Beginning ever so slowly....

I have now arrived in Oshawa - got here last night.  Commissioners are staying in the Residence at Durham College - Institute of Technology.  Here is my home away from home for the next week:

 Having a fridge & a microwave will be lovely - and the beds are not tiny little single beds, which is also a treat.  But yes - it does indeed feel like a student residence!

 However, the view right outside my window is that beauty of a tree in the picture below - green space is a good thing!  The buildings to the left of the tree just give you a tiny glimpse of the maze of buildings we have to work our way through to find the meeting space and the cafeteria.  I know that it will one day feel clear to me where we are going, but at this point I mostly just feel amazed that I arrived where I was hoping to go!  There are a lot of buildings to walk through and most of it makes no sense to me yet...

This afternoon we have been taking in a small part of the Festival of Faith.  Unfortunately, there is very little of the Festival we will actually get to see - our business starts at 4:00 today.  But in the tiny bit of wandering I was able to do, I saw bouncy castles, and painting projects - a fun atmosphere:

 When you look at this, imagine music and wind and lots and lots of people chatting!  Fun....

One of the definite gifts for me in being at this gathering, is reconnecting with friends and colleagues I have not seen in a very long time.  This morning I saw several of the women from my class of 2000.  We began as classmates in Toronto in 1995, and then our school, the Centre for Christian Studies, moved to Winnipeg in 1997.  Very, very good for my soul to see these fine women again!

Kelly
   Christina

  

Christina, YoonOk, Brenda, Tammy & myself

So, now we wait - our business sessions begin this afternoon at 4:00.  I am very glad to be here.  One of the logos for the week is: Surely God is in this place - help me notice!  I will do my best to enter this next phase with an open heart and an open mind - may it continue to be a gift to be here!