Worth a read

We are preparing for the Victoria County Mission Conference in New Brunswick this week where we will be joining the Crains who have just returned this summer from six years of serving in Kenya. This should be a fun week. We hope to have internet access at some point while we are on the road so that we can share some pictures.

I have had some interesting conversations about the reactions to the Pope's comments in his Regensburg message, and I just came across a wonderful article by John Piper http://www.desiringgod.org/ it is worth a look.

Sadly, the Somali world has been stirred by this situation. There has been uproar in Mogadishu including the murder of a Cathlolic sister. There is a great need for prayer, for grace, and for forgiveness. When I think of how large and complicated the problems are, I find comfort in knowing that God is bigger. Even mountains will move when God is at work.

Charging Our Batteries

We enjoyed some Sabbath rest today. We slept in. We played. We gave thanks. We did homeschooling as a family. It was such a good day. The kids went to bed on time. Erica and I are now enjoying those peaceful evening hours together. Erica has discovered a new game online "Cake Mania", it is absolutely crazy -- she has made like a thousand or more virtual cakes in her virtual bakery (She is so intense at this game, I can see where Tristan gets it). I am enjoying "Boston Baked Beans". While in Mahone Bay, Tristan and Emma spotted this amazing little candy shop "Candy Cravings'. They carry a vast assortment of candy both common and obscure. This is where I happened upon the candy coated peanut that looks like a baked bean. I have also been reading some great missionary blogs and listening to the Mars Hill Bible Church worship as I read through the book of Exodus -- Food for the soul!

"Let us not tire of preaching love,

it is the force that will overcome the world.

Let us not tire of preaching love.

Though we see that waves of violence succeed

in drowning the fire of Christian love,

love must win out;

it's the only thing that can." -- Oscar Romero

Eastern Passage Baptist Church

Pastor Keith hanging out with Tristan and Emma

Late Saturday night we found our way through the rain to the home of Keith and Joy Grant.

Sunday morning, we joined the Grants for worship with the people of the Eastern Passage Baptist Church. We were welcomed warmly by this super friendly church. Marilyn Smith, from CBM, came to offer prayer and share about her new work in justice and advocacy. During Sunday School, Erica was so happy to answer many questions from the children who have been praying for our family. We want to thank you all for your support. We are so thankful to have you as part of this journey!!!

Joy, Keith and Abigail Grant

Emma was thrilled to be able to practice with the worship team

She shook that shaker like a pro -- Way to go Emma!

Western Shore and Bridgewater

On Friday we left New Brunswick with Erica's mom, Mary Clark, to visit three churches in Nova Scotia. On Saturday, we enjoyed a great day visiting both the Western Shore and Bridgewater Baptist Churches. We are so thankful for all the encouragement we recieved as we shared about the work of Canadian Baptist Ministries among the Somali people of Kenya. In Western Shore we had a lively time of games and stories with an intergenerational group. Afterwards we shared in a social time, where Tristan got a chance to take the pulpit!

In Bridgewater, we were treated to a wonderful potluck dinner. We appreciate the Bridgewater Baptist Mission committee's work in pulling this evening together. Unfortunately, we did not get any photographs in Bridgewater because our battery had died on the digital camera. Tristan and Emma were thrilled to have other children to play with. It was sad to say good-bye to the south shore, we hope to be back again after our first term.

Tristan takes the pulpit.

Western Shore Mission's Society Leaders with us after our visit. That is Erica's mom, Mary Clark, in the front row

Tristan and Emma hanging out with old friends from Mahone Bay, Monica Laws and Joel Wentzell

Christmas Daddy's Fun Day

Tristan and Emma had a great day with their cousins at the Christmas Daddies fun day in Moncton this past Saturday. Their cousins, Colton and Kyle (above), had a lot of fun making cookies and playing in the wide array of inflatable toys at the event.

