Here are some writings from a few students about the everyday life of the program...enjoy... or don't... do whatever you want...
| eric.n |
On Outtatown, each site has its own community. In this community, great friendships are formed and everyone is like family. The friendships made between students can be life long and are full of support. For example, a buddy and I, who came along from High school, are going to work at a camp this summer, then possibly go to Hawaii together. On the guy and girl weeks, as well as ski days, we meet the people from the other sites, forming more friendships. A great thing about friends on Outtatown is that you have connections all over. There are people from ALL over Canada, including Quebec, and the United States. The friendships made with your leaders are encouraging because they are like a friend, as well as your mentor. They have life experiences to share, advice for the future, and can keep you entertained. My leader, Ben, has hooked Phil and myself up with a job at Muskoka Woods for the summer if we want. So, even though I’m not at home, the family and friends on Outtatown are my second home. --Eric Neuman
Smell of waffle cones and sound of laughter Soothing the race of every breath Watching their triangular shape Bend and wave in our man-made gust Back pressed up against metal and Legs stretched out on stone Observing the curious sun dancing Upon glass to divide and pattern Knowing that I can trust a similarity Of the best of both of us And I’d not change it for the world Because to me sometimes that’s what you are --Janessa Nayler
The experience of Brad Jersak’s teaching was perhaps one the most spiritually rich and life-filled teaching I have ever experienced I learned so much concerning listening to God’s voice and discerning whether or not it is Him. Throughout the week, Brad had the role of “gatekeeper” for God to enter into our presence and speak. He led us through a variety of listening exercises and taught from scripture about how the Holy Spirit works to speak to us. He taught that God speaks by putting people on our hearts for prayer, convicting us of sin, through other people telling what God has put on our hearts, through visions and also hearing God’s voice directly. A prophet isn’t necessarily only some who hears the voice of God, putting something on their heart and mind to encourage and edify the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 14:1-4) One point that Brad emphasized was prayer is a conversation with our Maker and that we need to test to see if God is speaking to us by lining up what we hear, first of all, with scripture, it needs to coincide. We also need to ask God: “Is it you speaking? When we hear something from God, it is usually the automatic response to think: “Ok, it was just my thoughts,” When we say this, it provides an open door for the devil to snatch away the see God is trying to plant in us, which is why it is so important to test what is in your heart and know that it truly was God speaking. God truly does speak all the time, we often do not listen or are not on the same “frequency” as God, or there is an area of sin that is hindering the flow of the Holy Spirit. Before Brad taught, I always knew that God wanted to speak to me and I did hear Him more than I realized, but I never knew how to recognize God’s voice. I learned that God gives us thoughts sometimes that we wouldn’t usually think, such as “go to such and such a place and do a crossword puzzle,” our first thought is usually “what a weird idea” but what God requires is obedience and obedience reaps blessing. God could have an appointment for you at this place to help a person or lead them to Christ, who knows? I had a breakthrough experience when I sat down and listened to God. When I sat down and listened to God. I asked God, “is there anything hindering the flow of your Spirit in my life?” He gave me a vision of sitting on a river bank and the river was frozen. The frozen water represented sin and God revealed three areas which I needed to give over to Him. When I confessed the sin, the vision continued and a man, who was Jesus, stood on the opposite bank and He brought me out of a flame thrower and melted the ice allowing the river (God’s Spirit) to flow freely again, it was the coolest thing ever. The next day, I sat down to listen to God again and He gave me another vision of myself standing on a rock with an inscription which I could not read and three tornados swarmed around me in a counter clockwise motion. As long as I stood on the rock, the tornadoes couldn’t touch me. I realized that the tornadoes represented three areas of sin I confessed to God the day before and that these sins would always have the potential to grab onto me if I stepped off the rock. The rock represented the foundation I have in Christ and I saw that the inscription on the rock said “Confidence.” God has done some great things in this group and has broken through many spiritual barriers. Brad’s teaching was biblically solid, encouraging, life-giving and so much fun, and it gives me a whole new understanding on prayer. --Cale Robinson
I really enjoyed climbing the mountain in the snow. It was snowing off and on as we were hiking up and every once in a while Laura, Erynn and I would stop and look at the beautiful mountains that were all around us. It was a good time bonding for the three of us as we talked while we trekked through the snow. The challenge of hiking up was definitely worth the reward on the top. Most of us went inside the building and walked around on the balcony. It was great that we didn’t have to walk back down the mountain, but just hopped in the Gondola. After the hike we walked over to the Banff Hot Springs to soak our bodies for a while. It was incredible to sit in this oversized Hot Tub with the snowy Rocky Mountains behind us. The guys coming out in their rented swim suits was also entertaining, yet somewhat disturbing at the same time!! It definitely gave our group attention from the other people there. We go some interesting looks. I really enjoyed this day of just hanging out with everyone and doing fun activities. I then went out for supper in Banff with a few others and had a great time looking in all the shops. This has been one of the highlights of my year so far. --Ashley Dykstra
Alors, dans cette belle année, mise à part nos folles aventures, nous avons éġalement des classes. Juste pour mettre les choses au clair, nous apprécions tous ces classes. À chaque semaine, un nouvel orateur vient nous rendre visite pour nous partager le sujet de son coeur. Jusquà maintenant, tous nos orateurs ont été excellents. Parfois, le sujet peut plus pencher sur les histories bibliques et d’autres fois, il est plus question de comment vivre notre vie spirituel. Une des choses qui est magnifique à voir dans notre groupe, c’est comment Dieu travaille dans chacune de nos vies. Par example, la semaine passée, Brad Jersak, notre orateur, nous a partagé comment il faut prendre le temps d’écouter Dieu et qu’en effet, Dieu nous parle constamment. Suite à ses conferences, nous avons pu constater d’énormes changements dans nos relations entre frère et soeur, ainsi qu’avec notre Sauveur. Cette semaine a étè vraiment une source d’encouragement pour nous. Nos coeurs étaient remlis de joie lorsque deus de nos confrères ont choisi de donner leurs vies à Dieu. Le Seigneur travaille avec force et puissance dans nos vies. Il nous surprend par tous les trajets qu’ll utilise pour se révéler à nos coeurs. Ce sont des moments inoubliables qui sauront forger notre futur. --Anne de Courville
He lays my heart upon the table; I watch it in his gentle hands. He takes my heart, yet I am able to live and love, for here he stands. It lays there – oh so lonely – on surface cold and bare. We stand together; only this man and I are here. My heart is broken. The blood pours out into words spoken – “Ugly!” they shout. “Ugly sin,” blood cries, “Ugly sin!” He cries. We watch it pour out. --Jenni Berkel
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