Ministry glimpses

29 October 2004

Better or not, here we come…

The van seems, for the time being, to be better (although there’s a windshield wiper issue which I simply will not get into here), and Shari’s neck is getting better, so this is a good thing. So after some good visits with folks in Stouffville and Newmarket today, we’re ready to go madly off in all directions over the weekend. I’ll be heading 681.1 km north to Cochrane, and then meeting with folks in Sudbury on the way back. Shari will be visiting with some folks in southern Ontario. And we’ll all meet together again on Monday night to compare notes. We’ll try to drop by to say hello to you sometime next week.

I’m writing with Nathanael here beside me. It’s a little distracting. He likes to roll over now, scoot around a little. His favourite word is “dlah” (no, we don’t know what it means either), and his favourite song is Meredith Willson’s 76 Trombones. He thinks it’s absolutely hilarious. No, we don’t know why. But if we could tell what babies were thinking, we’d be geniuses, wouldn’t we?

28 October 2004

Complications

Jim Family, Ministry glimpses 0

For a moment or so it seemed like we were more or less over whatever sicknesses we had. But that’s not exactly the case. Hannah is still rather sick with a runny nose, for one thing. A few days ago I passed the driving over to Shari temporarily because of a mysteriously sore neck. And today! Well today it was Shari’s turn to get a very sore neck – so sore, in fact, that we ended up at the doctor’s.

Don’t worry, it wasn’t a deadly, contagious disease. Shari was given some medication and special instructions, and sent home. So, being the healthiest driver I dropped off everyone at home and headed off to do some errands. I made it a few kilometers down the road before the van broke down.

A tow truck, mechanic’s and rental car later I was able to continue with the errands. This was the emergency stuff that we simply had to get done, until we had time for a proper shopping trip (and that will be when exactly?!). But I was able to go and pick up the cake. The birthday cake.

Yes, Shari’s birthday is coming up on Sunday. I’ll be gone for the weekend (assuming I have a vehicle, and assuming Shari isn’t incapacitated by muscle pain), so this was our last chance to sit back and celebrate. Of course, Shari needed to go to the doctor first thing in the morning (although it was later by the time we got there), and I had only returned from my errands in the mid-evening. So our day off turned into a half an evening off. But that’s ok! It was great cake (ice cream, you know. Dairy Queen). But please pray for the van repairs (for example, money to cover expenses like these – people who are committed to giving monthly to this ministry) and the health of all!

It’s days like this – or, weeks like this – that make you wonder – why are we doing this again? Oh yes. It’s the millions in Mexico who are in pain – all kinds of pain – but have no one to turn to for comfort and healing. It’s the millions in Mexico whose lives are broken down – they don’t know anyone who has the answers. They don’t know where to turn. It’s the millions in Mexico with no reason to really celebrate. In a few days many will celebrate the Days of the Dead, but they have no assurance and hope for the day of their death. Why do we do what we do? So that God can use us and you to bring hope to Mexico. When you look at it that way, it sure is worth it.

25 October 2004

Cousins

Jim Family, Ministry glimpses 0

Here in Southern Ontario we’ve been able to enjoy some time with relatives, among other things. During the last couple of weeks we’ve visited an Aunt and Uncle, cousins on Shari’s side, Shari’s grandma, cousins on Jim’s side, cousins on Shari’s side, more cousins on Jim’s side, cousins on Shari’s side, cousins on Jim’s side, more cousins on Jim’s side, even more cousins on Jim’s side (etc etc) and Shari’s grandparents. Later this week we hope to see Jim’s aunt, among other family and non-family members.

Phew! I didn’t realize there were so many until I wrote it all out like that! But we are very blessed to have such a great group of people to be related to. They say you can’t choose your relatives, but I think we would have been happy to choose these ones if we could. Of course, the problem is that with so many people to see, there simply isn’t enough time to see everyone, or to spend the time with them that you would like to.

On the weekend I will be driving to Cochrane (about 10 hours’ drive or so) to speak at the First Baptist Church there. I was invited when we were up there earlier this month, so we decided that I would take the trip back. Then we’ll be all together again back in Southern Ontario for the month of November.

We’re all still pretty tired, but we’ve been blessed with a place to stay for a couple of weeks at a mission home belonging to the Christian Blind Mission. It will be nice to have a place to be semi-settled, and hopefully we can find some time to catch up on a little sleep. Nathanael certainly seems to do better when he has more than one night in the same place.

We’re having some trouble getting things booked and planned for the next few weeks (after this week, which is doing nicely), but I imagine it will come together over the next few days (although I guess I’ve been saying that for a few weeks now!). What can I say? Stay tuned…

19 October 2004

Further and further south…

Jim Ministry glimpses 0

Our next big weekend of ministry took place in Sudbury, Ontario. Sudbury is Shari’s birthplace, and, yes, the home of the big nickel. Our activities over the weekend included leading a seminar on short term missions with the youth and college age, sharing about our ministry at a potluck, teaching in adult Sunday School, sharing in the service, and leading a 2000 Years of Missions seminar. This was all at Lansing Avenue Baptist Chapel – thanks everyone for your warm hospitality and encouragement!

