The cool group!
Justina doesn't know I took this picture ha ha ha
Another one of Justina! (I'm sure she'll like this pic better)
Steve beating up on Mark
Mark beating up on Steve!
A pic that Justina Likes
Well, in 2002 I had many adventures! In fact, I can hardly believe that I did all that I did, until stopping to reflect on it all. Well, in an effort to be able to remember what I've done, and also share it with you, here is a short recap of my year.
From January to April I was at school at the U of A. I was taking 6 challenging classes and was stressed-out big time! Below you can see some pictures of my friends and I at Justina and Becky's place. They have a web cam and that's what we used to take the pictures. They had Bible studies every week at their place.
The cool group! |
Justina doesn't know I took this picture ha ha ha |
Another one of Justina! (I'm sure she'll like this pic better) |
Steve beating up on Mark |
Mark beating up on Steve! |
A pic that Justina Likes |
Continuing with the school thing... I also had co-op job interviews and was very blessed to accept a job offer from Alberta Newsprint Company - a 6 month job during the 8 months co-op term. That meant I would have 2 months off! My first 2 months with no school and no work since I was a kid! Good thing I was aware of the possibility of getting this job earlier in the year, because I had already applied to work at a mission in Mexico for over a month of the 2 months I would have off.
Anyways, I bought a plane ticket to Los Angeles, had a tour of Alberta Newsprint Company in Whitecourt, drove back to Edmonton, and caught the plane. When I arrived in Los Angeles it was crazy! I ended up catching a cab to the Greyhound and going straight for San Diego... visited Sea World and then caught a Mexican bus to the mission... 5 hours on a Mexican bus on the Baja Highway when you don't speak Spanish is crazy... not to mention the border crossing and the Federale Stops on the highway... whoo! Anyways, I made it safe and sound to the mission.
At the mission I worked in the warehouse and did some construction work too. I did have my weekends free to visit the area, and my friends Jean and Theresa (seasoned missionaries to that part of Mexico) were the ones that took Cyndi and I to more places around than I would have ever thought possible! Anyways, here are a few pictures from my trip down there:
 Cyndi quickly saves me when I almost fall down the cliff! |
 A guy named Dave from Huntington Beach and Cyndi |
 Dave, Cyndi, and Kelly on the beach (one of my favourite places to visit!) |
 This is the first fish I caught in my life... and the only one on that trip (it was my first time on a boat in the ocean... I think you get the point!) |
 My two buddies, Moises and Reuben liked horse rides! Every lunch I would play with them. |
 They also liked that I could push them high! |
 They tired me out, so I needed a rest! |
 My friends. Jason, Laura, myself and Cyndi. |
Anyways, at the mission, I had a chance to retreat from the world of computers and do some manual labour. In addition, I was able to spend time playing with the children at the orphanage, and in the work camps in the area. I also went to Bible Study and had time to grow spiritually. The sights I got to see on the weekends were incredible too. All in all, I was able to meet so many wonderful people, make many friends, help out an organization that literally saves lives, and experience another world! It was definitely the trip of my lifetime!
Believe it or not, I was really happy to come back to Canada. Over a month away was quite a bit for me - I definitely discovered the things I take for granted here. My parents welcomed me back in Edmonton, and my sister Cathy made me a Bocconne Dolce - the cake I'd asked for for over 12 years! They sure made me feel special!
The next journey of the year, while I lived in Whitecourt, Alberta, is on the next page
Created December 21, 2002