circumlocution...

Dulce Refugio, Aguascalientes City, Mexico

2007-01-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

Dec 26, 2006 - Jan 5, 2007

Wow...God's totally moving all over the world. I was so blessed to be a tiny part of the giant vision that God's placed in the hearts of the workers at Dulce Refugio Orphanage in Mexico..

Just seeing God's love in action first hand was so amazing. Kids from broken families or without parents being accepted into a home where they can experience God's love for them through people who model what its like to be a part of God's family.

We had the chance to take part in the construction of a new orphanage. So for 2 weeks, (with a few breaks) we laid the foundation for the new girls dormitory. Mixed and poured lots of concrete, assembled rebar supports, and moved alot of dirt. The construction was hard work but totally worth it, knowing that the kids would be one step closer to being able to move into better facilities. Back at the old orphanage, about 25 boys would share a single washroom.

I went into this trip really just focused on the construction aspect of it, but man did God change my heart. As I got to know the orphans personally, it put a face and a name to the cause. It wasn't just some building we were putting up anymore, but it was these kids and worker's home, their refuge, and the place where they encounter God.

I've been to my share of places around the world, and everytime I go somewhere new, my perspective of the world gets a little bigger and I see just how much need there is for God's love to be demonstrated, acted out, and shown.

thoughts of summer.

2006-11-27T12:03:00.000-07:00

the frosty air, makes my thoughts drift away to a warmer place... with you =)

Lifted up.

2006-11-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

"Jesus, I want to lift you up in MY LIFE. To be the top of all my priorities, above all things, not only because You are worthy of it and thats what You deserve, but because of what you've done in my life through the cross."

Updated.

2006-10-03T13:25:00.000-06:00

Done.

Bushe...God is here!

2006-08-19T01:08:00.000-06:00

Wow, spending a week in High Level, Alberta and Bushe River Native Reserve has been amazing. Our team has been so awesome, and the native kids we've been doing VBS with are so beautiful!

God's totally blown our expectations for this whole trip out of the water. Its been INSANE. Our original plan was to hold seminars for native youth workers, but that didn't work out because of timing. Instead God totally opened up the way to hold a VBS with the kids from Bushe. They are so receptive and open to hearing about Jesus, and some of them even accepted Jesus which is something I've never got to experience in my own past experiences up here! (YEAH GO GOD!)

But God's been amazing in showing that He always has a purpose and where He calls, He will provide!

There's only one more day and then we leave, I miss the kids already! I'll post up some pics later on.

well at least theres a view...

2006-08-01T16:43:00.000-06:00

So I started working.

'nuff said.

Peace Out.

Still Too Far

2006-07-20T12:20:00.000-06:00

The view from here makes everything seem so clear
Looking out across endless shades of green meeting the horizon far and unseen
The distance is still too far, I can't see to where you are

Actively Waiting

2006-07-18T00:29:00.000-06:00

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.

My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

- Psalm 130:5-6

What does it mean to "wait" for God?

Could we liken it to the passive killing of time as we wait for a bus to arrive?
Or maybe it's the mind numbingly long 13 minutes required to cook my KD?

The watchmen didn't just passively kill time till dawn broke on the horizon, and I'm pretty sure their minds weren't numb from staying awake through the cold nights. They were alert and sharp, ready to handle anything that might disturb the peace of night. They longed for the morning, they were desparate to see those first rays of light. Dawn meant rest and relief, it meant they had made it through the night.

Cry out. Long for. Be desparate.

and Wait.

Be alert. Be ready.

Morning comes.

The Past is Too Small for You

2006-06-17T14:11:00.000-06:00

Well i'm back in Canadia.

And its great!

Although I do miss Australia and Egypt.

Its definately been the coolest Adventure in my life.

But I can't wait to see what God's got in store for the next step.

I'll keep updating as I go, don't feel obligated to read :)

Thanks to everyone for their support!

moving on...

