Pacing myself.
This week we are traveling for the ministry and as always, the "adventures with Walter" continue!
We began with a wedding in Saskatoon of two young adults that we have known since they were very young.  It was a joy to celebrate their covenant vows and witness the beginning of their new life's adventures.
Before the evening was over, we drove almost 5 hours to Stettler, AB.  It was an uneventful drive as we listened to our audiobook selection.  Then about 1/2 hour before we reached our destination, our daughter texted to say she was going to emergency!  She'd been having abdominal pain and problems off and on but today it was particularly bad.  So we checked in to our accommodations and got ready for bed but kept one ear open for the subsequent texts to update on Caylea's emergency trip.We prayed fervently and waited for the Lord to direct us.  Should we turn around and head back to be with Caylea?  Would she need surgery or some other procedure?  When the news was not urgent and somewhat inconclusive, we chose to keep going with our travel plans.  By 1 o'clock in the morning, we received our last update.  She did get an ultrasound done but it showed nothing obvious.  The pain wasn't better or worse so she was able to go back home and is to follow up with her own doctor.
Day 2 we got up early and found some coffee and quick breakfast food before driving the 20 minutes to Big Valley for the Metis Gathering (Hivernant).  Our staff Rev. David Lilly (and his wife Elizabeth) is chaplain of the Metis Nation of Alberta and this was the highlight of his year to lead an interdenominational worship service at the annual gathering.
Everything was new to us.  We parked by the old train station and wandered up the road to meet with David and his wife.  They met us on the road, directing us to the Drop-in Centre where the service was to be held.  There were people with cameras, booths set up with jewelry and souvenirs for sale, a huge tent where breakfast was just finished and a Metis village set up in the park.  The morning was cool after the night's rain but the sun promised to warm up this beautiful Sunday.
We found our way to the Drop-In Centre and were very pleased to see the tables and chairs nearly full with worshipers.  David wore a white collar, blue ribbon shirt and Metis sash as he stood before the people.  We joined in with the pianist and two guitar players as they led several old hymns and country gospel songs.  Walter was asked to read a portion of Scripture.  We prayed from the Anglican prayer book and David shared a brief Gospel homily from John 3:16.
Folks mingled a bit and a few came to shake our hands.  We enjoyed some fresh bannock and jam.  Then it was time to move on to our next commitment: help David lead a short service at a senior's manor in Stettler.  His  daughter, Rachel, came with us and shared her recent mission trip to India with the senior's - all ladies- who were so happy to have her and us as guests.
The adventure continued...we went back to Big Valley to participate in a few more of the day's events, then said our good-byes to the Lilly family.  We headed down the road...
Our next visit was with the Simms in the Brooks area.  Janice is 5 days overdue with child #3 and so our visit included a tour of their new farmhouse and the yard and outbuildings.  We picked fresh veggies for supper and got acquainted with their little kids aged 4 and 2.  Once they were in bed, we adults caught up on how they were doing.  By midnight, we found our bed and dropped off in exhaustion.
There was a loud and fantastic thunderstorm that night.  The Simms household was up and trying to cope with the crying and sleeplessness of their little ones.  We woke late, stumbled up the stairs to cheery children in footie pajamas and the aroma of toast and coffee.  After a leisurely breakfast and more visiting, we said our good-byes and carried two jars of homemade jelly to the car!
Driving north, Walter and I debriefed on our experiences, marveling at the variety of people and diverse ministries we are to oversee with Healing Hearts Ministry.  Thankfully, the driving time between communities gave us the chance to refocus and prepare for the next experience we had ahead of us.
At home, I often feel guilty for not being more busy and involved in the local ministry.  But those times are like a camel drinking in the vital water of the oasis before heading out on a long and somewhat unpredictable journey.  When we are away, I don't have the lengthy times for Bible reading and prayer.  I don't have the alone-time to recharge.  So I am learning to pace  myself, to call on the Lord and trust in what He has stored in my heart of His Word and His refreshing presence.  And when I am going full-out in spending time with people and in travel, I need to learn to pull from the resources I have from my oasis times at home!
Psalm 63:1 "O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You;
my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water."
Lord, teach me to draw deeply from Your living water and learn to pace myself when we are on the road!  Keep me near You when the land seems dry and I am growing weary.  Refresh my spirit and replenish what we give out in ministering to Your servants in our care.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.