Twin Ponds Camp - Music Camp that is...

Well,... it was a week of firsts. There are too many things that happened to go over them all, but here are some highlights of my *firsts* - Five Firsts to be exact:

First Time at Music Camp - shocking information for Salvationists I know, but since I (shock, horror) did not grow up in The Salvation Army, this culture of music camp fascinated me to no end. People's intensity about camp, the number of times I heard, "I live from year to year for music camp," the schedule. Let me tell you about the schedule. These kids pay for and look forward to a dusk until dawn filled day of activities - which is focused on theory, Bible, band, worship, vocals, electives, and - of course - eating. I don't know how people keep up with the schedule, because I was exhausted and I obviously had more breaks than most since I couldn't help much with music theory or vocal practice or band sectionals (whatever they are). And don't get your knickers in a twist everyone who sees the 'band camp' poster image - I know there is a difference between band camp & music camp, I just liked the idea of being wanted there...

First Time I *really* experienced 'flies' (as they affectionately call them here) - I have always known that mosquitoes loved me, but this was just plain ridiculous. I was literally dripping in pure, potent & poisonous DEET, but to no avail. These critters LOVED me. I would feel something on my neck, would put my hand to it, and pull away literally covered with blood. If it sounds nasty, you should've seen how it looked. *Not* a pretty situation let me tell you. I can honestly say, my least favourite part of camp, and that I was just about willing to give up my first born (which is not yet a twinkle let me clarify) in order to stop the insanity!

First Time being in a timbrel drill -

see video and photo for the specifics of my new mad skillz!!! Let me just say, that I didn't expect the practices to be as much fun as they were - my side was hurting from laughing so hard - the Gander Group + George is a great bunch!!! I also didn't realize what a dangerous activity playing the tambourine could be until I learned the move, "the Chop". If you watch the video, you will understand why it is titled as such. I didn't fear for my own life as much as I worried about decapitating my neighbour to my right! I am pleased to report, no one was injured in the making of this video...

First Time that my 'turkey bum' has come in handy - we played an incredibly fun game called "Minute to Win It" and 2 of the activities I had to compete in included: (1) pulling myself around an obstacle course in 60 seconds on a small carpet, and (2) shaking ping pong balls out of a kleenex box attached squarely above my bum! I think enough said on this item, but lets just say the lack of hips or no bum would have been detrimental to the competition - and that was not an issue for me...

First Time being a Camp Counsellor - and let me tell you, I *loved* it. I found myself getting attached to the campers, remembering what it was like when I went to camp and the relationships that I formed with my counsellors, recalling how intense emotions are in those formative years, and just being both excited and burdened for these girls at both the potential pain and possibilities that lay ahead for them. The 'Prayer Stations' throughout the camp on the Wednesday night was a pretty significant break-through I know for many of the campers and counsellors in attendance - myself included. I continue to feel God revealing his plan for my life as the summer progresses - though I must admit, the process can be somewhat painful at times.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON FIRSTS: I never want to avoid or shy away from the opportunity to experience *firsts* - because each time I do face the first head on, I am surprised at how much I grow & gain & learn from trying something new!

It was a fun, fun week - which ended with Kyla, Josh and I being made honourary Newfoundlanders and lunch at Jungle Jim's with my keener, band geek boy who showed up for the last day and a half along with my good pals, the 2 Lt. Haas's! GOOD TIMES at Music Camp:).

And she heads West - the west coast of Newfoundland that is...

So, 2 weeks ago - Tues after work - the 5 of us (4 Pinksens + moi) piled into their vehicle and made the 3.5 - 4 hr journey to Deer Lake, Pasadena and Corner Brook. Yes, we were scattered in as many houses as there were people... I love road trips - so it was great to hear the running commentary of interesting facts and tidbits about the island along the way, including our visit to Norris Arm, their first appointment and a gorgeous community where there are *literally* 2 streets in town.

Following a number of stops along the way, I spent the first night in Corner Brook at the Fudge's quarters - where I was warmly welcomed with a lovely room made up for me and a full, hot breakfast in the morning. Calvin, Josh and I were on the road by 9 am to go berry picking. By 10:30 am, we were finished picking 2 crates worth of berries, and none too soon as far as I am concerned. Let me tell you, it was *hot, hot, hot*! As much as I enjoyed our berry picking adventures, I have decided that once a year is just about enough of that particular activity - my back was quite sore for the following 2 days (feel free to insert old lady joke here).

