Week of Art and Discipline

This week is probably one of the best since I've been here.
This past Thursday I went to the Atwater Poetry Project at Atwater Library and Computer Center

I was really cool. This first poet Jeramy Dodds I really enjoyed. He shared his poem tittled Oshawa Shopping Centre. He poetically described white plastic bags floating like ghosts on a chain link fence.  He was enjoyable, blunt and only had slight sexual themes.
The second poet was Lisa Robertson, who I believe is a more famous poet, as much as living poets can be famous.
She was less enjoyable for me.  Her second poem started with a line that had a clear sexual point. The next ten minutes  were less clear though I thought she spoke mainly of leaves and sex. I didn't understand much.
It left me with a strong desire to be more educated.

After I met up with my roomates at  concert in a very high class place called Burritoville.
Kay, maybe not high class, but it doesn't have a sheet plastic sign in primary colours.
Burritoville is somewhere in between Swiss Chalet and East Side Marios. I think its on level with Cora's in atmosphere.
The two bands that were playing were the Bright Road and Lizzy and the Orca.
Classic folk. It was great. They reminded me a lot of Slow Club, one of my favourite bands.
Lizzy and the Orca had some really inventive songs, with a wide variety of instruments. At different points there was a  mouth organ, cello, xylophone, ukulele as well as acostic, electric and drums. It was a good time.
Left me wanting to write.
The Bright Road had great songs in  the more technical way. They were well written and had catchy lyrics.
 If I had money I would buy all their stuff.
It was a good night with good people. Some of you may know I was having a hard time at the beginning adjusting to the people here in the beginning. Its going a lot better with most of my roomates, but there is one who always seems to have some majoy issues. Prayer would be appreciated.
Monday we leave for  Toronto. It will be nice to see Home sweet Hometario. I'll will be making a much needed visit with my family for the weekend before heading back to Montreal on the bus.
Your Prayers and support are much appreciated. :)

Hannah

It's a Small World After All

Yesterday a woman named Daria came to speak to us DTS students. She talked about the history of 24/7 prayer and about 24/7 prayer today, in the world and in Montreal. She shared some videos and I realized that I met the guy named Brian featured in the video about 24/7 Prayer in Ibiza.

He spoke at the Deeper Conference at my church  the Cambridge Vineyard a few years ago.
I spoke to Daria about it and it turns out -
She was there too! In fact Daria lived in Cambridge out on Townline while she finished up her Masters at Heritage.  Heritage is about a five minute drive from my house.
Its a small world after all!

In other news I have just posted some pictures up on Facebook. They take you on a tour of my apartment that i share with five other lovely ladies. You'd think sharing a bathroom with five other girls would be hard for me...but not after sharing a bathroom with 7 13 year old girls.
With a covered up mirror.
Haha.
Tonight I am attending a conference on the Post Christian World. Its close to where Mission fest was.
:)
I also got a big package in the mail...a laptop bag to replace the one I broke. Its very pretty.

Well, that's it for today. Stay tuned for more exciting  adventures.

The culmination of a dream

Today, a dream came true.
Let's back track.
Sometime last July, my faboo friend Sheri  took me Issie and Alberto to a rodeo in Steinbach with some other camp people. When the restivities and amusing animal cruelty ( I'm kidding...kinda. Feel free to send me a punch in the face via Canada post, Sheri) broke for lunch issie, Berto and I wandered over to the various trailers of fried food. Berto decided that he wanted to get poutine. When he asked what kind of cheese they used, the women said that they used mixed cheese.
Berto: "That's not the proper way to make poutine. That's not the french way"

Woman " We're not French, we're Canadian"
Alberto got the poutine, which did not taste right at all, and walked away with some righteous french anger.
A few weeks later I got really sick  and the camp nurse took me to the Gimli hospital.  They thought it was just a headache, until we left the hospital and I went unconscious. They took me back and did a scan and saw an anomaly on my scan. They sent me to the Winnipeg Health Sciences Center. They did an angio gram and  discovered i had a blood clot. They called my parents and sent me in for surgery. I didn't remember much beyond the camp nurse telling me we were going to the hospital and then some one telling me i was going into surgery. And then I remember poutine. I was in a life or death surgery and all I could remember about it was poutine.

