Greetings! It has been a very long time since my last post, so I guess one is due.

In some respects, a lot has happened; February and March were definitely the busiest months of this year, but to tell you the truth, they weren't exactly overflowing with exciting and interesting stories. I'll do my best to fill you in though...

In my previous post, I mentioned a new member of staff coming onboard to help us worship interns. Having him around, helping us, has been great! He has done a lot for us and it's great to have someone that really cares about us. We have had instrumental and vocal tutoring, each of us have recorded a song in studio, and we also learned a bit about how to do sound, all of which he arranged. He is also into similar styles of music as myself, that is also a plus. Soon, I will have the mp3 of the song we recorded and I can't wait to send it back home.

By the time March hit, things were noticeably busier than the start of the year, in fact, I would go as far to say that things were moderately busy! Three cheers for working! I am probably making this all seem a lot worse than it is, the first or second week of march I actually was busy for the whole week, I worked hard everyday that week and it felt good. You see, the reason March got so busy is because we had started to fundraise for our missions trip to Italy, which we just got home from. So that first or second week of March, I was organizing a fundraiser while I was also arranging creative worship for a conference, both of which were happening on the same weekend. Interestingly enough, even though I'm probably more on the disorganized side in my personal life, I really enjoyed coordinating these events.

Team Italy (there was also a team going to Thailand) put on three fundraising events; a table quiz, a carwash, and an "Italy night." I arranged the table quiz. Basically, people come, pay money at the door, then there is different trivia from different categories, people answer as teams and there are prizes at the end, it's a popular thing out here in the U.K. The event went really well, I got good prizes donated and it was a lot of fun, there just wasn't too many people. Our "Italy night" also went pretty well, and there was a bit better turn out. People came and had a three course Italian meal, then watched the original version of the Italian Job. It was a good night.

All of this, of course, led up to our trip to Italy, which went pretty well. We ended up doing quite a few more tourist type things than we expected, but it was alright. We like to say that it was a "relational" trip. We did a lot more within the church than we did outside. For example, we went for dinner with the English class that they teach so that they could practice their English and we went bowling with their youth group. We also put on their church service which went really well. First, we did worship, then a mime type of thing which led into some testimonies. The service went very well in all aspects. I probably would have liked to do more, but it was still okay.

Since we got back, it's been a little difficult because I have had nothing to do. Next week I am going to Germany to see my dear Mother, so I'm really looking forward to that, it will be so good to see her. After that the month of May should fly by because when I get back, there's a retreat that I'm taking part in, then I'm spending a day in studio, and after that I'm going down to Spain, which leads me right into June! I'll be home in no time!

Well, I hope you liked this little update. I tried to put some pictures up, but it didn't work. I'll try again soon!

Here comes the emergence of a brand new xanga posting of the one and only Adam Klassen!

My apologies are offered as it has been  two days shy of two months since my last blog. It could be taken as a lie to say that a lot has happened since then, but really, "a lot" is a relative phrase.

I suppose I ought to take my story back to the month of December. The sliegh bells were ringing, the chestnuts were roasting, and Jack Frost lay over the North Sea on the coasts of Norway. Commotion of the holiday season had hit, and had hit hard. Our church was amidst the production of a certain pantomime (a curious childrens theatre style of play found in Britain and the U.K., based, most often skewed, on a commonly known fairy tale); the plot's base story was snow white and the seven dwarves, featuring six web-designing, six foot tall dwarves, with bashful's (the seventh dwarf) height hitting the reaches of five foot nil. Each performance went very well, but through all of this, I realized just how much I truly miss drama, that is, drama with a small amount of professionalism involved. Acting in the pantomime did not stand the comparison with my meager high school experience. But aside from my desire to act, the pantomime provided much fun and amusement, though one thing that I must say is that I am glad it is over.

