I Think, Therefore I'm Frustrated!

For those of you on the other side of the world who are actually looking at this blog to be informed about the family, I apologize.

It has been a pretty interesting summer, full of questions about the future, and blessings. As the boy gets older and more able to communicate, we love him more and more. The last 2 days have been diaper free. Not to say they have been accident free, only diaper free (which makes for some messes). However, he had been fairly consistent with both numbers one and two. His first #2 being so exciting for me, and rather large, that I took a digital photo to show Lalainia, who was out at the time. The picture will not be shown here.

Lalainia has begun to research and brainstorm for her winter production of Fiddler on the Roof. Another directing job with which she will wow and cause people to say, "Man, you can do anything" (well, that's how I feel anyway). She has also bee able to grab a few voice jobs so that we can have a slight summer income. Nice!

My summer has been a little crazy, with emotions and thought processes, unfamiliar to me. After my two week trip to Mexico(during which I felt like God was kind of whispering some new ideas into my ear), Lalainia and I had an opportunity to lead worship at Coquitlam Alliance Church. I was amazed at how comfortable it was to lead. I loved it. The following week, I had the opportunity to preach at a friends church. Again, in the middle of my sermon, I had this moment where I thought to myself, "This feels so right. I should be doing something like this with my life."

These are just a few of a dozen moments over the past month and a half during which I have been urged to think beyond my current life path. It will be a funky adventure to see how this all turns out.

Check out some pics from Mexico below.

Everyone Loves Gin!!

No, not the drink. Although I've heard that some love that too. Our good friend, and Auntie Gin to Caedence, has (like all our other dear friends and family) left us for the summer. She is Down Under. Carolyn, have an awesome time. Keep us up to date on your awesome adventures. We love ya!!

Camping 2006

The family had a great camping trip up at Cultus Lake. Lalainia's sister, and her sister's husband and son came along, also. Spent 2 nights and 3 extremely hot days. Although the mornings were a comfortable temperature until about 11:00 AM (because we were surrounded by trees), the afternoons were crazy hot, and were spent driving into Chilliwack to find refuge in a Dairy Queen or an air conditioned dollar store. Then, at about 3-4pm we would make our way back to the lake for some swimming, and dinner by the fire.
Lalainia and I had a great time with the little guy, and he was sad to have to leave. We plan on going up again before the summer is over.
I must say evenings with the family, in front of a camp fire, are pretty much irreplaceable.

Saul Alonzo Update!

Here's a new updated picture of our little guy Saul Alonzo that we sponsor through World Vision.

We received a letter from his mother and himself telling us more about him. He said in the letter that he wanted to be an excellent lawyer when he grew up -- too cute!

We also received a tracing of his hand (he's a year older then Caedence).

Please, if anyone is remotely interested in sponsoring a child, check out the World Vision link that Brad has put in the margin of this page. It is SO worth the small amount of money that it takes to see how it changes a child and a family's life!!

Mexico Pics

About the Trip

Well, it has been a great week. Being with my family has been very refreshing. There is a part of me that misses Mexico, but obviously, the faces of Lalainia and Caedence were on my mind throughout my trip.

For those of you wondering what the team actually did in Mexico, let me explain.
For the first week, we spent half the day working on building a farm house and clearing land for farming. Pastor Tomas Bencomo, from Juarez, has a heart for the Tarahumaran people of southern Chuihuahua. In order to teach them better farming techniques, he invites them 5 hours north to Rio Chico (his base of operations), has them live with him for several months, then sends them back to their people with a better farming techniques, a handful of pigs, a mule, and the knowledge of the Gospel. The farm we were building was for those he was teaching.

While in Mexico, I had the opportunity to preach in a small community called Pena Blanca (White Rock). It was quite an experience teaching with a translator, pausing for each sentence, so that Brenda(our guide, translator, and good friend) could translate for me. I also made some quick changes to my sermon, as I figured many of my illustrations were cultural in nature, and may have confused rather than enlightened.

On the day before we left Mexico, we found ourselves in Ciudad de Juarez; a city close to Vancouver in its size. Since Pastor Tomas was informed (by whom I still do not know) that I HAD a short career in music, he asked if I would sing at his church. After much prodding, and since I though his church would be similar in size to all the others we visited in Mexico (approx. 30) I agreed. However, when I walked into the church I found there to be more along the lines of 300 people. I was immediately nervous, but they were kind (it was my first "performance" of a song for which I played guitar). So it was a growing experience.
The Second week, we drove 6 hours further south, near the town of Creel. From there we drove 2-3 hours (lost all sense of time) driving off road. At times on pure rock, and at an angle I feared we would not be able to stop on. After this, and a night of rest we hiked further into the bush to deliver food to the Tarahumaran.
The hike itself was probably the biggest test of my will, and stamina I have ever experienced. Several were carried our via mule.

Check the post above for more shots of my trip; our work on the farm, some of the environments we traveled through, and some of the critters we encountered.

In the words of the sappiest Gospel song of all time: Pray for Me

I know that many of you who read our family blog are "people of faith", and with that in mind, I have a request. PRAY FOR US.
The past year and a half, have been a little confusing for me. I have the continual feeling that I should be doing something different with my life. This of course manifests itself by me telling Lalainia every second week that I have a new goal set, or a new idea for a carreer that is so obvious that I cannot believe I've missed it. I feel that I am suffering from MPD, with a head full of ideas one day and a new set the next. This, I feel, is totally unfair to my family. But the bottom line is I believe that I was meant to be doing more than I am doing right now.

This feeling, is perhaps never stronger than when I return from a trip such as the one I have just returned from. Whenever, I find myself involved in a ministry, whether preaching, or working on a missions trip, working in youth ministry, praying with someone, etc, I feel at home.

Over the next little while Lalainia and I will be asking a lot of God: clarity, understanding, wisdom, maybe I'll even become Gideon enough to ask for a blatant sign, so that I don't really need to think about it. I also plan on asking for some advice from those much smarter than I am; pastors, parents, missionaries, etc.

So, please remember us in your prayers. Especially Lalainia, my extremely patient, loving "stand by your man" woman. Pray that God's will (I am very uncomfortable using that word, as I am not completely sure what it means) will be evident.

Here are some more shots from my Mexico trip.

Back Home!

I am sitting in the Phoenix airport reevaluating my life. Not in some big major way, but in the same way I do every time I return from a short term missions trip. I have met people who are satisfied with very little. Who when giving simple gifts, like frizbees and toothpaste, had no idea how such things were used.
I met a man who has made it his life goal to reach a group of natives who still live in the wilderness, dying of starvation; physically and spiritually. I have met people who once or twice a month travel 18 hours, (3 of which are on mountain road unsuitable for anything but an all terrain vehicle beyond human comprehension), and 5 hours of which are hiking through jungle, down a canyon, four times deeper than the Grand Canyon (and back up again), in order to reach these people with food and the gospel.
What am I doing?

I have many stories, and many pictures to post, but since my time is limited here, I will leave it at this.

Summer Fun!

Well, Brad is off to Mexico! He's been away 4 days and there has been a few "Where's Daddy?" and particularily "I want my Daddy." from Caedence. But besides the odd blue moment for both Mommy and 'T'aedence, we are doing quite well!

We've been with Grandma and Grandpa (different than Nanna and Papa), in South Surrey for the past couple of days. I have had evening rehearsals for Broadway Pops so they have watched Caedence for me. Last night he also had a special treat when his two cousins 'Dita' (Krystina) and 'Telsey' (Kelsey) watched him.

During the day yesterday we (myself, Caedence, Grandma and Grandpa) headed out to Cresent Beach. Caedence was extremely excited at the prospect of digging for 'cwabs' (or crabs). It was a gorgeous day, but actually a little chilly by the water. We dug for crabs (found and captured 6 babies), made some sand castles, threw some rocks and then ended up sharing some fries!

Before we left I explained that he had to let the 'cwabs' go as this was their house, so Grandpa took him down to the water and put them back in the sand. Good times were had by all!

Thought I'd share a few pictures of our escapade!

Chiuaua: Where the yappy dogs run free!

Tomorrow morning 4:45 am, my ride picks me up, we head to the church to start our day long trek to Juarez, Mexico. We drive to Seattle, fly to El Paso (via phoenix), and drive across the border into Juarez. I tried to convince my ride to go by Tim Horton's 24 hour for a coffee, but no go.
I do not feel completely prepared to leave. I know I am supposed to wait until the end of my trip to be tired, but for some reason, I already feel exhausted (not a great way to start). Also, for some reason I am very anxious about the part I am playing in some of the things we will be doing down there. I'm sure it will all work out, but as for now I'm a little worried.
So remember to keep me in your prayers, and also Lalainia and Caedence as I am away. It will not be easy to be apart.
I kinda love 'em.

Tribute to Laurz

Here is a short post, simply to mention our great affection for our good friend Lauren. She has been a fantastic addition to our lives and we are proud to call her our friend. As she is now off to school in the "really large edible, usually rounded fruit" city, she will be greatly missed. While she is away we will miss her beautiful smile and quirky sense of humour (not to mention her amazing voice). If only she could train herself to speak in her Irish lilt whenever she is around us, everything would be perfect (curse those who made fun of it when she first graced our shores).

