Quebec City Highs and Lows

Can there really be any lows for Quebec City? Yeah... but they are really quite high and funny. You'll see.

In an attempt to sum everything up, I'm just going to do what Trisha so wonderfully does on her diary and do a high and low list. (By the way Trisha I just booked myself onto 5 more airplanes so my flight status for this summer goes up to 10... I'm still trailing behind you. Can I convert hours of travel in a truck to flight status to give myself a fighting chance in this flight race I just decided we are both in?)

Anyway... highs...

1. Being with Jesus and 4000 other passionate worshippers. Let me tell you, the worship on some of the evenings hit moments where I just wished I'd never, ever leave. Amazing stuff happened. I don't really know how to describe it, but wow... what a choir. There are worship services, but then there are times when everyone get's caught up into it and everyone is singing like they mean it as one voice to Jesus. We had those moments. And they were incredible.

2. Being with friends from across the country. Since I have been walking with these people for six years now, I have gotten to meet and get to know some very incredible people. We only ever see each other at the gatherings, but the times that we share are rich and deep. I spent some time during a worship service with my new friends Peter and Donna Jordan (they are like grandma and grandpa - were founding members of YWAM!!) and we just worshipped away. I cracked and started weeping because the presence of God was so wonderful. Donna had some funny visions where Jesus looked down on her and winked and said, "Watch for it!" Later that night the wink hit and we had 4000 people dancing like maniacs all over the auditorium. It was WILD!!! Also being with a lady we like to call "BC mom" because she lives in Vancouver. She is one wild releaser of life and goes balistic in worship. It's hilarious to watch because life is just exploding out of her all over the place and if you get too close you get blasted away too!

3. Meeting some incredible people from the Canadian Arctic. Many people know, but in case you don't large sections of the Canadian Arctic are in full blown revival. You can watch a little segment about it on the Transformations 2 video, which is well worth your money. God stepped down and is rocking these people and just one look makes that obvious to anyone. They walk with God. This was another time of breaking and weeping, when all 300 of them got up on stage and officially welcomed the white people, finally, to North America with their full blessing. That may sound strange to some, but if you were there you would really realize the full impact of what they were saying in the spirit realm. It was something else.

I got to talk to a couple of the younger Inuit guys, which was hilarious. They are not used to being around so many people, nor are they used to the heat. And I wasn't used to hearing this huge Inuit kid talk about the time he killed a seal by punching it in the head!! This poor guy was hanging out with a bunch of us young people one night. He didn't speak much english and was obviously freaking out because he wasn't used to being packed in a room with about 150 other kids. That was more then in his village, I think he said! So we took him to a more quiet place and had a great talk. It took him just as long to fly south to Quebec City as it took me to fly east. So that gives you an idea of how far north he lives... 5 hours by plane!! CRAZY!!

But to see these young guys become part of a family, literally, a family that stretches across an entire nation. Wow... they were so proud and so was I. Finally we all found a place where we were included and where we belong. I like that. And I can't even begin to imagine the stories he'll tell his village when he gets back to the far, far, far, FAAAAAR north.

4. This was a little strange, but I think I'll put it in the highlights. I feel self concious about it, but I don't think I should. I had a surprising amount of people who I have never in my life met come up to me and say how much of a blessing I was to them. I scratched my head and then realized these were people who have read some of the prophetic words I have released and have gone across the nation. To be honest I have always wondered about the effectiveness and who exactly would read these words. I wondered if people took them to heart and valued them and all that. I know many people who were really encouraged, but to meet people from all over the country who said that they were very blessed, encouraged and edified not just personally, but the words were shared corporately in churches and made an impact, really, really blessed and encouraged me. I was once again honored and astounded at what God does, how He sets things up and how He accomplishes things. God's so cool. He is quite the conductor and I love to play my little part in the orchestra.

I love to think of that. I can sit here and play my little violin and play until my heart is soaring, reaching higher heights with Jesus... for Jesus. Then I look to my left and see the same thing. Then I look to my right and see even more. And if we all keep our eyes on our beautiful conductor and play our little hearts out the sound that resonates from us is just... just... breathtaking.

And so much fun!

5. Falling in love with the French people. I think that this can also go on the lows list. Low because as a western Canadian I honestly feel ripped off. I feel ripped off that I missed out on this portion of my nation for so long. I missed out on the incredible heart, the passion, the culture that my nation holds. I never knew even half the stuff I learned about the history of Canada while in Quebec City. I never knew anything like that place existed in Canada. I honest never knew. I was always told that the Quebec people were rude and hated english speakers. I didn't find one person like that. They were all so warm, so friendly, so fun... so... so... passionate. And not just in the tourist districts where you'd think they would have to be. We ventured out to where the non-tourist area's are and it was just the same. We even walked up to complete strangers and chatted and it was wonderful. I found the heart of Canada last week and I hope I never let it go. I think I just may have stumbled across our all elusive national identity. Everyone thinks being a Canadian means that you are not American, but I just can't align myself with such an arrogant way of thinking about my brothers and sisters to the south.

All I'll say for now is that I found my national identity and that is that I am a Canadian. Now this statement means so very much more then it ever did in my life before. I'm a Canadian and I'm proud of that!

Anyway... I have about a billion more highs and some funny lows, but they will have to wait because I want to go to bed and this is already a fiercely long entry. And of course I will leave you with a nice little picture. This is me and two of my little brothers. Derek to the left on the screen and Nathan on the right. This picture was taken just before we started marching on a giant parade that went to the Plains of Abraham (which I may explain more again later). I was honored to carry the flag for my city, Edmonton! Which was dwarfed by the GIANT banner that Geordie got to carry. It required three people to carry his! One person to hold up the banner (Geordie) and two people with ropes to steady it on each side! Maybe I'll post that picture later... I would now, but I have to go search for it.

Love you all!!