There is something odd about God’s ability to work people together even after they have only known each other for such a short while. TREK time here in Canada has really be so incredible and a blessing that is FAR more than I could have ever hoped it would be. I want to share a few stories for people so they can share in my adventure!
I was cruising a little faster than I thought through Oregon on my way up to Abbotsford here and figured I could afford a couple days in a hostel in Portland, Oregon. It was flippin sweet as hostels and Oregon naturally are. A few things to warn/note to those ever hoping to travel to Portland: Simply because you CAN ride a bike, does not mean you SHOULD wear spandex. Matt Cox suggested a separate bike path for those that shouldn’t curse the world with their spandex, which would be behind a six foot concrete spandex proof wall. It is okay to look, feel, shape your hair, pierce your whatever, and dance any way you would like at any time you would like. And because of this, you can also dig out any wedgies you might have gotten on the bike ride in public. Since people are already staring at you, it doesn’t matter if they see you fixing what God intended to never happen. There are too many restaurants on Hawthorne to ever choose, so you as Matt and Beth Cox and they will tell you where you should eat. Those are a few tips I learned, but experience is the best teacher.
I ran into a German kid, about the age of 19 who has been gallivanting around Canada and the US for about six months now. After I mentioned I would be hitching up to Vancouver area he most graciously offered a seat in his ghetto van, as he would be travelling up there the following day. It took us a little longer than you would think to get going but Mitchell had to recover from a “late” night. The drive was incredibly beautiful and pretty epic. Windows rolled down, feet hanging out, accents flyin, and Red Hot Chili Peppers filling the van with perfect driving music. It really was a scene from one of those “discovering yourself” college movies. However, just before we got to the border we made an unexpected stop at a rest stop. He leans over and tells me that it’s best to not cross the border with weed and that we should search the van to make sure it’s clean. I was like, “Uh, dude, I don’t even know what weed looks like.” So my job was talking to the families, elderly, and any other could-be-question-asker to deter them from looking in the…smoky van. But, as many prayers went out, we were clear sailing through the border.
Finally, even though this is getting long, I wanted to talk about how God spoke to me yesterday. Often times God speaks to us but it’s a little murky because our lives are filled with noise. And when we finally quiet down our lives, we question the conversation that happens in our heads. We wonder, “Is this God speaking, or am I talking to myself?” The voices in my head are always reeling which makes me wonder often. We were asked to really ask God to speak to us through Scripture and be sincere about it. That morning I was journaling my hopes and dreams for this time, and one was that I would hear God more clearly in my life.
As I was reading through Ephesians chapter one, I asked God to truly speak to me. Verse seventeen really stuck out and so I thought I should pursue it. That’s when I felt God saying to me, “This verse is your purpose here. This is the reason I brought you here.” What a purpose! How gracious can God truly be! The verse reads, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.” God has given me this promise, that he brought me here to give me a spirit of wisdom and that I might know him deeper. I couldn’t ask for a better answer to pray, could I? This is the first time that I have really been able to say, “God truly spoke to me in a way I could NEVER doubt.” I then laughed and said, “God, why would you bless me so much?!” He spoke back, “This is my gift to you, it is grace.”
God really is too much for me some times. I am too excited for how God will fulfill his promise to me, but I can be sure that he is faithful and will complete it.
Keep praying that God would continue to bond the already incredible bonds we have building. Also pray that the 48 hour silent retreat next week will be one of refreshment and incredible intimacy with God. After all, if God is even half the God that I have experienced so far, we have so much to look forward too!
I am uploading a group picture we took today after we did some gardening (WOO!). If you want to restock my coffee supply, send money to support me, or send a letter here is the address:
Thomas VanWart
c/o MBMSI
302-32025 George Ferguson Way
Abbotsford, BC V2T 2K7
An a couple last minute things. Please use Facebook a little less with me as it spams my inbox pretty heavily. Feel free to comment on my blog or on the note but otherwise, stick to sending me actual emails.
thomasvanwart@gmail.com
Thank you for your prayers! I miss everyone tons and truly do tell many people about you guys!
–Thomas
ps. please send GROUND coffee that ISN’T decaf. 
