg (AF) - Cambridge, (3) 7:30pm worship night
9 Fri ~J's b'day
10 Sat North Bay trip
13 Tue 11am mtg (DAy) (~J school trip w/ ~Co | text BD)
14 Wed 9:30am time w/ BD
15 Thu 4:30pm video mtg (Paul T.)
16 Fri (1) 9am video med appt, (2) 15-km run (Prayer Journey "warm-up")
17 Sat Prayer Journey (my own: 50km GTA bike-ride; Jessie's: 5KM) and speaking at GTA after-party
23-25 Fri-Sat poss. SL
26 Mon 2pm Europe monthly call
29 ... July 7 Thu-Fri poss. holiday in Arkansas

JULY
... 7 Thu-Fri poss. holiday in Arkansas
~8-17 SA+ in Toronto; P/H Bell likely visiting too
15 Sat aft+ baptism (Saj; NaB may be coming)
17-21 Mon-Fri Kids Kapers camp
24 Mon 2:45pm med. appt
26 Wed (1) 11am video mtg (SM), (2) 3pm Zoom mtg (SMa,SB), (3) 7pm ~J speaking at Greenhouse/Zoe - UofT downtown
27 Thu 10am video MVT board mtg
31 Mon 3:05pm med. appt
July/Aug CCWM board mtg / AGM

AUGUST
2 Wed 11am video mtg (SM+)
6-12 Sun-Fri Cottage w/ O/DN+ and UB/AC - Windermere; plus Muskoka
19 Sat poss. ~J fam beach day - Brighton area
25-29 Fri-Tue MoveIn staff retreat - southern Ontario

2023+
Sep 21 Thu - MVT board mtg
Sep 23 Sat poss. date of GV memorial
Sep 24 Sun ~Ch's b'day
Sep ~26-28 Poss. time in Lushnjë, Albania
Sep 29 - Oct 6 MoveIn Europe Conference+ - Durrës, Albania
Oct 21 Sat poss./unlikely date of GV memorial
Oct 21-27 Dollar-a-Day week
Early Nov Poss. fundraising event - Niagara
Nov-Jan Poss. time in India - Goa; Philippines - Manila+; Indonesia - Jakarta/Bali; LA/San Diego