I typed this up a long time ago, but this is the first time that I have had an internet connection in order to send it. So, here you go. Enjoy:

Monday Aug 14, 12:38pm
I'm in the Edmonton airport right now waiting for my flight and I just made it through customs. Somehow I mis-read my flight information and I thought that my flight was at 12:45pm, when in fact it was at 11:20am, so needless to say, I missed my flight. They were able to throw me on the next flight, which is at 1:30 or something, so I'm just waiting for that.

I saw all these big signs everywhere saying "Wi-Fi High Speed Wireless Internet", so I decided to whip out my laptop while I wait for my flight and when I try to go to any URL I get redirected through some proxy server telling me to pay NINE CANADIAN DOLLARS to access the internet. Crap on that! So I'll just have to post this when I can find a connection later. They should have free interwebs at the airport. It's not as if the $1100 for my plane ticket can't pay the $0.20 it costs them to give me an internet connection for 20 minutes or so.

Anyway, I spent the last week with my brother. He seems to be doing okay in life. He has problems with his ex-girlfriend, who he ended up knocking up and now she's preventing him from seeing his daughter. I saw her for a whole 3 hours in the entire week that I was here. So because of this, she's forcing my brother to go through the court system to allow them to decide what happens to the baby. He had a court appointment on the 10th, but for some unknown reason he thought it was on the 17th, so he ended up missing it. I hope this doesn't reflect too negatively on him. Apart from that, he's doing okay. His job really sucks since he has to smell glue and paint all day and I think he's going to quit. He's staying with his roommate, who is also his co-worker at that place and I think he's also quitting. The pay isn't that great either, especially for what they have to go through all day long.

Besides this, my brother still seems to be spiritually lost, living a life of sin. I talked to him a bit about this, but it was weird, almost every time I wanted to talk to him about it alone, his roommate would come out of nowhere and interrupt us. This happened like 5 times at LEAST, so I dunno. I think I was more of an example for him than anything. Before I left Costa Rica, when I was at church two people separately told me that it would be my testimony that I need to bring to Canada, so I think this probably means something. It's not necessarily what I say or how I try to go through the "Four Spiritual Laws" with my brother, but more of an example that I set for him with my actions and my testimony.

Ah great, my flight just got delayed by another 45 minutes. Man, I'm going to end up arriving at my mom's house at like 2:00am or something. And that's IF I can rent a car when I get to Toronto. I only have a G2 licence, which still isn't my full licence, so I need to find a place that will rent me something even without my full licence. I looked on the internet before I left Costa Rica and the cheapest car rentals for three weeks were like $900 PLUS insurance, which I think is another $25/day. If I can't find anything a lot cheaper than that (like half price or less) then I'm just going to take the bus. It would be nice to be able to drive around Ottawa and wherever I go, but there's a limit. I'd also have to pay for gas too, which is currently at around $1.15 per LITRE! The last time that I was in Canada it was around $0.90 and I thought that was high.

So a quarter of my vacation is already over. Man this week flew by so fast considering I didn't do a whole lot. I spent most of the time watching TV and watching my brother play Diablo 2. Not a whole lot of excitement, but it was okay. My brother and I went to West Edmonton Mall yesterday, which was pretty cool. Man that place seems so much smaller than when I was there last, but it's still HUGE! It has a water park with like 200 foot high water slides, a wave pool, multiple roller coasters (and not just cheesy ones, but ones with triple loops and everything), a "haunted" house, a submarine ride beside a pirate ship, a SeaWorld-like place where they have dolphins and seals and I think sharks, and of course a full-featured mall. We were only there for like an hour though and I think we got lost like thrice. Yes, that's right. Thrice! I kinda regret not bringing my camera cuz man, that place was cool.

Now the next parts of my journey are ahead of me. I have like 10 days to visit my mom, her husband and my friends in Ottawa (the capital of Canada), then like 5 days with my friend Jeff and his wife and kid, then 5 days with my grandparents. Everyone must be evangelized! Man this is going to be a crazy trip. I never thought I would be a missionary in my own towns with my own family and friends, but here I am. It's definitely a well-needed break from my regular routine that I have in Costa Rica.

Proverbs 25:11-13
25:11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver,
so is a word skillfully spoken.
25:12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold,
so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.
25:13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest,
so is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
for he refreshes the heart of his masters.

I pray that I will have a skillful tongue and a wise, listening mind as I act as the Lord's messenger. Amen.

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Monday Aug 14, 4:18pm
I'm currently on the plane somewhere between Alberta and Ontario 40,000 feet above the ground travelling at 850 kph. They are playing RV right now on the plane, but it's the same movie that I saw when going to Alberta, so I decided to whip out my laptop and watch one of the movies that I have on here cuz it's a modern plane and the seats in front of you have a power outlet. I chose Pink Floyd's The Wall, but man that was a bad choice. Little did I know, it's full of nudity so I had to shut it off. I skipped through like the first 2 scenes like this, but then I ended up giving up and shut it off. I don't mind it if I'm at home alone or whatever, but in a public environment, I'd rather not be watching naked boobies flopping around. So now I'm just listening to some Hillsong. Man this song is great (Hillsong United - From the Inside Out):