On the Mediterranean

Last Monday we began our first book of the bible, Philippians. The students worked so hard on their assignments and I was so proud of them for their perseverance. I got a little bit done but with staff responsibilities it’s a little more difficult. I am hoping to get more out of this week through our second book, Mark. We begin by reading through the book out loud to get an understanding of the whole picture. Our lecture today has been incredible and I am so excited to dive in Mark with the students!
This week we had a little Halloween celebration, which we called, "Happy Harvest". It was such a blast!! We all dressed up and had a semi-professional photo shoot, games, a little dancing and movie. I wish I had pictures because I was very impressed with the costumes!
This weekend I had another opportunity to go into Athens with the school. We live about one and a half hours from down town so it is something special to go to Athens. I have included some pictures and will continue to update you quite regularly although I may only be able to respond once every one or two weeks.
We began our day at the beautiful Syntagma Square. We walked down our favorite shopping area but quickly found new streets to explore. Ancient street crowded with antique stores, souvenir shops, cheese shops, cafes and more.
Eventually we came across the Acropolis but because we are going there with the school only took pictures from underneath. What an incredible building, once used for government matters and protected by a sixty foot wall and a famous tourist attraction. We also happened to come across another large hill with a funny old structure on top. After a fifteen minute walk we found ourselves a top of a hill that overlooked the entire city.
I don’t fully know how to explain the beauty of this city. Because of minor earthquakes and probably some building codes, no houses or buildings are over eight stories. Now can you imagine four million people all living in nothing more then eight stories. This makes for a city that stretches as far as the eye can see. On one side of the city is the ocean and the rest surrounded by green mountains. And because this was at sunset, the entire city was lit up a white with houses stretching to the horizon and creeping up the hillsides.
I can totally understand why famous monuments are always built on top of hills and mountains. I think that whatever you believe in, you can feel a presence that there is something awesome that created this beauty in front of you. There is such awe to this beauty and to deny a creator is foolish. Some may say that seeing a city from a top a hill isn’t that great but for me I feel a God that has a heart and dream for this ancient place. A city where God may have been forgotten but longs to be redeemed.

PLEASE DO NOT COPY/PASTE/SAVE PHOTOGRAPHS! THEY ARE FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT BUT NOT TO KEEP. THANKS, AARON.

Cafe (Espresso Freddo!)

Ancient Mosaic

Syntagma Square, Downtown Athens









Orthodox Church

Acropolis

Athens, Greece









Parthanon

I wish I new the word for hello in Greek but I have only learned efaristo, which mean thank you. So efaristo for reading.

I have been in Greece now for 6 days. I arrived on Wednesday morning after a long flight from Toronto to New York and then straight to Athens. I didn't get to see much of Athens my first day because I was so tired and once I got to the hostel I slept for 3 hours in this random smelly room. My friend was supposed to meet me there but she actually went to the airport to get me so after 6 hours in Athens sleeping and wandering the streets, eating some interesting feta pastry, I went back to the airport to meet my leader Paul.

We then met up with an American man living in Greece who took us to our accomodations in a small town called Porto Rafti. As much as I wanted to be in Athens, Porto Rafti is incredibly beautiful. It is your typical Mediterranean town, with its small harbor full of boats, white, yellow and pink square houses lining the hillsides and cafe's all along the water where you can ejoy a Greek coffee (iced with steamed milk) or Bailey's latte.

This weekend I had the chance to pop into Athens for a couple hours. What an amazing city, ancient meets modern. I can't believe that this is the place that Paul preached thousands of years ago and now there are cobble stone streets filled with people shopping for the latest European fashion.

Well the school is off to a great start, our first day and I am so stoked to dive into the word for the next 3 months in places that Jesus and the Apostles walked this earth.

Last Day in Hawaii!!ii!!

My last weekend in Hawaii was spent in the capital, Honolulu. For some random information, Hawaii is made up of 8 different islands, Hawaii (Big Island), Maui, Kaho'olawe, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai and Ni'hau and some sandy atolls. I live on the Big Island, Hawaii in a small city called Kona. Honolulu is on Oahu and is the biggest city in the Hawaiian Islands, about a half hour flight from Kona.

