An ogre has many layers...

... Just like an Onion.

So yesterday at Harbor Light (the homeless ministry) I got the wonderful duty of peeling onions. There were boxes and boxes of onions that were donated... er - discarded, for Harbor Light to use. They were gross. Dirty and moldy. At one point I grabbed one and my thumb went through it... gross. Then I did what any Youth and Family ministry graduate does - I made a spiritual application.

Those onions that were moldy, dirty, and 'unfit' for use, just needed to be peeled deeper. We would cut the top and bottom off and then peel the layers back... low and behold there was a very usable part of every one of those onions. In fact, they were perfect. No one else wanted them, they were discarded and given to the homeless to use... but they just needed to be cut and peeled. See where I'm going with this one? How many times do we find ourselves covered in the dirt and mold of our sin. No one wants us.

But God chooses us. He cuts us. Peels us. He finds the good part and uses us.

This week has been amazing and it's only Tuesday. God has taken me and cut and peeled me. He has used me so much more than I thought I could be used.

Have you let God cut and peel you lately?

It's Tuesday

It's Tuesday, and I have a moment of free time to update the blog. No pictures today guys. I'm sorry. :(

Yesterday was a challenging day for a lot of those in our group. We worked at Harbour Light in the east side of Vancouver. Thousands upon thousands of homeless people live in the downtown east side. Harbour Light is part of the Salvation Army. (Beth really made me think about the name yesterday. SALVATION Army.)

We worked during the lunch hour. We served in the soup line. Some of us passed out loaves of bread for people to take with them. Others helped clean off the tables. Luis put it best in our evening reflection time ... Someone working in the kitchen asked Luis why we came all the way from Arkansas to work in Vancouver. Luis said, "It's simple. Love."

After we finished with lunch, we helped prep sandwiches, onions, etc., for the week. Some of us didn't understand how this was helping. However, we now know that we helped put the kitchen staff ahead for a couple weeks. They can spend more time now getting to know the clients of Harbour Light.

Free time

We had a little bit of free time yesterday afternoon. Larry drove us up the mountain to Cypress. At Cypress you can overlook the city, that part of Canada, and see all the way into Washington state. Absolutely amazing. My prayer is that the people of Vancouver will start to see the mountains around them as the love of God and nothing else.

Dinner... oh the fun

What do you get when you take 14 Arkansans to an authentic Japanese restaurant? An interesting time. We ate dinner in downtown Vancouver. A lot in our group had never tried sushi before. So it was really interesting. Ask Logan and John sometime how they felt about it. Let's just say we had to make a stop at Subway later in the evening for them.

The guys... certified movers
After dinner, we helped Amy (Amy is a newcomer to the Delta Church. She is in her 20s and teaches ESL at a school in Vancouver.) move furniture she had just acquired into her new home. We weren't planning on doing that lastnight. God put us in the right place at the right time.

Pictures will be coming soon of the girls and Jake carrying a van seat up a hill to a coffee shop in the middle of Vancouver.

Tuesday's plans
Some of the group have already headed out to their lunch destinations. We are splitting up and taking members of the church out to lunch on their lunch breaks. Later this evening we will be meeting with a small group. We're really excited about that. The next five nights will be filled with worship and encouragement. Now we're getting to the heart of it.

I can't speak for everyone... but I think we're learning that we all are on a ride, and God is the driver this week (that came from Logan). We have to just let our plans fly out the window and follow God's lead. So far this week that has so been the way it has happened. Just ask Mike.

We love you guys!

we're here!

We arrived at Larry and Rose's place lastnight around 8:30 local time. We only had one slight problem at the border. Poor Luis. We're glad he's still with us. It was touch and go for a while.

Since I don't have a lot of time to update in depth. Here's the top 10 list, in no particular order, for what we've done so far.

1. Good food. So much of it. As I type this I'm about to eat my fifth feast of the day. OK... not really five. Beth is sitting next to me. It might be five, she says. (Mama Rose is giving us more right now, including something that is "soaked in some goodies") We all decided we had the best potluck ever today. It was an international culinary exhibition. We had Ukranian perogies, Chinese food that was made by real Chinese people, Italian food made by real Italians.

