Monday May 26, 2008

 

 

Sunday, May 25

 

 

Our day began by attending Chaplain Claude and Huguette’s church.  It was the first time we visited a church where we needed an interpreter.  The wife of the pastor who preached this morning was our French to English interpreter.

It was interesting to recognize tunes of songs, but not the words.

 

 

Afterwards we had lunch at the truck stop with others who were here for the dedication.

 

~~~

 

 

Chapel Dedication

Irving Big Stop, St-Liboire, Quebec

 

 

I walked to the chapel early to get a photo before people arrived.

 

 

About one hundred people gathered to bless and celebrate the placement of this chapel.  It was a sunny, warm, windy afternoon.

 

 

Claude Mathieu, lead chaplain at this location, welcomed everyone.  To keep the messages consistent, every speaker spoke in English – which was interpreted into French by a pastor (Francois Turcottte) of the church (right) we visited this morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The two volunteer chaplains and their wives were introduced to the audience.  Left to Right:  Lynn & Robin Laponte (and son Pierre-Elliot), and Simon & Helene Dupuis.

 

 

Chaplain Len Reimer (lead chaplain at TFC’s Woodstock, Ontario, location and Canadian Chaplain Trainer) shared a short background on how finances and prayer began for a chapel at this location.

 

 

Claude and Huguette’s daughter Suzanne and her husband, Andre (violin), from Montreal, and Chaplain Paul Leger (guitar) from Salisbury, New Brunswick, blessed the audience with a few songs.

 

 

Dennis Finnamore, TFC’s Director of Canadian Ministries, brought greetings from Canada.

 

 

Howard Moses, TFC Director of Chaplain Care, brought greetings from the USA.

 

 

Howard (bottom) led the dedication service by anointing the chapel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claude and the two volunteer chaplains were also anointed and dedicated to share the gospel at this location.

 

 

Afterwards the truck stop staff graciously served coffee and cookies to the crowd.

 

 

 

 

~~~

After lots of visiting and goodbye’s, many headed toward home.  Those of us who chose to stay another night or two, went to the motel to relax before meeting for supper.

~~~

 

 

We were now down to a much smaller group, but still had a great time of fellowship, laughter, and made lots of noise.  Left to right:  Eunice Brown, Huguette Mathieu, Brandy, Angie, and Howard Moses, Dennis Finnamore, Doug (hidden) and Joyce Hills, Claude Mathieu, and Len Reimer.

 

 

 While here, I received a phone call from my youngest brother’s wife saying they had become grandparents this morning when their daughter, Andi, and her husband Jared were blessed with a baby girl.  They named her Molly Elizabeth.

 

 

Since some are leaving in the morning, we said a few more goodbyes outside the restaurant.

 

~~~

 

It was a wonderful day.