INNER CITY CAMP 2016 - Week #1
As I sit with my feet up, enjoying the cool air in our family room, I am full of praise to the Lord!
We just finished 5 days of Inner City camp out at Strasbourg Bible Camp.  Walter spoke 8 times in the chapel, teaching on the character of God, the Ten Commandments and how Jesus came to bring us from our separation from God to be in relationship with Him.  He also used the same illusions he had practiced for Silver Birch Bible Camp to illustrate some of the truths, impressing the 8-12 year olds with the simple scarf  and disappearing bag tricks!
The biggest challenge Walter faced during the week was allergies. 
This time of year is bad for allergic reactions and being out in the country, Walter battled the harvest dust and whatever else was in the air.  If he took antihistamines,then he felt drugged and groggy!  So he tried to find the right combination of drugs and air purifier, making sure he had a box of tissues handy in the chapel!  (It didn't help that the old chapel has carpet - when the kids begin to do action songs, they stir up the dust in their enthusiasm !)
I spent the week in the kitchen, with our friends Jim and Shirley from Calgary.  What a privilege to serve with real culinary artists who have done this kind of thing before!  We tried to start our mornings (which started about 6:30) with coffee and prayer.  With Shirley taking on most of the baking and Jim running the meat slicer and the grill, I mostly filled in the gaps with the meal preparations.  Apart from one burned offering of baked oatmeal, we had no major mishaps.
The biggest challenge I faced was shutting my brain down when we took a break.
We lost half a day in the kitchen because of a rental group that was leaving just as we were arriving on Monday.  My mind kicked into high gear to make sure we had what we needed to have our snacks and meals that first day and take out the meat from the freezer for the next day. I wished we could have had more time to organize ourselves and reorder the kitchen as suited us but...by the last day, we had things clean and put in their proper places so next week's cook can see what she has at a glance!  I feel good about how we left the kitchen.
Sleep is not a priority at camp!
On Wednesday night, I was in my pajamas by 9:30 and relaxing in our room. Walter had hooked up the fan and filter system for his allergy control space, and I was working on my crossword puzzle book.  By shortly after 10 pm, I couldn't keep my eyes open.  The kids were quiet down our hall and I so hoped it would be an early night for everyone.
Bang!  "Get up!  Wake up!  Come on, get into the lounge!"
The counselors got their kids up for a night game!  First they had a few fireworks set off across the lake, which we could see from our lakeside room's view.  Then the kids played "find the counselor/junior staff" and "hidden glow sticks".  It was midnight by the time the quiet in the halls resumed!
Thursday night was the famous "Talent Show" which is a highlight for everyone.  The cabins perform some musical number or skit, the staff have a couple classic skits that play a bit of a joke on first-time campers or staff (Great Green Candle).  I've seen it several times and it can get long and drawn out!  I was sitting next to a junior staff who is 17 and had come as a camper.  He laughed at the skit and reminisced how he remembered being one of the "newbies" who had that skit/joke played on him and he totally enjoyed the whole thing!  It gave me a new appreciation for the fun and joy these silly aspects of camp can bring.
At intermission, which was already 10 pm, we served popcorn & juice outside. Then the 2nd half of the show proceeded.  I had to get to bed!  Fortunately, we could sleep in an extra half an hour so I went off to try to sleep.  But it was the last night, so once again, the camp didn't shut down until 11: 30 pm!  The kids had the time of their lives!
As is tradition, when the big bus arrives to take the campers back to Regina, all the staff lines up so the kids can high-five us on their way into the bus.  It was really emotional as a couple of the younger boys cried openly and hugged their counselor.  I choked up once again, thinking of the love and peace the kids experience at camp and knowing many of them would return to tough homes and difficult circumstances.  They might not have the opportunity to hear about Jesus and be surrounded by Christian influence until next summer...
PRAY WITH US as these children absorb and hopefully live in the grace of the Gospel.  Pray for their safety, their spiritual growth, their challenges and their hopes for the future...Pray God will keep them in His care and continue the good work He has begun in each of these precious ones.
Will we go back next year?  Most definitely!

I woke up early the other morning, feeling that familiar anxiety that I battle.  I couldn't sleep; my stomach was clenched and tensed. Only one thing would succeed against this spirit of fear and worry...
This may seem weird but I bought myself an adult colouring book back in the spring.  The Christian bookstore on Victoria Avenue had a selection of them.  I chose one that had a page to colour and a page to journal.  It seemed like a good thing to be an outlet for the stress in our journey with Caylea's health and all the unknowns back in May.
On this particular morning, as I sat myself in the window seat of our dining room, I settled in with that colouring book and my Bible.  A fog was blurring my view outside.  It was dawn.
I have found the activity of colouring to be relaxing.  The journal page has a Scripture to focus on and the picture corresponds with that truth. The page on this day was taken from  Psalm 121:2 "My help comes from the Lord..."
As I carefully chose the colour scheme for the ocean scene, I meditated on the words from the Bible.  I prayed for myself and for my family.  I especially asked the Lord to help me process what Caylea is going through.  And I addressed my anxieties about her upcoming Interferon treatments to begin in a few days.  I knew that was the core issue beneath my worries!
I prayed for strength.  I prayed that I could support Caylea as a Mom and be calm and full of peace.  Instead of feeling a rising sense of God's power, I felt that anxiety building and tears forming!  Why wasn't prayer helping?
Then the Bible verse spoke to me - "My help comes from the Lord" - and I realized something I didn't like:  I had the feeling I had to be strong. "I" had to be steadfast and not too emotional or weak!  The Lord showed me what a lie that is!  My help comes from the Lord, not from myself.  I am weak and unable in my own power to be strong for Caylea!
I also realized I was carrying the burden to "be there" for my daughter, when she also has her Daddy, her brothers and sister-in-law, extended family, many good friends and of course, the Lord Himself!
So I confessed my pride, the lie that I was the only one caring for Caylea!  I asked the Lord to forgive me for carrying a burden that wasn't mine.  I asked for the wisdom and understanding to really trust in the Lord and believe He is our hope and strength!  I released Caylea back in the Father's hands - again - and asked for the humility to accept other's help and support as the Lord was providing.
What a freeing moment, to release a burden to the Lord and to know He can be fully counted on to look after everything!  It reminded me of another verse that the Apostle Paul wrote:
2 Timothy 1:12 "Nevertheless I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day."
Yes, I am learning that God is able and will never fail in His responsibilities.

