Why, oh why Oh Canada? My monologue on just how insanely cold it is in this country! Today, I just about died of cold, which maybe is a little too light of a way to use that phrase considering several homeless people have died from the cold in the past two days, so instead I shall say that the cold is unbearable. In order to survive today I wore:
-two pairs of pants
-knee high socks and regular socks
-a tank top
-a short sleeve (how doyou spell that??) shirt
-a long sleeved sweater
-scarf
-touque (beanie for you Americans)
-winter boots
-winter jacket which I hate with an incredible passion. I only wear it when absolutely necessary.
With all these layers I was still cold. I have a headache from the cold, in fact. Yesterday, a bunch of stood at a bus stop for 20-30 minutes to head off to our Egypt meeting before usurping our leader's orders and calling him and telling him that he should drive down to where we were and promptly relocated to a team member's apartment that had a glorious fire place. He made us hot chocolate--he was my hero that day-- and I sat as close to the fire as possible and it took, seriously, more than half an hour to feel fully warm.
I put forth that America needs to give up it's phrase, "The land of the brave" because true bravery is living year after year in this iceberg we call Canada!

EGYPT BOUND!!!
As part of the Miss Exec at my school, we've planned a missions trip to Egypt to work with Sudanese Refugee children by teaching English, music, sports and anything else that we have to offer. We're also raising money to support their lunch program for a semester. And most exciting to me is that.... I'm going!! I'm totally pumped for this opportunity to travel to a land of history! And secondly, as I consider working overseas, maybe north Africa, I think this is just such an amazing opportunity to check it out. Although I grew up overseas, I've never been on a trip like this before and I'm so excited to get on with it! So yeah! There's seven or eight of us going on this trip and I know we'd all appreciate your prayer as we prepare for this trip and while we're over there ministering. The trip is from Feb 16-27. Keep checking my blog for updates! YEAH EGYPT!!

Best Floor Meeting Ever!!!
I headed off to floor meeting tonight a little begrudgingly. Chris had come over for tea and we had to gulp it down because of floor meeting, however, we get to floor meeting and our RA announces that we'll be getting into our prayer groups, then we'll get assigned to a location where we will meet up with prayer groups from other floors. Ours was outside...I wasn't thrilled about that. So we bundled up and went out to the parking lot where we joined up with people from every other floor in Res and together we prayed through a whole list of prayer requests. It was so incredibly awesome.... and it gets better!
After praying through the list, we all went back inside to the underground parkade where all of Res got into a big circle, sang worship songs and served one another communion. Talk about bonding and unity and communing with one another. It was mind blowing!! I left with a completely different outlook and attitude. And so powerful to say to another person, "His is Christ's body, broken for you!"
One of the songs we sang, I've heard many times and have loved it. I own the CD. I've song along with it countless times but tonight the words really resonated with my heart, and the impact was huge, so I'll share them with you.

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

'Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Brought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

'Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand