R.I.P Dad

This is easily the hardest thing I have ever had to say; my dad has died. I am coming home to Canada...

New Pictures on Facebook!

Hey all, just a quick note to let you know that I have updated my photo album on facebook...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=316256&id=711450530&saved#/album.php?aid=316256&id=711450530

Love and Blessings,
Brian

WAY too long!!

Hey everyone! I know it has been WAY too long since I updated and for that I am sorry. I am officially settled in at my new home at Place of Rescue. I am currently in the middle of my second full week here in the village and I love it. I teach a class of 24 grade 4's, 7 grade 10's, 3-8 grade 7-9's, and some one on one tutoring with a grade 10 and 12 student. This past Thursday, we had the honor and blessing of welcoming Paul Brandt to Place of Rescue. He was here for the day with a group of six other people from North America. He toured the orphanage and then performed an acoustic concert for the kids! Everyone loved having him and listening to him sing. The older kids had t-shirts from his most recent tour and the young kids had "I heart Paul Brandt" t-shirts. I experienced something amazing last monday, I had the chance to help welcome one of our newest children to Rescue. He is a two year old boy named November, he was left at an NGO by his mother and sent to live with his grandparents. The grandfather was abusive, tied him up when he left the house, and fed him nothing but the equivlent of sugar water; heartbreaking to say the least but a wonderful experience to welcome this little guy into a BRAND NEW chapter and opportunity in life. If I could sum up the last little while in one sentence, I think it would be this; Life is so much more fulfilling when it's not all about me.

Love and Blessings,
Brian

Thailand and Moving to Rescue...

Hey all! Sorry it has been awhile since the last post. My trip to Thailand was AMAZING! I saw shows about and pictures of Thailand for so long that it was amazing to finally live out the dream to go and see it first hand. I went with Melanie and Keri and it was fantastic to just relax and be tourists. We flew into Bangkok and stayed at a guest house for a night before taking the day train through the country. I really enjoying being able to see the countryside of Thailand, yet the 13 hrs on a train grew thin to say the least! We finally arrived in Chiang Mai and were greeted at the train station by our guides Tom and Cheeky Nicky, both of these guys were hilarious and definately made the trip worthwhile. We were in Thailand during the new moon festival so it was a lot of fun to check that out and learn more about Thai culture. We packed so many wonderful things into our time in Chiang Mai. We went to the zoo, aquariam, white water rafting, bamboo rafting, visited a couple of Thai tribes, rode an elephant, swam in a waterfall, watched Muay Thai fights (our guide fought and WON!) and so many other wonderful things. It really was the trip of a lifetime. I just moved to Place of Rescue yesterday and am so happy and thankful to finally be here! We have just been in meetings today about figuring out our teaching schedule but I am really excited for what the future holds. Until next time, stay classy friends!

Love and Blessings,
Brian

A quick request...

Hey all! Just wanted to write a quick note to share something that God had placed on my heart awhile ago. As I was preparing to come here to Cambodia, I could sense that God wanted me to do something with this experience and with that said, I want to share a project I will be undertaking; As I move out to Rescue and start my ministry I will be keeping a video diary. My prayer and desire is that I can use this back in Canada to share what God has done, I am not sure how it will all look or anything like that...I do know that it will happen though, He will take care of the rest! Please keep this project in your prayers friends! Thanks!

Love and Blessings,
Brian

Typing is overrated

Frog legs, Wat Phnom, and a taste of home...

Greetings all! Time for another update from the land of Cambodia...Things are going pretty well these days, I have been under the weather this week though with some sinus problems/head cold so prayer would be very much appreciated :) I just finished my second to last week of language school and it was certainly an adventurous one! On Tuesday, our language teachers took us to Wat Phnom (http://www.arrakeen.ch/cambodia/119%20%20Wat%20Phnom.jpg) and we got the chance to talk to some of the beggars and children selling water there. I spent a few minutes talking to a beggar...a very cool experience to say the least. I also had my first of three Cambodian food experiences of the week...I had two bites (incredibly small ones! haha) of a duck embryo egg, needless to say I wasn't a big fan but I did try it! haha After our visit to the Wat, our teachers took us to a roadside restaurant complete with small, plastic stools about a foot off the ground :) I had deep fried frog amongst other delicious Cambodian food, and please excuse this tired saying but it is actually true, it really does taste like Chicken. On Wednesday, our teachers took us to a pagota and we got to practice our Kami with monks. My afternoon Kami teacher is a former monk so it was interesting to practice Kami with them and hear a little bit more about my teacher's life story. My third and final food experience came when I ate my first of four crickets! They were surprisingly tasty and spiced to the point that I had no idea I was eating a cricket! So it has been an interesting week food wise. A couple days ago I received a package from Ambrose via a Place of Rescue board member (Thanks Emma)! I got some candy and two new CDs amongst other little surprises...Super nice to get a taste of home! I start my final week of language school tomorrow, I have definately had a challenging time during language school but I have learned so much about persevering and determination for the sake of Christ! After this week of language school, I am heading off to Thailand for a few days with a couple of friends for a personal holiday. Cambodia has a national holiday during the first part of november and it will be a great time of relaxation and being refreshed before I move out to rescue and start my ministry! I worked really hard this summer and it will be nice to have a bit of a break before the next part of this amazing adventure starts...I promise loads of pictures from Thailand!

Love and Blessings,
Brian