The day flew by, but let me tell you, things got a little tense when it was 4 pm and I had yet to eat lunch. If it is not yet clear to ALL who know me, I *heart* food. I mean, I reeeally love it. But not only do I love it, I have to have it. It is essential that I eat 3X a day (usually with snacks in between). Please see conversation below:

The tension started building around 12:30 pm, after we had toured the Corps and gone out to the Captain Hook's (?) look-out to see the view of the city during the day...

Josh (in his usual keener excited way): What do you want to do now?

Joyce (in mildly cranky & sarcastic voice): What do you think I want to do?

Josh: Well, I am seeing a yellow flag telling me it may be food time.

Joyce: And you would be right.

Advance 3 hours with only a blueberry muffin between me and hysteria

Josh: Want to eat our chicken at this parking lot that overlooks the harbour and has a train? You know how I like trains?

Joyce (note deadly pause between each word): I. Don't. Care. Where. We. Eat... I. Am. Starving.

Josh: But the view isn't very good here, what if we just drive down the road a bit and see if we can find a nicer spot?

Joyce: You have 3 minutes - before I blow.

15 minutes later when we are safely back in the exact same spot by the train

Josh (in distressed voice): ... No, its fine... Its okay, I know you're hungry. Its just,... well,... there's no ketchup for my taters.

Joyce (hysteria has officially kicked in - in loud and not so pleasant voice): Do you not know me at all? I. Need. To. Eat. NOW!!!!

Back at the Fudge's 10 minutes later after I have stuffed 3 taters and 2 bites of chicken into my mouth, I can actually feel a peace and calm wash over me as I swallow bites of food:

Joyce (now returning to Joyful Joyce): So, I may have lost my cool a little earlier. Sorry about that. But Josh, you know how important it is that I eat at regular intervals?!?!

Josh: Yeah, but it is just so fun to see you mad!

Other than the food debacle, I had a great time seeing the gorgeous landscape of the west coast, visiting "the boy", meeting Cory & Pam's family, touring their home towns. Again I am lovin' the personalized tour details, and I quote, "And this is the baseball field where my head got sliced open," or, "I used to get off the bus here and pick up snacks from this corner store when I was going to visit Cory, which I would be done by the time I'd walked to his house!" This life here on earth, it consists of these funny memories that we have and that we hold on to. I love that God created us to have these incredible brains which can recall tiny details from our past because of a sight, a sound or a smell. And equally, I love that we can share those memories with people.

FINAL THOUGHT: It is the stories that make a place come alive, it is where people come from and the families and people we are surrounded by that form our character, that make us who we are. I love the opportunity to have a glance or a sneak peek into the lives of those I care about. And that's what this flash trip west was for me...

Gander, NL - Spectacular Saturday

I am hopeful that this trend of enjoyable Saturdays continues. This was a jam-packed fun day, so I better stick with the highlights. And what better way than through a 'top ten' list? I haven't done a 'Top Ten' list in a while.... must admit, am a little excited about it. Just a little note, that it is in chronological order as I couldn't decide how to prioritize such a super day. So, here we go - the highlights:

10. The heat wave we are experiencing in central Newfoundland. I am a sun-worshiper (in an appropriate, non-pagan way of course, lol). Yes, it made me a sweaty betty, but well worth it for the warmth and vitamin D intake!

9. The pride I felt after making the loop around the boardwalk of Cobb's Pond in the morning, and then turning around and running back (yeah, me!). Perhaps not the wisest move considering the heat wave N'fld was experiencing, but it felt great - like a real accomplishment to do a double loop.

8. Orangina: How deliciously satisfying and thirst-quenching a glass of icey Orangina tastes after returning from a run in scorching hot weather - like liquid gold, gold I tell you.

7. Overall, our road trip to Twillingate and all the stops in between Gander, there, and back again. I love new adventures!

6. Lunch at RJ's? JR's? Whatever the name, I enjoyed some very tasty fish & chips with a great view of the harbour from our table at the big picture window. (Come on, did you really think a 'Top Ten' list would go by without mention of food?)

5. The views. Honestly - spectacular. My fascination of water remains in tact after this visit. And as a sidebar, I must admit, the beach we saw was reminiscent of a certain beach that my pal Dave & I went to in Cinque Terre, Italy. The full details of that sidebar would require far too long of a sidebar, but suffice it to say it was a *sketchy* situation but makes for a good story.

4. When we reached the top of the final staircase returning back to the car from our impromptu hike in flip-flops.

3. The 9 km point along a 12 km stretch of ripped up and gravelly road where Cory decided to inform Pam that it might be slightly longer than her predicted 1 km.

2. The chicken korma and basmati rice I made for supper in honour of my bro Paul's burfday (who was going out for Indian in Stratford with his g/f). Yes, you will note a second food reference here... Really, are you really surprised?

1. For some crazy reason, Pam and I decided to go for a run later than evening when the heat had cooled off a little. Again, very satisfying in that moment, but I paid for the over-exertion for the next 2 days!

Gander, NL - Week 3 draws to a close

What a Wednesday!

Good day - good day of food as well... Have I mentioned that I *heart* food?

Lunch (I think it may be called dinner here actually)...

I answered a call in the morning with, I must admit, a voice on the other end that I didn't recognize at first. But I was thrilled when I realized it was my good buddies - and the newly commissioned lieutenants - Brent & Melissa. They were coming to Gander for some errands so were calling to see if I wanted to meet up for lunch. Though the buffet at Pizza Delight was quite tasty, it was the company that was "wunderbar"! So lovely to catch up, and it brought back many happy memories from my first year of training college, and particularly of our adventures when we went on an adventure / specialling weekend to Yorkton, SK.

Over lunch, we laughed so hard my cheeks were hurting (mostly at my expense of course). But it was also just exciting to see how quickly this talented couple are fully engaged in their ministry, in their community, with their corps people. It offers me much hope for the future and what is to come. In fact, if there were a soundtrack to this update, it would likely be, "God of this City" with the lyrics, "And greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city" (or more likely replace the word city with town, village, or hamlet,... the planner in me will never die, lol;)!

Supper

The lovely Home League ladies of the Gander Corps hosted a 'Welcome to Cadet Joyce' potluck supper in the evening, which I must confess was my very first Home League meeting! The food - of course - was tasty, tasty and I enjoyed some classic Newfie grub (with leftovers that I got to take home as the honoured guest:). Though I love food, I love people more - and let me tell you, these women were lovely - they made me feel totally at ease, at home, and most welcome. I gave a short devotional about a wonderful memory with Nanny & Louise where we danced around the record player table to the song, "Don't worry be happy!" Still makes me smile to think about... We also played a couple of games, including a 'name that songbook song' that I completely bombed at in the most impressive way - 0 out of 20 I think was my score. If that was a cadet test, I decided to fail in real style.

Figuring out Fridays

Remember that '25' list that went around facebook a couple of years ago? You had to list 25 things that people may not know about you. In that list, I confessed that sometimes when living in Goderich, on rare occasions, I would hide out in my house - ignore the phone, dim the lights and pretend no one was home. I just needed to crash - to be quiet, to not talk, to have a break from people. Because of the nature of my work, I would just get tired being in constant communication and need to decompress for a couple of hours - to totally separate from the world. Well, reflecting back, I have discovered that as far as days of the week go, Friday evenings seem to be that for me - my hiding out time.

And my epiphany this past Friday night is that it is the "perfectionist, control-freak, unrealistic expectations yet procrastinator tendencies" in me that surface as I realize another week has passed and I have accomplished much less than what I had hoped for. I beat myself up a bit, give myself a serious pep talk about whatever I didn't get done that I should've, and make promises about doing better in the week to come. On the weeks where this happens, the feelings usually creep in mid-evening, and by the time I wake up in the morning, I am over it. Still, I wouldn't mind changing that particular pattern - perhaps I should get dragged out Friday night, change the norm, switch things up? Any takers?

Thankfully this Friday was a fleeting moment of being melancholy and it helps that the epiphany occurred at all, as that usually represents the beginning of a change within me. You see, earlier in the evening, I attended a wedding rehearsal - and anybody's wedding - even those of a perfect stranger, I find you can't help but feel the love (if we are honest, love is not typically the only emotion present during pre-wedding jitters time, but it is still the prevalent one)! I also was able to chat to one of my very good pals about her wedding later on this summer that I get to assist with officiating. And I realized it is "all good" - people are still falling in love, the world is still turning even if I didn't get more done on my paper. It is all about perspective, and remembering that if God our Creator is willing to show us grace upon grace, perhaps we need to show ourselves a little bit of the same thing?

Two Sidebars: 1. Once commissioned/ordained, I think I will enjoy (a lot) being able to perform weddings, and 2. Well, I am having second thoughts about sharing the second thought...

Please Note: much to say about the *actual* weekend - my Saturday adventures with the Pinksen's and my first Sunday morning preach, but that will have to wait - as right now, my bed is calling my name...

Gander, NL - The Adventures Continue!

Mango trees or squid rings? That is the question....

We have enjoyed some decent weather since my arrival in Gander, but things turned for the worse sometime Sunday night and for almost 3 days, we had rain, rain, rain... Thankfully, despite the rain, or perhaps as a direct result of it, the fun did not stop!

