Tuesday October 31/06

Happy Halloween Everyone!

This day, the 31st of October used to be a day of excitement for me - one in which school classes were cancelled for parties, and I got to eat as many cupcakes, cookies, bars, and chips as I wanted! By this time I have already spent days, maybe even weeks deciding what to "be"...making sure that it would fit over my snowsuit (of course, it's pretty cold in Newfoundland by Oct 31)

Tonight will be our second year of waiting in our house for trick-or-treators to arrive! We've got our bag 'o' goodies ready and waiting, with lots of extra's for Ashley & Sheldon of course! I'm expecting a cat...princess...mirmaid...batman....a star wars themed costumed...tinkerbell...and who knows what else. We'll have our camera ready and waiting to catch all the action.

Today was yet another day of work as we have no classes on Tuesday's, we also had the chance to have some feeback from the evaluation board. People may think I'm a bit strange, but I appreciate getting feedback from the EB! We were encouraged...and again...can't wait to leave Winnipeg in June and actually start doing it. I'm loving training college, and really value the things I am learning here - but I want to start that new chapter in my life!

Keep prayin' it up!
Ashley

Sunday October 29/06

Just finished filling out my field journal - what a week! From planning worship, helping a Booth Student with practicum, a funeral service, discussing the issue of pornography at Awakening, to singing a "funky" song with the Songsters (who are mostly 70+) last Sunday morning! One never knows what a week here at CFOT will hold!

Today we are having what CFOT calls an In-Sunday, previously called spiritual days. The whole service this morning revolved around holiness. It was a very nice service, the HS spoke to many people. After the service we went over to Booth College for roast beef dinner...MMMmmm. It was awesome! Those ladies sure know how to cook up a storm! This afternoon I decided to stay here at CFOT and do a little work before heading out to church again tonight. We've been asked to bring a pillow and blanket....what are you up to Major Wendy????

During lunch Sheldon made a statement in which I have been thinking about ever since. He noticed that our summer assignment was in a corps that is an amalgation of 3 communities, and that our present field placement is at a corps in which 2 communities have been merged together....is the Army testing us out? Hmmm? Who knows - I doubt it! However there is no doubt that in these cases, there is a lot of work to be done!! Lots of relationships need healing, appologies need to take place, the choice of forgiveness needs to be made, pride needs to be swallowed, and/or self confidence need to grow. It takes a lot of work for an officer to facilitate this growth! It takes a lot of time for this growth to happen! Perhaps this is yet another good reason why appointments are becoming longer...appointments....PDI forms....evaluation meetings....AAAHHHHHH! Sorry, my mind sidetracked!

Well I must get going and get some work done!
Keep prayin' it up!
Ashley

Tuesday October 24/06

Did anyone else have the experience today of burning ears????

Haha - today the staff evaluation board met to discuss our evaluation forms....and well, who knows what else!

Well thanks be to God for allowing me to get my sermon done today...the next time I volunteer to preach from the book of Proverbs...someone hit me...please...very hard! I definitely struggled with this text (thanks to all who gave their advice) but I think that I have received a valuable challenge to share with my peers. At least now I am free to concentrate on getting the PDI form filled out for friday, then I'm moving on to Pentateuch...New Testament...and basically the cycle continues on until the day we leave for Christmas Assignment!

Speaking of Christmas - Sheldon and I will be sharing our first Christmas alone together this year. Last year we were really blessed to be able to share it with Ross & Brenda (and the sunshine and warmth of Bermuda), but this year we will start our own traditions! Actually Sheldon bought me 3 Christmas DVD's last year of the Christmas specials that came on TV when were kids...so we need to incorporate those into our "Bungay" Christmas Traditions! A lot of the HGN's are sticking around this year, so we already have party plans in place. Don't get me wrong - we'll have our lonely moments of not being surrounded with our biological families - thank God for Web Cams and all the other neat technology that is out there today.
Anyways enough about Christmas...actually...it's 2 months from Christmas Eve! Wahoo!

So according to Tammy's Commissioning Countdown there are 235 days left until commissioning..it is my understanding that in the past sessions have thrown "99 days" parties...is anyone in for that celebration???

Well I've gotta jet and practice the piano for tomorrow afternoon's responsibilities!