2006-03-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

Time: 0700
Location: Sydney International Airport, Gate 33
Status: Really tired and sore

hello loyal fans of the nathan wong club! Me and Sarah spent the last 10 days or so on the east coast of Australia. Its been really cool, and 10 days has gone by blisteringly fast! Here's a quick run down :)

First we flew from Perth to Sydney, where we met up with my mom's friend's sister who lives in Sydney, who kindly took us in. Talk about connections eh? Anyways, We spent a day in Sydney doing the usual tourist stuff, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Botanical Gardens, Darling Harbor, and Bondi Beach...basically we walked all over the place. We took the train 2hrs the next morning and spent the next two days out in Blue mountains, which aren't really blue, but still very nice. Walked DOWN the grand staircase (900 steps from the top of the mountain), then walked back UP because the train that takes you back up was closed. Its great how the sign that says its closed is at the BOTTOM of the stairs. Magnificent. It was really relaxing just to hang out in the hostel lounge and read and reflect, Me and sarah really needed it after the hustle and bustle of flying from cairo to perth to sydney. Anyways, I'll post up some pics later in HK.

We rode the train back, hung out a bit with our wonderful hosts, then met Aimee Wong for dinner! Early next morning we flew 2hrs to Melbourne on Virgin Blue Airlines, which DOES NOT even give you water. Boo.

Melbourne was great! Such a nice city, We stayed with my cousin Sharon whom I haven't seen since...i was like 5. Yay for family! Anyways, went to the zoo, and the aquarium, head over to sarah's blogs and check out our pics! We caught the end of the Commonwealth Games so the whole city was like a party. Really Cool! ...and then we took a 12hr train back to Sydney... not so cool. Landscape is pretty much like the drive from edmonton to calgary...but drier. I guess for some stupid reason, you expect to see kangaroo's bouncing all over the place, koala bears hanging from trees, and crocidiles swimming in ponds. I was severly disapointed.

Anyways, we came back to sydney found our hostel, and passed out. Woke up the next morning and caught our ride out to surf camp! We stayed there and did 2 days of surfing on 7 mile beach! There was a huge cyclone off the coast the day before we arrived, so the waves were pretty awesome, 8-9 feet or so (not that we were riding them, more like getting bowled over). The instructors were great and got us standing on the boards like in the first 20 minutes. The second day the waves tapered off to about 2-3 feet, and we learned to turn and got out back behind the waves and caught unbroken waves. So fun, but pretty freaking exhausting when you're out of shape.

Anyways now we're off to Hong Kong, should be cool, I've never been there before. I'm a lil' nervous bout using my very unpracticed cantonese, but living in cairo for two months has honed my foreign language barganing skills ;)

Take care everyone, wherever you are! Cairo, Austrailia, and Canada!

Nate

Back to reality!

2006-03-11T03:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back sAFe and sounD iN PErth. THis keyboard Is kinDa messEd up and it keeps cAPItalizing random letters. ANywaYs just a little hello :)

CaIro was amaZIng and i'M sTill in the process of figuriNg it all Out in my Head :) CAN't wait to go baCk aGain some time hopefuLly!

Good Morning Cairo!

2006-01-30T15:52:00.000-07:00

Well well well,

its been about 4 weeks :P Here's some pics for you guys to enjoy!

From the balcony of our place.

"Pyramids? Oh yeah they're not that big...."

"...never mind..."

The citadel.

My camel friend... Mr. Burpy-Camel

Anyways, how is everyone been doing? "Maya Maya?" (good/fantabouliscious?) I've been doing great. A little tired, and a bit sick. (My good friend Dire reehah, decided to visit me again) But its all good, just keep on truckin. Loving my time here, this place is awesome!

Take care, miss you all!
Nate

Team Time!

2005-12-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

Well, we got put into our outreach teams 3 weeks ago and I thought I'd put pictures of my team members, along with a little bit of info about them =) If u guys can remember us in your prayers as we goto Cairo, that will be awesome!

Melissa, our awesome team leader!

Alison, from Regina! Yay Canada!

Cody, from Kentucky, "Y'all"

Maria, all the way from Denmark!

Paige, from Calgary AND Medicine Hat. Go Alberta!

Tiffany, from Washington!

and...Me!

So yep, thats us!

Cya!

Currently Reading...

2005-11-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

I have been reading alot lately and these two books have been quite inspirational and challenging to me.

