So of the American cities I have been to so far, I think Seattle is probably 'grape'. (catch the regan quote there anyone)
For those lay people out there in the world, that basically means that Seattle is favourite.
I'm not sure yet, after a day of "Downtown pic tour plunge" (the YWAM Seattle version of Urban plunge for you Vancouver MA types) I can't help but find a lot of similarities between this beautiful city and my home-away-from-home Vancovuer. I'm not sure if Vancouver is like a Canadian version of Seattle or if Seattle is a Canadian version of Vancouver (which was built first?) but both are beautiful and diverse and colourful and developed and full of culture, fun and life. There of course are the bad things that they have in common too, andthe good and bad that define them individually, but that's always going to be the case I guess.
We are staying with the lovely folk at YWAM Seattle (did I mention I was on a promo/outreach tour team?) until the 1st, and it's been a pleasure crashing with these guys, chilling out, laughing, getting to know a bunch of Americans, and just generally being made to feel really welcome. We have a super busy week planned, so not sure if I will get to post again, but I figured I better put something on here, or you might stop reading! (not that I know that many people that do read this regularly, but a girl can dream right?)
Also, because this is a promo type thing, I am half way through editing a video that will probably be a part of some of our presentations. Aubrey and I have been working on the storyboard of it together, and I've been loving stretching out my editing muscles again on Adobe Premiere (a mint programme for sure!)
For those of you who know me at all, you will know this is a HUGE step in smooshing together my life and work in NZ with my new life and work here with YWAM, and it's only the beginning of a crazily exciting whirlwind docutour that will be unbelieveable if it all comes off as planned.
So please keep hoping and praying with me, and maybe I'll send you a DVD of some cool stuff or something I edited someday. (i knwo, can you believe it!) lol
but yeah, i'm stoked, and really the only bummer on the whole situation is that I am sick and staying back from outreach tonight, while my team is chilling with people over free hot chocolate in downtown seattle, primarily becuase I am coughing and spluttering like a chesty smoker, and after every bout of coughing needs to just smile when one of the team will "bring me back the lung that i just coughed up"
hopefully one night in will be more than enough to come right, but would definately appreciate prayer, as i would love to participate fully on this tour as much as possible and be an active part of this team.
For now, I pray and edit and wait, and do my best to learn something, and then occaisionally blog to you kind folk.
I miss you all, and think about you often. (unless you read this and i dont' know you in which case i'm amused, and i hope you aren't bored right now)
enough for today
much love, hill

It's 4.34am
Jetlag is a wicked thing
Tomorrow I am resorting to Baileys if this amount of sleep deprivation doesn't work.

So it's been a while, and I am unbelieveably jetlagged.
I realised today in staff meeting that this is not a suprise when 3 things happened to indicate the possible level of how ragged we all are after flying into Vancouver, (across the entire pacific ocean I might add) at 10am, and then being at work precisely 23 hours later....
(during staff meeting) "Wow, you look drunk!"
(while praying) "I know we are all feeling pretty hung over right now..."
(also while praying) "God, please be the shot in the arm that we need to get us through this day with good attitudes" hmmmm. concerning.
But yeah. Basically just wanted to put the word out there that I am back in this Vancouver, BC, CANADA, freaking a little, reeling a lot, and doing my best to take stock of the bitter sweet things I find waiting for me upon my return. I'll be doing a newsletter sometime this week, and in the meantime, here are a few pictures from the last couple of months.....

Much love, and many thoughts of home and you that I love
Hillary

Elsylyn and I in the cafe down the street

Opio, Me, Elavaya, Brielle and Adongo (YWAM KLers)

Our team and the entire staff of the cafe down the road
(they wanted a pic of us before we left because we ate there so much!)

Dear Adam doing his best to sleep on the plane (jk!)

The girls on debrief in Langkawi (oh the beautiful ocean!)