Its been four months, but tonight....


Tonight i had true Quebec poutine.
A dream came true.
Oh and we watched a b it of the hockey game between the Canucks and the Canadians. I didn't really pay attention. but tonight was good. Thanks for making my dream come true Amy.

I posted a picture of my class mates. This picture includes staff.

Back row ( from left to right): Nicolas Marin ( Leader, France, husband to Kelly) , Thomas Reist (School leader, France) , Denny Flanagan (Leader, USA), Jeroen Van Der Zeeuw ( The Netherlands)

Middle Row: Kelly Marin (Leader, USA,  Wife to Nicolas), Evelyne Hebrard  (Administration , YWAM Montreal). Philipe Gondar ( Brazil), Piere Salson (France), Maurice Vand Der Spek (The Netherlands)

Bottom Row: Hannah (Wife of Jonathan),  Me (Canada),  Jisca Marcellin (Quebec, Canada), Dennis Flanagan ( son of Denny and Lauren), Demaris Fankhauser (Switzerland),  Alyce Hardee (USA), Amy Bahnman (B.C., Canada, my roomate!), Marie-Lorraine Reist ( wife of Thomas)

Enjoy!

Updates

i haven't updated in a few weeks. I have to tell you, some days of been good and other days are not so great.
This week I had three amazing meetings. One for my  internship and two for my volunteering. The first was with my new mentor, Andrea Beverly. She's pretty awesome. I even walked out the door with some new reading material. :).
The next day I had my meetings with the Black Theater Workshop alack Theater Workshop was first. They wanted me to help out with the opening night of Raisin in the sun, but I'm in Toronto that week (can't wait to hit my sweet home Ontario turf!)
But there is opportunity to even work onstage in their next production as a mover, which is  cool. I'll definetely be working with their next production if I can. :)


My second meeting  was with Infinitheatre. They  gave me some work right away, which I did on Friday. I walked down Monkland Ave in the Notre Dame de Grace area and asked store owners to put up posters or take some pamphlets. Some of them were really nice. Some of them weren't. I got the job done though. Only six posters left. I kind of want one.I also gave them my new Theatre Resume. Abigail, the woman I spoke to put me on the agenda  for their staff meeting the next day to see if I can work in house (in the theatre). She was very impressed with my resume and said that I would definitely get into Concordia for Playwriting with a resume like mine. That was encouraging.

On a more melancholy note I've been feeling lonely at not myself. I'd really like Camp Hannah to be here. Happy, fun, encouraging, all those things that people from camp tell me I am.
I don't feel like I can be that here. I feel more like high school Hannah, desperately trying to get someone to listen to all my crap.It's a gross feeling.
I'm working on it.
I went to a Messianic church this morning (Jewish christian, though "gentiles" are welcome) 
 It helped. And my family just called.
I feel like a giant suck most of the time. Things have been great for me since the blood clot, but I seem to have fallen on hard times. The money issue scares me because I want to go to university next year and I don't even have enough for this year, really. My parents are helping me, but I just...
whatever.
This blog is called A Life adventured, not here's  The Most Depressing Thing Ever!
Here's some better news.
I entered the CBC literary awards in the poetry level. Grand prize is 6,000.
Wish me luck!

I'll try to post more this week.

TTFN,

Hannah

Ding Something

Today I went for my second blood test at the Jewish Hospital. I did not go as early as I had planned, but I got there around seven thirty and got out around ten. I have been selected to take part in a medical study. I don't have to take any drugs and I don't get paid but I do get to talk to a nurse when I come in for my blood test. Its a study to see what they should study.  They want to look into what are the causes of my blood clot to see what they can learn about blood clots in major organs, like the brain. I knew before I had all the information I would do it. Not only will I have an in with a clinic that specializes in blood clots, but I also might be able to help other people (like my Dad) who have also suffered, or will suffer from blood clots.
While the other does give my mother peace of mind and that is very valuable, I want to help other people.
On the other front, I am making progress with my DTS internship. I am currently waiting to hear back from people about a mentor of which to help me pursue my writing career.
We had a prayer meeting today that was quite interesting. We read recent stories about the persecuted church and prayed for the people. I greatly enjoyed the experience.
Tonight we have community meals at the boy's apartment. Should be a good time.
I hope to make more updates inthe future (with pictures). We are getting internet at the apartment on Saturday. For now, here is a picture of my school to tide you over until next time.