Keep prayin' it up!
Ashley

Saturday October 21/06

Franklin Graham Festival...

Just getting home from the Tree63 and Newsboys concert held at the MTS center tonight! The building was packed, and there were even people out in the overflow! Obviously the focus of tonight's meeting was for the younger generation, however there were people of all ages there to worship. Franklin spoke a salvation message and many people responded.

Looking past the music, singing, and technology tonight my eyes were planted on the section of hearing impaired congregants. Watching the leader sign all of the worship songs was absolutely amazing. To see some of the words signed was really quite moving. Although this ministry was not directed towards me God used it to speak to me.

I would love to take in the festival again tomorrow - I don't want to miss Michael W. Smith and Casting Crowns however I have a lot of work that needs to get done....hmmmm...what to do??? Well it's time to relax and then hit the bunk!

Friday October 20/06

Well another week of CFOT has flown by! This week has been filled with writing assignments, readings, prep for field, mentor meeting, a new session mate joining us, an evening of fellowship as we had a few people up for supper, and a week of birthdays! Happy birthday to Steve H (today) and Anita (tomorrow).

So I have an eventful weekend ahead of me! Tonight I need to do a little work, tomorrow we are on the book booth for the Festival, and tomorrow night we are going to the Tree63 and Newsboys concert with the group from Awakening! Church on sunday - plus getting time to complete school work!

Please pray for the cadets and staff during this next week as we will begin the evaluation process! I have no great theological or spiritual topics to talk about today - i'm just too tired to get my mind to that space right now!

Have a great weekend everyone! I'll try for a better entry next time!

Saturday October 14/06

Every so often in my vast experience as a married woman I stop and think to myself, "I am such an old married hag!" Doesn't sound like the nicest thing to say to yourself does it? Take today for example, who sits down and makes up a 6 week menu for supper time? Old married hags that's who! Needless to say that is what I did this afternoon. I am actually quite impressed that I have enough meal options to spread that far...we'll see how it goes!

This morning I had the chance to go to a women's brunch at the Viscount Hotel. Lynn was the guest speaker, Andrea was the vocalist, and Anita was a model for the fashion show! They all did a great job! So a few of us got together after brunch and were discussing how we should do a women's brunch for young women! I think it would be awesome! As women once we are too old to go to camp....our next option is Home League, and I don't have anything against Home League...but most women would not invite their friends. I'm going to start praying about this idea and see what God has in store - feel free to join with me in that prayer!

We had a great time tonight at Awakening - with 2 new people coming! We worshipped and then broke off into groups of 4 to study/discuss scripture passages together. Studying scripture together is a great way to learn new ideas and discover how people interpret things a little differently. Our dancing stars decided to teach us the "Cha-cha" tonight...who knows...maybe we need our own version of "Dancing with the stars" haha!

We received some pretty exciting news this week at CFOT about our winter assignment! Originally the second years were suppose to stay in the city for winter assignment, but due to the CFOT requirements some of us will be leaving the city. Sheldon and I will get the opportunity to go to 614 Toronto with Majors Geoff & Sharon Ryan! We are pumped! We have been talking to the Field Officer about this appointment for a few weeks and are very thankful to see it work out. I'm looking forward to finding out more of the details - being positive that it will be a great stretching/learning experience!

Bram will be bringing the word tomorrow at Winnipeg East, while Anita is leading the service. I know it will be a great service - however prayer is always appreciated.

Gotta jet and get our dinner ready for tomorrow (you know you're a newfie when you can smell the salt meat boiling on the stove!)

Blessings ya'll,
Ashley

Monday October 09/06

Yesterday at W.E. we had another lovely service - being thankful for the times that God has comes alongside us in our lives. Mj. Armstrong spoke about raising our Ebenezer and had visuals of large stones placed on either side of the pulpit (I was reminded again to be creative in my sermons as people learn and remember in different ways). As I reflected upon my own life in the appeal time I was truly thankful for times in my life such as music camps, youth councils, and YC Newfoundland, all of which I attended for many years. I realized that without these events I may not be where I am at this point in my life, it was during these gatherings that God really came alongside and encouraged me, provided me with new/rekindled Christian friendship, and revealed himself to me in new ways.

