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Sunday in Montreal

 

Montreal

We left Claude & Huguette’s home about 8:00 a.m. to be at People’s Church by 9:00 a.m.

 

We were early, so I had opportunity to take a few pictures in the sanctuary.

 

Beautiful flowers from a member’s garden.

 

Pastor Frank Humphrey and Claude

I was impressed with Pastor Humphrey’s attitude, despite dealing with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

 

Chaplain Len Reimer presented the ministry of TFC in both morning services.

 

Len called his wife, Sue, and Claude and Huguette forward after the presentation.  A young pastor prayed for them – especially the ministry in Quebec.

 

After a delicious lunch at a Chinese Restaurant we went to Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal (Sanctuarie National Oratoire Saint-Joseph-du-Mount-Royal).  It is a Montreal landmark and tourist site.

  

As we entered the massive structure, there were thousands of candles in various colors, many being lit as we walked through.

 

 

A main focus is a memorial to Brother Andre, the founder of this basilica.

 

Another attraction is its view of the city of Montreal.  It was very cold and windy, so I chose to take a picture from inside.

 

This sanctuary is very simple compared to the one we visited on Friday.

 

That was a deliberate choice of Brother Andre, due to his love and concern for ordinary, working people.

 

We were pleased to have time to visit Claude and Huguette’s daughter, Suzanne, and her husband, Andre, who treated us to a local sushi-bar.

 

This was an adventure for us!  I had tried sushi a time or two, when featured on a Chinese buffet, but we had never been to a sushi-bar. 

 

Andre tried in vain to teach the four of us how to use chopsticks.

 

The salad was fabulous – especially the dressing.

 

Cerwin doesn’t like the appearance or taste of seafood, so stayed with things he thought were safe – like this soup.

 

Andre ordered this plate of cooked items for those who were not impressed with seaweed and raw seafood.

 

I enjoyed tasting some of these items that featured a variety of seafood and vegetables.

 

This was the best shrimp I have ever tasted!

 

I had to try something unusual – so chose the eel (front left).  I didn’t find it as delicious as the breaded shrimp, but it was an interesting taste.

 

 

I also choose green tea over a soda.  That was another new and delicious taste to me.

 

Suzanne and Huguette

When I asked them to pose for this picture, Suzanne said, “But I’m still in my scarf from the soccer game.” 

We arrived at their house a few minutes before they got home from their son’s soccer game, and went almost immediately to the restaurant, due to our schedule.

 

We went back to People’s Church for the final session of the Mission’s Conference, where Len Reimer (left) participated in a panel discussion with other featured missionaries.

It was encouraging to attend this weekend conference, get to know some of the people, and meet their missionaries.

