Hello Friends!

Hi again,

It's been a long time since you've heard from me! If you're wondering why I'm e-mailing you again, it's because I wanted to give you a wrap-up summary of what happened this summer in Halifax. But don't worry, it will be quick!

Quick Photo Tour:
I put together a little 60-photo album on Facebook that explains in more detail what project was like, including little descriptions of things we did, the friends I made, and things like that. So please do check that out if you have the time. You can find it here:
-> Halifax Project in 60 shots
(click here if you have Facebook)

Three Things in Summary:
In summary, though, I learned a lot and GREW a whole lot as a person over my summer in Halifax. Thank YOU so much for supporting me in finances and/or in prayer. Let me give you a quick run-down of what I saw happen in Halifax:

1. Growth as a person: Spending 3 months in Halifax felt like I had grown a whole year! I grew a lot in learning what it meant to live out my "faith" in God. Often times I might say I believe in God and that He's first in my life, but this summer I got to actually start off my day spending consistent time with Him (in prayer and learning from His Word), and learning to manage my time and work in a way that pleases Him. Through this, God built into me more of a personal reassurance that it's ok to have doubts and uncertainties in my faith in Him, but as long as I am backing up my beliefs by action, I will see Him grow me in those areas. Finally, coming out of the summer, I feel like a much older person (but that's a good thing).
   
2. They will know we are Christians by our love for one another: Our group of 30 students from across Canada was really something special. Most importantly, we were intentional about loving each other, working out issues, and following God's will in our lives. As a result, He shaped us into a group that was an example to the people living in our building. We were examples because we were always having FUN and always finding it a joy to be around one another. As a result, it's become a personal mission of mine to make sure that we're always connected to God's people around us. We still keep in touch over the modern marvel that is the Internet, through things like MSN, Facebook, Google Talk, and our Halifax Project keep-in-touch blog.
3. New believers in God's family: According to the most accurate data I know of, we saw ELEVEN (11) people enter into a personal, saving relationship with God! I think all but one of these people were international students, and we got to know many of them through Rice Residence, the building we were staying at. Some of them became Christians early on in project, and it was wonderful to see them being followed-up by team members and growing in their faith, and also getting to know us over the summer. And remember that final Coffeehouse event that we put on (where I got to play Jesus in one of our "DRIME" acts)? Well, we saw 3 of those 11 people come to Christ during that final event! You can even see some pictures from that in the photo album.
   

So, that concludes my FINAL e-mail update about Halifax Project. Thank you again for being a part of this summer. It is my prayer that you can also learn from the lessons I learned in Halifax, so that together we can grow as God's people.

What's Paulman doing now?
Right now, I'm back at school at Simon Fraser University, finishing my final (and third) year of my Masters (School of Engineering Science). I'll be graduating hopefully by April, and so I have to make some decisions about what I'll be doing next, so you can keep me in your prayers in that regard. If you're ever interested in what else is happening with me, I ocassionally update my personal blog at http://www.xanga.com/Jacmert

Be blessed, and I pray that God will call you and inspire you to live life for Him, no matter where you are today.

Love,
- Paulman

P.S. I will be giving the message/talk at our Campus for Christ weekly meeting this next Friday, 4PM (Nov 9th) - for the first time ever! Feel free to come listen. It will be on the topic of "Being an Effective and Fruitful Christian". Check sfu.campusforchrist.org for more details, later.

P.P.S. Don't forget to check out the photo album tour.

Back in Vancouver!

Hi everyone,

It's been awhile since my last update. I still have some stuff to update you all on, especially regarding our last Coffeehouse event in Halifax (which went really well!). However, since it might take awhile for me to write about that, I wanted to forward you all this e-mail that I sent this morning to my fellow Halifax Project-mates. (We've been sending e-mails to each other as each of us has arrived home)

Enjoy!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Hello friends!

It's been really encouraging to read all of your e-mails as you've gotten back home :) I miss you all quite a bit, and it's really cool to see how close we'd actually gotten over these last three months. It kinda surprises me, actually.

I just got home Monday afternoon, after spending Aug 1st till then in Toronto! I had a great time in Toronto, visiting my high school friend as well as a bunch of fellow Projectiles in the area (see photos!)

Silas, Sarah, and me / London, Ontario!

I've been reading our memory book, and it's really cool to see how God has grown each of us over the summer. Right before flying back to Vancouver, I got to have lunch with Erin at the airport, and it was so encouraging to hear how God used her time in Halifax, and all of you, to bring so much growth and healing :) Talking with Erin made it a lot easier for me to leave Halifax, let me tell ya...