The first one is "Extreme Godchasers" by Tommy Tenney. Its a challenging book about revival everywhere and in every aspect of life. Its about going from a casual inquirer to becoming a desparate seeker.
"We are all spiritual lepers, but God's acceptance means you can ignore all the other voices that say "I reject you". Not to be rude but who cares how many other lepers reject you when you have been healed and accepted by the king?"
This book is all about a lifestyle of choosing to seek God everyday.

The second book is called "Wild At Heart" by John Eldredge. This one is great, its about being a man. At first I thought "this sounds kinda dumb, I don't need anyone to tell me how to be a man, I already have it down, no problem!" Haha, but reading this book has opened my eyes to what society says a man should be, compared to what God has called us men to be.

So if you are looking for some reading material go check it out :)

Stay cool, and be careful when you use power tools.

"If you want to make a difference...

2005-11-04T08:05:00.000-07:00

...Then be different."

I don't want to live according to the world's standard anymore. I don't need to "keep up with the Joneses". My identity is not defined by my profession, nor is my self worth dependent on the amount written on my paycheck. Popularity and social status are irrelevant and unnecessary because my identity is no longer based on those things.

Today I choose to live according to a different standard, Jesus's standard. In Him I have all the acceptance I will ever need. From Him comes provision for my every need. Compared to Him, nothing else satisfies and brings true Joy!

Fear of The Lord: ------1
Fear of Man: -----------0

God Bless,
Nate

p.s. Click the picture to see the rest of the great people in my DTS!

Blue.

2005-10-29T22:11:00.000-06:00

A blue washroom. I just thought I'd post this one up cuz I've never seen this before. This was taken at a library in downtown Perth. What I was told was that there's alot of drug users in this neighborhood. They light the washrooms with neon blue lights so that drug users can't find their veins, and so discourages them from getting their fix in the washrooms.

Learn something new everyday.

I'll post a longer blog later. This will have to do for now :)

God Bless

Higher...

2005-10-16T05:00:00.000-06:00

Sometimes we are suspicious that God will as us to do something we don't want to do, or sacrifice something we hold dear, but we have to realize that God's intentions for us are totally good. He waants to give us life and life abundantly!

Just something that hit me this week in lectures. =)

Finally! Some pictures!

2005-10-10T02:34:00.000-06:00

Hi Hi again from the beautiful land down under.

Its been raining and cold for the last week, but finally its warming up and the sun is shining. I can't wait till summer actually hits, they say that the sun is so intense, that you can get sunburned within 15 minutes of being outside. CRAZY!

Anyways, i'll put in a lil pictographical timeline of what has happened up to this point. Its pretty hard to upload pics to the net, so picture selection is quite limited.

Here we go!

Sept 27-29 Flying to australia. 30 hours of travelling and about 23 hours actually in the air.

Here's 2 pics of the city of Perth. And yes, that is the downtown. Pretty small hey? The city itself is hugely spread out, but the downtown is pretty small, for a city of 1.4 million ppl.

Sarah and I have met heaps of new ppl, its funny how we can meet and develop really deep relationships with new ppl, but sometimes we don't even know things like their last name! But its great and the friends we are making are awesome!

This is a picture done by one of the staff (his name is nathan too!) Its kinda like the theme for the dts. If you can't see it in the picture it says "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts"

These are just some pics I took while we were walking around in the evening.

Thanks for reading, miss you guys all! Comment if you're bored!

Nate

PERTH!!!

2005-10-02T07:31:00.000-06:00

OK...so i dunno what happened to my last post...it seems to have dissapeared. So for those of you who missed out:

1. we've arrived in perth safely.
2. sarah's luggage arrived one day late.
3. perth is a beautiful city...only if its sunny.
4. DTS starts today!

So far, our DTS is around 65 people. I came to australia thinking I'd meet heaps of aussies, and pick up the accent :). Turns out there's only 2 australians doing DTS. There are heaps of ppl from the US & Europe though.

Suprisingly there are 2 girls from edmonton, one goes to The Canopy (esther if u read this, her name starts with an L) The other is from spruce grove, but she doesn't know the Hua's.