$10 aviators in Little India

Laura, Crystal, Me, Brielle
Our 'cultrually appopriate' yet fun clothing

Jubilee (YWAM KL) and I at KAWAN (the drop in centre we worked at)

Our team and the gorgeous team from Heidebeek, Holland

So it's one of those days where I feel like I am thinking about so much stuff that my brain really might just suddenly seize up and harden into a block of something resembling cheese or polyfilla. eeeeewww, that was an odd mental picture.
So we've had a fun day today, we had usual base worship here, then cleaning and lunch and then headed across town to the central market to shop a bit (and hang out with a VERY cute Kashmir salesman....) and then on to meet Mike for a swim at the Marriot Hotel. Needless to say, very swanky and filled with more white people than we have seen in our entire trip so far!
We did have fun though and it was really good to talk with Mike, albeit briefly about some options back in Vancouver and how things will progress from here. I know we are alwasy telling the students to live in the moment and really try not to be distracted by the future and other plans and ideas and to really finish well, but I think today was nice to take my eyes off this outreach and really look forward in a really good excited way about what lies beyond. And now I can check fully back in, the bitter of finishing and saying goodbye to Malaysia, and my friends here and this DTS, sweetened by a world of possibilities now ahead.
Anyways. Brother Charles, Adam, Erik, Sam and Crystal are having a full on Elvis Rock jam session right now to practice for going to a Muslim Drug rehab centre on Saturdya night, so I am going to sign off now, have a bit of a dance and let Crystal have the computer to look up some lyrics.
14 days til Vancouver.......
Heaps of love
Hill

So I'm in another net cafe in KL.
Gamers are obnoxious.
Seriously. Who does that. Get headphones for your stupid gun games and music!
Ahem
Ok
sorry
outburst aside
I can't even really believe that I am still here and I've already been here 6 weeks, and will be back in dear Vancouver in less than 2 1/2 weeks. my my where has the year gone. To be really honest, I'm dreading leaving Malaysia, there is definately a part of me staying behind, and a realisation that I'm gonna need to come back for sure. Is that really you God? (i know i know, shameless dig at the gospel according to Loren) but really, I think KL is definately another stop on the highway ahead.
Wow that was a terrible metaphor
So anyways
HAve been researching options for the team debrief, none of which i will post here because i didnt' know (until recently) that some of the students actually read this and we want debrief to be a total suprise. so it will have to be for all of you too! :D
All that aside, things have been going really well. WE got to participate in the 20 years of YWAM in Malaysia celebration on sunday night, and catch up with some awesome old school YWAM types in the likes of Tom Hallas, and Kel Steiner (yay for the South Pacific) and generally chill out, dress up, and eat some yummy food at a swanky hotel in the heart of KL.
I am holding the fort today working at the base with Erik and Braden, Crystal is sick,and the others have gone to Kawan. I should be back there on Wednesday though, on with Cantonese/Mandarin lessons!!! :D
I bought presents yesterday, that was fun.
Also, finally commited 6 months worth of savings into my portable harddrive, to be used for editing purposes when i'm back in Van. Needless to say it is a thing of wonderous silver aluminium cased beauty and sleekness, and both myself and the other appreciative and understanding computer nerds present kissed it and stroked it and ooed and aahed over the new 'baby'
Speaking of babies, any news on Wade and Jo......?
No pics today sorry due to technical difficulties and the fact htat i have to leave this net cafe before I ahve a tanty at the aforementioned gamers
Lots of love
Hill

Wow So I can't believe that's it has already been a month nearly since I have posted! How did that even happen? Oh yeah, cuz I'm in Malaysia!tehehe So hopefully you have not given up on reading this entirely and you have not forgotten about me, because I have been sending emails even though I haven't been posting. But, even though I have just emailed and there is nothing left to say on this blog post I wanted to (FINALLY) post a couple of pictures from our time here in Malaysia Hope you like them! And I better get some comments out of this lot!!!!!!!!! Love, and hopefully will post again soon Hillary

Laura and Hillary's rockstar anime hair adventure!

Me, Linda and Crystal digging into a fresh coconut, taking a break from the blazing scorching hot outside.

I don't even know what was going on here. But Roti Canai is definatley a meal we will all miss a lot! And for 1RM and amazing goodness who wouldnt' :) And thank goodness for Mango Lassi. Definately one of God's brilliant creations.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

So today was one of those days filled with amazing potential for "so this one time...." stories.
Not everyone will quite understand what that could possibly have meant, but the myriad of crazy that filled my day today was rather shocking! :)

But now, as I sit here at either very late at night or very early in the morning I am struck with the realisation that is is now 2007, tomorrow (or 7 hours from now) I fly to asia, I am goign to turn 23, and I need a haircut. Like I said, an night of big realistaions.

