andypaxo.net

Hi all – sorry I haven’t written anything for a while. (Think I may have said that before). I’ll try to rectify the situation now…

This weekend the ‘Focus’ group went on a picnic / barbecue / general day out; Focus is a Christian international student group, which I have become a part of over the last few weeks (I feel like I’m cheating a bit). We went to share the day with the community church at Arrowwood, a thriving metropolis two hundred people strong and hour and a half’s drive away from Calgary.

An hour and a half gets you a long way in Canada.

Nevertheless, a great time of fellowship, fun and food was had by all. The weather was stunning, and there was a really friendly atmosphere the whole time.

Next up… ‘wilderness camping’ – no, really.

As a side note… I sent a newsletter to Alan C about a week ago, but I can’t seem to get hold of him. Could anyone (or everyone) give him a nudge on the matter sometime?

happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear Andy, happy birthday to me!

Yes. And as such, a few of us fellows from the office went out to lunch today to a ‘western’ themed place. All was going well until Neil informed the waitress as to my birthday. Which prompted the staff there to perform somewhat peculiar celebration. Canada sure is different. Oh, and they sung me a little song as well - joy.

Hi all, it’s been a while since I last wrote - it’s been a busy time recently.

I now have a place to call my home for the next year or so. On Monday, I moved into a student house near the University of Calgary. There’s five other guys here, all international students - there’s a Columbian, a German, a Chinese dude, and a couple of others (I’m finding it hard to keep track, there are no two people from the same place). And, best of all - we get food made for us. It works out as being at least as cheap as just getting a room somewhere else and providing for myself, so a win on all fronts.

I really think that this is the right place for me to be. The girl who comes in to do the cooking lives with someone from Wycliffe (which is how I found out about the place), and she really wanted a Christian living here (no-one else here is). The implications of this remain to be seen…

Also, now I am settled in one place I will have a chance to find a regular church, which is a really good thing after hopping from place to place these last few weeks.
Heading of on a different direction entirely, I got a chance to go a little way into the Rocky Mountains last Sunday afternoon, so here is a pretty picture of the mountains…

…What you can’t see (or hear) are any of the refineries, which are dotted around the mountain countryside. This really is oil country. (It’s also bear country, which is more exciting, but we didn’t see any of those).

That’s it from me for now. I shall be writing a proper newsletter soon, so all your offline friends can read my natterings as well!