Lancaster Baptist Church

Richard, Audrey, Sheryl, Erica, Janette, Tammy and Allan

We enjoyed a relaxing dinner with the missions group from Lancaster Baptist church where we had the opportunity to tell them about our journey. Thanks so much for such a fun evening.

We are now off to Riverview to enjoy a few days with family before we visit New Minas Baptist and West End Baptist Churches next Sunday.

Main Street Baptist

Today we gathered for worship with the congregation of the Main Street Baptist Church in Saint John, New Brunswick. Between the two morning sevices, we joined the junior and senior high Sunday School (below). It was a great time to share about the Canadian Baptist water projects in Kenya, and to get aquainted. Thanks so much for the wonderful encouragement! A special thanks to Pastor Steve and Rosalie McMullen for the wonderful visit. It was great to swap stories of our experiences in Kenya.

Kid's Time in Norton

It was a fun night for Tristan and Emma as we returned to their old kid's club at the Norton Baptist church to visit with their friends. After supper with the Murphys and the MacDonalds, we shared in stories and games about Kenyan mission. We learned about the importance of sharing and being generous. Thanks for such a great night!

Bye Bye Jessie!

As our time in Canada draws to an end, we have been sharing in more and more good-byes everyday. It was great to have one last chance to say farewell to Jessie DeVos. We'll look forward to breakfast in Nairobi with you Jess!

Grace Memorial

On Monday, we had a fun time with the children of Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Tristan and Emma had a fantastic time playing "tribes" with the other kids and sharing about our journey to Kenya. It was also great to meet the Worlor children, whose family has been brought to Canada from Liberia.

Later that evening, we had dessert with their church's missions group at the home of George Neil and Julaine Palmer. A big thanks to George and Julaine who not only hosted our family in their home, but organized our visit. God Bless!

Uprising!

On Sunday evening, we joined the uprising; an emerging worship gathering in Sussex. It is exciting to see the Lord drawing so many young people together from churches across this community. Check out there website at theuprising.ca

The Crains

On Sunday afternoon, November 19th, we had the great pleasure of taking part in the induction service of Alden Crain as our new pastor at the Midland Baptist Church. We are so excited for Alden, Tracy and their family as they begin life and ministry in Midland.
Erica with Barbara Sherwood and Andrew Myers

Travis King
Theresa Hickman and Jackie Crain

Guest speaker Martin and Bev Zwicker

Brunswick Street Baptist Church

It was a joy to be a apart of an energetizing Sunday morning at Brunswick Street Baptist where it was standing room only in the enhanced gymnasium for the contemporary worship service lead by worship band Present Reality. Part way through the service, Senior Pastor, Rev. Terry Atkinson, led us to the main sanctuary just in time for a beautiful choral ministry of music. Through a video link, we were able to share with both groups about our experiences of encountering God on the road. Following the worship services, we also were able to meet with a large group from the Church preparing to visit Kenya on a Short Term Mission this August. We can not wait to see you all again when you arrive in Nairobi.

Marysville Baptist Church

We want to thank Jane Love and the Marysville Women's Missionary Society for hosting us to a lovely luncheon! Together we enjoyed a great morning discussing the current challenges that face the Somali refugees entering Kenya and our own journey to serving with Canadian Baptist Ministries. Emma enjoying a sweet treat with Rev. David DuBois
Hanging out with Melody Arrington and Shiloh Peterson

Youth Alpha Retreat, GreenHill Lake

GreenHill Lake, New Brunswick
This past week end, we had the fun being part of the Marysville Baptist Church's Youth Alpha Retreat. Pastor Chris and Erica (above) are adding up the points at the end of a great game of "tribes", where we had the teens struggle against famine and flood to gain water, food, shelter, medicine, education, and faith in an epic game. Thank you all so much for including us in your great weekend.
Marysville Youth Worship Team

Christmas with the Myers

On November 16th, we celebrated an early Christmas with our good friend's the Myer's. Tristan and Emma had fun with Lauren making (and devouring) a delicious gingerbread house. The day was bitter sweet as it is hard to say good-bye to friends and family.

Emma with her bestest friend, Lauren Myers

Flooding in Kenya

A friend of ours forwarded this recent report from Red Cross aid workers in Northern Kenya. Recent rains are causing mass flooding which have taken 23 lives and displaced over 80,000 people. Please pray for the people of North Eastern and Western Kenya. We are also praying for the growing Somali refugee population in Dadaab, where an expectant mother has already died in the flooding.