Actually I didnt' actually say that did I. Anyway...

Well as vague as this post has been, (and I promise the drivel will stop very shortly as verbal dimwitedness gives way to sleep) I'm glad to close the book on 2006 and welcome in 2007. I'm excited for the possiblities, curious to look around the many bends in the road, and freshly reminded of the amazing and wonderful friends that I have in my life that have so taken care of me regardless of my particular brand of crazy.....I'll tell you the stories if you care some other time.

Anyways, take off time is in 7 hours, so it's definatley sleep time
Love you lots like jelly tots (I mis syou Gav!)
hill

Merry Christmas!!!!!!
I know I am a day late for anyone reading in pretty much anywhere else in the world, but for Vancouver I still have an hour and 10 minutes to revel in Christmas jolly-ness, so bear with me ok?
It's been so awesome
I find myself sitting in my little flat with my Christmas lights, tealights, cute little christmas tree and really realising how blessed I am.
Wait, I know I know, CHEESE, but seriously!
Not only did I have two amazing Christmas days with two wonderful beautiful families here in Vancouver, but I got to... (just to name a few....)
1) Eat TURKEY!! (with duck and cornish hen and stuffing and potatoes and gravy and cranberries and.....mmmmmmmmmm........)
2) Be part of the making of a TURDUCKEN! (www.diygourmet.blogspot.com for more details)
3) Opened up my first amazing wonderful Christmas stocking filled with wonderful thoughtful loot
4) Heard from some people from a bunch of places around the world, and shared some wonderful Christmas friendship.
And much more amazing wondefulness that I can't even begin to type out.......
I seriously look back on my post from about a week ago and say again (with a rather different feeling in my heart) how is this my life?
It's been so awesome after some pretty low times here in Vancouver to really feel so welcomed and at home and relaxed, and though I miss some certain not named here individuals very very very (yup you read that right, THREE verys!!!!) much......I can still smile and say I've had an amazing two days of Christmas.
Thank you, all of you, for soooooo much wonderful investment in me. Thankyou for taking care of me.
Happy Birthday Jesus.
Love, hillary

So much to blog about and so little time
I am going to breadrun in 45 minutes. It will be the first time I have ridden my bike in a long time too becuase of all the rain and snow etc in Vancouver so we'll see how well I do.
There has been so much going on and I've admittedly done an appalling job of keeping this page up to date.
So lets see.
I had a really weird feeling of 'how is this my life'. I got an email from Philip saying that he 'found me' on imdb.com. Yeah I know. Who would've thought. How is this my life.
And then, I was walking down 1st avenue, and looking up at the beautiful mountains, very early in the morning and completely overwhelmed by how beautiful the skyscape was, mountains, cranes, North Van houses and 1st murals. Beautiful Vancouver........how is this my life?
And now Christmas shopping, waiting in line at Chapters and HMV for 20 minutes at a time, and I still wonder.....
This is a crazy beautiful priviledge, and I wonder.....
Thursday night was Lovefeast, and for those of you not well versed in YWAM-ese that basically is the end of lecture phase party for the DTS students and staff leaving on outreach.
We invited everyone from our little community and dress up and have a good dinner.
Also, because of Christmas we got turkey......mmm mmmmmm....turkey........
It was a relaly good night to see everyone all dressed up and excited and having fun and looking back on the 3 months past and 2 months ahead on outreach.
Friday night we had our small group Christmas party hanging out, had dinner out at an amazing fusion restaurant on the Drive called SASH, and then dessert and a movie at mine and Jacqui's house. Watched 'Whale Rider' and cried and laughed and cried more over the beautiful story and beautiful New Zealand.
Yesterday was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo fun. We finally managed our big sleep in and our once monthly bacon and egg girl chilling out brunch. It's sad that this is our last one til I come back from outreach, but we enjoyed ourselves, eating bacon with Renae and watching 'Ever After'.
Then went meandering around Hastings st, paying bills, buying groceries and (on a whim) getting our eyebrows threaded!!! So weird! and painful! but great fun too, and I never had any idea what a difference $7 and 10 minutes makes to your face!
Very cool.
So yeah, that's pretty much where it is at right now.
Christmas is looking busy, but fun and I hope you all got my Christmas newsletter, if you didnt' and want to, please please email me and I'll make sure you are on my mailing list.
Off to breadrun
Love you
hill

Pictures pictures pictures.......



