First day of orientation...

Well, after writing about 45 emails...responding to some 45 awesome people who wrote me Happy Birthday emails...my fingers are a little tired. But I'm going to post just a few thoughts anyway...

Today was a fantabulous day! It was my first day of orientation at Regent College, in Vancouver, BC - a Christian evangelical graduate school. We first had worship at 9am, followed by a lecture by the President on the history, identity, and committments of Regent. Then we had a number of faculty give 10 minute presentations on their background, field of study, and interests. It was awesome to hear them share from their lives and get a sense of their genuineness, humility, and graciousness. It really got me excited to be studying under them. During lunch I sat with two guys from Seoul, Korea and one lady from Beijing, China, who worships in a house church. I also got to meet another guy from Hong Kong who had recently moved his whole family to Vancouver to work as a banker and is now pursuing theological graduate studies. In the afternoon we got a lot of info on academic policies, etc., and then finished the day with a student panal Q&A. It was great! The guy who led it was this really funny, dry-sense-of-humor New Zealander who told great stories of his experiences. Also on the panel were a Brazilian lady, a guy from Africa, a Canadian, and a USA-ian.

After the discussion I met a girl from Argentina (Chinese descent). It was crazy! She looked totally Asian but sounded just as Argentine as any of my friends from back home (in Arg.) I also met people from all over Canada. I also (later that night) met a lady from Belfast who lives in my residence house the Menno Simons Centre and a girl from China who also lives in Menno...she speaks English with a heavy accent since she's only been here for 8 months.

To be honest, I am already falling in love with Regent. I am realizing that I think it will be a really good fit - down to the buildling, location, culture, bookstore, international flavor, theological bent, committments, faculty, and even the coffee!! I am really thankful that I can be here.

Today I got to walk in UBC (University of British Columbia) a bit. I had to go to the big campus bookstore to buy my student ID and bus pass. Since Regent is an affiliate college of UBC we are actually a part of the Alumni association and get almost all the rights and privelages of the UBC student body. So I walked into the bookstore and felt like I was entering..I don't know what, the Midland Free rummage sale when it had just been opened. There were easily a few hundred students in the book store (the story was fairly large). It was incredible to see the diversity of the students - I saw Chinese, Koreans, Indians (of India), a few people of the Shiek religion, and of course some very secular Canadians. I had to stand in a long line to wait for my id and bus pass and of course right next to the line was a big book display clearly promoting alternative lifestlyes, homosexual marriage, and 'coming out.' I wonder if the display just happened to be placed by accident next to where every UBC student will have to walk to get their student ID....

After getting my bus pass I rode the bus home (it was a good feeling), made a spagetting dinner, and then ate some birthday cake made by my residence directors. They threw a little party for another roommate and myself who just had birthdays. It was fun.

In Summary: T'was a good day! Couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable birthday (although there are lots of people I wish I could have had around me that are far away). I thank God for such good times & the privelage of studying here for the time being! Pray for my discipline - academic and spiritual - to take advantage of being in such a place and haveing this privelage.



PS: the pics are of Regent's chapel hall during break. Sorry it isn't very high quality, it was taken with my iCam.

PPS: At least three of the profs told of new 'conversion' experiences within the last year, when they bought their very first Mac. Now they are fully committed (tends to happen when you convert later in life...) ;-)