Sunday, 16 December 2012

Winter in Victoria


I can't believe I'm pretty much halfway through my time in Victoria.  It definitely hasn't been easy, but the Lord's grace was sufficient to bring me through.  I'm learning to take constructive criticism at work and to learn from mistakes.  And I'm trying to connect with the brothers to pursue the Lord on this lonely island.  I've got a good support group in my family and a few close spiritual companions who've been checking up on me, it's much appreciated.  In other news, I've been busy applying for part-time jobs and working on my co-op report.  I hope to do a better job keeping in touch with you all in the new year.  Super excited about leaving for California in 4 days!   

Gave Jerry a tour of downtown Victoria this past weekend.

He came to sleepover and we had some good fellowship.  And on Lord's day after the meeting we played 3 hours of basketball at the University of Victoria - soooo fun.


2 weeks ago we had a nice visit from Jerome, another co-op student in Victoria

So after the meeting we played around with the Christmas decorations in our meeting room.  We found Mr. and Mrs. Santa who would dance and talk with a touch of a button.  One of them didn't work so Peter was threatening to steal my camera batteries to use, haha.

We just had to include them in our traditional group photo

I made Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus hold hands, hehe


Beef noodle soup

Chilli chicken with green beans

Rotini with italian sausage

Porkchops

I'll quickly share some recent enjoyment from the Holy Word for Morning Revival.  I was touched that the real significance of prayer is to contact God in spirit and to absorb Him, not about whether or not our prayers are answered.  Also, the principle of prayer is that man must pray for God's will to be done before God can accomplish and carry it out.  Lord, gain worthwhile prayers from us, by praying to be in sweet fellowship with you, praying according to Your heart so You can have a way on this earth!

See some of you at the winter training!  Miss all y'all, keep in touch please.

6 comments:

  1. I'm glad that you were able to make the most out of it even though there's only a handful of you there. Regarding your porkchops..... I can make a few suggestions. The secret is in marinating the meat. I'll show you how when you get home.

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  2. Hey Pat, Victoria looks really beautiful during the Christmas season. Glad you're getting some free time to enjoy the city. Dinner looks really good, a good variety of dishes :) When will you make Kam and I a meal lol!
    We got our first big day of snow on Tuesday and Wednesday. Most of the streets have been cleared up from the heavy rain we got Wednesday evening. Is it snowing in Victoria?
    Keep us updated bro. Be safe and take care.
    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family :D
    -Andrew

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  3. Bro! Finally commented on my blog. I knew were reading it and was wondering when you'd post. I'll make a meal if the two of you come to the island and visit me, how about that? another reason to visit me :D

    I'm actually in Vancouver now for a brief period of time, then I fly out to Cali later today so I got to experience some of the snow. Strange how we didn't get any in Victoria. Wish you guys could come with me sometime, it's always lots of fun there.

    Happy holidays to you too! Tell Danielle I say the same. Hope you're enjoying the gifts. And did you pass on to Kam my gift yet?? See ya around in the new year!
    -Pat

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  4. Hi Pat, I am glad you are halfway in your coop job and in four more months you will be back home. Even though you have missed the homemade delicious meals prepare by Papa, I see your cooking are not bad at all and you have a good variety of dishes.
    Thank God you have Jerry around in Victoria. Regarding the job, usually it is through our mistakes that we learned and get better. Everyone makes mistakes. I am glad you have mentor to give you constructive criticism. It is only through this honest criticism that we grow. I also learned that prayer is not only our breathing to absorb God which is easy, just like our breathing to breathe air, on the other hand, prayer is something to learn. I am learning to be a man of prayer, not only to pray common prayers, but to abide in the Lord, to wait quietly before Him until He flows through me to give me burden to pray. This way what I pray is according to God's will. This is the advancement of a Christian prayer. Take care, and enjoy the winter training in Anaheim. May the Lord bless the speaking.

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  5. Hello Patrick, I'm very encouraged to see that you are doing so well in Victoria. Those dishes look like restaurant-style cooking. Are you sure you didn't just go to a restaurant and take a picture of the food you ordered? jkjk.
    How was the winter training? We haven't had skype appointment in some time.

    Lets keep in touch,
    Leonard

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  6. Leonard Lan the man. I miss you tons bro. Miss our prayer/fellowship times too. Hope I haven't been replaced, haha. Winter training was good but would had been better if you were there.

    I enjoyed seeing that God's building is the central thought of the bible, the desire of God's heart, the goal of God's salvation, and the meaning of our human lives. Christ is the stone with seven eyes for God's building, signifying the seven-fold intensified Spirit to search, expose, enlighten our being so that we may be infused, transfused, and transformed into precious stones for His building.

    Text/call/email me anytime and we can catch up. Looking forward to hearing from you!! Enjoy your last term of school.. before going to the FTTA, right? :D

    your bro,
    Pat

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