So, right now I'm typing this up back at my home campus (Simon Fraser University). I'm getting ready to go back into my lab and re-enter normal life in a few minutes (very scary!). However, one thing I've taken away from project is relying on God by putting my time with Him first in the day, consistently. It's been harder to do that since leaving Halifax, but thankfully it's getting better. Anyways, I'd appreciate it if you could remember me when you pray - that God would lead me and empower me throughout each day, in my research work, my C4C planning, and just using my time well.
...
So, with that, I'll leave you with some pictures from this weekend in Ontario!

----
1 Corinthians 15:58 and 16:13-14
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (ESV)

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (ESV)

----
Love you all :)

More from Paulman's life

Hello all! So, I'm here to update you on my life here in Halifax :)

1 - Coffeehouse outreach
2 - Worship Leading at West End Baptist

1. First of all, thanks to everyone who prayed for our last Coffehouse outreach. Here's what went well:

• We got opportunities to talk to the friends and people we knew who came out with us
• We got talking about spiritual things, and the Gospel was explained on an inter-personal basis
• DRIME (our Drama/Mime act) went pretty well, and it was a good first run

Some of the things that were more mixed in results were things like the turnout (probably ~10 non-project people came out, which is decent, but we were hoping for more). Also, discussion was a little difficult, and we can definitely benefit from better planning for next time, but I'm glad it got off the ground at all!

So, project is ALMOST over, but we still have one big official event - our final Coffeehouse event at West End Baptist Church. This time, LOTS of planning went into it, and we will be doing THREE "DRIME" presentations (one of which is called "Deceiver", where I get to have lots of fun playing Satan - a character who enjoys making us a slave to sin and see us suffer [though sometimes sin is pleasurable, which is the scary part]).

So, this is the biggest prayer request I'd like to ask you all right now:

if you could please PRAY for our Coffeehouse event on Tuesday, 7PM local time (3PM PST). It'll run for about 2 hours, and it has some really powerful testimonies from some of the fellow people on project, and other powerful presentations. Please pray:

• That God would bring out many people - (those who He prepares to be there)
  
• That many people would encounter Jesus Christ and believe in Him that night (we've seen 8 people so far come to Christ - you can pray that God would DOUBLE that number, or MORE, in our remaining 9 days)

A couple of friends Ricky and I have made on project

Our friend (on the far right) is actually coming out to the Coffeehouse, which is great!

2. Last update I wanted to leave you with is that today was the last time I got to lead worship (with some other C4C people) at West End Baptist Church. I think it was the third time that I got to lead the Church in song (and some Scripture), and I thank God that it seemed to go very well. Since it was our last time there, I really wanted to encourage the Church and call them to renew their focus on letting God change their hearts, and use them as a Church to strengthen their relationships with one another, their families, and to bring the Gospel to the people in their lives. So I was really glad that, in my estimation, the congregation responded to it. For those who are interested in what we did this morning, here's a snapshot of the worship set list:

Call to Worship:
Hosanna (Brenton Brown, Paul Baloche)

Main set:
- Talking and reading from Mark 4:8, 20, and a quick prayer
Come Thou Fount (Robert Robinson & Thomas Miller) - Willingdon Church style
Consuming Fire (Tim Hughes)
- Reading from Psalm 139:1-2, 7, 13-14, 16, 23-24
I Will Hold On (Nigel Briggs)

Song during the offering:
Wonderful Maker (Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman)

End of service song:
Multiply Your Love (Andy Park) - Thanks to Paul Enns and Westside Church for introducing me to this song

I think I really like leading worship, though it takes a lot out of you. It feels like I'm composing a musical sermon when I prepare for worship, so I really appreciate God giving me this opportunity to speak into people's lives. I just hope that He's using me, and that it's not just going in one ear and out the other for people. I guess that's the fear of every "preacher".

Anyways, lots of other stuff happened today, but I can't update you on everything that goes on in this crazy town! Take care - love you all.

Mark 4:20
But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. (ESV)

The first fortune cookie to ever leave me 'touched"

Happy Canada Day & more

Hi everyone,

It's been over THREE weeks since my last blog update. Well, now I'm here to change that.

There are three parts to this update. I DEFINITELY recommend you do NOT miss the video and pictures in part 3!

1. My sister's visit
A LOT has happened over the last three weeks. My sister (Shermeen) came to visit me last weekend, and it was a wonderful time!

My sister's arrival to Halifax! (Full album)

We actually got to talk through a lot of things, and it was good that she came at the mid-point
of project because I got to talk with her about my experience here, and what I've been learning and what she's been learning. One of my desires for Halifax Project was that I would be able to more securely "feel" my faith and relationship with God - that I would have a closer, more immediate sense of God's irrevocable hand on my life.

