Friday, December 29, 2006

Live from Urbana 2

Urbana is going great, and the first thing I want to say is that I just found out from my friend Dave that *you* can watch everything at Urbana.org. "It's almost like being there," he said.

Besides being a participant here, I am also an exhibitor for OM. As such, it has been a tremendous privilege for me to help students who are willing to begin their missions journey.

As I type this, I am in the general session, and we just 'heard' a prayer spoken in sign language by a deaf student. I am now watching live Urbana theater. Ah, and now the MC is giving announcements. I love this guy.

Yesterday I went to a really cool seminar about slums given by a guy who spent seven years living in slums in India and elsewhere. May sound cool, but one brutal reality of this is sickness--frequent and not pleasant. I encourage you to learn about slums on the web. The statistics are more staggering than I thought.

I went to another seminar this afternoon on reaching the Hip Hip culture by the main guy in the Cross Movement rap group. I thought often of my friend Shawn, Dave Sutherland, Phill Tremblay and others during this totally biblical, powerful presentation.

Every morning we listen to a Bible teacher: Ajith from Sri Lanka. Very solid teaching. It reminds me of the aliveness of the Word.

I want to encourage you especially to watch last night's (Friday) messages. Dynamite from two people of African descent.

As I sign off, Kay Warren, wife of Rick Warren (author of The Purpose-Driven Life) is up front now, speaking about her broken heart for those who have or are affected by AIDS.

Dang. I was just about to press send when they put up an unexpected video satellite message from Bono (of the rock band U2). It was to us here at Urbana, and it was a call to turn our faith into action by being more involved in advocating for victims of AIDS, malaria and poverty; and to join the 1.org campaign.

I will write another update tomorrow night. Until then, be in prayer, and may we all be expecting God to be working in our lives as we re-surrender to Him.

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Sent from my mobile phone.

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) 4pm mtg/walk (YM)
6 Tue 7:30pm worship night
9 Fri ~J's b'day
10 Sat North Bay trip
13 Tue ~J school trip w/ ~Co | (text BD)
14 Thu 11am mtg (DAy) - Unionville
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) and GTA after-party
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
17-21 Mon-Fri Kids Kapers camp
24 Mon 2:45pm med. appt
26 Wed (1) 3pm Zoom mtg (SMa,SB), (2) 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
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