So I know by now, that most of you have ceased to read my blog, or lost all hope of me coming back. I am so sorry it has been a week and a half since my last entry, but things have been so crazy here. (and to be completely honest, I lost my motivation to continue writing in my blog, believe it or not, I hate writing) So lets see, where do I begin?
Monday morning (April 30) I went to Parliament Hill to say goodbye to Lynn and the rest of the office, and to thank them for allowing me to work with them. I was so shocked because when I got there, they had a gift waiting for me, as well as lunch, and a tour. So I went to the House of Commons and met up with Lynn and she took me through all the rooms and halls I am not allowed to go in. I met different MP's, but I forget all their names. She also gave me a special pass and I was able to sit in the speakers section where all the important people sit, I felt so special! After Question Period was over Lynn came and got me and took me back into the lounge, and everyone was there. I was able to meet Jim Flaherty (Finance Minister) Stockwell Day (Minister of Public Safety) not the Prime Minister, BUT... Mr. Harper was in the room and he walked right by me, if I wouldn't have moved, HE WOULD HAVE HIT ME!!! haha So that was exciting. (People told me I should have let him hit me or at least said 'hi', I will just pray for another opportunity) Needless to say I was really blessed and had an amazing experience. Tuesday was a normal day, with classes, but towards the evening we started receiving students that were going to be attending the National Prayer Breakfast. Now how this works is, 60 students from across Canada get nominated and accepted to come to Ottawa to be apart of a student forum. (we were apart of that group) So Wednesday morning we all registered for the day and grabbed seats for our first session. They brought in Serge LeClerc, from Saskatoon, to give his testimony.(he is involved with Teen Challenge) He has one of the most amazing testimonies I have ever heard. He was a major gang leader, drug addict for 20 years, and in prison, then radically changed his life around; he has a book out I recommend you all read. After he spoke we had a chance for a panel discussion, which is basically where they bring in guests to share on Christianity in the work place, and allow us to blast them with questions. We also attended Question Period, where immediately afterward we had another discussion with 4 Christian MP's- Kevin Sorenson, James Lunney, John MacKay, and Joe Comartin. This was an amazing experience and because they were all from different parties, they were asked to give their favorite psalms to avoid controversy. After they spoke they sat down with us and discussed how each Psalm ministered to us personally. It was and incredible opportunity. That evening we had dinner on Parliament Hill where we listened to Canadian artists, as well as Terry Leblanc (director of My People Canada) share his testimony. He was First Nations and I found it very interesting that once again, God opened the door for the First People to lead the way and bless the rest of us. They also sang two songs which seemed to shatter and break things, with each drum beat and cry...it was so beautiful. So that was our very busy Wednesday. Thursday morning was the prayer breakfast and there must have been 600 people! Serge shared again, his theme being- Reconciliation through the Personhood of Christ. It again proved to be an incredible testimony and message and I know many people walked away really encouraged in their walk with Christ, or the pursuit of a walk with Him. We had another session where more MP's were able to share on their relationship with Christ, but the man that really impressed me was Steven Fletcher. He is an MP from B.C. and he is a quadriplegic. He hit a moose and became completely paralysed and as he was telling his story you could have heard a pin drop. The reason I really liked him, was because he said that he wasn't as strong a Christian as some of the other members, but he knew God. He was also very transparent and simply stated that, "my accident was considered an act of God according to Parliamentary legislation and the question I keep asking is, why do bad things happen to good people? And I still haven't found a good answer." (paraphrased) Then he proceeded to read a very sad passage from the book of Job and then leave the stage. His story was heart wrenching, but everyone in the room was so impressed with his perseverance, that he left with a standing ovation. So after the session we had lunch and I decided that I was going to meet Serge. I had been looking for a good opportunity but he was always busy and had a flock of people around him, so I decided I would hope for another opportunity because the task was virtually impossible. So, as I was waiting in line for lunch I ended standing beside a man who was a good friend of Serge. We introduced ourselves and began talking about...well everything. During the conversation I mentioned how much I had wanted to meet Serge and he laughed and told me that it would be no problem and he would introduce me. So we left the line he brought me to Serge and I was able to have a good 15 minute conversation. I am just so amazed at how God positions me. I never meet the top man, but always meet there friends and am able to have incredible opportunities from that point on!! So I once again was so blessed. So that concluded the hectic two days but we came back to NHOP to prepare for a dinner with a couple of MP's wives and Christian leaders. (it went very well) Now Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were all normal boring days, but Monday we went to Montreal to tour old Montreal. We walked around all day, and though I looked, I didn't actually buy anything!!! Can you believe it! It was a very nice break however, and a wonderful day to get out of the house, so we had a blast. Wow! I think I have now caught everyone up to date, because today is Tuesday....and we didn't do too much, we did go to Question Period, and out for dinner in the Byward Market. (kind of like a flee market, except higher class) Whew...that was a tonne of typing, serves me right for getting lazy...haha. Well I will try to do my next entry a little later this week. Once again I am so sorry to all of you who thought I was dead, I am alive and kicking. I hope you have an awesome night.
Erica