Its funny but when I finished praying and crying, I looked out the window and noticed the clear sky, the view beyond our fence to the field and the oil refinery and dump and jail!  God had cleared the fog outside, just as He cleared the fog in my spirit!
God's got this!

The Parade!
I used to get pretty excited about the annual "Traveler's Day Parade" held the day before the big "Buffalo Days" Exhibition of Regina.  My dad built floats for SaskPower, the Cooperators, and maybe some other corporations over the years.  He was always so proud of his work, able to transform a simple flatbed into a shiny, sometimes moving or spinning display.  If he won a ribbon in the parade judging, we all heard about it!
So, last night, Caylea and I made our way to park somewhere off South Saskatchewan Railway Avenue and grab a spot along Broad Street downtown to view the parade.  We made it just in time to hear the siren of the police escort car and catch the first of the dignitaries riding in convertibles, waving at the crowd.  This year, only the southbound lane was closed off for the parade route, so we dashed across the other lane and set up our lawn chairs in the meridian in the middle!  We settled in and began to wave to the mayor, the MP's and MLA's.
Years ago, the participants in the parade lined up just off the Dewdney Avenue sidestreets, as far as 13 block Montague Street, where we used to live.  Now, there are not nearly the entries of floats, marching bands and various business like their used to be!  The parade would be on a Saturday morning, and our kids would look out our bedroom window at 7:30 am as the drivers arrived to take their spots in the lineup.  Each of our kids got to ride with my Dad in his truck as he pulled the Cooperators float for many years.  It was a highlight of their childhoods, for sure.
Caylea and I chewed on sunflower seeds - "spits" - and sipped a can of pop.  We commented on different things we noticed about the crowd of people or the , reminisced about riding with Grandpa (Caylea went twice, the 2nd time being in grade 11!).  Across the street, we saw a lady waving frantically at us, and recognized it was a woman Walter and I curled with and her granddaughter!  We waved back, yelling across the road to send greetings.  Regina is a small enough city that one is likely to run into someone you know, no matter where you go!
The one sad or disappointing thing we noticed is that not one church or ministry had an entry.  But the Regina Pride and the cross-dressing nightclub each had a float with their patrons proudly waving from on top of the moving display.  We recognized someone we knew and it broke our hearts as we saw them publicly declaring their sexual orientation.  A young adult who had gone on missions trips overseas, has musical talent and potential to serve Jesus as they once had done...
This was the second reference I observed yesterday to a young person being confused about their gender and going against their Christian family and roots.  I know there are many theories as to the source of the confusion, from genetic and physiological reasons, to abuse and rejection, to personal choice.  I am not going to delve into that area today; but I am saddened to see such unhealthy displays of identity, when Jesus wants to show forth His image and glory through us!  Something to ponder...
As a few horses trotted by, some baton twirlers and the police marching band passed us, we smiled and enjoyed the colours and sounds and variety.  We laughed at the poor young man whose job was to scoop the poop from the horses!  We were pleasantly surprised when a local florist shop handed us free flowers.  Of course, we laughed out loud at the cute little Shriners' in their bright red fez hats, driving in circles in those tiny cars!
All too soon, the final cars, street sweepers and police escort signaled the finale.  We stood, folded our chairs and looked for a break in traffic to cross the street.  In no time, we were heading back home, thankfully avoiding any jams as I pulled a U-turn and cruised back along S.S. Railway Ave.
The parade of  2016.

I want to dedicate this blog to being thankful for ministry moments that are rich in blessing!
On Saturday, Walter and I had the privilege of attending the wedding of two young people.  The young lady spent a few weekends with us when Caylea brought her home during school breaks.  We got to hear some of her story and encourage her in the decisions she sought to make with her life and future.  As Walter and I witnessed the lovely bride make her vows to the handsome young farmer, we rejoiced at how God led them together and provided a Christian husband for this dear young woman. The ceremony, program and celebration was truly an honour to the Lord.
Today, we had another young couple share lunch with us.  Over two years ago, we spent several sessions in pre-marital counseling with this couple, listening and praying with them as their journeys had been a struggle.  Seeking to enter marriage with a healthy start, this couple persevered through opposition from without and within.  As we shared fellowship with them - and held their 2-month-old baby boy - we rejoiced in Gods healing and goodness to build their marriage and expand their family.
I am so thankful for the wisdom God gives as we try to walk with people through messy and complicated relationships.  When many walk away from marriage, or prefer not to make vows but live together common-law, I see many more choosing the way of one man/one woman fidelity and overcoming their past, the influence of the world and the attacks of the enemy on Christian marriage!
Thank You, Lord, for the encouragement these past few days in seeing fruit for our labours.
God is good ~ all the time!