Next, Christmas break hit and I was off to the town of Bangor; a large town just out of the reaches of East Belfast. A family, with connections to my parents, took me in as their own and it was marvelous. They made me feel as if I was part of them, even their grandparents brought me Christmas gifts, which really did touch my heart. My apprehension towards spending a Christmas away from my own family was melted away with welcoming care. The Eves family; I dearly commend you.

Even all of these wonderful Holiday season arrangements, as amazing as they were, did not make my homesickness void. My lovely mother, I miss your demonstrative ways. My laid-back Father; the anchor of our family unit. My gorgeous sister, I truly wish that I could walk alongside you in this time of your life. My loving brother, the respect in our relationship goes both ways. I miss and love you all.

My apologies for the sentiment.

Before Christmas day hit, I actually had moved out of my first house. I am sorry that I did not display the images of my old place, but I have taken photos of my new house. My good friend Liegh (she's actually from Calgary, but she's doing the internship as well) recently bought a new camera; a beautiful Canon DSLR, one which I want for my own. I used it for these pictures, but I was without a tripod, so it's a little bit blurry, but it gives you the impression. What do you think? (It is also with a wide angle lens, so it distorted it a bit)

Here's the outside!

The front door!

The front room! It was a bit dark, so I had to use a longer shutter speed.

The other front room, beside the kitchen.

The good ol' kitchen, it's a bit messy.

Up the stairs and to the bathroom!

My room: angle #1.

My room: angle #2.

The other flight of stairs. Yep! There's three floors.

After Christmas, all of us Equip interns went a retreat. On the retreat, we met some YWAMers from Belfast and Dublin, as well as interns doing a program called Sword of the Spirit. It was quite great, I always love meeting new people.

After that, it's been back to everyday life out here in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Another member of staff has come onboard to work with us worship interns, so that has kept us a little more busy which is really quite great.

A few days ago something momentous did occur. I cut my hair. Not just a mere trim, I slashed off my luscious locks and gave myself a whole new look! It is really quite amazing, even product has now come into contact with my head and will continue for the duration of my new 'do. Here's what it looks like (yep, that's messy little faux-hawk):

One last little exciting occasion took place that I will mention. A couple days ago, Leigh and I made sushi from scratch! Here's a couple highlights!

Mmm, mmm, tasty goodness.

So that's about it! You can now consider yourself informed of the life of myself.

Currently Listening Pieces of the People We Love By The Rapture see related

This month has been one full of favourable occurances.

My parents have been over and will remain here until monday. In truth, I must say that I am quite the spoiled little boy! Everyone keeps on telling me to just bask in the generosity. Aside from this detail, it has been absolutely wonderful to see my parents, I would say that we have spent some authentic quality time together.

Last weekend I played bass while my Mother sang at a conference, which went so well. It was fun all around! And the band I put together, I would not all too subjectively say, was quite proficient.

On wednesday, my Father rented a car and we all drove up to a place called the Giant's Causeway; on the north coast of Ireland. We had a fantastic day, as we took the scenic route and saw some beautiful sights. Here's they journey in pictures:

These first two were some sights on the way to the Causeway.

These were all from the Giant's Causeway.

My lovely parents at the Causeway.

My beautiful mother and me at the aforementioned. Did not turn out as well... Shucks!

So that's about it! I think seeing my parents made me a bit more homesick! Oh well, I still got a couple of days left with them, I'll be savouring them!

That would be all for now... I'll be trying to post more often, which is not quite a promise, but a declaration. So, from the rolling hills of Ireland; peace out.

Why, hello my friends!

There seems to be so much to talk about since my last post...

Well earlier last week, us interns went on a retreat based on silence and solitude. Basically, we lived like monks for three days. At one point, we all went off into the woods to spend 5 hours in complete silence and solitude. There was a nice little clearing where I spent most of my time, absolutely beautiful. I took many pictures of nature. And I must say, it's amazing what you hear when you become completely silent for so long.

Here's some of my pictures, are the forests in Canada this beautiful?

This is the beautiful little clearing.

