Obsession!

So todaaayyyy...I got to hang out a D+M Tattooing which was basically one of the best times I have had so far. It was soo cool to actually watch people get tattooed (or pierced because apparently some girls were getting their *clears throat* nipples pierced) and I interviewed 5 people. It was just such a great atmosphere and I now know where I am going to get tattooed. Chad is basically an amazing artist and I would love for him to tattoo me. To be able to show off his talent would make me sooo happy! The only thing is that I have to go soon because they are moving their shop to Edmonton mid to end of July. That seems really soon and makes me nervous but extremely excited. Watching this guy get his first tat and see that he was actually in quite in pain was kind of excruciating for me. But it was really great to get to know the artists because it opens a lot of doors for us to meet people, especially kids, with tattoos. I am just really excited over all because I feel like everything is progressing so much. It is great to see this because it is such an answer to the prayers me and a couple of the girls have shared over the passed couple nights.

Now I am sitting watching a documentary with Leah and Adam called Dogtown and the Z-Boys. And am getting way too distracted. And Sam wants the computer...so I will chat more later! See ya!

(Side note: that was all last night but the Internet decided to stop working for me.)

A Longer Update...

Sorry about the last post. I know there was no info in it and it was basically pointless. I really did have good intentions!

So this morning I was asked to share my testimony. It wasn't on the spot or anything...We do one every Tuesday and Friday. Bill started us off last Friday and I went second. Ailin is on this Friday. It was good though. I pretty much wrote it up yesterday and I got a little emotional during it, not to the point of crying...haha It was definitely not a repeat of Hope Valley Devo Camp 2 of 2007. It has been good for me because if helped me to see where I have come from and therefore where I am going... And I think I am headed somewhere good! Jesus Christ = Semper Fidelis "Always Faithful". I am very tempted to get that tattooed on my arm now! haha I have too many plans! And so little money...

So my parents sent me a package for my birthday... I was so excited when I heard that from my sister (thanks for ruining the surprise! ;-) BUT it hasn't arrived yet! I am actually so anxious. I am missing everyone quite a bit and having something sent to me just brings you all a little closer... (That is a hint for you guys to send me stuff! kidding! Actually that would be cool though...)

So today is the...17th. That means Sam, Jay, Kathy (Rick's wife), and Nathan (he isn't part of our team, but is Rick's son) will be on their way up in two days. Mike is going to be coming up later because he has to graduate first. Pfffftt... He will be flying here with Rick who is heading home for a bit for a wedding.

Alright I think that is pretty much it... I hope that was a little more informative than my last post!

THIS PEACH WORKS!

Quick Update

Sorry guys. I have been trying to update as often as I can but it has been pretty busy around here. I only have 8 minutes until I have to pick up my laundry. I have tried to call a couple people today but no one is home. I talked to Bethany Hunt for a bit.

I don't really know what exactly to write at the moment. Uh... we went to an Anglican Church this morning. We are going back to the Baptist Church tonight. Our laundry is going to be done soon and and i will write more later...

Day 13 - My crazy day!

I am so tired tonight. I spent like 20 minutes trying to locate the computer lab which is conveniently located on the other side of the college. I talked to my family for a good 45 minutes tonight which I have been looking forward to for a couple days now. AND we ate this weird cheddar (or cheater as Ailin pronounces it) and broccoli soup for dinner that made most people sick. And of course there is the whole get up early and go to bed late thing. the sun is barley even beginning to set and its only 9:10 pm here.

What funny anecdotes can I relay to you tonight... well check the fortmac08.blogspot.com one for my "Bear in two minutes!" tale. That one got us a laugh, and a fright. I had a pretty eventful day so I guess I will just start there.

This morning my alarm didn't go off for some reason even though I checked and it definitely should have. So I got up at 8 when we were supposed to be eating breakfast and showered really quickly (my family won't believe that) and ate some cereal which was gross because I wasn't hungry. Then it was decided that because I have a CAA membership I was going to stay behind with Bill (who arrived up here Friday) and call a tow truck because our van still is not fixed (thaaank you Canadian Tire...). I had so many issue with info that I didn't know and was put on hold about 15 times (no joke) and in the 3 phone calls I made to them. Then Jen's phone (the only one I had) was dying and kept beeping at me angrily. I ran around our apartment trying to find her charger which is still lost. Finally I just went and sat in the van and waited for the tow truck, thinking it could take up to 4 hours for them to get there. I actually almost fell asleep but luckily I opened my eyes and noticed that the tow truck was here. It had only taken about 45 minutes. (it is only 10:30 at this time by the way).

The hook up went relatively easily, we got in the tow truck and the driver (nice guy) was taking us to Canadian Tire. Half way there I realize my wallet was not in my pocket. He pulled over and Bill stepped on on the side step of the truck (it being quite tall, big enough to carry a safari van) and the trucker guy got out to check the van. I was chatting with the driver and here "Sarah" spoken feebly behind me. I turned around and there is Bill..on the ground...fallen on his back...on the side of the road...in a puddle... I burst out laughing! oh man...the poor guy fell probably about 3 feet onto his back. He wasn't hurt which was good but I definitely told this story about 5 times already today... So anyways. The driver being a great guy took us back to the parking lot and I found my wallet. Then Bill and I walked over to the Dugout after dropping the van off at CT.

The rest of the day was fine... I planned out the lessons for the drama elective which is giong to be happening in July at the Dugout. We are going to have a bunch of electives planned (about 4 a day or something) for 4 weeks and I guess it will kind of be like camp or something. Just different programs kids can just come as they please during the summer. So ya...

To end, I have my first interview for Ink Speaks tomorrow! I am thuper duper excited and so just pray that that will go well. And of course it is my birthday on Wednesday! yay! Okay enough for now. Miss you!