I don't really know how to explain what Honlulu is like. It's one of those places that you could only spend a couple days in and then you begin to feel infected by commercialism, consumerism, and some other isms. The entire city is founded off tourism and is made 90% from hotels, restaurants, shopping centres and a beach that is impoted from the sandy shores of California. It's the ultimate place of comfort and convenience. Despite all this it was really fun!

I was only there for one day but had a blast with Nicole, Myssi and Kelsey. We spent the first day taking a walk around the shop infested city with no money, but it was nice to actually see cool clothes. We also did a lot of eating out as we didn't have groceries with us. Waikiki beach was nice but it was crawling with people, so it wasn't the most appealing beach I've been to. I kinda just went there to say I've been there...
~Honolulu

~International Market...wasn't very international


















~Waikiki Beach, Honolulu









Myssi
~Making sure the building doesn't come down...it was kinda windy!







~Out to Dinner or Supper for all you Canadians.








Nicole, Myssi and Kelsey









~First and last night in Honlulu.









~Good bye Hawaii...until July 2008

Next Step...

So it has been one year that I have lived in Kona, Hawaii and the Lord is soon taking me in a slightly new direction.

I am still working with the photogenX ministry and I am committed to the YWAM base in Kona, but my life will be taking place a little father from Kona.

On coming to Kona last Septmeber I had been presented the opportunity to take on an extended program with photogenX called the Track. This course will involve several studies through University of the Nations (brach of YWAM) including Biblical Core Course, Humanities and World View, Photography and Communications. Most of these programs will be taken overseas as it presents better opportunities for photography.

The main goal apart from these courses is to document several themes of injustice in different parts of the world. On returning to Kona next summer students will have the chance to put there pictures into use by making a publication. The purpose of this publication is to raise awareness about what is happening in our world. Parts of it may focus on God's beauty, some about what God is doing in these nations and some will be about injustice issues that are on God's heart. They are on God's heart not just to change but to raise up an army of prayer warriors and those who are willing to act against these injustices.

A few weeks ago the Lord lead me not to take this program as a student but to help lead this team with three others. I will be returning home for one month to prepare for this time and then I will be meeting my team in Greece. Here we will begin the Biblical Course as we travel through the Middle East until last winter. I will continue to keep you posted throughout my time overseas.

I will be returning home on Tuesday September 25th 2007, leaving near the end of October for Greece and returning again to Canada for a short time in July 2008. If you would like to contact me please do so by email kiwana5@gmail.com or at my home (705) 435-4530. I will be available to meet in October.

As the time approaches I will send out specific prayer needs. Until then God Bless and thank you for reading and praying.

Around Hawaii

During my past year in Kona I have been very blessed to build awesome freindships with many people on the YWAM campus. Two weekends ago me and two of my close friends decided to do something together as my time in Kona, Hawaii is coming to a close...until next summer. Two of those people are Kat Meyer (Germany) and Simon Aberg (Sweden).

On Saturday morning the three of us headed north of the island. We went through a beautiful town in the hills called Waimea and then to an area that quite resembles Scotland. Here we found several caves that you could explore. Apart from tripping on rocks, random finds of full water bottles and a slight fear of there being someone else in the cave with you, it was fun.

Our next stop took us outside a city called Hilo. We took the scenic routes through beautiful jungle and along the coast. We then made our way to an incredible waterfall called Akaka Waterfall (Look for the picture). After lunch we drove into Hilo to check out Rainbow falls and boiling pots. This was the highlight of my day as we jumped from cliffs and swam under the waterfall.

After heading back to Kona and waking early the next morning our adventure started on Sattle Road around Mouna Kea. Mouna Kea is actually one of the best star gazing stations in the world and tallest mountain in the world from the ocean floor. If you can believe it, there is evening skiing available during winter.

After swinging past Hilo we came into an area of Hawaii called Puna. This is by far the most beautiful part of the island. Mostly locals and hippies, amazing rainforest and some great natural beauty. We stopped at a hot pool made by the Hawaiian's many years ago and also a black sands beach. It was incredible, soft sand, huge waves and no one but the three of us!