2. Gelato. 218 flavors to be exact, including Corn-flavored, Garlic-flavored and Balsamic Vinegar-flavored. Ask Mike about the Garlic. Beth said I should say that. But really, there was some really good stuff too. Renee's combination: Tiramisu and Vanilla Cookie Dough. Beth's: Passion Fruit Raspberry and Coconut Creme Pie. Amanda's: Strawberry Daiquiri (Dry of course) and Orange Cremescicle (I don't know how to spell it.)

3. John and Jake running through seagull poop and making birds fly and then getting poop all over their clothes. And then getting in the van for another hour with me. I am not smelling very nice right now.

4. Clickity Clack.

5. Count your many blessings.

6. The rental car lady.

7. John. Period.

8. OK... Luis and the border. Memorable.

9. Worship this morning was amazing!

10. The view in Vancouver.

There are probably so many more. We will get to them, but for now that's it. We love you guys back at home. We'll keep posting. Pictures to come.

On the agenda for tomorrow: We working at a homeless shelter in Vancouver. A lot of us will be out of our comfort zones in a big way tomorrow!

2 Small Bags and a Carry-On

I just want everyone to know that I have all of my stuff for 9 days in two small bags and a carry-on. For those of you who know me, you know how hard that is for me. I took that same amount of stuff to Lexington a month ago for a weekend trip.

And John.... No laptop. It's killing me, but I'm not taking it.

With that said, we're leaving for Vancouver in less than 12 hours. And I went to the dentist today. That's just a sidenote.

For those of you not in Vancouver, pray for us and this work! For those of you at the Delta Street Church, I'm so excited to meet all of you. I'll see you tomorrow night!

...renee

P.S. Since John is making me leave my laptop at home, I hope he's prepared to let me use his to update this blog once a day. :) Either way, someone will be updating this blog once a day from Vancouver. Keep reading!

excited!!

Tomorrow morning we will be just getting to the airport at this time. And I am so excited. There is something about going somewhere to do something and meet people you've never met before that is just so exciting. Every time the trip gets mentioned I get so excited. It's going to feel like a long time between now and tomorrow because I have so much prep work left to do, but no matter it begins in 24 hours!!


See you all soon!!

laura

Day after next...

We have finally arrived at what has seemed like forever... only on a calendar. In actual time, the weeks have flown by so fast that it is hard to believe that I should pack tonight... ugh. This morning I woke up and fed my dog, hit the snooze, hit the gym, and then donned my tie and shirt (not sure if I match today) and was out the door. Pretty normal stuff.

Then why did I feel so abnormal?

There is this sense of calm that comes over me when I have a lot to do. When I am gearing up for a big task. Whenever I step out on a limb. Last night Beth and I were talking, "Wow, we leave on Saturday... there is so much to do. We should pack tomorrow!" We have finally arrived at the boiling point - and I feel calm. I sometimes question our ability to do the work that God is lining up for us. I question my role with this team. I wonder about our commitments and how we will represent Christ. But in all of that, I am calm today. I don't feel rushed. It's neat.

Reminded me of Paul giving thoughts to the Peace that surpasses understanding. I think that's what we all need at this moment. Whether it's us, going on the trip, or the church family in Delta wondering what to expect. Peace will bring us through.

Take a breath today and thank God for the peace he has given us. And if you feel stressed - let his peace wrap you up and live in confidence that He will provide.

God is good

Well... just a few more days until we leave. Unbelievable.

Today has been good. Phone call after phone call today and details kept falling into place. I was beginning to get in the way of God doing his thing. He certainly has his timing and his ways.

Lessons in faith once again.

Knocked off the checklist today:
1. A room to call homebase
2. A meeting with the Delta principal
3. A homeless shelter to help on Monday
4. A contact at UBC
5. Remembering that God is in control and not us.

...renee
pro. 16:3 "commit all that you do to the Lord, and your plans will succeed." so true.