Does Attending a Jewish Hospital make me Jewish?

Yesterday was Thanksgiving! I prepared a small chicken dinner for those of the girls that were home. While the evening was...eventful, it was a good Thanksgiving. I prepared my first Thanksgiving meal.I'd say it was a success.
But on to the real news.
As you may know, this past Friday I had my blood tested. I went back Saturday afternoon to get the results ( I had to pay, even for the results) but the doctor, whose specialty as it turned out was hematology (blood. She referred me to the Jewish hospital. She told me to go early this morning to the ER to set up an emergency arrangement.
It was good timing. I saw a nurse withing ten mins and he sent me up to the coumadin clinic to have my blood tested. I had to get a hospital card and then I got my blood tested and an appointment with the doctor for later on.I received the results only a few hours later and things are just great. I was getting really frustrated with having to go to the clinic that was so far away.
Let me just say it: God is good.
And once again, I'm happy and confident in the way things are going.

Make some pie and bruise your hand

So yesterday about five minutes before class ended I had a thought. I would rush home after class, pack my bags and jump on a train to be home for Thanksgiving. I never thought that all the trains would be booked. After a short research stint on my phone I texted my mum and she figured out all the trains were booked.
To add insult to injury I had to get my blood tested yesterday. My veins are pretty small, I found out in the hospital. Ivs are detestable. At Lifelabs in Cambridge, that hasn't been a problem. The nurse here couldn't find my vein so where did she stick the needle in me? In my hand. I've got a faint bruise to prove it.
As I travelled home, I was pretty bummed out, and soon after I got home, two of my roomates left for their own Thanksgiving celebrations.
I am not spending Thanksgiving alone however, My roomates Amy and Damris are staying too. On monday we are having the boys over forpumpkin pie and apple pie, of traditional Canadian Thanksgiving fare. My mother is also giving me money to cover a chicken for us girls and I will also be making mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes! I don't have a recipe for candied yams though. My only recipe for sweet potatoes is sweet potato fries. My favourite.
Today, while I am not with my family, I am not upset because I am going to Value Village and Amy and I went to the Jean Talon market this morning. I even showed her the chocolate store with the most beautiful chocolates in the world!
This weekend is a time for me to get my work done and get some shopping.
I've also received an interesting offer that relates to my new play idea. It opens me up to new opportunities and I believe that this project has at least a little bit of God's anointing.
I also wrote a poem last night.
I was frustrated about not being able to go and I felt like my mind was restless and angy and disappointed. I believed I couldn't possibly do any of the reflection journalling for my DTS as my mother suggested. I wanted to get out and do something but felt I could not do so. I stopped my pacing, sat down and wrote a poem about some of my emotions that have been drifting to the surface. I like it and it put my mind at ease.
I sometimes feel the need to emotionally vomit, and rather then get my feelings all over someones shoes, I grab a pen and paper, or more often, my computer.
Sometimes it even produces works of art.
Well, see you on the other side of pie, friends Have a good weekend.