Jacqui and I and the Christmas Tree upstairs


Stefan and I and the Christmas tree again
Bacon bacon bacon......

Really grainy picture from the Lovefeast of Stuart and I, more to follow, but haven't had a chance to get them all digital yet....... eventally.......

So, I jsut got home and I tried to do some laundry. however, in this crazy snowy weather, the pipes are all frozen and there is no water coming in to the washer.
gutted
so i'm guessing it's gonna be dirty clothes day tomorrow, either that or a skirt or something! yipes lol
anyways
nothing much else to say really. Had a minor breakdown tonight, but it'll pass, tomorrow is a better day.
Love you
Hill

So it's been so cold for the lasts 4 days that I have pretty much just wanted to chunder. Or puke. Or vomit (see catering for all the many vernaculars of our organisation and the readers of this site.....did i spell vernacular right?)
But yeah, starting monday there has been snow and ice abounding, and Vancouver has been transformed into this 1-2 foot deep winter wonderland. I say wonderland very carefully too, because I have had a few moments of panic slipping on patches of ice, and the usual 35 minutes it takes me to get to work by bus (i love my bike, but not in snow!) is now a sad and blustery 1 1/4 hour trip. Sad.
And, said weather situation has finally pushed me over the edge of needing to buy a decent Canadian grade winter jacket. Waterproof, snow and ice proof, long, bikeable and WARM. Becuase currently I am wearing 2 tank tops, 3 t-shirts, a jean jacket, and 2 hoodies.
toasty, though as padded as a teddy bear. I feel like i put on 30 pounds overnight.
Brrrrr. And now, we are going ice skating.
Yipes
will let you know how it goes, i'm pretty scared to be honest......

So welcome to winter in Vancouver.
We just finished our staff retreat at an amazing hotel Downtown, and I had such a great time, getting to know more people at the base, and really getting a chance to pray and get a heart for more of the city than just east van. We explored the city, had fun, drank coffee, ate a really really good supper and breakfast, hot tubbed, swam, chilled out, sang, shared communion, ideas emotions, hopes, plans and had a really good time of trying to build a bit more community.
AND, it was snowing!!! It's been crazy cold, but I sitll persevered and wore a pretty skirt and top combo cuz i wanted to take my chance to dress up, and then it snowed! yipes
And over the last 24 hours or so there has been a good 1 1/2 feet of snow, and it's all beautiful and powdery and fluffy and amazing.
So what else was there to do on a night like this after such a good weekend? We sat in the hot tub and then did snow angels. Yup, I'm not even kidding.
Check this out.......

Step 1: Shovel off all the snow from the top of the hottub


Step 2: Put snow into the hot tub to cool it down a little to reduce the body shock


Step 3: After sitting for a while in the steaming hot, collapse, tackle or be tackled into the snow, and make snow angels until you can't feel your skin and then jump back into the hot tub. Ouch.


Step 4: Grin and bear the pain! And laugh. Laugh a lot!

Watch out for yoru hair freezing with snow in it htough, it gets very brittle! and your head gets sore.

But, in saying all of that, I feel very alive. I am now though warm and toasty watching a DVD at Krista and Laura's place. Also the cup of coffee and the TimTam I just ate I'm sure has somethign to do with my feeling of wellbeing.

I have been busy dreaming over the last couple of days. Had some great times and some great thoughts and thankfully some wonderful ideas about my future here and the time i will be in Vancouver. I'm so grateful for the last little while and the people here. Sigh.

Anwyas, Jil comes to visit this week, very exciting, and Jana is arriving too! I can't even believe how exciting this week is turnign out. Also, it's Angel's and Mortals this week, meaning that we all have someone's namet hat we are going to look after and care for and give little suprises to. Am soooo looking forward to this, and for all the fun stuff I get to do for my mortal....should be fun......

Andhow about those All Blacks........ my base director is Welsh, and he was a little bitter. It was great.....

