November 11, 2021

We are so grateful for today and what it represents.It has been great to learn more about the Canadian celebration of Remembrance Day.A tradition that was new to us is the wearing of red poppy blossom pins from the end of October until November 11 (actually at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month), in honor of and in memory of all those who served their country and in many cases died while serving.

 

A 2-week circuit breaker limiting contact with other people as well as travel in and out of our zone began on October 8 and continues to be prolonged one week at a time.  We were very sorry that Cherith’s parents had to cancel their trip to visit us the end of October.  Thankfully, ministries have been adapted and continue.

We are thankful for the opportunities and blessings God has given with our teaching ministries.  Missiology 1 finished the end of October while my class on music ministry and philosophy continues through the end of the semester.  I very much enjoyed the opportunity to challenge the students regarding their involvement in missions and their personal responsibility to serve the Lord. I am also grateful for students that are eager to learn about and engage in biblical worship. Our music students are working hard and showing good progress.  A young man from M’s church in Quebec recently visited the school for a couple days.  Pray for C who is very interested in returning as a full-time student next year.

 

The French outreach has continued, though the circuit breaker has hindered some from coming.  We are thankful for two French speakers that are in a new members’ class, one who is transferring membership and one that will be baptized the end of this month.  

We have been working with special groups to prepare special music for Sunday services. This has given many opportunities for discipleship.  The young men’s quartet included those that had never sung in a quartet before. We recorded each of the voice parts to help them practice separately. They worked hard and did very well singing “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”, and they are willing to start working on another song. Currently, there is a new Ladies’ Trio and a young Ladies’ trio (ages 11 to 16) that are preparing songs for the near future. Caleb helped Cherith to record parts from the keyboard directly to the computer for each of their songs to facilitate practicing at home.

The Lord provided in a special way for Cherith to get her prescription meds renewed for her respiratory issues — in the nick of time! In fact she had the renewal the very day some of her meds ran out.  We had been unable to get an appointment with a doctor, and even waited 5 hours in vain at the ER to see a doctor.  We started to wonder how the lack of meds would affect her breathing when they all ran out.  But through Pastor Eastwood, the Lord connected us to a Christian pharmacist in town that directed us to a website where we were able to secure a virtual appointment with a nurse practitioner who was able to renew the prescriptions.  Cherith will still need to see a doctor “in person” some day, but at least for now, she has necessary medications.

Adrianna and her roommate --
mk friend from Slovakia

Adrianna is working hard at BJU with a full class and work schedule.  She has gotten involved in her local church where she is helping with children’s ministries.  The University Singers, the choir that she sings with, had their first full concert this week and also sang in Chapel.  With extra practices on top of the already full schedule, she was pretty worn out.  We are thankful she will get to travel to MI for Thanksgiving and be with our family there.  While we will miss seeing her then, we look forward to her joining us here for her Christmas break.

The Lord has answered prayer for my cousin Michael in that he was able to come home on Monday!  He needs supplemental oxygen and is having outpatient PT and OT to increase strength and endurance, so he needs continued prayer.  But we praise the Lord for all He has done already. 

Tim Friesen, the former pastor from Emmanuel Baptist, continues to need much prayer as he is suffering with blood clots that resulted from his battle with Covid.  At this time, they are not responding to treatment which puts him in a dangerous situation.  Please pray that the Lord will intervene and heal Pastor Friesen according to His will and that God would be glorified. Pray for his family as they continue to go through difficult days with him.