Hannah

Straight Girl In Gay Transit or Inspiration/Blashphemy

I wonder, sometimes, if I am somehow disrespecting God if my mind is focussed more on my latest bit of inspiration instead of on God, in such a time as I am supposed to be focussed on him.
We start every class with a bit of prayer. Today we took communion and we were supposed to be meditating on...something. Instead, my mind was buzzing with my newest idea.
“Straight Girl in Gay Transit” is an open monologue on my experiences with people who are gay or lesbian. It is a reflection in how we should, as followers of Christ be receiving those who are, like us, created in the image of God. I've often felt a specific calling to share my experiences in order to call other christians to practice the lifestyle of love that we preach. This is one part of that.
The idea orginally came to me last night, after deciding that I wanted to volunteer at Out Productions, a theatre company that strives to speak to the gay experience. Today in class I decided to also write a book at the same time covering the same themes. I want to write one scene and then write the corresponding chapter directly after. I think that over the next few days I will be taking time to reconsider my experiences and possibly asking a few people permission and direction to share my memories of our friendships.
I don't think it was blasphemous to consider this new idea during a time of prayer because I think that this is a story God wants me to tell. I still need to finish up some other works in order to apply for schools for next fall, but I believe this is my next project.
Tomorrow is the last day of the first full week. Then it is on to a Thanksgiving weekend without family. Us girls that are going to be in Montreal on the weekend are inviting the boys over for pie. Our budget doesn't have room for turkey, sadly.
However, Turkey does not make Thanksgiving. Family and friends are thanksgiving because they are worth giving thanks for. I thank God for turkey when I have it, but as for right now I thank God for what I do have.
Have a good night, friends.

Hannah

Internship and Volunteering knowledge

I've started to read the first book for my first book report. "Is that really you, God?" by Loren Cunningham. Its good so far.

I'm still in need of a doctor. I need one to regularly look over my blood tests in order to make sure my anti-coagulation levels are in order. I've got my prescription of blood thinners which should last me for a while but I need to set up my blood tests. I went to a clinic today but the receptionist told me to come back tomorrow because it was too busy. I'm supposed to call at lunch to mark a place for me in the line.

It was a cold, rainy, long detour on the way home.

On the bright side, I got to see Snowdon station. We are always taking the metro in that direction, but we never seem to get there.

I should explain. The metro near my station comes before Snowdon on the blue line going in that direction.

Today we also discussed the fact that, as well as internships, this UCDTS requires us to involve a lot of volunteering in our week. I'm excited about the concept, but I don't know where I want to volunteer and I need more information about the places we should be volunteering for. I've looked at a few theatre companies in Montreal which ask for volunteers. One of them is theatre for small children and the other is Out Theatre. Which, if you can't tell is lgbt (lesbian gay bi trans).

People of this persuasion have been on my heart the past few years. I've always felt that a lot of Christians have developed a perspective of hate and fear towards homosexuals instead of the love that God calls to have for all beings. We have been learning in class about how all humans are created in the image of God. Check your Bible. Its there somewhere in the very beginning. I have friends that are gay, and whether we think its wrong or not, God calls us to love our neighbour, even if that dude is a dating another dude.

That tangent aside, I'd like to work with lgbt s without having to encourage them towards that lifestyle. I'm not really comfortable with that.

Anyway, we'll see what the requirements are and what I feel after a time of prayer.

Tomorrow is another morning of class with Pierre Lebel and an afternoon continuing with the orientation. I'll also be heading back to the clinic to see if they can fit me in.

Please keep me and my class mates in prayer.

A Post script:

I'll be getting internet in about two weeks so you will be getting blog posts a little more regularly.

With love,

Hannah

Church and Class

Last night  Amy and i went  to  church. it was a combination of a mennonite brethren church and the Montreal Vineyard. I was nice, as they said " to see to churches coming together when so many are splitting up". The church(es)  meet in a place called Reggie's Bar at Concordia University. I think that if I go to school here next eyar, that's where I'll be going.
I met a guy there named Dean, who worked at the Cambridge YWAM  base, planted the Cambridge Vineyard and played drums for the worship team at  the Kitchener Vineyard with Dave Vigilante. Its a small world.
Another think that makes the world small? Dave Skene, who was also at the Cambridge YWAM base will be teaching my school in February.