I was also thankful yesterday to be invited to the Holland's for Thanksgiving Dinner with the Crabb's and the Braye's. The Turkey was delicious...my homemade buns turned out great...Nancy's chocolate cake was to die for...Wendy's apple pie was awesome, complete with sugar sprinkled over the top! MMMmmmm. We concluded the evening with a game of "Scene it" I wonder who suggested we play that??? haha!

Anywho, today I'm trying to do a little research for my NT paper as my goal is to actually have the paper complete by Tuesday night! Hopefully I'll get the chance to pop over to the Swan's house this afternoon....

Happy Thanksgiving to my family who is eating my Mom's yummy turkey dinner today, after all, no one cooks like mom...right?? Credit must also be given to my dad as he is the official turkey carver, and cleaner-upper (if that's even a word! haha) Love you all!

Friday October 06/06

Well another week has come and gone in my second year at CFOT! Last night I took the opportunity to attend band & songster practice at W.E. I haven't sung in the songster's in such a long time...but it went exactly as I remember! Songster's was followed by band, it was so great to play the o'l trombone last night as well! I really think this will give me the opportunity to get to know some of the member's of the corps, find out what they think, how they feel, what they see the vision of the corps being! I also found out last night that W.E. is going to put off a Christmas Contata - I'm not sure if I will be here when they perform it - but it sure was strange to sing Christmas Carols last night!

Thanksgiving weekend is known in Newfoundland as YC weekend, it's 3 days in the lives of young people that they look forward to all year...to the point of counting down the days from year to year! I am hoping to log on to the website to watch some of it on the webcast. If you get the chance check it out - maybe you'll catch them in one of their sessions. www.ycnewfoundland.org

Here's looking to a relaxing weekend!
Give thanks to God!

Monday October 02/06

A Weekend of Prayer....

This past weekend the SA has been focusing on praying/fasting for the victims of sex trafficking. With stats like 2.7 million people are enslaved in various forms of sexual and labor exploitation, and 600,000 - 800,000 women and children are trafficked across national borders annually...it is difficult to get your mind around the situation. I've been reflecting on my own opinion and views when it comes to this topic, and I have realized how under educated I am, and how judgmental my spirit can be. Many times I have seen women and girls walking to streets of Winnipeg who quite possibly could be involved in commercial sex...and what do I think....well let me just say that "Jesus loves them" was not the first thing to cross my mind. How terrible of me....how judgmental....how closed minded...have I ever stopped to think that these women/girls were tricked and forced into this lifestyle? Have I ever thought about the possibility that their families were worried sick about them because one day they simply disappeared? In the past...I have not asked these questions....but now that my mind/eyes have been opened up to the despair that is happening here in Winnipeg what can I do? These suggestions were given to me from Booth College
1. Pray
2.Talk about the issue with friends, family, church etc.
3. Write your local MP asking them to consider changes in laws and practice that will help trafficked persons get the protection and services they need
4. Support fair trade

A very serious issue indeed - one that deserves thought - consideration - prayer - and to NOT be swept back under the rug because this weekend has passed.

For more SA info on this topic check out www.salvationarmyusa.org/trafficking

Sunday October 1/06

The weekend is over....boo!

Well I can't believe that it's Sunday night again - AND it's October 1st! Time is flying by so quickly! Had a great weekend...friday night I spent time with my hubby...Saturday night we had our second "Awakening" service with a special guest from the Ethics center to talk about human trafficking...and today was church followed by a bday party for the two Thistle boys! And amongst all of that stuff I did manage to get a little bit of school work done! We have been so pleased with the response from our Awakening services, please pray that God will continue to peak more young adult's interest in this service. We really want to plant the basics of faith, and discuss issues that really matter - followed by some fun & laughter - thus the Salsa dancing! Wahoo! It's been a great bit of fun learning to Salsa!

Well tomorrow starts a new adventure in "Ashley & Anita's Marathon" as we step it up...running home from school! We started a running program and tomorrow we are slotted to 10 minutes of running...1 min walk....15 min running...1 min walk...20 min running....I can't quite remember if it goes further than that - but my main concern is PRAYER!!! However when we started we thought running for 3 mintues was brutal! haha!

Well I must jet off to do a few more readings before bed....gee I could think of at least 10 way cooler places to be "jetting off" to - anywho