They are truly brothers and sisters in the Lord. 

~~~

Pray for us as we travel to Pennsylvania today.  It is a ten to eleven hour drive.

 

 

“For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.”- 1 Peter 1:24-25  NIV

 

 

Rain, Relaxation & Montreal

 

We enjoyed a relaxing morning with Claude and Huguette, then went to The Chalet for lunch – the same place we had been for supper on Wednesday).  From there we went to the truck stop to meet Len and Sue Reimer.  He is lead chaplain at the Woodstock Chapel in Ontario.

 

Claude, Len, and Sue in the truck stop restaurant.  We were having such a good time visiting and showing them the new chapel, that I forgot to take pictures.  This is the only one I got.

Len and Sue were representing TFC at a mission’s conference at The People’s Church in Montreal – the reason they are in this area.

 

Can you guess where we stopped for a quick hamburger on the way to Montreal last night?

 

I wanted to get a picture of Montreal as we crossed the bridge – and tried using a high speed setting.  This is what I got!  Since I was on the wrong side of the car, I gave the camera to Cerwin for a flash picture, but there were too many cars in the right lane, and not enough opportunities for a photo.

 

We arrived at The People’s Church just before 7:00 p.m.  This church, a member of Associated Gospel Churches, is multiculture and very mission-minded. 

The service was in English, but several speakers were difficult to understand because English was their second language.  The moderator has a strong accent of some African language, a woman who shared about her work in a pregnancy center was French, and the speaker was from Costa Rica.

 

Len and Sue’s TFC display in the church basement.

 

Montreal is a large city with lots of tall buildings, reminding us a bit of New York City.

On the way home I pondered some of the challenging thoughts from Rev. Nery Duarte, who likened the Christian life to an EMT.  (He works on an ambulance one day a week.)

1. Be prepared (study)
2. Access the needs (look around you)
3. Call for help (use the skills of others)
4. Do what you can (bloom where you are planted)
5. Be happy in your position (learn to be content)

My favorite thought tonight:  Sometimes you do something noteworthy or heroic, other times it is your job to “hold the light” for someone else.

 

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”- Hebrews 4:12  NIV

 

 

Quebec City

 

Approaching Quebec City – after a two-hour drive from Claude and Huguette’s home.

 

 

Quebec is full of history.  A fort overlooking the St. Lawrence River.

I am standing with my back to Les Plaines d’ Abraham (The Plaines of Abraham) where a battle for Quebec was fought. 

 

A German machine gun captured September 2, 1918 in France.

The area called The Plains of Abraham is in the background.

 

Entering Old Quebec

 

 

 Not quite lunchtime – evidenced by empty tables.  The weather was perfect!

 

We saw several artists – music and painting.  Notice the statue of Samuel de Champlain in the background.

 

Huguette and Claude walking up the hillside to the statue.

 

 

Beautiful architecture.

 

Another view of the St Lawrence – looking toward the city of Levis (Levee).

 

Notice Levis across the river from Quebec City

 

There are signs of restoration everwhere – in prepartion for next year’s four-hundred-year celebration.  This particular area was where prisoners were kept.

 

We went inside this museum to watch reenactments of some of the great battles for Quebec City.

 

Looking out – from a museum window.

 

 

One hour later the restaurant was full – and another musician has arrived.

 

 

Another highlight of my day was eating lunch in this restaurant.

 

Customs come from this area of France.  Huguette said they speak a dialect of French that she cannot easily understand.

 

Their feature is crepes – 80 varieties of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.  I loved watching this young cook.

 

In this photo she is joined by her mom.

 

She always had this expression on her face when making crepes.

 

The waitresses

 

My lunch crepe.

 

A mushroom and asparagus crepe didn’t look as delicious as it tasted. 

 

 Other patrons – looking toward the street from our table.

 

A view of the street outside the restaurant.

 

Looking the other direction.

 

The paintings on these bridge pillars were new to Claude and Huguette – probably something in preparation for the 400-year celebration.

 

Huguette was pleased to find the house where she was born – with the help of our GPS unit.  She remembered the street address.

 

Looking back on the old city as we traveled to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre.  The tall building on the left is where we saw the statue and museum.

 

Driving by Montmorency Falls

 

Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre is 350 years old.  This particular basilica was built in 1923 following a fire in 1922.

 

A monastery on the hillside.

 

Inside the beautiful basilica.

 