Not quite nature, but...

After the retreat there was a conference at the church with Erwin McManus and Phil Baker, it was absolutely amazing, incredibly thought provoking. The name of the conference was "Does the Future have a Church." They talked about how the aim of the church should be for non-believers, but not in the wishy-washy seeker sensitive way. Church shouldn't be a place, church is in the people. There's so much more to say about it, but I'll keep it for another time, my thoughts aren't quite all together right now...

My parents come next week! Yipee!

P.S. Here's a bonus picture of James, Joey, Leigh and me!

Amazing.

Before proceeding, please read the first line several times.

Amazing, I can't say it enough.

I am referring to my day yesterday, my trip to Dublin. We laughed, we cried, and we even made a few friends along the way. But let me take a step backwards. Upon discovering that Sufjan Stevens was playing a show in Dublin, and that the show was sold out, I thought "I simply must go to Dublin and try to get tickets." So, I took a bus, with my friend Indya, down south in the early afternoon. We wandered the streets for a little while, got a bite to eat, but when the time of the concert was nearing we made our way over to the Olympia Theatre. We saw many people looking for tickets, which was a little discouraging, but we persevered none the less. I noticed that one fellow beside me had a sign stating "Want 1 Ticket." So I approached him and inquired if he would see it as rude if I stole his idea, we laughed about it and soon were chatting it up. On the sign that I made was written "All the way from Canada looking for 2 tickets." My friend with the original sign had a buddy that was looking for a ticket as well, in all there was four of us. On one of my saunters down the line of people waiting with anticipation for the show, a kind stranger pointed out where he thought someone was selling tickets. I investigated to no avail, but on my way back, I saw the back of someone's head that looked quite familiar. So I mustered up all the stealth my body could hold and crept down an ally to get a good view of this head's face and sure enough, it was Sufjan Stevens. I ran back to my newly made friends and they each had a look and it was decided without a doubt that it was mr. Stevens. We waited a little awkwardly outside of the restaurant to get a word and possibly a polaroid of Sufjan, still with our signs in hand. Suddenly a man approached us, he asked us if we needed 4 tickets, and we excitedly said that we did. This was our man. He had four tickets and he sold them to us for what they were worth! So we paid him, and our little group had a way in. We still did not leave the front the restaurant, and most of our conversation after this point consisted of excited yelps and giggles of joy. Soon, Sufjan and his group looked as if they were leaving the restaurant, so I warmed up the flash on my polaroid camera. From here I will continue with dialogue.

AK: Excuse me, Sufjan? Sufjan Stevens?

SS: (Unaware of my cries)

(At this point Indya grabbed his attention)

AK: Hi, could I get a picture?

SS: Yeah, sure, you want me to take a picture?

AK: (Giggle like a school girl)

SS: (Posing for the camera) Look good!

(This is a picture of the Polaroid, I don't have access to a scanner)

AK: Thanks so much. I just want to say, you probably get this a lot but, I myself am a musician and I find your music very inspiring, you probably get that a lot, but...

SS: No, I don't... What's your name?

AK: I'm Adam! It was so good to meet you. (Shake hands)

Soon after, we entered the venue. I saw an Austrian man who I had a briefly spoken with before the show that had also been looking for a ticket (not included in the group of four). "So, you got in!" I said to him with excitement, still feeling the nerves of talking to Sufjan. He then told me that the doorman let him in for free! He also mentioned that he got into another show for free the night before. "You're a lucky man," I told him.

(Mother, if you're reading this, refrain from reading the next line)

He then offered to buy me a drink! How could I refuse? (Nonalcoholic, mother! I told you not to read that line!)

So that's pretty much it; my trip to Dublin. Matthias (the Austrian man) and I ended up chatting away, and by the end of the night, he gave me his email address, in case I am ever in Vienna. Indya and I took the bus home that night and got back really late, but that was only part of the adventure.

And that's why my trip to Dublin was amazing...