September 1999

WOW! What a summer!
It is hard to believe that our summer tour is over. What a summer it was. We had so many new experiences including flying into one community, street and beach ministry (yes, really) and rock climbing. It is probably easiest to start at the beginning of the summer and tell you what we did.
Our first stop was Mount Zion Camp in Gilmour, Ontario. While we were there we encouraged the kids to live a holy life and not bow to the pressures of the world and their friends to compromise God's standard. We also picked up Sam Martin, alias Professor Hinkle Dinkle, who would travel with us for the summer.
Next stop - Waskaganish, Quebec on the shores of James Bay. We could only reach this northern community via plane. We had an absolutely wonderful time while we were there with many children making a decision to follow Jesus. At 4:00 on the Sunday afternoon, as Joel and I were going for a walk, some children waiting at the church door saw us. "What time do the doors open?" they asked. It would still be another three hours. Then it was time to leave with most of the plane's occupants being speakers for the camp meeting we had just been part of. Of course one of the pilot's instructions would remain with us. "Could everybody please fill up the front seats as the plane is like a canoe. If everybody goes to the back we sink." Then it was time for a break as Anya, Charity, Rhian and Sam all went to youth camp.
As soon as camp was over we were back into the full swing with an Hawaiian VBS in Buffalo, NY. The weather department really went all out while we were there to make sure we had Hawaiian like temperatures for the week. We even set a record for the church sanctuary with 88° F. As we departed Buffalo so did the heat wave.
Our next stop was at a camp in Wiarton, Ontario. While we would be here quite a few things would happen that would affect our ministry and future. Friends of ours, Joe and Edith Sit, had recently moved to a camp and asked us to come for two weeks. While there we would all have some new experiences. On Monday at the Tobermory Harbour, we would have an afternoon and evening presentation of puppets and mime on the street. Tuesday would find us, in Lion's Head at the Seniors Home in the afternoon and on the beach at night, again presenting the gospel through puppets and mime. We almost cancelled the Tuesday evening on the beach because of bad weather and it ended up being the largest crowd that we had of all three outdoor programs. Following this we had three days of Day Camp, left for a wedding and returned for another week of Day Camp. Interspersed with camp activities was rock climbing, snorkelling, exploring caves, and canoeing.
We would return to Wiarton later in the summer and re-shingle the tabernacle roof and insulate one of the cabins. We would also discuss plans for a wilderness camp that would be run by Joel and Darryl, Joe and Edith's son. Eventually the plan is for the wilderness camp to run all summer long and as such we would move to Wiarton and continue travelling from fall to spring from the camp. Please pray that the Lord would continue to direct is in this new venture and that we would be careful to follow His leading and not step ahead.
After Wiarton, we returned to Buffalo for a quick trip, followed by a few days of much needed rest. Then it was off to the Old West in Fort Erie to see How the Lost Were Won. It was here that 'Ruth' thought she might actually learn how to ride something other than the 'quarter' horse at the local mall. So she came in riding on the back of 'Buckie' still afraid that he was a little too tall. Then right after the church barbecue on Sunday we left for Allegany State Park and the Western New York Wesleyan Boys and Girls Camp.
At Allegany we had some phenomenal services with one of the directors telling us that there had been very few services in which he had seen the Lord move in such a magnificent way. While in the state park we also visited Thunder Rocks and while there took some photos to go along with one of our stories. Once I have some time to work on it I hope to have it ready for putting on overheads. After the Wesleyan Camp we had two more stops. One at Glencoe where we also taught 'See How Your Storytelling Can Sparkle'. Then we finished off the summer back where we began - in Gilmour.
Our theme for the summer had been taken from Luke 4:18-19. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Each section was the basis for a lesson with one of the most effective being the oppressed set free. The program would close with a skit that would help others see that their words really can hurt, and for those who are hurting Jesus really does love them.
In each lesson we had the unique privilege of having Professor Hinkle Dinkle present the object lesson. Although while we were in the Old West, the Professor took a sabbatical from school and went prospecting instead. The Professor was a favourite with all the kids and as soon as they would hear his peculiar voice, they would cheer. It was a great pleasure to have Sam Martin with us for the summer and he will certainly be missed.
While we were in Wiarton, Sam teamed up with Darryl and without much effort brought to life many different characters such as Paw and Junior - who definitely had some interesting lessons to teach us. Now Sam has returned to school and Darryl has joined the YASM team. He came with us for the first time this past weekend and we are looking forward to the many enjoyable characters and qualities he will bring to the team.
As for upcoming events, our California trip has been re-scheduled for next summer. So we are in the midst of booking out our fall locally. In a few weeks we will be hosting the Fall Conference for the New York State Sunday School Association (NYSSSA). Joel is back at the store working for the moment. Anya is 18 today. It is so hard to believe that the little one that you bring home from the hospital will actually grow up and then all of a sudden they are. Charity at 16 will be starting back to her music tomorrow and will probably be looking at doing her first piano exam this year. Rhian is almost 14 and sporting a new up to the minute hair cut.
Update on Catch the Vision and Missions.
I am still working on the summer postings but the Vision fund is around $2000. We have been able to purchase a new portable sound system and a camera. We were given a keyboard. Our next purchase will be a trailer as we no longer have one and it will be needed for any long distance travelling. Our Missions offering for Watoto is at almost $500.
Thank you to everyone who has been a partner with us through your financial giving and your prayers.
With much love, Pastor Joel, Mary, Anya, Charity, Rhian & Darryl