So I need somemore minties....pineapple lumps too......mmmmm

Saddest thing today is that I am supposed to be doing my driver's test tomorrow afternoon, but with two feet of snow out there, i think i am going to just suck it up and pay the 25 cancellation fee rather than either die from sliding through a red light or failing and paying 85 instead. oh well, it will just have to wait til after outreach.

I am more tired than I think I have been in a long long time.
But it's been worth it, for this lovely bunch of people. Aren't they a good looking bunch?

So I am a happy Kiwi today.
Yesterday I had the awesome treat of not only eating pineapple lumps that my awesome mum sent me in the post, but Randy cooked up a full lamb roast with potatoes and carrots and I
made roast kumara and pavlova with passionfruit topping for dessert. It was an ANZAC feast, shared with the Parizeau family, Tom (our speaker for the week) a Kiwi YWAMer called Mark, Stuart and myself. So great and so much fun!
Really enjoyed being able to laugh and joke aobut some kiwi aussie things that only that only we find really funny, and just being able to laugh and laugh and laugh.

I am in the market right now for a second harddrive and a new video camera for me to get seriously into more video stuff and some awesome opportunitiesthat are coming up that I want to tackle but need a camera for. Preferably of the Canon XL2 variety. Anyone have 10 grand to spare? or any other ideas?

On a completely seperate note, since everyone else has already blogged about this, I figure I will join the club. Round about 2million Vancouverites are not able to drink water out of the taps right now, for the last week and maybe for a few more. Too much rain has caused land slides into the catchment reservoirs and the water cant' be filtered or treated properly. So the water coming out of the taps is brown. And icky. and slimy. We have to boil it for at least a minute and even then it still looks and tastes like mud. It doens't give you gastroenteritis if you boil it htough so i guess that's an upside!
So yeah, less rain would be good. Less rain here and more in Australia. That would be very good.

Also, very encouraged today. Jessa and I joined together for small group intercession time and the 7 of us prayed together for NEw ZEaland. So encouraging and aweswome and good to be able to share with these guys about my beautiful amazing country and ask God for words of encouragement and pictures for our country. Goood time spent well.

Tomorrow is American thanksgiving. Be thankful for something ok?

Anywyas, back to class now and thoughts of making videos.
Lov eyou lots like minties
hill

P.S. here's one or two new pics....





This was my group, "Team Chuck Norris" who were BEATING the butter for the chocolate chip cookies we made. I hurt my hand punching the bottom ofthe bowl!
Uncle Fatih's potato pizza is awesome............especially on Friday social "mandatory fun" nights........
Stefan's birthday tiara that I got him, to wear during staff meeting! tehehe, he's a good sport for sure!

So today was hilarious. and a day full of contrast.
I woke up in a truly awful mood, not sure if i was crying or not, didn't want to go to church, just wanted to sit at at home on my computer or something equally as sad.
I woke Jacqui up in time for church and while I almost succeeded in dragging her down, she in the end convinced me to get changed and go to church with her at Coastal Church in downtown Vancouver. It was really really awesome, and even got to just chill out, worship, and for the first time in a long time at church got to hear some really solid good bible based teaching. It's sad that that is not the norm from my last little while of being in church, but either way i'm feeling refreshed. I was still a bit sad and emo, but much much lifted in the spirit. Someone once said your spirit is never depressed, it is alive in Christ, it is the body and mind that drag it down. Too true sometimes.
Saw Jenn and her three kids too at church and we ended up hanging out together helping with the kids watching the Vancouver Santa Parade. Was fun, and got to laugh a lot and pray for the city in the streets, streaming with people all getting ready for the holidays. Major highlight had to be when we saw the STAR GATE float!!!!! 'Tealk' was there, and there were a whole lot of other cool guys all dressed up as Gu'uld warriors. So awesome. I was cheering and laughing and having fun. They loved it too and hanging out with the kids and stuff was really good for me. Sinple joy at little things mixed in with some worhsip is really good. Also, funniest 'kids say the funniest htings' moment went to little Tessa who turned to me halfway through the parade on my knee and said "this is better than church, there's more candy here than at church". Awesome.
It's strange to think I'm adjusting to the fact that Christmas is now going to be a cold time! I think I'll HAVE to come home for Christmas next year just to make sure that I don't forget what it's SUPPOSED to be like!
I'm relaly looking forward to the speaker this week ,he is a member of the Global leadership team, and he is an AUSTRALIAN. YAY for south pacific solidarity. Might make some pavlova........ :)
Anyways.
Had a good girls night with Ange and Hannah and Jacqui on saturday night, watched the truly awful yet hilarious "American Dreamz" and then "A lot like love" awwwwww, major chick flick teary eyed heart quivering wedding minding cutesy chick flick. talk about not needing to be more emo and watching the wrong movie, yet really enjoying it lol.
anwyays
am really going to sleep now, it's nearly 11 and it's anther long week of early mornings coming up
love yous
;)
hill