Beechwood, New Brunswick

On Sunday night, we were blessed to be invited to the Beechwood United Baptist Church for a missions gathering with the Bath, Florenceville, Centreville, Tracey Mills, Upper Knoxford and Lakeville field Baptist Churches. We shared in a great dinner and evening service. Thank you all so much for your support!

The Cummings and Barrens with the famous Mr. Fiddle Head

We had a great stay with Jim and Eva Cummings, including a delicious feed of New Brunswick's finest fiddleheads. Thank you both so much for your kindness, we enjoyed a very restful time. Now, if only we could find fiddleheads in Kenya!
Erica and Miriam
Emma with her new friend Abby
Tristan monkeying around with new buddy Blake

Jacksonville, New Brunswick

On Saturday, we arrived in Jacksonville and enjoyed a wonderful weekend with Rev. Paul and Linda Wellwood and the folks of the Jacksonville Baptist Church. The Sunday morning worship service was a great time of praise in song and prayer.

Emma and Tristan hanging out with Keagan (3) and Jacob (7)

Richard Culberson taking our kids on a tour of his barns on his cattle farm they had a great time with the horse and the the calves.

We also want to thank Betty-Ann and Richard for opening their beautiful home to us. We had a wonderful time, especially all the fun with the playdoe pizzas and silly Italian accents!

The Boys

The Girls: Jacqueline, Sarah, Erica, and Nalan

The Boys: Darren Stretch, Dennis Arsenault, Kerby Bruce, Adam Kenny, Aaron Kenny, Rodney McLeod, Shawn Schroeter, and Frank Arsenault

A highlight of our week on Prince Edward Island was getting

together with good friends including "the boys" .

We had a great evening at the home of Rodney and Sarah

reminiscing about our camp Seggie days and our teenage adventures!

The Sweets

We enjoyed a rainy walk along the paths of the beautiful farm of Graeme and Victoria Sweet in Pownal, Prince Edward Island. Graeme and Victoria are worship and Awana leaders at First Baptist Charlottetown. They just moved back to PEI from Fredericton, NB, where they were a valued part of the Brunswick Street Baptist worship leadership.

We had great afternoon, and look forward to fishing in their pond and eating s'mores when we are back again in 2010. Thanks so much for such a great time!

We will be enjoying the rest of this week with family here on the island, and traveling this weekend to the Jacksonville and Beechwood Baptist churches in New Brunswick.

Fun with Cousins

Ezabella, Penelope and Emma at the Charlottetown Farmer's Market
Tristan and Emma with their cousin Liam visiting from Calgary, Alberta
Tristan helping put in Grampy & Grammy Kenny's winter wood

Murray Harbour, PEI

On Saturday, we were treated to a wonderful potluck dinner and a sharing time with the Murray Harbour Baptist Church. Our time went late into the evening with great discussion about Somalis, Kenya and the work of Canadian Baptists in Africa. Tristan and Emma enjoyed playing with new friends and sleeping over night at "Our Father's House" Bed & Breakfast -- where we received the royal treatment (Thanks again Joe and Bev!!)

On Sunday, we took part in the communion service with Rev. Brent Robertson. We were so encouraged by everyone. THank you all so much for your prayers!

Visiting with the Gosbee Family who were so happy to have the eldest son, Gary, home for week from Afganistan with the Canadian forces.
Erica and the kids with Bev and Joe at "Our Father's House" Bed & Breakfast

Emma with Gracie!

Settlers of Catan

Lauren Myers making Emma a beaded bracelet.

Like mother like daughter!

Actually, beading isn't the only "passion" we share with the Myers. We have a regular competition over Settler's of Catan (the world's best board game). We will certainly be taking a game set with us to Kenya. We'd take the Myers too, but there is only so much we can pack.

Aaron, Andrew Myers & Josh Steeves

Kelly and Erica

Face-Off

My sister's family is doing some renovations to their home as they get ready for their new baby this February. The kids have all done some room swapping with Kyle taking over his big sister, Nicole's room. To make it his own he wanted to decorate it with his favorite team the Toronto Maple Leafs. Aaron and I spent the afternoon creating this mural for him. Kyle was pretty excited to come home from school to his new bedroom. Go Leafs!