Early on this summer, while I was traveling home, I went to church with Lynola, Uncle Henry & Aunt Ardie in Maple Ridge. The sermon was about the Body of Christ, and unity in the body. I don't remember all of it, but we were encouraged to meet new people and to get more involved in the body. The pastor also said at one point that when someone who is actively involved leaves the local body it feels like a part of the body has been amputated. This wasn't necessarily said as a bad thing, but the pain of amputation is a reflection of the blessing unity of the body.
After going home from church Lynola and I sat on the porch swing in the back yard. I commented on what the pastor had said about amputation. It stood out to me because I had just left my home church of four years to go on vacation and then move to Texas. Sort of as a joke I commented that I had been amputated from my church. I did not really have a problem with this because I knew that God had called me away and I was confident he would provide another church family and community for me in Texas.
Fast forward to the end of the summer. I loved spending time in Smithers, and even getting to be there for the first weeks of their new pastor being there. At the same time though I missed my church and the fellowship there. I was getting tired of being in transition, and after having been 'amputated' from my church body, I was greatly looking forward to being connected to a new church body.
Transitions definitely have their challenges, but even as I adjust to living in Texas and serving with Gospel for Asia, I am very thankful for the fellowship of other believers. I am glad that God blessed us with the local body of Christ as well as the larger body throughout the world.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
The End of Summer Vacation
Wow, it has been a long time since I wrote on my blog. So, I am going to attempt to catch up a little and go back to the last week of summer vacation in Smithers back at the beginning of August.
The day before Uncle Stan and Aunt Jeany left, Lynnea came home. As a result, our days were filled with a variety of fun activities. We played lawn darts, walked up town to look at the burned down building, went golfing at the Par 3 golf course, visited with friends, and even hiked to the peak of Hudson Bay Mountain.
Golfing was fun, and I actually did much better than I expected to, as long as I ignore the hole that I did in 9 shots and the one I did in 8 shots. I think the last time I golfed is over 8 years ago. One thing hasn't changed though, I still try to get the most for my money and make sure I hit the ball lots of times.
The day we hiked the mountain was cooler than the previous days, at least it started that way. I actually got quite cold before we got to the top. Some of the time we got a little damp from the clouds, and the farther we got, the windier it was. The view was gorgeous, and of course we signed the book at the top.
In honor of Lynnea's birthday on August 12, we drove to southern BC. I am not sure how many of her birthdays have been spent driving, but it is a lot of them. We stopped for sundaes as 'birthday cake' en route. The next day we hung out at Uncle Henry and Aunt Ardie's house for the day. Dad, Lynnea, and Janine picked 3 gallons of blackberries, which were delicious. Cousin James and Vanessa came up for dinner, which was fun. I enjoyed getting to meet Vanessa.
The next morning mom, dad, Lynnea, and Janine left early to go to Vancouver Island to help Janine move to her new home in Duncan. I got picked up a little later by Aunt Marian and she brought me to catch a shuttle to Seattle so that I could fly to Texas.
I spent a couple of days in Plano at Cousin David and Jackie's house once I got to Texas. It was relaxing, but it also gave me the time to finish up a bunch of last minute details
before I moved in to my new home at Gospel for Asia.
The end of summer was quite busy, but it was filled with fun activities and good times with relatives. It was a blessing to be able to visit Smithers this summer, enjoy the beauty of the Bulkley Valley, and spend time with friends and family.
The day before Uncle Stan and Aunt Jeany left, Lynnea came home. As a result, our days were filled with a variety of fun activities. We played lawn darts, walked up town to look at the burned down building, went golfing at the Par 3 golf course, visited with friends, and even hiked to the peak of Hudson Bay Mountain.
Golfing was fun, and I actually did much better than I expected to, as long as I ignore the hole that I did in 9 shots and the one I did in 8 shots. I think the last time I golfed is over 8 years ago. One thing hasn't changed though, I still try to get the most for my money and make sure I hit the ball lots of times.
The day we hiked the mountain was cooler than the previous days, at least it started that way. I actually got quite cold before we got to the top. Some of the time we got a little damp from the clouds, and the farther we got, the windier it was. The view was gorgeous, and of course we signed the book at the top.