I've been meeting so many new people here, ontop of trying to remember the 65 names of the ppl in DTS, the base is around 200ish people, and its like a family. Its really neat just talking to people and hearing their backgrounds.

I'm really excited to see what God has in store for the next six months, and scared at the same time of what he can do. Its weird.

Anyways. I'm off to bed.

until next time,
nate

"i simply remember my favorite things..."

2005-09-14T13:50:00.000-06:00

"...and then i don't feeeeeeel soo sad

wow. in less than 2 weeks I'll be on the plane to australia. Everyday I wake up and I think to myself, "Oh my crap, I'm going away for 6 months!". And then I realize, that there's going to be alot of things I'm going to miss.

My Bed.

My Computer, and everything that comes with it...i.e Naruto.

My guitar. (So long daisy, i'll miss you!)
Organical Home Cooked Meals.

Hmm...now that I think about it, its not too bad. Not seeing family and friends will be different, but thanks to the goodness of internet, that should be fine. Maybe i'll bring a webcam along...haha!

12d.9h.38m.29s and counting!

if you thought google maps was cool...

2005-09-12T02:11:00.000-06:00

...check out http://earth.google.com/ Its the best thing alive!

When I fly on a plane, the best thing about it is when you're at the altitude where you can still see the ground, and buildings and houses are tiny. Its such a sureal feeling, gets me everytime.

ok. sleep time.

"time's a ticking"

2005-09-10T00:57:00.000-06:00

16 days, 22 hours, 2 minutes, 10 seconds...

...is the time left till I fly to Perth, Australia for YWAM Discipleship Training School. We depart on the 27th of september, settle in a bit, and school starts on the 2nd of October. I'm still trying to absorb the fact that in a little over 2 weeks, I will have flown off the continent for the first time, be on the other side of the world, and watching the toilets flush to see if the water really does swirl clockwise (as opposed to counter-clockwise here in North America)

Anyways I'll be using this blog hopefully to update everyone on the daily happenings in Australia and in the field (if possible). If you'd like the more indepth prayer emails, just leave me a comment with your email, or even better send an email to camper.nate@gmail.com.

So stay tuned, i'll probably post random pictures of stuff i see. You know...like, koala bears, kangaroo's, and the crocodile hunter.

smart kids

2005-09-07T01:39:00.000-06:00

Wow...so smart and cute. What a deadly combo! I can't wait to see how these little guys turn out in a couple years. They're my cousin's kids, I guess that makes me their uncle? haha, feels so old!

Bernard, Jordan, Nathan, Leonard

front row seats!

2005-09-07T01:05:00.000-06:00

Don't you hate how when you attend a wedding, the only good seats are the ones right by the aisle? So what can you do? Be a part of the bridal party. =)

This weekend was the first time I've ever participated in a wedding, aside from providing music or entertainment. Being the best man, it was my job to hold onto the wedding rings. Who would have thought two little rings could be so much stress. Or that the tuxedo we rented would have holes in both pockets. Or that the box holding the rings could open inside my pocket. It was quite a scary feeling when i opened the box only to find one ring inside 20 minutes before the ceremony. Luckily, the other ring hadn't fallen through the hole in my pocket yet.

Anyways, hope you're having a good time on your honeymoon jack ;) Make sure to use your hard earned $60.

moving along now...

2005-08-25T12:54:00.000-06:00

in motion...

The last 3 days have been a blur of activity. I am still coming to terms with the reality that in approximately 1 month, I'll be on the far side of the globe. YWAM in Perth Australia. Kind of intimidating for a guy who's never been off the continent. Currently my mood is that of nervous excitement. I can't even begin to comprehend the ways in which God will move, which is amazing but scary at the same time for me.

Being the type of person who likes to have everything under control, I am faced with a situation in which I have no control over. Its like sitting in a car. Beside the driver. You can point and scream at yellow lights, or stomp your foot on the non-existent brake pedal when someone cuts infront of you, but the fact of the matter is you're pretty much helpless. God's been teaching me (slowly) to just trust him.

Kick back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

everybody and their dog!

2005-08-25T03:37:00.000-06:00

Blogging.

I guess i'm a couple years late on the fad. But hey, what better way to broadcast my life to the masses?

Look out world, here i come!