Back to School

Tristan busy with the second grade fun of homeschooling in St. Martins

Emma begins kindergarten homeschooling with Mommy

With September, Tristan and Emma returned to homeschooling with Erica. They are both doing well and love getting into their studies.

Getting to the Bottom of it!

Well, I am doing much better! A big THANK YOU to everyone who has been praying for us since I came down with "hand, foot and mouth disease". I am feeling great, and thank the Lord Erica and the kids never picked up this nasty virus. In fact, they had a good week starting school and playing in the backyard (We have some great photos from St. Martins that I'm sure we'll have up on the blog later in the week.)

On the weekend we were back in Prince Edward Island, enjoying a great Sunday morning with First Baptist Church, Charlottetown. It was so good to see so many old friends! It also happened to be my baby sister Autumn's 25th birthday. Her husband, Corey, surprised her with a hot air balloon ride. Tristan and Emma had a blast chasing after the balloon as it left Victoria Park crossing the city toward Brackley.

This week we are on the move visiting five churches in all three maratime provinces. We had a wonderful evening last night at Brunswick Street Baptist Church, Fredericton. It is exciting to see a church so passionate about missions and cross cultural ministry.

Finally, I just wanted to share the above photograph taken by our friend Kelly Myers during this summer's Convention Assembly in Wolfville. Kelly is convinced that this is where I picked up "hfmd" -- or rather where "it" grabbed me. Thanks Kelly!

Quarantine

Sorry, no pictures this week as we are on dial up here in beautiful St. Martin's, New Brunswick. We had to make a shift in plans as Aaron became sick. At first we thought it was only a flu, but as it continued to get worse we went to a clinic in Nova Scotia on Friday where we discovered he has "Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease". As it is a highly contagious virus, we had to cancel our speaking engagement at West End Baptist in Halifax.

Fortunately, Aaron is doing much better. The virus should be out of his system over the next few days. Thankfully, no one else in our family has come down with it!

Tristan and Emma are enjoying being back in the big white house, they call it the "White Castle". They are both enjoying the first week of homeschooling. It has been so good to have a quiet week just as a family together, after so much travelling. Thank you all so much for your prayers!

Belmont Baptist Church

On Sunday, we had a wonderful time of worship with the Belmont Baptist Church along the North shore of PEI. Rev John Bloedow (above) was very encouraging. We also had a great time connecting with old friends around a great afternoon dinner hosted by Austin and Flow McLeod. We are so thankful to everyone who has been supporting us along this journey.

The PUDDING GAME

We are back on Prince Edward Island for the Labour Day weekend enjoying some time with our family. Here Tristan and Emma are competing with their Auntie Autumn and Uncle Corey in their infamous pudding game. Autumn was the first to find the cookie! Though we don't think that mattered much to Tristan.

South Shore of Nova Scotia

Tristan and Emma with Mrs. Smith the bellringer of the Chester United Baptist Church in the newly renovated church bell tower.
We had a wonderful time visiting old friends in the south shore of Nova Scotia and speaking at both the Chester and Mahone Bay Baptist Churches. It was a thrill for Tristan especially to return to the community where he spent his earliest years. As we drove into Mahone Bay, Tristan pressed his face up to his window: "I remember that house, I remember that gas station, I remember those churches, hey! I remember that tree!!!"

We are so thankful to everyone who has been encouraging us along this journey, and making new memories for our family to hold onto.

Mission Kidz

What a week! During the annual assembly of the Convention of the Atlantic Baptist Churches, we had the joy of leading the children's program on Thursday morning. Together, we had a blast with the kids learning about the Somali people of Kenya, and the challenges of living in Africa.

The highlight of this time was a giant game we played outdoors under the great trees of the Acadia Campus. Here Erica "Draught" chased tribes away from precious resources as each tribe worked to build a life that included reliable water supply, crops, livestock, schools, health care, and faith community. It soon became obvious that many things we take for granted are a source of great struggle for people living in poverty and facing draught, disease, and famine.