While I've been here, I've felt, little by little, more secure in my walk with God. I believe it's because I've been able to live out my faith and exercise my relationship with God more, by trusting Him in evangelism, by spending more consistent time with God in talking with Him and reading His Word, by taking leadership and caring about my brothers and sisters in Christ, here. I believe it's really true, the old adage - faith must come with action (see: James 2:14, 26). I expected that God would secure my faith through teaching me new things about the reliability of the Bible, or the historicity of Jesus Christ and His resurrection, or better Biblical interpretation and things like that. But how I think God has been teaching me instead is by showing me that I know enough to act on right now, and so if I trust Him and back it up by taking action that comes from that trust (faith), He will continue to lead me.

Anyways, I just think it's really important for all of us that our faith is something that causes us to change each day, rather than just being a part of our lives that involves singing, worshiping, and going to Church on Sunday. We just studied Chapter 4 of 1 Corinthians, and verse 20 says, "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power." (ESV) And I believe that the power of God means lives that are more conformed to Christ, each day. (That can be painful, by the way)

2. Paulman, Discipleship Group leader
Anyways, speaking of Bible study (which we call "Discipleship Groups"), my role on project since about Week 4 has been to be the leader of one of the two Men's Discipleship Groups (DGs) here on project. I think of that responsibility in these terms: not that I have to be the most spiritual person in the group (thankfully, or they might be in big trouble), but that it is my role to make sure we are all growing in Christ as much as possible. This means that I get to have Personal Discipleship (PD) times with two of the guys in our DG, Gilberto and Johnson. I've been learning and I hope they've been learning through these times, but you can continue to pray for us guys here on project.

Johnson on Canada Day / Gilberto (middle person)

What I've valued most about the PD times that I've had with Gilberto and Johnson have been the opportunities to talk about "life-truths". Well, what I mean is those things that sometimes takes you half a lifetime to learn (sometimes people never learn them at all), but which are so valuable. Things like how loving a person must not be dependent on whether you feel for them like you used to, but that love means choosing to put someone's best interests ahead of yours (especially when it hurts). That's what it means to care about someone (I don't think it means you always feel warmly towards them).

You might be wondering if this is what people come to mission projects to learn, though. Well, that brings me to another lesson that I feel very strongly about, and it's something that's come up in our DG and also with our whole project, before! It's my firm belief that you are never going to serve or please God in the way that He wants you to, unless your heart is in right relationship with Him, first - unless your character is pleasing to Him. Here's my Scriptural backup:

2 Peter 1:5-8
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV, emphasis added)

If my life could be used by God to see Christians grow in these things, so that our families are safe places no longer filled with fighting, that we are known for the patience and love that we have for one another - so that giving to help the needy and defend the helpless is a natural response for us, and so that we take proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ seriously (leaving the results to God), I think I could die a very happy man. Well, I'm sure I'm leaving a lot of stuff out in my summary (a wife and kids I'm sure is in there, somewhere).

3. Canada Day in Halifax!
I wish you guys could see what a crazy bunch of people we are. Not only that, but this group is filled with quality people, too. It's funny how fun-loving often goes hand in hand with quality. Anyways, here is a video of our crazy exploits on Canada Day, along with a bunch of photos (see the very bottom)!

Prayer requests:

1. For me - that I would be able to manage my time between school/research, project, and personal time - all the while growing deeper in my relationship with God.
2. For the guys in my Discipleship Group (Gilberto, Johnson, and Ben Harrison) - that God would have His way with us.

(Feel free to always pray for the non-Christians we are trying to reach, but more on that next time)

Thanks and blessings to you all!

And now, without further ado, Canada Day photos!

I'm going on retreat!

I'm about to leave for the weekend on our first retreat for Halifax Project - we are going to Kejimkujik National Park, here in Nova Scotia. It's 178km away from our residence here at Saint Mary's University, so it'll probably take 1.5-2.5 hours to get there by car. ROAD TRIP, yay!

I'm eating lunch at my laptop right now, and I've got 2 hours before I have to leave (I haven't started packing yet), so let me write some update stuff before I run out of time.

1. Worship leading:
Ok, so basically during the 2nd week of project, the staff who were worship leading during our weekly meetings told us that they'd like to hand over the role to us, and so I was one of two ppl who indicated that we could worship lead. So, it turns out that Ricky and I are the two worship leaders for project, which is funny, because we're roommates on project, too! Here's a picture of (most) of our worship group.

So, at the start of Week 3, I got to worship lead with a borrowed guitar, along with Sarah (top right) and Tabitha (top middle) also on vocals. It was great! The only catch was that we didn't have our usual room booked, so we had to all squeeze into our residence "lounge" for weekly meeting, so it was really up close and personal.