So it's half past 12 and I can't sleep
Kinda lame that the old insomnia is back tonihgt, particularly given that I am waking up (or perhaps in this case changing out of my pjs) at 5.15 to get ready to go to the homeless breakfast. And then staff meeting. yipes.
It's going to be a long Friday.
Things have been pretty good here, though I think, ironically enough, that I'm exhausted. Weird
I was just listening to the Muttonbirds, not bad late night music at all.
Oh, for those of you who were enduring the stress with me, don't worry any more. Today it was mostly clear and I was able to wear my new red arm warmers. mmmmmm it's a beautiful thing. Actually, to be compeltely honest I was pretty psyched about my outfit today. Worked out really well.
I talked to a really nice Sikh guy today. That was intersting.
Also, watched my first episode of ER since I arrived in this country, strange but true I know! But it was great. How I have missed you all ER buddies ;)
Was feeling a bit homesick tonight, sleep deprivation will do that to you I guess, but I think it'll pass. Had a bit of a confession yesterday in the class we had, and it was weird to say outloud that while on one hand I love Vancouver and my life is committed here, I really do miss New Zealand and all that is in it and all that it is and just the fact even that that's where I came from. That's a big part of what makes me who I am.
Ok, I'm taking the low battery blinking light on my laptop as a sign that I am to again try the sleeping thing. I'll let you know how it goes.....

So, can happiness be bought? Apparently not. But maybe it can be installed…….

Tehehe

Sigh

I am now the proud operator of a beautiful laptop (named Marvin) who is now equipped with Macromedia Flash, Dreamweaver, Adobe Photoshop and Premiere. It’s a beautiful day. It may be raining and grey and blustery, but it’s a BEAUTIFUL day.

J

Thanks Stuart J

I was so happy last night on the bus I was just sitting there grinning.

Then I walked home grinning

Then I sat at home and grinned some more

I had to force myself to sleep, but then again being in a seriously sleep deprived state made that easy. And I could dream dreams of editing. And kerning. And layout, and……ok nerd fest over

So class is going really well.

This week is all about HOLINESS, fear of the LORD and IDENTITY.

Very good stuff.

The only lame sauce is that yesterday I got the cutest and best loveliest sale arm warmers. Red and knitted and beautiful, with black stitching and two little red flowers and a little cut off red thumb.

Soooooo beautiful

And I planned an entire outfit around them including red/black/white chuck taylors, and then I wake up at 6am and it is POURING with TORRENTIAL rain!!! Urgh

On the upside, rain means I get to wear the cooler than cool pink and black gumboots that are on my feet right now. But then pink and red clash, so alas, the arm warmers have to wait for another day

Sigh

But the gumboots are good and my feet are toasty warm

Ok supper time

So anyways

That’s pretty much all for tonight

I’m pretty happy

Soundtrack of the last week for those of you who have ever played JukeBox with me, or are just equally musically minded: The Killers – Avril Lavigne – Adoration on the Gospel Train – Hillsong United – Crowded House – The Muttonbirds and John Mayer

Love you like pineapple lumps and minties (which I have run out of here in Vancouver, hint hint!)

Hill

Oh also, check out my beautiful outreach team!

From left to right, Sam, Linda, Crystal(with the hat) Brielle, Erik, Me, Braden, Laura, and Adam in the green sweater. Me, Laura and Adam are staff :)

And this is me eating a piece of my first DAIRY QUEEN ICE CREAM BIRTHDAY CAKE

MMMMMMMMMMM

So if you like these pics and wnat more and you didn't get the newsletter, or my latest October newsletter, please email me or leave a comment so i can get it out to you!!!

