Designing, Restoring, Rejoicing

One of the more common phrases that our trip leader Kevin used during our week of devotions was that the God we serve is a 'big' God. In our week of living in Myanmar I got a better understanding of how big God is. "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him" Psalm 103:11 How does one approach sharing all that went on in two weeks? Here is the plan; four posts over one week (ambitious!) - varying from the serious to fun. Sunday (today) A look at the Myanmar people and culture with a focus on the mission we partnered with for a week.  Tuesday October 7th: A focus on the work that Engineering Ministries International completed while in Myanmar.  Wednesday October 8th: A list of 'firsts' that I experienced while in Asia, and;  Saturday October 11th: Five lessons learned from being outside of NA for the first time.  Meet David and Nancy David and Nancy Biakkung with their youngest daughter Ju...

I’m back in Canada!  The Engineering Ministries International team have just touched down in Calgary a few hours ago and are ready for some shut eye.  What a journey this has been, and I look forward to posting as many photos, stories and memories as this blog can handle.  However, I have a slightly more pressing event that I need to share. This upcoming Saturday, I will be participating for team eMi in the annual Ride for Refuge.  I’m hoping to raise another $900 in three days before the ride.  A steep task, but if these past two weeks have shown me anything – the gospel work that eMi is able to partner with and support makes it all worth it.  If you feel willing to give, please follow the link below – thank you! http://rideforrefuge.org/search?q=Benjamin+Scott&participants=1&teams=1 A Story Just to whet the appetite for what I hope to share, here is one of my many highlights from my week in Hle Gu.  I had come down with a cold ...

Note:  I have previously posted about getting adjusted to Calgary and some preemptive trip info here .  Below is part two of my discussion on Myanmar. Well - the time has arrived and in a few short hours I will be departing my beloved Canada and flying quite literally around the world to Myanmar.  This post will cover: Trip Details A brief Introduction to Myanmar Some pre-trip reflection and prayer requests. So, without further ado.... International Travelling 101 I have always been a fan of maps so take a gander at my itinerary below.  Lord willing, we (the Engineering Ministries International team) will leave Calgary at 11:00 AM Thursday, connect in Vancouver and Hong Kong, arriving in Yangon on Friday at 11:30 PM (which would make 11:00 AM Friday Calgary time - effectively 24 hours straight travelling!)  Total distance - 12,000 km!  For someone who has never left continental North America, this is going to be quite the crash course in jet l...

This will be the first of two updates concerning moving to Calgary and more importantly, my upcoming trip to Myanmar!  They should be short, sweet, and full of photos. New Office: eMi Canada eMi Canada's office is located just outside of downtown in the northwest borough of Kensington, Calgary's 'Urban Village' (apparently no relation to Kensington Market in Toronto).  It takes about 20 minutes to get to work biking in the morning (mostly downhill so 30 mins going home).  I'm thankful for the opportunity to get my body in gear before engaging my mind with the days work. Without a doubt, this is the friendliest office I have ever been a part of.  There is an openness in sharing and joy in conversation that boosts the spirit of each staff member.  "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 Cor. 3:17  We also have a time of daily prayer to consider the needs of the other eMi offices around the world and one of us will give a quick refle...

*Update*  I have placed the option to subscribe via email; for the extreme planner in all of us.  I will post again in about two weeks with further details about my trip to Myanmar. Greetings from Calgary, Alberta!  I apologize in advance if this 'summary' post of my orientation week with Engineering Ministries International (eMi) seems a touch scattered.  In many ways I am still reeling from the all that was shared and discussed in the past week.  I'm going to touch on the highlights of what I learned and show some pictures of the stunning Colorado landscape. All of the interns and new staff members were placed in The Hideaway Inn and Conference Center, about 20 minutes NE of Colorado Springs.  If the ruggedness of the Canadian Shield in Ontario conveys the quiet security of God's presence, then the mountains and plains in and around Colorado Springs proclaim His majesty and vastness.  I was in mostly stunned silenced during the 80 minute drive ...

Ok, here we go, first post concerning all things Engineering Ministries International Canada (eMi) and my involvement with them!  My intention had been to have this inaugural post complete some weeks ago but to say that this summer has been full would be an understatement.  But enough rambling, to business! My hope for this blog is to provide a platform for informative updates on what I am up to this fall, some reflections on that work, and list specific prayer requests to engage you, my faithful readers, in the tasks that the LORD has given me. To put everyone on the same page, I'll give a brief rundown of what exactly I have gotten myself into.  For those of you familiar with what I'm up to, you can skip the next two paragraphs if you are short on time. On Sunday August 17th I am travelling to Colorado Springs, Colorado to start my 4-month internship with Engineering Ministries International.  eMi is a non-profit Christian development organization that mobili...