Me worship leading / Us squeezed into the residence "lounge"

2. Birthdays on project:
I've got lots of pictures from birthdays we've celebrated on project! Johnson just had his birthday yesterday, but I don't have photos from that up yet. But we've celebrated birthdays for Kacey and Tabitha, for Gilberto (my apartment-mate [one of four]) and Olga, and for Ben Tsai. You can click here for the whole slideshow: Flickr slideshow.

Kacey ^^ ^^ Tabitha

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ben Tsai ^^^

^^ Olga and Gilberto on their birthdays ^^

Random people (NOT on their birthday)

CAKE!!! (and our staff project director, Josh Wong)

Wow. Look at Josh devour that ICE CREAM cake while holding it with his BARE HANDS. That takes skills. (733t skillz)

3. Weather Forecast:
That's it for now! I've got to go pack and get ready for leaving on the retreat (less than 1.5 hours left)! The weather forecast for Halifax is great for this weekend - sunny, and not too hot (I hate being too hot). We should have highs of around 18/19 deg C - perfect!

Till the next time, I've got to get ready for my trip.

Blessings!

P.S. From our project Bible study:

1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
(ESV)

A lot can happen in only 3 weeks

Hi every-body!

First off, I'd like to really apologize for not writing anything for the last 3 weeks. I've been really busy here in Halifax, although I've had some free time over the last several days (which I sadly squandered away). Nevertheless, I'm finally blogging again! I hope to have some short blog updates perhaps every day, just so I can get you all caught up on what's been happening here in Halifax.

Before I begin telling you all my stories more in-depth, though, let me give you a sneak preview of what you can expect over the next several blog posts:

A. Halifax Project-related:

• I'm a worship leader! Whoo hoo!
• I'm now leading one of the men's Bible Study/Discipleship groups
  
• Birthdays, friends, socials, and much more!
  

B. Evangelism & Outreach:

• Updates on evangelism in Halifax (we have anywhere from ~3-8 project "babies"; that is, people who've believed in Christ during project!)
• DRIME - Disciples Ready In Mobile Evangelism
• Sharing the Gospel with a roomful of non-Christians at a "Canada dinner"
  

C. Random Paulman Happenings:

• Paulman does hard manual labour for a day (bricklaying)
• Cooking Hainanese Chicken Rice for the first time (for 7 other ppl!)
• I got a (part-time/reduced hours) job!

Anyways, the labels are there just to help categorize all the strange happenings so far. Each new blog post will probably have a bit from each category. For now, I will leave you with some photos from the past few weeks.

Till the next blog post!

(Click here for the most recent collection of Halifax Project photos)

Where we left off...

Wow, it's already been a week and a half since coming to Halifax. It feels as though time is flying by too quickly, but at the same time, for us on project, it feels as though we've known each other for a couple months already!

1. Still Job Hunting...
[Prayer request #1] Most of us are still looking for jobs, and it's starting to get a little tiring, distracting, and discouraging, so you can pray for courage and success for us in job hunting. Here's a little snapshot from the first day we went out job hunting (and had access to free Internet in the library). For myself, I am going to be taking a break from job hunting today. Hopefully I will get some calls back this week, but I am going to work on my thesis/research work for SFU today instead of "pounding the pavement" and handing out any résumés.

(Answer to prayer #1) As of today, we are supposed to be able to get our Internet logins for the Saint Mary's University Internet! Yay! That means we should all be able to go online from our rooms, now. Thanks be to God!

First day of job hunting (and Internet)

2. My friends on project
I'm going to start "featuring" one or more people in my blog posts from now on, just so you can get to know the wonderful young students I'm on project with, here in Halifax. Let's start with Ricky, my roommate. Ricky shares my room with me, and I knew him previously because he's from UBC. He's going to be one of the Male Key Student Leaders (one of two) at UBC next year, which is really cool. It's great having Ricky as a roommate, because we're really comfortable with each other and it's as though we've hung out or lived together for awhile, already. Ricky and I have the same problem of sleeping through alarm clocks, though, which is hilarious.

Ricky, my roommate

3. I'm still really busy!
[Prayer request #2] You can also pray for me, that God will empower me to be disciplined and find the time to read my Bible and pray each morning, get the jump on my job hunting or SFU research work, and do all the project things that I want to (like hang out with fellow projectiles, or read my books). I've noticed (a supernatural?) improvement in my daily routine ever since I got to Halifax, but now it's starting to get tougher to wake up on time, again.

That's it for now! May the Lord Jesus Christ lead your day and your desires. Amen.

P.S. Here are some photos!
Click for the Flickr SLIDESHOWS: Orientation - Part 2, Week 1 - Part 1
Click for the Facebook albums: Orientation - Part 2, Week 1 - Part 1