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Monday, May 26

St-Liboire, Quebec

We spent much of the day at the chapel.  Cerwin wanted to make an adjustment to the desk.

He moved the section on the right toward the door, so it will be easier for the chaplain to sit in the center of the desk area.

He was capably assisted by Bill Brown, a good friend of Claude from London, Ontario.  I think Bill decided he would like to spend a week helping Cerwin build a chapel next summer when they are in the states.

Huguette, Eunice Brown, and I (and the Brown’s dog, Lucy), visited and later helped clean up a bit.  About lunch time we enjoyed a visit from a Christian business man from New Brunswick.

Lucy didn’t miss a thing.

For supper, we voted to go to Le Chalet – the same restaurant where we had supper last night.  I love this little restaurant.

Lucy was pleased to keep an eye on us, as we sat just inside the window.

We were “worried” that she was going to drive the car away – or start blowing the horn. 

Flowers at the counter.

I like their table centerpieces.

This is a fabulous restaurant if you are not on a schedule – and want delicious food. 

We are now down to just the six of us, and Tuesday morning after the Brown’s leave for their home in Ontario, and Cerwin and I head to our next destination, Claude and Huguette will again be on their own.

This amazing woman prepares and serves the food, then takes your payment before you leave.  Claude said everything is made from “scratch” each morning.

Cerwin decided to give her a “thank you” hug.  She didn’t understand English very well – but she understood the hug.

I was not very hungry – it seemed that all we did was eat the past few days – so had a cup of soup and Egg pie.  I wasn’t sure what to expect when I ordered it, but it was just what I wanted – a light custard.

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.

Driving to Quebec

After several very busy days – trying to catch up in the office after a week in Minnesota, and preparing for our trip to Quebec and Maine – it was nice to relax in the passenger seat of our CRV and enjoy the beautiful sunrise and other scenery along the way.

At one rest stop we enjoyed the sound of thirty-plus motorcycles.  They were lining up to leave as we pulled away from the fuel island, so we just waited – and turned our windows down!

These were the only pictures I took on the entire trip.  I just felt like relaxing and playing one of my favorite computer games – Speedy Bubbles

You can find it at http://www.addictinggames.com/speedybubbles.html.  I even played it during most of our two-hour wait at the Canadian border.  There were four lines of vehicles going into Canada. 

After arriving at our motel, we met other TFC staff and friends who are here for the chapel dedication tomorrow.

This was our choice for supper.

You can see that we are back in the country of speaking French.

Our group of early arrivals.

We weren’t a large group, but very noisy. 

After a delicious meal, and driving back to the motel, most of us walked across the parking lot for coffee and dessert at Tim Hortons.  You cannot go to Canada without stopping at Tim Hortons.  It’s like visiting the USA and not stopping at a Starbucks!

A volunteer chaplain (in orange) and Dennis Finnamore, Director of Canadian Ministires (to his right) joined us.

After an early wake-up call Saturday morning (3:00 a.m.) for our drive to Quebec, we went to bed early – but were awakend at 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning to a very loud fire alarm.  It turned out to be the result of a drunk wedding party – when someone accidently turned it on.

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;

He who keeps his way preserves his soul. 

Proverbs 16:17 NKJV

This verse came to me by email this morning, and seemed appropriate since we are on the highway again!  

This time we are headed to St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, for the dedication of the chapel we took there last October.

This Quote Made Me Smile Today

 There is no way of belonging to Jesus Christ

except by belonging gladly and irrevocably

to the glorious ragbag of saints who make up the Church!

Sound advice is a beacon

good teaching is a light

moral discipline is a life path. 

Proverbs 6:23 MSG

I Think I Need a Bath

What do you think, Turtle?  Should I take a bath?

Go for it you say.  I think I will.

Oh, this feels good.

Are you watching?

Gotta get some water under my wing pits.

A clean beak is important too.

One more time under the wing pits.

I am exhausted!

Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us

and we are his

we are his people

the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:3 NIV

Happy 4th Birthday to Jared

You are our favorite Jared in the whole world.

Catchin’ Up

Minnesota Sunday ~ Flying Monday

Busy Tuesday ~ School Wednesday

Minnesota Sunday

We had a wonderful, relaxing Sunday.  After church, a fellowship meal, and a Bible question challenge, we came home and relaxed at Bob and Doris’.  I especially enjoyed watching the orioles.

This was our last Minnesota sunset.

Flying Monday

Before leaving for the airport, we took time for posed pictures.  Cerwin and me in back.  Mother High and Mother Hershey in front.

Judi and Bob in back.  Mother High and Doris in front.

Aimee and the children walked over to say goodbye.

Jeremiah, Jaden, Aimee (and Lynne), Wayne, Loraine, and Japheth Jr. (with cat).

Then it was time to drive to the Bemidji Airport, say goodbye, go through security, and wait to board our plane ~ the first of three.

After good flights and great connections, it was wonderful to see the beautiful landscape of southeastern Pennsylvania.

Seeing the Susquehanna River and Three Mile Island – about 7:30 p.m. – told us we were within minutes of landing.

Busy Tuesday

I spent most of the day doing laundry, going through a week’s worth of mail and phone messages, and putting the finishing touches on a PowerPoint presentation for chapel at Lititz Area Mennonite School on Wednesday.  It was fun trying to come up with sounds and interesting slides for children.

After supper, I went to Jere and Kristen’s for a Tupperware party.  Cerwin went along to visit Jere and help with the children.

There were about a dozen women there, but I didn’t want to make a big deal out of taking a photo, so just took one from where I was seated. 

We were offered the possibility of winning a prize OR the privilege of hosting a Tupperware party.   If you didn’t want to host a party, you could choose not to play.  I told her I would play if she would accept a vendor space at the TFC Truck Rally at the end of June – in place of me having a party – if I won a party.  She said that sounded like a great idea.  Guess what?  I won a party, so she will be at the Truck Rally.

School Wednesday

 This morning Cerwin and I were invited to Lititz Area Mennonite School to present the TFC ministry at their chapel service.  The children seemed to enjoy the PowerPoint we prepared – especially the truck sounds.

After chapel, the younger children came to visit our chapel – one classroom at a time.  The older ones could come as it fit into their track and field schedule, which was going on today. 

The children asked great questions…

…then went back to their classroom with some TFC magazines to read or give to their parents.

Then, within a few minutes, the next class arrived.

We were blessed and encouraged by these great children and teachers.

Children visited the chapel in a steady stream from 9:00 a.m. until 11:15 a.m.

~~~

Kristen brought the little boys for the chapel service, and stayed while the children came to the chapel.  When Jesse got fussy, we suggested that she leave Ian and Jared with us, so Cerwin could give them a short ride in the truck.  They LOVED that idea!

They thought they were “big stuff.”

I followed the chapel to a local gas station where Cerwin stopped for fuel, bought slushies for the boys, then took them home.

My favorite roadside shot of the day (while following the chapel) was this beautiful work horse.