Our October

What have you been doing in October?

Putting out your Halloween and Fall decor?

Celebrating Birthdays like my grandkids??

Wishing it would get cooler soon? 

(our Florida friends and relatives?)

Taking a trip to see the Fall color change? 

(more of our Florida friends and relatives?)

Here's a little review of what we have been doing since September 29th - Enjoy!

AMAZING KIDS FALL FESTIVAL!

Me and Michael after his face-paint request.

Pastor Rohan Crown and his wife Rebecca who lead the Amazing Grace
Community Church, the Amazing Kids Program and the AY youth program.

Getting ready to be a Tiger!

John with a shark on his face!

Margaret and Jack Phillips (aka Willie Nelson!) who joined us
this summer to help with Amazing Kids and Amazing Grace CC.

The whole event was made better because of Cotton Candy!!! ( I only had two)

Howard making 9000 french fries

An Angry Bird is launched!

The sack races were a hit - we are going to bring in a tug-of-war next year!

Kids having fun with their families for 10 cent a ticket

MARGARET AND JACK PHILLIPS HEADED HOME

Jack and Margaret enjoying the Banana Split pie at The Onion here in Lethbridge on our
last evening out for dinner before they left.

We had a farewell soiree for them at the Van Dyk home here in Lethbridge,
Margaret and James loading up on goodies.

More of the friends who came to the gathering.

Adrian, Les and Dawn visiting.

A farewell gift to them - a beautiful photo book that we all signed on different pages.

Some of the good friends that they made in their 5 short months here.

NATIVE AMERICAN FIELD COUNCIL 

MEETS IN LETHBRIDGE

Our sending agency, Mission to the World, has a growing presence in the Native American or
First Nations ministry area.  All of the different missionaries, Pastors and volunteers from North America
gather twice a year to encourage and share each others work.  This fall we met here in Lethbridge.

The first night we met, we enjoyed a Blackfoot meal prepared by Roxie and her family.
We feasted on Buffalo stew, Berry soup, Fry bread tacos, Fry bread with maple glaze and for
dessert - Saskatoon tarts. It was quite the meal - delicious and we will enjoy this again soon!

 AMAZING KIDS FAMILY DINNER

Our Amazing Kids afterschool program began its year with a family dinner
for us to get to know the parents of some of the kids we love on throughout the year.

Pastor Rohan handing out special prizes to some of the attendees before our meal.

We were served a delicious meal by Grace Reformed Church here in
Lethbridge who want to join in the support of the Amazing Kids program.

Did you know that you can score one of these Amazing Kids snazzy, silicone bracelets for only $2.00 each.
I will be bringing some with me to Chattanooga in November!

Howard has a new buddy!

The message in the heart says it all:
I LOVE AMAZING KIDS!

AMAZING YOUTH KICK-OFF NIGHT

When the Amazing Kids children get older they can move up to the AY program.
AY (Amazing Youth) is for kids in grades 6 to 12 and is held each Tuesday evening from
7 pm to 8:30 pm - they have game night once a month, a service project once a month, and Bible
studies the other weeks. Check them out on Facebook: AY Lethbridge

Youth meetings = PIZZA

AMAZING GRACE COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER

(Canadian Thanksgiving is always the Second Monday in October - yeah for us -

we get to celebrate twice!)

Bringing on the Pumpkin Pies!

People came on foot and by bike and by car.

We rent the local community center to host this free dinner for those who live in
the North Lethbridge area where our church worships and where the Amazing Kids
ministry is centered.

We served about 80 people this year - 6 Turkeys were devoured!

This young lady enjoyed these cookies, several times!!

Hope you enjoyed the 

picture review of our month. 

Our Sabbath Day.

   A couple of weeks ago we sent out our latest newsletter to those of you who asked to be recipients of news about our work here in Lethbridge.  In our cover email/letter, we asked for you to pray that we would have opportunities to "listen and share Jesus". 

  We want to share an answer to prayer as we tell you about our Sabbath Day worship services.  (yes, this is a bit long, but I wanted to write it down to share with you and for myself also.)

    On Saturdays we drive out to the Blackfoot Reserve, to the city of Standoff, about a 40 minute drive, 61 kilometers. 






We enjoy watching the rolling hills, the wheat and hay fields and the appearance of the Rocky mountains as they loom closer each kilometer we drive.  Yes, there is snow on the tops of some of those peaks, recent snow.






    We arrive at Lighthouse Church, our second visit, and we are greeted as good friends, with hugs and handshakes.  Our new Blackfoot friends are arriving for worship on Saturday, and it is a very relaxed, slow time.  A time to unwind and turn our cares over to the One who always cares for His children.


   This morning the Sunday School teacher is sick and Ruby asks if I would help with any children, ages 2 to 12 who may come.  Our lesson this morning was from Psalm 91, we talked about dreams and nightmares and then read the Psalm from a picture book. We learned that God is with us no matter where we are and what is happening.  



    The children and I agreed that it is great to have a God we can call on no matter what is happening in our lives.  Then we proceeded to have craft time - we made lanterns out of construction paper that had Jesus shining the way ahead of us - to be there when we are afraid or in trouble.

    Howard and I first visited the Lighthouse Church, started by Pastor Ruby over 20 years ago, on September 12th, 2015.  Howard had met Ruby earlier that week and she was very interested in having us come out and visit the church. She believed that the congregation would be very receptive to someone with addiction Counseling skills who is a Christian joining them in worship.

   About 10 years ago, Lighthouse Church was given a building and had it transported from a city to the east of Lethbridge all the way to the city of Standoff on the Blackfoot Reserve, west of Lethbridge - to land owned by a member of the tribe who is a believer in Jesus.  He and his wife are also leaders of this congregation on the reserve.  

    We weren't sure what to expect that first visit, but we were welcomed warmly by all of the members of the congregation who are members of the Blackfoot tribe. We joined in their worship which is led by Andrew. Andrew plays the guitar - very well - and we join in as we learn the words to his songs. Many play tambourines and clap as we praise God with our singing.  Then Pastor Morton welcomes us and leads us in a time of greeting everyone in the church and in prayer and praise.  There was a time for sharing what God has done in peoples lives. Last week we heard from a young lady who struggles with grief in the passing of her sister, and from a young man who is starting a youth group in the church and in the community.

    There is time for communion on some Sabbath days and we come forward to get the elements and return to our seats to partake together when all are served.  

     Then there is a time for prayer, Howard was invited to join the other leaders, including Pastor Ruby, Pastor Morton and a leader from the Messianic church in Lethbridge who will share a message with us later in the service.  It was humbling and uplifting to see many come forward for a time to pray with others.  I was very uncomfortable that first time, but was sure that God was making me so on purpose. I had a time of "prayer in my chair" and committed to praying for those who were coming forward.  

      After communion, a message from God's word is shared with us by a leader from the Messianic Church in Lethbridge who comes several times a month to lead.  His family opens our time of hearing God's word by leading us in a Jewish hymn. That first message was from the book of Ruth, how God provided for Naomi and Ruth in so many ways. 

     The service ended with another time of prayer and song, then we all had a fellowship meal together in their gathering area.  There was plenty of food, even though I brought none.  It was a special time of getting to know individuals in the congregation. A time to put our listening skills into action.

     I am humbled by those who are willing to share their stories with us.  So many stories of grief, many stories of those struggling with addictions, but also stories of how Jesus has been working in peoples lives in mighty ways.  

     We are not sure what the future holds for us as we commit to worshiping at Lighthouse Church on Saturdays.  We ask for your prayers as we seek to follow where God is leading us.