It is hard to believe that it is done…at least our part for now. The final day has arrived far quicker then we could imagine but then this is the way of things usually and we simply forget.

 

Last night we enjoyed a great bbq meal with a host family and got to hear their story and the ministry they have through their secular work which takes them all over the world. It was encouraging to meet such giving loving people and see how, despite his role as a Sr. VP for an international company he still volunteers to run children’s ministry at First Nations Community Church.

 

The day was rainy and hectic but nothing could dampen our spirits or the energy of the kids. We prayed and planned this morning and Helen led a great bible study which spoke of God’s store houses opened and pouring into our lives which got us thinking of ourselves as smaller mobile store houses taking what God has given u and in turn giving it away to others. Theme of the week – give generously in all things – in praise, in thankfulness, in gratitude, in love, in wealth, in time, in effort…you get the idea.

 

W are cleaning up now after a nice closing program with the kids and their families that saw balloons being handed out and a bbq lunch together. We’ll be hitting the road at who knows when and getting back after a celebration dinner together. Celebrating God’s goodness and our week past and the new memories and friends. We believe their are many other partnership opportunities between Morden and First Nations Community Church as well as Siloam Mission and look forward to seeing them unfold.

 

Every morning one of the things we did before our work began was to share in at least one blessing. The following is how this group blessed me:

 

Corinna – By her overcoming Spirit and continued strength.

Helen – By her servant heart and love for the moms

Marlene – By her all day every day smile and deep love for the children

Amy – By her willingness to serve and her connections with the youth

Josh – By his "yes" attitude and laughter

Scott – By his boundless energy and vocal love for these children

Jason – By his strong leadership skills and ability to work in chaos (and with me)

Katelyn – By her concern that God’s message be communicated effectively

Shelisa – By her willingness to do whatever it took to ensure these kids loved their time here

Taryn – By her fearless spirit which was willing to take on any challenge no matter how scary it was for these kids (she let a giant tarantula walk on her hand)\

 

There is too much to write here to cover all the blessings, this is simply the tip of the iceberg. I am better for these people and humbled by all they have taught me. I love them all dearly and continue to be overwhelmed at the gift being able to serve this church and these people.

 

son of love

son of wrath

son of lust

which am i

none or all

 

whose father

looms large across

my life

each one has its own

all play a part

in this patchwork heart

this stitch and staple

cold hard work of art

 

whose father

whose son

all and none

 

 

 

 

Today, more then any other day, was a day focused on Christ and his death and resurrection. It was another day where God’s grace was evident and our joy continued to increase as we have been praying for such.

 

Once again new kids arrived and continued to bless us. New mom’s came and became part of the group that conversed and snacked, relaxing while being treated to manicures by Brenda while we cared for their kids. It is such an amazing gift that FNCC has given us to be allowed to minister here in their midst – I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to thank them enough.

 

Katelyn did a spectacular job in Bible Bayou today talkin about the cross and I continue to be blessed by the others in so many different ways. I will expand upon that in tomorrow – the final update.

 

I was blessed with the opportunity to share part of my story, the part the covers the first 12 years of my life and for those of you who know this part you will understand how hard it was to see how many of these beautiful kids understood it. It was a little overwhelming and I find myself wishing they didn’t have a clue what I was talking about.

 

We ended the day with song and dance and gummy spiders and freezies and hugs and smiles and waves goodbye and shouts of "see you tomorrow" and kids hugging moms as they were returned and a team of youth and adults who are simply the best ever.

 

Thanks for your continued prayers they are being felt!!! Ciao till tomorrow.

 

Ok…we were tired to start the day. Last night at Siloam Mission was pretty remarkable and loads of our team want to go back. I am thinking that I will organize several groups in the coming year to do dinner service…just a drive in, serve and drive home deal. The patrons of the mission were very friendly and the staff were awesome. We were pleasantly surprised to run into a friend from church Mr. J.C. comes to the mission regularly to help out…what a great example!

 

Needless to say after several hours of prepping, serving and cleaning we were pretty much wiped (especially since we went from VBS directly to the mission).

 

This morning when we got to the church and began our day with discussion and a Bible study it became clear that discouragement loomed large. Everybody is tired and as we move through the week and get to know the kids some of their struggles at home affect how we are feeling. It was a tearful time but we prayed at the beginning of the week that God would increase our joy daily and we also prayed just before the VBS began that He would encourage and fill us with compassion.

 

All I have to say is that as I write this at the end of VBS Day 3 the whole team is unanimous in declaring today the best, most encouraging and joyful day yet! New kids come everyday and today was no exception. They listened well and were very focused. The mom’s group continued throughout the day under Helen’s guidance and all in all God answered prayer big time today.

 

Tonight we will go to the forks after being served dinner by the people of te church. We will relax a bit and do an evening bible stuy by the shores of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.

 

Ciao till tomorrow.