Today was the first day of class.
Pierre talked a bit about the history of the church we are studying in and about the history of the church in Quebec.
Our reading assignment from the weekend was the first few chapters of Genesis. We were supposed to list the traits that  it is shown about God in these chapters that we share.
What i cam up with was creativity (because he created everything) as well as  the need to have kids ( Genesis: 27-28). i just think that its cool that God gave us  this desire that he shares.
We also got our manuals with all of the calendars and info and things, but it doesn't contain all the info we want, say about our internships.
Tomorrow we are going through the manual so I will have more info about what i am doing this year.
I should say that I still don't have a doctor, but I am going to a place to get one tomorrow. Please keep this in your prayers.
I'm learning french, at least a little bit everyday. Un tres petit peu.
oh and people of Toronto...we'll be there Nov 22-26.
So close to home, yet so far.
Also, we are considering getting internet at the apartment. We'd all like it, but we are only around for eight months and it will cost a lot to install.
oh money. Oh dear.
Love you all! God bless!

The First Steps

Every journey begins with the first steps, the first impressions that  are the jumping off point for the rest of  one's experiences. My journey begun with a very short plane trip, one that was over before i really thought it had begun. I was told I had to grab my bags and take the 747 bus to the station. I was a little lost to where to find sucha bus, but I looked for signs, and dragged my bags on to the bus. I awkwardly sat near my bags. About halfway through my trip I was furiously texting the famous maw sisters to find out if  I was indeed lost. The man beside me  said "Je ne comprende pas anglais". I got off at  the last stop to meet Kelly, a  petite pensyvanian and leader of my Urband Cultures DTS. My first steps took me from the bus to the metro, or subway of Montreal. Where me and Kelly took my bags and traveled to my apartment., and a beatiful one at that. It is old looking, but very beautiful.  It is a ground floor apartment, and my room, which I share with my roomate from BC, Amy, has a beautiful big window that provides us with a view of our garden and the street. We have very squeaky french doors. Our apartment has four rooms and five girls, as well as one bathroom, a kitchen/dining room/ parlour.
The other girls are very nice. I am sitting with one as I write this in a Starbucks by the YWAM Montreal office.
Her name is Alyce and is fron North Carolina. The other girls come from BC, Quebec and Switzerland.
Yesterday we did a photo scavenger hunt to start our dTS, we were pared up with some of th boys, who hail from The Netherlands and  France respectively. I was paired up with Jeremy from France and we were the only two that did not speak the same language. We did however talk "un petit peu" and made our way up to the top of Mont Royal, where we met with two other groups on the bus and we made on big group.
We did the round trip of Montreal, as my feet can attest, and then met the leaders at a surprising good and not sketchy restaurant named burritoville.

The picture above is acutually a peice of the berlin wall in a Mall in downtown |Montreal.
This morning i went with Alyce and Jesca (of quebec) to the Jean Talon market, where I will  be doing all my shopping for chirstmas. So much freash fruit amazing cheese and the most beautiful choclate I have ever seen...I'm looking at you mom. You will be seeing that at Christmas!

You should know I'm having a great time and can't wait for the rest of the adventure. Soon we will be getting internet at the apartment so you can continue to hear about my adventures.

On the Next Blog of Hannah Foulger and a life adventured:
Next week classes begin. We will be getting our orientation and a class by Pierre Lebel, the man in charge at the Montreal YWAM base at a church...somewhere in montreal.
And we continue to develop the roomie relationships. you may even see a picture of all my roomates.
See you then, my darrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrlings.

Hannah

The Quest Begins...tomorrow

Tomorrow is the first step of a new journey. A journey that will stretch me spiritually and personally.
Okay guys, I'll tell you straight. Tomorrow i leave for my Discipleship Training School in Montreal. It doesn't officially start until Friday, but  I need to go early to sign up for a doctor.
This Blog is called A Life Adventured because  having nearly lost my life, I've resolved to make it count.
Nine weeks ago I suffered a blood clot in my brain.
The face that I'm even able to type this is a miracle.
Well, guys, I invite you to join me in this new adventure and follow along with my exploits through this blog. I hope to update it two or three times a week.

Tonight is actually heralded by a clebration at my home church. the Cambridge Vineyard Church. Its a dessert potluck and concert, and a just a celebration of what God has done in my life.
Cambridge vineyard Church
7 pm


I'll be sharing my full story, with help from my mum, because I wasn't awake for the most exciting parts.
Have a great day, friends!