After our sandwhich supper we made our way to some hot steam rooms. We had no idea that we were going to have to walk through jungle paths that split several times by flashlight, but we took the challenge. After walking for about ten minutes in the dark we came across a hill. Walking up it we ran into warm air and seconds later found a ladder going down into a small hole into a cave. Climbing down and entering we found a small room in the hill with two benches and enough room to fit four people. To our anticipation we discovered hot steam coming from another hole further into the cave, so taking the opportunity we sat there for over half an hour. We decided it was time to go after all our clothes were wet and when we were about to pass out from dehydration.

Travelling for about two hours back to Kona, our adventures ended and our beds gladly greeted us...we were beat!!

Here are some pictures of our adventure. We had decided that we would do this because it was something we would never forget...and we won't!!

Hawaiian Flag

Simon
~from the junlge vine
~Akaka Waterfall
Aaron
~Near the Botanical Gardens
~Scenic Lookout
~My best mate Simon and me!
~The Overgrowth of Puna
~Wild Guava
~Breaking Waves at Black Sands Beach
Simon and Kat

Simon
~Reminds me of Fantasia...
~Sunset over Lava Field

Canadian Maple Syrup

Last Saturday me and a bunch of my friends got together and had an awesome breakfast before the HOT Hawaiian sun came into our midst. The morning featured, European style pancakes, strawberries, pineapple, eggs, yoghurt and of course 100% Pure Canadian Maple Syrup. Yes that was actually the reason I decided to put on this event in honors of the syrup and my friend Simon, who loves Maple Syrup, especially Canadian MS...he's from Sweden. Unfortunately he didn't make it but I forgave him. Hope you remember what you missed Simon...

Pancake Breakfast August 2007
~Clint

In the Kitchen

~Nicole Vogt and Aaron Harcourt

Chillin

~Samuel, Clint, Kat, Jamie

~Nicole, Grace, Aaron

The Lights of LV

So I flew into Las Vegas last night and managed to stay awake...totally exhausted though! The airport is literally right beside the strip. I thought we were going to see it from a distance and then people were talking about it on the other side of the airplane so I thought I missed it. Suddenly there it was right outside the window! Thousands of colours and lights and shiny things. I saw the MGM grand all decorated in bright green lights, the Wynn, the fake effel tower, the pyramid hotel with a spot light shining into the atmosphere and lots of other money grabbing casinos and hotels. I then regretted not bringing my camera!

Well I went into the airport and managed to get onto a flight early so I didn't have to sleep then wake up again. I arrived in Pheonix at 1AM, 4AM (EST) but I had 3 seats to myself on the hour flight and crashed through that. Then I managed to find a semi quiet bench and slept for only 3 hours cause I was freezing my butt off from the air-conditioning. Plus the buzz of the airport was a little loud for me and I chose to sleep in an early boarding gate...how would I know?

So I sit here looking out onto the city thinking about how hot it must be there
(I think I heard 40Cish/105F today), how tired I am and about finishing homework. I am also thinking about how awesome it is to have free internet connection at an airport!!

Back to Kona

So this is my forgotten blogspot that I have decided to bring back to life. It's a little easier to share with everyone and show pictures so here you are!

I am also including some promised photographs of my time in Columbia a couple of weeks ago.

I had a wonderful time at home so thanks everyone who was able to meet with me. I wanted to stay for longer but it wasn't possible so sorry to all you I didn't get to catch up with.

I am currently in the Pheonix airport waiting to catch my next and final flight to Kona, Hawaii. I will be continuing to work with the photogenX ministry. I will be here for at least two months and am seeking direction for my next "season". I will most likely continue to work with photogenX and my leaders Paul and Susi Childers in some way!

PLEASE DO NOT COPY/PASTE/SAVE PHOTOGRAPHS! THEY ARE FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT BUT NOT TO KEEP. THANKS, AARON.

Team Columbia~

(left to right) David Sinnott, Rachel Chapman, Aaron Harcourt, Joeng-Heon Jang (Koala)

Leticia, Columbia

~A Gift For All...

Macedonia, Columbia

Maloka, Columbia

Jagua Tribe

~Pablo 6

Jagua Tribe

~Herman, Pablo, Octavio, Ricardo, Pelocho

Leticia

~Morning Market

Benjamin, Brazil

~Amazon Rains

Macedonia

Leticia

Explosion Conference

~Coming to Learn

Jagua

Christopher 7