Day 8 SUNDAY!

So with 12 hours notice, Walter prepared a message and I warmed up my voice to share a special number!  This was one of those "God moments" where we had planned to just join in fellowship anonymously and God planned to use us when our fellow missionaries needed us!

The Sunday School kids came into the sanctuary while the worship team led in songs to celebrate Palm Sunday!  I loved seeing the little ones wave their branches enthusiastically and the slightly older, taller kids looked embarassed and not as thrilled to be marching in front of their parents.  

I sang a song I could do without too much practice "The Goodness of God" and shared a little about our BC trip.  (Unfortunately my guitar pick-up was crackling so I need to check that when I get home!) Walter shared a message on the Triumphal Entry and challenged this church - complete strangers to us - to be like the donkey in the account whose only job is to carry Jesus. We all have a place in God's Kingdom and we need to find a way to serve and share about Jesus the Saviour.

The congregation was having a special business meeting after service so we ducked out.  Our next meeting was at 3 pm to meet with another retired missionary - we found a Sushi Garden restaurant nearby and enjoyed a delicious lunch!  It was pouring rain out so we enjoyed the warm jasmine tea a while before making our next connection.

Noriki Suzuki is in her 80's and still answers our Tribal Trails spiritual helpline (phone line).  She came from Japan to serve in First Nations ministry in the early 1980's and ended up being one of the first to minister in an Inuit village in northern Quebec.  She freely shared her experiences and memories of the remote communities she was placed in.  Her language study was amazing! She showed us the workbook she developed and used to teach two other single women who served as partners with her in Arctic Quebec. The "alphabet" is syllabic symbols much like the Cree language had been written in and Noriko had a very good grasp on grammar and vocabulary. Because her appearance was like the Inuit people, and her language acquisition was impeccable, Noriko was readily accepted.  How wonderful!  She shared how a former Sunday School boy contacted her to say he was still serving Jesus!  It was a delight to visit with her and enjoy tea and a Japanese cake dessert with strawberries.

Sunday evening found us in Merrit, BC.  We listened to an audiobook to pass the miles.  We settled into our hotel room I did a load of laundry as we vegged in front of the TV.  

And that was Sunday!