The Dump Truck and an Old Bucket of Paint

I walked out of my team’s office a few mornings back expecting to grab a cup of coffee and return to complete a major software installation on a visiting missionary’s computer, but to my surprise the main doors to the office were wide open (that lets the COLD!! air in) and a dump truck was parked right out front of the office’s snow-covered sidewalk! I had to investigate…
Forgetting that our offices are being redesigned and as I approached the doors, it was clear there was a lot of effort going into cleaning out the demolished parts of the old contents to make way for the installation of the new. Well it just seemed the right thing to do, so I watched for a few more seconds and then picked up a few things and headed out to the waiting dump truck. After several trips with my hands and arms full, a few difficult maneuvers and a couple awkward tosses, I was given the okay to get back to MY work (smiley face). Fortunately, I hadn’t dropped my coffee into the mug before I got myself involved in the cleanup efforts.  So, I rounded the corner to the make-shift kitchen area and plopped a pod into the “one-cupper”. Once the machine was done spitting out the fresh brew, I went back to work setting up the new operating system on the computer.

As I think about what went on that day – relating to that messy business of cleaning out the old, rotten, broken and even well-used stuff, I am reminded of the continuing ministry of God in our lives. Even those things which are “good” and well-used need to be moved out of the way, even cleaned out to make way for God’s best. I am thankful for this amazing work being completed by the Faithful One!

Here’s some closing notes about 2017

Although there were some interesting twists and turns along the 2017 road, it was a great year of growing confidence in the ministry of God in our lives, the lives of our partners, the lives of our family members and our local ministry co-workers lives as well.

By God’s grace and through His provision our summer trip to the US was filled to capacity. Even though we would have liked to see many more of you, we counted our blessings for the time we had with those who were available. Be assured that if we didn’t see you, you were very much in our thoughts and prayers. Some of our “escapades” were posted on facebook – the kids’ or Jinni’s.

Our trip to see RJ in the stage presentation of Disney’s NEWSIES was a real treat! I’m guessing you saw some photos? (No…photos not allowed).

UPDATE: RJ was in two other plays in 2017 and has performed in the 2018 presentation of Shakespear’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” as the King of the Faeries.

Elijah continues to be an encouragement to his fellow workers at the Watts Road, CFA. His great work ethic has earned him some recognition, some financial gain and some interesting future opportunities. He is scheduled to work most of the time heading into the new year which is not all THAT BAD.

UPDATE: He has now returned to our town and is working with a friend at a parts assembly plant.

Moriah is now 18! She is such a nice young lady. It is a joy to watch her relationship with the Lord grow and guide her in some difficult waters among her peers her grade 12 year. She has continued to thrive in sports and has become a respected leader on her teams.

UPDATE: Just one 28 more weeks until her high school years are behind her then off to Bible Institute.

Susan is still the youngest. Can you believe it? She will be turning 16 this March -YIKES- and she is nearly as tall as our boys.

UPDATE: She may be part of the soccer team at her school this season. We’re praying her knees and ankles don’t become problems so she can enjoy the physical exercise and not miss out like she did during volleyball.

Since the boys were “tied up” our family decided to make the Christmas trip south this year and relieve them of the chores of packing and getting back and forth. So the girls, Jinni and I made the trip in our van. We left the 23rd, just before the holiday and scurried around to visit before we had to return. Susan and I made an early exit so she could attend an annual snow camp she really enjoys. Moriah and Jinni returned by air a couple days later. Since Susan was in camp, I made the trip to Toronto to pick them up when they returned the day Susan got out of camp.

Jacques, yes Jacques… (our dog) we were trusting the Lord for caretakers for him, so he didn’t have to make the road trip. He DOES NOT travel well. the last couple of short trips (1 hour rides to lake Huron) he simply could not take it and heaved his insides out (SAD FACE). Ten hours in the van seemed to me like horrible torture for him. Oh Lord, Thank you for providing a young man to stay in our apt and take care of “poor” Jacques..????

Just before we left for our Christmas trip, I was in the process of finishing some work that was amazingly begun by our neighbor, Alan. He is quite a talented electrical installer among many other giftings. While we were away for the funeral of Jinni’s father, he did some work in our apartment that I had only dreamed of being possible. When we returned all the really tough stuff was done, adding an independent light switch and a new over the table lamp, adding a ceiling fan to the main living room area and creating some better light switching options for the entire down stairs AND modernizing the lighting in our kitchen!! I just had to find the old bucket of paint and put on the finishing touches – with some sanding drywall, patching and then paint to match the wall’s existing color.

I am SO THANKFUL that the work of God in our lives is not like that. Although there is some renovations going on inside, “sanding down the rough edges”,  the old bucket of paint in not picked up at all. When God is working, the individual has the joy of knowing the old is gone and a new life has come, kinda of like a totally new color of paint!

Praising our Father for you

Thank you for your ministry to our family. We so appreciate the partnership we have with each of you. God continues to remind us through your faithful and sacrificial giving and prayers for us that we are privileged to serve Him ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ with the Ethnos Canada team. We count it an honor to be an extension of your ministry to many parts of the world. If you have any prayer points we can join you in bringing before the Lord, please send them our way.

Roland (for the family)