There were carvings at the end of every bench.

 

Candles that people pay for and light in hopes of answered prayers.

 

I love this silhouette of Cerwin – created by the sunlight coming in the door.

 

Sunset on the way to Beauceville (bose-ville), and area where Claude once served as a Baptist pastor.

 

A view of Beauceville in the dark.  We ate supper at a restaurant in that town.  Notice the cross on the left – and you can’t miss the beautiful moon.

 

 Our last stop was the chapel – to see if the automatic light sensor was working.  Claude exclaimed “look at that” when he saw the lights from the road!

 

 

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”- 2 Timothy 3:16-17  NIV

 

 

Setup is Complete

Thursday

 

We arrived at Irving Big Stop about 10:00 a.m., after first stopping at a building supply store for a few things we needed to complete the setup.

 

We cheered when there was evidence that the electric was hooked up correctly – after the main switch was turned on at the truck stop’s power plant.  Cerwin, Claude, and Maurice are all amateur electricians, but thought they had done everything correctly yesterday.

We were especially grateful for heat, as the temperature is in the 30’s at night.  (It is 30 degrees F as I make this entry.)

 

Putting the ceiling fan together was one of the most complicated things the men did today.

 

 

 

Huguette and I spent most of the day in the living quarters ~ putting shelves together, dusting cupboards and drawers, and then filling them with books and office supplies.  We also unpacked the microwave and refrigerator and put them in place.

 

By mid-afternoon the men were finished with their work.

 

Cerwin gave Claude a demonstration on how the sofa bed works.

 

It has an air mattress.

 

Claude declared it very comfortable.

 

Cerwin’s finishing touch was putting a sealer around the air conditioner in the chapel area.

 

The air mattress was put away.

 

Floors swept and chairs put in place.

 

Setup was declared finished about 4:30 p.m.  The official opening of the chapel will be on Monday.

 

Being a “farm girl”, I quickly noticed the beautiful and plentiful farmland in our fifteen-minute drive from Claude and Huguette’s home in Saint-Hyacinthe to the truck stop at St-Libiore.  We also see farm equipment dealers, large grain bins, and other signs that this is a place of many farms.  Wednesday evening when traveling to the restaurant, we drove by a large agricultural university.

 

Our bodies were weary by suppertime, and ready for some delicious food at Ti-Pere.  I think Huguette said it means Li’l Father.

  

Claude and Huguette shared a broasted chicken meal, and Cerwin and I shared a chicken fajita meal.

 

Dessert came with the meals, so Claude got an apple pie topped with caramel and ice cream.

 

Cerwin chose a sugar pie.  It was a bit like a pecan pie without pecans.  He declared it delicious. 

It felt good to get a hot shower, then relax in the Mathieu’s living room for awhile before bedtime. 

We are looking forward to a day of vacation on Friday.

 

 

 

 

Happy 43rd Birthday to Our Oldest Son

 

We Love You, Jeff!

 

 

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”- Ephesians 5:19-20  NIV

 

 

Wednesday in Quebec

 

Huguette preparing breakfast.

 

Cerwin & Claude drinking coffee and planning their day.

 

Looking at our CRV from their 2nd floor balcony.

 

Arriving at the truck stop – photo from my back seat vantage point.

 

Discussing how to park the chapel.

 

Pulling it into place.  The tractor was brought here from Woodstock, Ontario, as that chapel is getting a refurbished one that TFC used many years ago.

 

 

Claude telling Cerwin – Stop!

 

Using a stepladder to get inside.

 

A view of the truck stop from the entrance door.

 

Everything traveled well and is waiting for unpacking and setup.

 

 

Setting up the steps.

 

 

Huguette looking out.

 

Installing the awning above the window in the living quarters.

 

Huguette assisting from inside.

 

The inside view of the same job.

 

Huguette makes sure Claude doesn’t fall out while working on the living quarters emergency exit awning.

 

The outside view of the same job.

 

Maurice, Cerwin, and Claude checking out the electric hookup.

 

The inside connection.

 

Inside

It was too late in the day to turn the electric on, so we closed the chapel and headed to a restaurant for supper.

 

Notice our chapel from TransCanada Highway.

 

My view of the sunset from the backseat.

 

Supper at Le Chalet.

(For those who read French – we did not have any beer or wine!)

 

 

One French word I can figure out – OPEN.

 

 

 

Huguette and Claude

 

Cerwin’s chopped steak meal.

 

My chicken kabob.

 

Pouding Chomeur

The second “o” needs a little “cap” on it, but I’m not sure how to do that in Xanga.   

I do know it was delicious.  It was just out of the oven – a bit like a hot sticky bun, however the dough was more like a biscuit.  My mom used to make something like this with blueberries.