So Jacqui is home! It's so fun having her home, and so good having my Vancouver 'sister' back here to talk to.
It's been a really good week actually. Well, aside from a few not great days I have already enlightened you about.
I have realised today how much I love Vancouver. Iknow that I (and many around me) tend to throw the word 'love' around a lot, but I really mean it. I was walking down the street coming home today after work, and I looked up at the mountains, and they were all dark green and beautiful. And it was about 6.20, so the sun was setting, and there were beautiful pink and orange clouds sitting all soft and fluffy all around the top. And I felt so peaceful. It was quiet and beautiful and crisp and it's so strange, but I feel so at home here. There have been hard days, but at the same time, there are hard days whereever you go, and I think I'm beginning to really know that I can face those hard days here, just as well as I did at home. Before this was home. Circular, I know, but good.
the DTS is going really well. It's been amazing, in the last few days especially, as i've seen (to my great privilege) God do, say and make amazing things happen, through and in our students, and our staff, including me. This 'job' of mine is sweet.
Will post again this weekend, then will ahve a bit of break for next week while we are awy at Go conference. It's gonna be sweeeeeeeet.
Love
hill

Prayer stuff
-Safe travels and good learning at Go Conference. Also, good connecting times with other YWAM friends from other bases for the week.
-Good rest this weekend, before we go
-Safe travels and good vehicle safety for our VERY OLD 15 passenger van, and the 5 hours there and back that we will be doing over the week.

So I cried today
My dad messaged me on the computer and told me my dog died. On October 4th. From a night of seizures and subsequent heart failure.
I didn't htink I would cry, but yeah, I did.
It's strange, cuz I know she's not a person or anything, and over the last 18 months I have had to deal with hearing about people I know dying while I've been in Canada and unable to be there with the people that are grieving. It's weird how just being away makes the emotions so different. In my head I can see the empty kichen and living room now and a part of me is glad that I'm not there realising that she isnt' there anymore, but at the same time I'm so sad that even as I write this, noone is even there, cuz I'm here, Alec is in Japan, Mum is in Singapore and Dad is in China, and I can't be with them either.
Sigh
But you knwo what? It's still a good day.
Had a really good one on one today, and I think that helped when Dad told me what happened, cuz really, it may seem heartless, but it gives a good big chunk of perspective, realising why I'm here and that really God's got everythign under control. I can be sad without it being a huge drama.
Though, that is aparently something I have to realise about myself. A development on the old "drama queen" statements that I used to get a lot, yesterday I was described as a "pan full of flour" While some people are pans full of slate, that when a big rock lands in the middle they are disturbed, but not all over the place. However, pans of flour, such as myself, get a rock to the gut and the dust cloud goes up and everythign turns into a gong show for the first day or so until the dust settles. Is this a good hting? a bad thing? or just me? I think for now, either way, here's to a bit of balance, and landing somewhere in between the two.
Jessa has promised htough, in hearing about my late-dog that she will refrain from calling me hill-dawg for at least a day or two. Thanks Jessa.
love and pineapple lumps
Hill

So it's another day in paradise
No really it's been a good day.
Have been tackling some interesting kinda thoughts right now
Nothing bad, just enough to chew on
Had our first outreach prep time today wiht out students all divided up into their teams, so though I'd post a pic of our lovely outreach team. Adam, Myself and Laura, ready to lead and rock Malaysia!!! YAY!

Am so excited for outreach but at the same time a little sad as none of my one on ones are coming with us, they are all going to the other location. sigh.
Had an interesting thought today too. But now I can't remember what it was. Got distracted.
This week is a really great lecture week. I love that after two really emo weeks, now I am being really challenged intellectually, so that the changes you feel like you want to institute in heart and spirit can be bolstered by commited decisions and thorough processes of hte mind.
HAve a lot to think about htough. And while tha'ts a good hting it means that I am really tired right now.
So it's short post tonight.
Will post prayer stuff below.
Love you lots
Hill


Prayer points
-Continued strength and unity for our leadership team as we weather the storms of a lot of busyness, tiredness, weariness, and all the other ness-es you cna think of that fit. We all love each other and we need to remember that on a daily basis!
-Continued wisdom and guidance about my one on ones and how to work with each of them in what they are going through
-Continuing relationship building that is going on here now that I am settling well and sorting things out a bit more.