 

We didn’t have to get up at 6:30 am today so that was AWESOME! We all stayed at our different billets and met at the church at 9 am and prepared for the day. Amy led a great Bible Study this morning and then after lunch we launched into VBS Day 2!! These kids have immense amounts of energy and I have been supremely blessed by the patience and joy that the team members are showing!

 

Helen is making wonderful connections with the moms today and they are developing in relationship with one-another.

 

We are now resting and getting prepped for our evening at Siloam Mission and I will likely lead a walk-about the neighbourhood.

 

Ciao for now! Check out the pics as well.

 

 

 

 

5:30 am – Wake up and shower after a too brief a night’s sleep.

 

6:00 am – Pick up Amy at her place and head to the church

 

6:30 am – Wes prays for us at church and then the team hits the road in four vehicles. The team includes: Taryn, Shelisa, Katelyn, Jason, Josh, Scott, Helen, Amy, Corinna and me (Pete). Janet comes in to help setup.

 

8:30 am – Arrive at First Nations Community Church where we meet Marlene and begin setup

 

10 am – Bible study, prayer and planning session for Day 1 of VBS

 

11:30 am – Begin lunch prep for our VBS attendees

 

Noon – VBS kids begin arriving…we serve them lunch and get to know them as we’re eating. Eventually 15 arrive of VBS and about 5 moms for the mother’s group

 

12:30-2:30 pm – VBS Day 1 happens!!!

 

2:30-4 pm – Send kids home, clean up after day one, post-mortem meeting discussing blessings and opportunities for improvement on the day

 

4-5 pm – Get luggage to our various billets

 

5-8:45 pm – Traditional First Nation’s dinner at the Jolly’s house consisting of moose, Canada goose and bannok . Absolutely amazing! I think everybody had extra helpings. Pastor Jolly’s family is really a great bunch…his kids are wonderful.

 

8:45 pm – head to our billets for the eve.

 

Truly an amazing and God blessed day already. The kids are fantastic andmore will come tomorrow. Loving every minute. Pics to come.

 

By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.
 

 

There is something about that turn of phrase, something wicked this way comes, that creates an inner shudder. I first heard it used by Ray Bradbury in his short tale of the same title Something Wicked This Way Comes (an excellent story), later I was to learn that it was from Shakespeare’s Macbeth and is spoken by the second of three witches just before Macbeth arrives to see them.

 

There is a great deal of irony in Shakespeare having a witch, seen as a great character of evil, pronounce that something wicked was coming and it turns out to be Macbeth himself. In some ways the scene challenges our perceptions of evil. Macbeth would (and does) consider the witches themselves to be the personification of evil and yet they see him as evil (albeit evil they helped to forge).

 

Perhaps we spend a great deal of time trying to ferret out evil and wickedness in our lives like a beaver trying to stop up every small trickle in the dam and not realizing how hopeless the task is if one stops for even a moment. Maybe we live with a haunting sense that evil is somewhere nearby. It seems clear that Macbeth felt the evil that was causing all of his suffering was around him, outside of himself and he never stopped to consider that it was actually within him. This is what makes up a significant portion of his tragic flaw – that he did not know himself.

 

When we have that feeling, that inner sense of dread that "something wicked this way comes" should we perhaps stop looking around and maybe look into a mirror and ask some honest questions of ourselves? Wisdom (and humility) would suggest that before we look outside of ourselves we look within first.

 

 

we crawl the ethereal spaces

looking for ethereal faces

 

can’t bear the brilliance

can’t stand the life

of the real

blazing from the flesh

can’t come too close

to the beating hearts

of the who that would be

friend

 

we wander the wireless ways

cold fibre highways

hiding imago dei

maybe

hiding

         from

                imago dei

burned into the worst of us

tattoo of God

blinding our guilty eyes

 

till the world is a dream

the flesh is but shadow

no hello no goodbye

 

just escape

 

 

 

Ok, this is a local blog post. That means that if you live anywhere outside of the Morden, Manitoba area this post will be meaningless to you (unless you want to come and visit which you are welcome to because we love you and have room for you).

 

I was wandering downtown Morden with Amy today and noticed a new art studio prepping to open. When you live in a small town anything new is exciting so we walked over to the location and checked it out. The studio is called Posers (across from Marathon Pizza) and looking in the window revealed an already fantastic selection of VERY COOL art and frames etc. with what looked like a studio/workshop in the back. I really like this place and have no idea when it will open or who the proprietor is but I hope they make a go of it. If you are roaming the downtown are keep an eye out and maybe peer in the window and let me know what you think.

 

I am curious to know whose operation this is, when it will open etc. If anyone has any more info please feel free to comment here. I’ll definitely be wandering in when it opens.

 

son of love

come bleed on me

for i cannot walk

and am empty of life

 

son of truth

come bleed on me

for i am pale dead

and dry-boned

 

son of life

come bleed on me

for i’m too proud

to move toward joy

 

son of love

son of truth

son of life

 

transfuse me

fill me till I am lost

and all that’s left

is you

bleed on me