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| We made it to the top! |
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| Looking over the glacier towards town. |
The next morning mom, dad, Lynnea, and Janine left early to go to Vancouver Island to help Janine move to her new home in Duncan. I got picked up a little later by Aunt Marian and she brought me to catch a shuttle to Seattle so that I could fly to Texas.
I spent a couple of days in Plano at Cousin David and Jackie's house once I got to Texas. It was relaxing, but it also gave me the time to finish up a bunch of last minute details
before I moved in to my new home at Gospel for Asia.
The end of summer was quite busy, but it was filled with fun activities and good times with relatives. It was a blessing to be able to visit Smithers this summer, enjoy the beauty of the Bulkley Valley, and spend time with friends and family.
Friday, August 2, 2013
Water Activities
Today involved a variety of water activities. When I woke up the sprinkler was on in the front yard and hitting my window - okay, that isn't one of the activities but it just came to mind when I was thinking about water.
First off was hiking to the base of Twin Falls. The weather has been nice and hot, so it was a great day to go get completely soaked. I go there basically every summer, but I cannot remember seeing the creek so muddy and high (I wouldn't have wanted to drink any of it today). The left waterfall was really raging and the right waterfall was very small. We were already feeling mist from the falls right after we crossed the rock face. Getting down to the pool at the bottom of the waterfall was more work than usual. I had a harder than usual time seeing to even get down to the pool, and I think I stepped into the water a little and then a wave came and soaked my foot (not that I noticed much because my shoes were already soaked). The force of the wind from the waterfall even blew Aunt Jeany's sunglasses downstream.
After Twin Falls we headed to Lake Kathlyn. Mom and I kayaked from Lester's house over to where Janine is house sitting. We spent time using kayaks, floating on the water, sitting on the dock, and getting in the water. It was a beautiful afternoon.
While returning the kayaks to Lester's house, someone from our school community was coming back in with his Hobie Cat (a dual hull sailboat). I had been watching him throughout the afternoon. He was going to put his boat up and head home for dinner, but asked if any of us wanted a ride. I definitely did. It was a lot of fun to go sailing again, and it was only the second time I had been on a Hobie Cat. One really neat part was that he had a harness, so I was in the harness, attached by a wire to the top of the mast, and then standing out above the water with my feet on the edge of the boat. Not only was it fun, but it also helped to balance the boat. We did ride on only one hull for a little while when we were going quite fast. After going down the lake and coming back, I let him know that it would be fine if he needed to go. I thought it was great, and it made me smile because his name was Doug and I have sailed many times with a different Doug in Louisiana.
It was a great day to spend on/in/around the water.
First off was hiking to the base of Twin Falls. The weather has been nice and hot, so it was a great day to go get completely soaked. I go there basically every summer, but I cannot remember seeing the creek so muddy and high (I wouldn't have wanted to drink any of it today). The left waterfall was really raging and the right waterfall was very small. We were already feeling mist from the falls right after we crossed the rock face. Getting down to the pool at the bottom of the waterfall was more work than usual. I had a harder than usual time seeing to even get down to the pool, and I think I stepped into the water a little and then a wave came and soaked my foot (not that I noticed much because my shoes were already soaked). The force of the wind from the waterfall even blew Aunt Jeany's sunglasses downstream.
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| me, Janine, Uncle Stan - soaking wet from the waterfall |
While returning the kayaks to Lester's house, someone from our school community was coming back in with his Hobie Cat (a dual hull sailboat). I had been watching him throughout the afternoon. He was going to put his boat up and head home for dinner, but asked if any of us wanted a ride. I definitely did. It was a lot of fun to go sailing again, and it was only the second time I had been on a Hobie Cat. One really neat part was that he had a harness, so I was in the harness, attached by a wire to the top of the mast, and then standing out above the water with my feet on the edge of the boat. Not only was it fun, but it also helped to balance the boat. We did ride on only one hull for a little while when we were going quite fast. After going down the lake and coming back, I let him know that it would be fine if he needed to go. I thought it was great, and it made me smile because his name was Doug and I have sailed many times with a different Doug in Louisiana.
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| Bringing in the Hobie Cat |
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