We’ve enjoyed some great visits with many other friends and family during the last couple of weeks, including cousins from both sides, Shari’s Uncle and Aunt, and Grandmother. For those who are interested, there are lots of pictures in the photo album. We also enjoyed attending Garside Bible Church in Hamilton over the weekend, although coming from Kitchener we got lost and missed part of the service. These are the hazards we have to deal with!

Over the past weekend we got to see Larry and Jayme Hower, Phil O’Day, members of the CAM International of Canada board (including my cousin Dave Cottrill), and others connected with CAM. It was a great encouragement, and quite interesting touring around southern Ontario with 3 Americans (Larry, Jayme and Phil). Actually, the Howers showed us an interesting monument – check it out here. Seeing Canada through the eyes of Americans is always a unique experience! 😛

Now we’re in Kitchener, and we’ll be in St Catharines over the weekend, although we don’t yet have a speaking engagement on Sunday. We’re trying to get our wits about us again after some very busy days, and to plan the days ahead. We’ve had a hard time finding churches and other groups in need of a speaker or in need of the seminars and things that we have to offer. But I suppose having too many people doing ministry is a good problem to have! If you are in southern Ontario and would be interested, we have a list of some of the services we’ve offered other churches in pdf format here. It sure would be great to be able to make use of the Sundays and even weeknights while we’re here! However, we are enjoying some great time with many people.

If you’re praying for us, keep praying about the energy level, which is still low, although I think we’re all over the sicknesses we were dealing with. Pray for us as we continue planning our trip, that we would find opportunities for ministry and that we would know how best to spend our time here. There are really 3 things we would love to see happen – a chance to use our expertise and talents in churches here, a chance to meet with friends and share our vision about the needs in Mexico, and a chance to meet with new friends who share the vision and are willing to commit themselves to help. It’s all about the God of the Universe and the millions in Mexico who don’t know Him…

16 October 2004

Quick update from Kitchener

Jim Ministry glimpses 0

I know it’s been a while since we’ve written – sorry about that. Life has been pretty chaotic! I wanted to take some time to really fill you in on what’s been happening the last couple of weeks, but I’m afraid it’s going to be at least a couple of days before I can do that. However, I just wanted to briefly stop by to let you know that we’re still here, and let you know what’s coming up. Tomorrow Lord willing we’ll be spending some time with our Canadian Director and his wife, Larry and Jayme, and our “boss” from the head office, Phil. This is a rare event which we’re really looking forward to!

Then we’ll be spending some time in Kitchener regrouping and preparing for the other things coming up. We’ll have the opportunity to see my cousins who are about 15 minutes away, and then – well, then I’ll take the time Lord willing to write a blog and give you more details!

However, we continue to need your prayers for strength and rest. Nathanael had the poorest night of sleep since he was just a newborn last night. Hopefully that was just a one night thing, but he was up again the last few nights (after a nice stretch of sleeping properly again). So, we’re not sure why that is, but we’re getting more and more worn out, and so keep praying that we’ll be able to deal with what’s going on, and get some sleep. Thanks! And Lord willing we’ll talk to you again soon. In the meantime, we do have plenty of fresh photos in our album if you’re interested. 😎

4 October 2004

On to Moosonee

Jim Ministry glimpses 0

Today is National Cinnamon Bun Day in Sweden. Why don’t we have that celebration here? I feel like celebrating! Well, we celebrated in Winnipeg with some of the best sticky buns ever made, thanks to a friend there. Makes me want to move to Winnipeg.

We tried to get a little much needed “family time” during our first little while in Northern Ontario, and we sorta succeeded, although life got increasingly more chaotic (is that the way it works? The slower the speed limit the faster life is?). I’ll spare the details – why would I want to relive the past? But we did go for a swim, and spent some time on Lake Superior (no, we didn’t swim in Lake Superior), as you can see in our photo album.

We enjoyed the fabulous hospitality of some new friends in Cochrane, Ontario. They were very understanding as we unloaded what must have seemed like all our worldly possessions as we repacked for our train ride.

The train ride to Moosonee was a lot of fun, and it was a beautiful warm day (actually, today is the first day since our trip began that I haven’t seen sunshine). After about 5 hours passing through some beautiful northern Ontario country, we arrived in Moosonee.

Moosonee is a modern town with a population of about 2000. Also in the area is the town of Moose Factory, which was a Hudson’s Bay Company post well over 300 years ago, so there’s a lot of history in this part of the world.

We’ve enjoyed such warm, generous hospitality that we’re overwhelmed! We’ve had a chance to make new friends, and visit people’s homes and speak at the church. We were given a place where we could stay by ourselves as a family, and we’re staying here for 4 days, so it’s been a big help. Tonight we’re going to a potluck at the church, where we hope to see a lot of the people who were away for the weekend. By the way, there’s a visible Winger (Shari’s maiden name) connection at the front of the church here – to see it, click here.

Jim speaking at the Moosonee Baptist Church

Jim sharing at the church about our vision for Mexico on Sunday night

On the downside, we’re still not catching up on sleep. Nathanael does seem to be feeling better, but Hannah is still sick. I think she had a bit of a fever last night, although she seems a little better today. So keep praying for health and sleep, if you think of it!

Tomorrow it’s back on the train and then on to other Northern Ontario destinations. Next weekend we’ll be at Lansing Avenue Baptist Chapel in Sudbury. Perhaps we’ll see some of you there? 😎

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