Love you girl. Be good to yourself and think good thoughts (you know what I'm sayin')

Almost there!

Well, in two more weeks I head-off for the small village (and I mean small) of Rio Chico, in the north central Mexican province of Chiuaua. I have been brushing up on my Spanish, purchasing my Deep Woods and sun tan lotion, and meeting with my team, making some of the final arrangements. Further to the entire group, I have been meeting with a smaller group with whom I will be running a children's program while there. We are planning for about 200 children to show up daily, ranging from age 3-12. We will be leading them in song (I plan on playing the guitar), teaching bible stories(via an interpreter), crafts, and games. It is going to be a fiesta baby!

Please continue to pray for our preparation as here is much to be done before we leave. I have many exams to oversee at work, an essay to write (I have just started a new course), packing to do, etc, etc. Also, please keep us in your prayers during our trip (June 26-July 10). Pray for our safety, our strength, and our ability to be used for God while in Mexico.

The Event!

Many thanks to all of you who took the time to show up and celebrate Caedence's birthday with us. Who would have thought that time could fly by so fast with 6 or 7 little ones running around our apartment like home. Of course, their minds were entranced by the South American Political poster of El Presidente Caedence (see above).
An extra special thanks goes out to all of you for not purchasing any toys that have "midi" sounds(if you do not have kids get anyone with a 3 year old to explain). The sounds of cars revving, plastic saxophones blasting, even the sweet sound of tank engines "toot-tooting" are welcome sounds in this house.
Besides the reason we got together, it is always nice to see those we promise once a year to "not be like we were last year, when we only saw each other once the entire year." Maybe that is one of the extra "perks" of having children; an excuse to visit with those we love to visit with, but who live "all the way in town!"
On another note, it was good that you all left when you did. Within an hour of everyone leaving, I began to get the shivers and my throat got swollen. Hope this was not the case with anyone else(?).
Please enjoy the pictures above!

Take a Break (A Short Rant)

I have been around many stressed people over the past few weeks. Frustrated, angry, tired; everyone seems at the end of their rope. This is just a post to encourage all to TAKE A BREAK!!
Work hard, but then relax hard. Many of us are far too involved in things that will not mean squat in a year or two (meaningless, meaningless, all is meaningless). We should be investing in long term; important things like family relationships, friends, our children, God.

Learn to say "no" once and a while, because others cannot and will not say it for you.
And for those of you who are defining yourselves by how much you can accomplish, you are really missing the point.

Okay, I'm done.

Lul's Pics

Just wanted to post a few cool pics Lul has taken.

New Member of the Family

After talking about it for quite a long while, Lul and I finally decided to sponsor a child from World Vision. We are now sponsoring a 3 year old boy (same age as our son) named Saul Alonzo Mismit. His picture is on our fridge and we do our best to remember him in our prayers(even our son prays for him).
We would like to encourage others to do the same. It costs very little, but provides so much, not only for the child, but also for the community he/she lives in. It takes less than 5 minutes to start sponsoring a child, and with an automatic payments plan(like we are doing) it is so easy. You can connect to World Vision via the link on the right.

Mission to Mexico

On June 26th, I will be leaving for Rio Chico, Mexico, in the province of Chiuaua (where the small, yappy dogs roam free) For the first week, I will be working together with a team from my church(Coquitlam Alliance) to help build a base camp for missionaries who come to the area. During that time we will also be running some programs for the local children(Vacation Bible School, sports camps, etc.)
Our second week, we will travel further into the Copper Canyon in order to bring food to the Tarahumara native group; still living in caves and small shacks and speaking their own native language.
Please pray for my safety during my work in Mexico, and also for wife and son who will (hopefully) be missing husband and daddy. Also, check out the Hungry for Life link to find out more about the work I'll be doing in Mexico, or on the Tarahumara link to learn more about the people we'll be working with.

Summertime

Lul had planned on working for Theatre Under the Stars this year, not as a lead actor this time, but as director of Grease. However, unfortunately for her (and everybody who will not get to see a fabulously directed performance of Grease) TUTS has been postponed one year. So we are extremely sad to say that our summer will probably involve many sunny summer mornings of sitting together as a family, eating our breakfast, as the warm morning light hits our bistro set in our "English garden-ish" backyard. This of course will be followed by hours of relaxation time with the family, which will then be followed by dinner together (and possibly sitting once again at our bistro set), and a relaxing evening for myself and Lul(after we put the boy to bed) to simply sit back and watch the sunset together or rent a nice romantic movie we've been waiting all year to watch. Man what a rip!!