a little update.

Quebec City

The Plains of Abraham, Quebec City
Reminds me of sand dunes 

In memory of my Pop pop
10.27.1927 to 2.5.2011
Silver Gelatin Print
I took this photo in October 2010, the last time I was with him before he died.

It has been a little while since I’ve updated everyone on Montreal and the ywam world. I’m going to attempt to be brief but a lot has happened in the past month and a half since I was home for Christmas.

It’s been a month since the 24/7 Prayer weekend. I worked with the head of 24/7 prayer Canada to organize 48 hrs of prayer for the city. It was fantastic! We had many churches from different regions of the city come together in Downtown Montreal right in between the Universities and the center of Montreal’s sex industry. What a powerful time… and a whole lot of work. I am honored to have been able to participate in this.

In January an incredible man named Paul Martinson came to spend the week with us, he was our speaker on ‘Knowing God’, which was actually an excuse to talk about whatever he wanted. The Lord used him to speak wisdom and truth to my DTS group, we have had some real trials as a group and he was really sensitive to what the Lord wanted to speak to us.

I’ve really loved my time at St. James drop in center. I am enjoying building friendships with a few of the folks that go there. I’m learning so much, these guys have faced some harsh realities, but they have built a beautiful and interesting community.

We had a great trip to Quebec City a few weeks ago. It was good to get away and spend some time growing as a group without the usual distractions. I really enjoyed the time we took to learn about Quebecois history and culture. We also went to Café Mosaic, a coffee shop started by a former pastor, who spent an evening with us sharing his vision. The whole purpose of the Café is to build loving friendships with those in the community, and because coffee shops tend to be places with lots of regular customers they have been able to establish many relationships. Volunteers and one paid manager run it, and all profits are sown into the community. Café Mosaic is one of the most interesting and fruitful examples of Christians loving their surrounding community that I’ve seen since I’ve been here learning about different ministries.

My brother and I drove down to New Jersey for my grandfather’s funeral last week. It was a very sad time, and harder than I thought it would be, but so good to be with family to remember him. I’m so glad I could be there.

It has been a very challenging few months for my group as a whole as well as for me personally. There have been a lot of changes and transitions and we have had a few weeks that were just emotionally exhausting. Thankfully the Lord is so gracious. It has been very humbling to find out just how broken I am and learning to trust the Lord to heal me and redeem broken relationships. But it hasn’t been easy, and the process has far from ended.


I'm looking forward to the visit of my family and a few others from Charlotte in a couple of weeks. It'll be fun to watch part of my Charlotte world and my Montreal world collide for a week!

recent things, good things.

Some things the past few weeks have been really tough, but there are always those things that are so good.  

Road trips through mountains with my brother

              

Grandma.

Epicerie Fleur
http://www.epiceriefleur.com/cafeEN.php

Nell Lavender

 Meet my new friend Nell! She is pretty cool... 1 month old the day these were taken. 

a little more winter.

I'm learning to love the winter landscape (note landscape, i haven't yet adjusted to the cold!). It imposes a completely different attitude on the environment; the movement of the city is somewhat quieted and simplified. I think it is interesting how it has effected my photography. Here is a small sample of what I have been working on (all 35mm, printed in my darkroom/laundry room), although these photos were taken just outside the city, I think they nonetheless share the same elements.

Prayer for the city.

I had the privilege of being involved in organizing 48 hours of prayer for Montreal in a prayer room that was created downtown this past weekend. I was a really beautiful time of intercession and unity among believers. We were praying specifically for the downtown borough Ville Marie. I was asked to photograph specific key areas in Ville Marie that are somewhat representative of certain aspects and industries in the city so that we could pray over these places and the activities that take place at each of them.

The corner of St. Catherine and St. Laurent- praying for those caught in the sex industry

Place Des Arts- praying for the arts community

McGill University- praying for education

UQAM- praying for education

Concordia University- praying for education

Atwater parc- praying for the city's homeless

Place Ville Marie- praying for the business community

A man raising his hands in worship during the 48 hours of prayer for Montreal

winter

The winter landscape brings a certain calm and stillness. I took these during an afternoon walk through Parc La Fontaine.

 

Welcome, 2011.

One of the things I love about flying is that it forces me to sit still; it removes me from my normal world into an in-between where I can more easily reflect. Usually I don’t sleep the much night before flying, so I’m tired; too tired to read or make friends with other passengers, but not quite enough to fall asleep. So I get to let my mind wander.

Today’s airplane experience was no exception. I was up late last night spending time with good friends, packing, and talking with my little sisters. The soundtrack to my first flight was The Tallest Man on Earth, which is perfect for daydreaming. I was excited to see the Charlotte skyline from above just before settling in for the flight. 

I’ve been thinking through the past month or so and all that has happened and all that the Lord has done in my heart and mind. I am constantly amazed at how he works and his grace in my life. I am so thankful for the rich family heritage that I have been given, and the part that I play in my family’s story. I am thankful for the blessing and opportunity it has been for me to spend these months in Montreal. I am learning bit-by-bit more of the fullness and beauty of the body of Christ and what real fellowship looks like among broken people. I have seen Jesus work in some seemingly impossible situations to bring reconciliation. I am thankful to be able to enjoy such an incredible and unique culture. I am thankful for my many friends that are all over who continue to encourage and support me. How did I get so lucky to have such fantastic people around me? I am incredibly blessed to have them showing love and truth into my life.

This New Year is one of the first I have entered into with few expectations. It is an adventure following Jesus, and I am excited to see what we’ll do together in 2011.

Detroit Airport, 1/2/11