Cruisin' Together

Captains Cory & Pam took me on a driving adventure on Tuesday night where we did what I think is called the Bay Loop. We toured through a lot of communities right on the coast, most of them containing a SA Corps (of course). From a planning perspective, and from an Army perspective, these places fascinated me. Buildings perched over the ocean, tiny clusters of houses that manage to sustain a thriving Salvation Army AND a 'Pentecost' church as they call them here. What I also am as yet unclear about is what everyone who lives there does - both for work & for entertainment. With the freeze on fishing and a limited logging industry, I need to do some investigative work about the labour force.

With that said, it might be the "city gal" coming out in me - yes, to all my Toronto-ian friends, I am a big city girl by NL standards (everything is relative). Still, there is something about that lifestyle that I feel drawn to wanting to know more about: the fresh sea air, the brightly coloured sided homes, a rocky beach to walk along where you can find small motor boats moored to floating docks, the sense of community that can only come from a place that has a small population and is relatively isolated from the rest of the area. But I digress.

Two more things about our driving adventure and then I will move on to a new topic...

(1) I took my camera with us to try and get a picture or two of my time here on the Rock and some of the places I visit. I managed to get one - yes you heard right one photo. This is one of the many corps we saw that are within an hour driving radius of Gander (I know, a completely random picture choice considering all of the beautiful landscape, coastline, and islands I saw that evening - it was partially for you Josh). The real problem is, I just get caught up in the experience and forget to pull out the old Lumix. Still, look at the location of this church - not sure I would be able to remain focused on the Officer's preaching on a clear day (a little foggy here obviously), if there were windows facing out to the ocean. Water is something else that fascinates me!

(2) Our road trip felt very similar to Pooch's and

my "Search for a Mango Tree" when I visited him in the Caymans. One rainy day, we toured the island in search of a mango tree and along the way managed to have an excellent time and to make some random stops that really made it the adventure that it was - we enjoyed ourselves and found fun even with the dark, dreary, overcast and wet weather conditions. From my perspective, the same was true for the 3 of us on Tuesday night - but instead of mangoes, we had "squid rings" (not "calamari" as it is known by us "mainlanders"). Good times, good times...

Ok, I had planned to update you on my Wednesday (an excellent mid-week day all things considered), but I am officially a sleepy gal - so that update will have to wait for another day.

Gander, NL - Bring on Week 3!

It is quite something to contemplate how time passes us by so quickly - each day, the weeks, and undoubtedly this summer will. I have trouble believing I am entering my 3rd week here in Gander! And as I enter this the 3rd week - let me tell you about 3 lessons I have learned in the last 3 days.

This should be no news flash to you, but here it is...

LESSON #1: Life isn't always *sunshine & lollipops*.

Don't get me wrong, I love life. I love *MY* life. I think that God makes good of every situation - its just that the experience is not always particularly

pleasant. So, Friday night was one of those nights. Nothing specific had happened - but I wasn't feeling very well and I called my sis when I got home because it was my nephew - my little man Rhys's 2nd birthday. And the realization hit me like a TON OF BRICKS - that not only had I missed out on 1/2 of his life since my move to Winnipeg - but that this trend of missing out on my family growing up would only continue. I felt sad about that:(. The idea that I will not be around on a regular basis for the birthdays, the milestones, for the everyday. So in a very atypical, non-British & out of character moment for moi - I had a good cry about it...

Then I was reminded of the *eternal perspective* - of God's big picture plan. Our time here on earth is so short versus eternity, which is an unfathomable quantity of time. I believe that I can be a better aunt, sister, daughter, friend to those I love if I follow what I know is God's plan for my life. And there is no doubt in my mind that I am supposed to be an officer in The Salvation Army. Doesn't mean it is always easy (it isn't, it won't be) - but it certainly makes more sense when I think of it that way.... It made the tears eventually stop as well.

LESSON #2: Crying when you aren't typically a crier can pay off!

I don't really mean that, but it was lovely to hear a knock on the door from Joshua early-ish Saturday morning - who had literally woken up at the crack of dawn and driven the 3.5 hrs from Corner Brook to come and visit me (although not intentional, I think my teary phone chat the night before sealed the deal in his decision to make the trip). In the privacy of this blog, I will admit a little secret - I was missing him as well. But "Shhhhh,... don't tell!"