Day 10 - Skateboarding and town touring...

Notice how good I am being about posting? I am actually quite pleased with myself.

Sooo yesterday I learned to skateboard. (Hey, Michelle do we still have that board back at home? Do you even read this?) Me and Amanda and Hannah were attempting to teach ourselves and we did pretty good if you ask me. I ended up getting around the the whole island thing in the middle without falling off! haha Then I got a little over confident and tried to ride the wall a bit... then I fell. Hard. I got this huge spray paint stain on my knee. As Amanda said, "Pride comes before the fall." Actually, I wasn't like... prideful or anything, I was just trying out some new stuff.

What else happened...Seana and I stayed up until later than we should have...we just got caught up talking, which we haven't done for a while and really needed to do. I got to go the Campbell's music which is this awesome music store. I bought some picks because I lost a few of my favorites by lending them out to kids. Adam also figured out how to set up the amp and music equipment here so I got to try out my pickup for the first time! It was soo good! haha I was actually the most excited person ever. Jen and I went around town to hand out fliers of the programs we are having at the Dugout next week. So we got to see some of the downtown, though we pass most of those places every day driving to work.

So that is pretty much it. I wrote Semper Fi on my arm and some kid asked me if it was a tattoo... "Not Yet!" Soon, soon...

Day 9 - Time Goes By So Fast!

I want to update, but all my energy is being put in the FortMac08 blog. I don't really know what exactly I am supposed to say anymore. I guess we have just been having a lot of fun. Yesterday a few of us went to the mall and bus stop to tell kids about the Dugout. We are having a big game of capture the flag today from 4 - 6. That is going to be fun!

I have been planning my tattoo out a lot more in the last few days. I have been told Fort McMurray is not the best place not get tattoos but I met a guy named Jed yesterday who told me about this place called Dragon FX in the West Edmonton Mall where he is going to get one on June 6th. He said he would show it to me when he gets back and that I can interview him, which I am really excited about. Actually I have my first interview scheduled for next Tuesday at 11:00 with this girl named Ashley who Rick met at Canadian Tire when we were going to get our van fixed (which was supposed to be fixed yesterday, but when Adam started driving it it was still very broken!)

Anyways, back to mine. I am thinking of getting my anchor tattooed up in between my shoulder and the lower part of my neck if that gives you any idea. I was reading through this book called The Tattoo Encyclopedia by Terisa Green. In it I looked up anchor and found this anchor cross (also called crux dissimulatat) and fell in love with it. It originally was used as a hidden symbol of Christianity for those who had fear of persecution. I want it to represent how far we have come and how faithful our Saviour has been to us over the course of history. And I finally found a verse to back it up: Hebrew 6:19 and surrounding verses which read:

"But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak: for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister. And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end: that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he sware by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us: which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil; whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Heb 6:9-20)
(Read it in a different version if you want, thats the only one I had handy.)

Then as I was flipping through the book I found a section that read "Semper Fidelis" which means "Always Faithful" in latin, which I think applies well with this passage. In just finding that verse and in Jed telling me about this great tattoo place I really feel God leading me to this, which is really exciting for me. I know a lot of people are against it and there are quite a few dangers, but it just feels right for me.
Oh and parents! I need a note of permission for Rick just so he can have a sound mind because I forgot to get one before I left.

Alright so I must acutally start working now because it is almost 12 and I have a bunch of stuff to read!

Day Seven - At the Dugout

Sorry for such a long wait. Apperently my dad is getting impatient.

So to answer you questions daddy, yes we did have to drive in the rain; it wasn't that bad though. It never rained very hard.

Now about why we stopped in Marathon. At the time we didn't want everyone to worry so we didn't post anything. BUT, Rick (aka Big Daddy K or BDK for short) decided it would be a good idea to skateboard down a ramp. He landed on his back hard and broke a few ribs. But God was definitely looking after us. We had to stop because Rick was not doing well at all. Luckily, there was a hospital only 10 minutes away. AND If we had taken the RV, no one else could have driven because Rick is the only one with the license to drive it. Then... driving got back to normal until our last day when our van broke down. Yes, it broke down completely and is still sitting at Canadian Tire. So we waited on the side of the road for about 3 hours and took pictures and had a little worship time. We got a tow and Seana's CAA covered it and we all got back safely.

So right now I am sitting in the Dugout which is the awesomest place ever! It's a community youth center kind of like the Bridge. Yesterday we cleaned a lot...Me Seana and Ailin got the bathrooms. It was actually pretty disgusting. The was quite a bit of graffiti in the boy's and we had to scrub that down. And in the girls bathroom there was an out of order toilet...of course being curious we all wanted to know why exactly it was out of order... put it this way, if someone's body was capable of doing that to the toilet, they should be in the hospital! ick!
The rest of the day and most of this morning we have been playing Rock Band, which is the funnest time of my life. We've met a few kids and I am starting to read up on stuff for the Ink Speaks stories. We have definitely been praying a lot and I am sure you can see just how incredibly faithful God has been in taking care of us.

As for where we are living, we are definitely being spoiled. Most of us have our own rooms and only two are sleeping on couches, which just happen to be more comfortable than my bed. WE have some really nice neighbours. Their names are Calvin, Travis, Ben, Ken, Josh, and Josh. haha WE only met four of them, not Ken or the other Josh. We borrowed a kettle from them to make tea and found out they had rock band so we will probably be over there a lot...haha. That is if I don't get tired of it...totally kidding!

Alright so that is all for now. I would just love for you all to continue to pray for our team while we are away. I miss you all as always and love you soo much! I will try to stay in contact as much as possible. I just bought a calling card and am going to attempt to call my family tonight. If it works out you may hear from me.