A blog without pictures.

Hey everyone, it's beth here. Technically it's Stuart's turn to blog now but since we haven't done anything terrible newsworthy since the last blog I figured it wouldn't matter too much if I took the liberty. Stu and I are settling in fairly well here in the little town of Jasper. Today we had orientation for work and we learned some interesting things about the place.
Jasper National Park is the biggest National Park in the Canadian Rockies. To keep the small town feel here they've set building restrictions, so the town doesn't ever grow. It just stays that way; approximately 5000 people, which increases to 20,000 in the summer, which is peak season.

Unfortunately, we're also learning pretty fast about some of Jasper's not so nice traits. Because there isn't very much to do here in the winter except for ski and drink, and the ski passes are over $900 each, most people who come here to work choose the latter. Apparently Jasper also has the highest rate of STI's in all of North America, which is quite an accomplishment considering the town is barely 5000 people in size. The one thing that I'm finding the hardest to deal with is the pressure to "come to the Atha B after work!". It's not that the people we came over with aren't decent people, it's just that a lot of them are still set to stupid-teenage-binge-drinking-let's-hook-up-with-every-random-we-meet-sleep-around-get-so-drunk-you-don't-remember mode. Which is fine, if you're into that sort of thing. However Stu and I are not.

Like I said, I have nothing against people who choose to live that way, although in my opinion it's a silly way to experience a new culture, especially considering you don't often remember the people you meet the next day. But it is so frustrating to be surrounded by people who don't understand why you're continually saying "no", even when you explain it to them. Telling someone you don't really get into the party scene is like telling someone you collect asian popstar music. It's just not normal. And I'm so over it.

Stu and I are going to try go to the local Baptist church, because we have no idea where the pentecostal one is in town and the Baptist church is 4 minutes down the road from where we live and work. Trouble is, we're not too sure about telling people we're Christians because from where I'm standing it would seem there is more judgment from NON-christians for being a believer than there is from Christians for NOT being one. I'm finding it hard.

I always protest about Christians living in bubbles. Too often we get into "church bubble" mode where we're surrounded 24/7 by people with the same beliefs as us, who go to the same church, who watch the same tv programs, and do the same kinds of things on weekends. I hear people talk all the time of "the mission field", and most of the time they're talking about the 2 or 3 non-Christians they work with a few days a week. It's no secret that I'm not a huge fan of the out and out evagelistic approach of helping people find Jesus, but I guess I'd always felt proud of my faith, and the fact that I never had a problem sharing it with people. That is, until you're 2 against 4,500. Then the stakes are entirely different.

While I struggle with these people, their behaviour, lifestyle choice and general attitude towards work and life, I feel like it's important to be around them. And yet, at the exact same time, I flatly refuse to participate in their world. I feel I've done my dash in the pub/club scene through my music and to be honest I'd rather "be boring" and stay in and watch a movie with Stu.

So if you're praying for us, pray for strength and PATIENCE because it's only been 2 weeks and I'm already tired of the pressure. Also, if you could send up a prayer for financial blessing, we'd much appreciate it. Life here is so much more expensive than you could imagine.

Thanks...
b. x