We had a fun day touring around my new stomping grounds (including a walk around the infamous Cobb's Pond - not where the picture was from btw, but I didn't have any from this particular excursion), my inaugural visit to Jungle Jim's for lunch, and a taste of my first moose burger during supper with the Pinksen crew - which was not meat from one of the 5 moose Josh had seen on his way to Gander let me clarify!?!? After Josh headed home, my day ended with a trip to a nearby campground where we had a campfire (and yummy S'mores)with some Corps folks. Saturday was a super duper day:).

LESSON 3: Change is inevitable!

The weather was questionable Sunday morning - and so the plan for 4 services was re-evaluated and determined that we would go down to 3 since an Open Air in the rain was not considered the most pleasant or practical of options. This meant that my preparation for the evening service could be saved for another week (as we changed the time for one of the services at a retirement home to the evening). I know I wasn't alone in wondering how we could've fit in the fourth by the end of our third service! It is a good thing I enjoy church so much:).

But how different each service was:

(1) our morning at the Corps was lovely as the Twin Ponds camp staff shared with us and with a most memorable Children's Time,

(2) our service at Lakeside was a real joy as one woman beat to her own drum and loudly sang or quoted Scripture by heart literally from start to finish, and

(3) the third service, though we were jammed into a room like sardines, while perched on big, comfy furniture with the temperature escalating, so too did the feeling for me that "where 2 or 3 are gathered, there too is God."

Plans change. Expressions of worship differ. The setting we are in may not be the same. There are two certainties: though change is inevitable, we also serve a God who never changes.

GANDER, NL - Happy Canada Day!

OH SO SLEEPY...

The time is flying by. But yesterday, I was especially tired for some reason. I can't account for why. I am getting a decent amount of sleep here, I went for a run but didn't over exert myself... I overate, but that is not unusual for me. Very strange. I had trouble dragging my sorry self out of bed yesterday morning and that general exhaustion continued through out the day. I actually took a nap after supper last night - and by nap, I mean, I slept for a couple of hours on the couch). Of course I couldn't get to sleep last night then - Oops:(. Although I have to admit, I felt some sense of relief to hear when speaking to a few of my session mates that they are experiencing the same phenomenon. I don't think we ever account for the toll that change takes on our body.

THE WHEELS ON THE BIKE GO ROUND & ROUND

I had big plans to go for a bike ride when I got home yesterday,

but it (in)conveniently began to rain - really rain - about 5 minutes before my work day ended, so sadly,... I couldn't. There is access to the Trans-Canada Trail just down the street from the quarters, so if there is time in the next few days and you are in the GGA (Greater Gander Area), please be sure to keep an eye out for me on the side of the road as I will be helmet-less and exploring this budding metropolis on a non-motorized vehicle of the bicycle variety. If it turns into an enjoyable or exciting adventure, tales and photos will follow.

I am tempted here to begin a long and drawn out diatribe about the importance of dedicated bike paths. I'd forgotten how passionately I feel about this particular issue, but the mention of biking brought it all back with amazing - and somewhat annoying - force. When I was on the Rotary group study exchange in the Netherlands (affectionately known as Holland), what amazed me was how cycling paths took priority as a mode of transportation over cars. But, I think - in the interests of time - I will save that particular soap box speech for another day.

OUR HOME & NATIVE LAND

How patriotic are you? For those of you who are Canadian, what are your feelings on today - this Canada Day - as you think about your country? Does a feeling of pride overtake you when you see the red & white flag flapping in the wind?

For me, I think about the somewhat 'tongue in cheek' comment I made on my facebook status this Canada Day - that I am proud to be a hyphenated Canadian. I come from a strong British lineage (Welsh & English), and though I spent a few years living in the UK, Canada has and always will be my home. Yet, I still feel this inexplicable draw to my parent's homeland - to describe myself as a person with dual citizenship... I am a proud British-Canadian. Why is that? For our neighbours to the south, their patriotism is so deeply entrenched in who they are, but for us 'polite' folks to the north (I would argue on the politeness, but it seems to be our self-proclaimed tag line) our claim to fame is the mosaic which is our nation - that Toronto is the most multi-cultural city in the worldand that there are few similarities which unite us from coast to coast (B.C. to Newfoundland).

Vancouver hosting the winter Olympics earlier this year certainly seemed to be a uniting force. And today, as I celebrated along with the residents of Gander, there were many proudly sporting red & white, having press-on tattoos of a maple leaf or their favourite hockey team somewhere on their person.

FINAL THOUGHT: Maybe we need to stop worrying about what unites us & what separates us as a nation - and instead, just enjoy those brief moments where we know that listening to live country music as we play a bean bag toss game on a wooden board with a huge beaver painted on it (and enjoying ourselves) is what makes us uniquely Canadian!?!?