Liberia 2016 Update

Hello everybody, 

With summer coming to an end and the new school year starting we are kicking the Liberia mission into high gear, so I thought I would give an update of what is happening.

This November we will be returning to Liberia. We will be travelling as a small group this year which will consist of my lovely wife Tania, our 8 year old son Kieran and myself. Kieran is super excited to be travelling with us and his caring nature and good work ethic will be a great asset to the mission. Although we are a small team I trust that God will do mighty works through us.

I will be travelling to Liberia the first week in November. In my first week in country I will be preparing the construction site for the upcoming work and assembling our work crew. As well I will be working with Joshua Milton Blahyi (aka former General Butt Naked) and the group of war affected youth that he is mentoring. I will be teaching Joshua and his boys welding/ fabricating skills and how to build a clay brick press that I have designed. The clay brick press dramatically reduces the cost of construction.

Tania and Kieran will join me the second and third week in November where we will continue with construction on the school project and try to support as many of YFC Liberia's programs as possible.

We ask for your prayers and support in our fundraising efforts. We are currently renting out our house through Airbnb with proceeds going towards the mission and have raised $4000 to date. We are also starting our letter writing campaign and are trusting that God will provide the funds to accomplish the work that He has laid out for us in Liberia.

As always your prayers and support are greatly appreciated, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or just would like some more info on the mission or Liberia. If you are interested, donations can be made through qyfc.com

Blessings

Don

Called to Serve

"As each has receive a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace"
1 Peter 4:10. Hello everyone Don here, today God has laid it on my heart to talk about the call to serve, the bible is full of examples of our call to serve others. Imagine a world where everyone answered this call, the young helping the old the rich serving the poor, I think it would be a little glimpse of what heaven looks like. Jesus gives us the countless example of service "When He had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet." John 13: 12-14 or "Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28. I could go on and on but the point is we are all called to serve, whether it be serving in our church, our community, our country, or half way around the world. It can be as simple as sharing a smile with someone who really needs it, or holding a door open for someone, God will use your service and multiply the yield exponentially. Service comes in many forms it can be physical service, financial support, or emotional support, it all depends on how God uses the gifts that He has given you for the glory of His kingdom. So this week I encourage everyone to spend some time in prayer and ask God "How can I serve my brothers and sisters for the furtherance of your Kingdom?" and really let God speak into you and His almighty plan for your life. It all comes down to following the example of Jesus by showing and spreading God's love to all "A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35.
For something a little different I would love to hear how God is using you, leave a comment about who you are and how you are answering the call to serve. I think it would be great to see God's hands and feet serving around the world,  and you may help to inspire someone who is feeling the call to serve. Can't wait to hear from you.

Blessings
Don

Your a Good, Good Father

It's who I am.
      You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.  You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. - Psalm 139:1-6

 There are times I feel like a failure as a mother, daughter, wife, and friend.  I often feel unworthy of the title of Christian.  In all my failures, in all my insecurities, in all my mistakes and shortcomings, I am loved.  I am loved by my creator.  The one who knows every hair on my head.  He will not leave or forsake me.  It's who he is.  I am thankful for him.  I am loved by him.

Take an Evening to experience Liberia

If you missed it the first time, we will be at Cornerstone Church April 24, 6:30!  Come on out and experience a night of facts, food, and fun! 

Spring into Easter

I love spring!  Who doesn't, the snow is melting, rivers are flowing, and in Canada the geese are returning.  You know our national bird.  With its majestic honk.  Ok, maybe not as majestic as it is loud and harsh sounding.  I still like to look up and see those flying "V" formations returning home!  I am a Lilac girl and pretty soon you will be able to smell their perfume all over the county.  If you are a tulip fan you can head to Ottawa and check out the Tulip Festival, thousands of tulips from bulbs donated from Holland.  It is beautiful.  I find spring just awakens the soul.  For me, it all starts with Easter.  The colour pallets change to the pastels of blues and greens, the sun is brighter, chocolate flows freely!  Those are all wonderful and fun, but it is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus that gets me!  I am captivated every year by the story of Christ.  From the last supper to the cross.  The images of the pain he endured are so embedded in my brain.  We have all seen them.  Jesus hanging by his bloody hands and feet, on the cross for all to see, head hung, the crown of thorns upon his brow.  I remember growing up in German as a little kid and visiting so many old churches and cathedrals.  All of which contained the image of our Saviour on the cross.  It scared me and fascinated me at the same time.  As an older teen and young adult, those images and statues did nothing to me.  It was just another cross with another Jesus statue.  I was almost annoyed at the way I would see some people weeping Good Friday at the image of Jesus.  I thought "give me a break" or "really".  I mean it's not like they hadn't seen it before right?  At least, that's what I thought until Easter 2011.  That was the year I watched our church perform The Passion play.  My husband had to work that night and my oldest son wanted to go see the play.  I suggested we invite his dad (I am divorced and Cameron's dad is a none Christin).  I just figured it would be good for him to see.  So there I was sitting on the end of the row with my ex-husband beside me, my son beside him, and my ex's stepdaughter beside my son.  The Odd little unit we were.  The play was well done.  We have a lot of talent at our church.  I was enjoying everything until they put Jesus on the cross.  I look up at that cross and began to weep, no sob, no even worse!  It was an ugly cry like no other!  I was so moved.  My heart hurt so bad for Jesus.  I just wanted to scream "get him down"!  My ex-husband was looking at me like I was crazy!  I felt Crazy!  I wept the entire rest of the play.  My shirt was soaked!  I'm sure I had makeup everywhere.  I just kept thinking my Jesus, my poor Jesus, I am not worthy of the pain you endured.  Well, let's just say the drive home was a little awkward for my ex.  Poor guy didn't really know what to say.  The rest of the weekend was a blur until Easter Sunday.  Easter Sunday was another performance of the play, I was dreading it!  This is where God's goodness steps in.  Good Friday, he needed me to "see" the story, not just the image or statue.  Sunday he needed me to accept his greatness and worship him for it!  I was so excited when the play ended and we were able to worship.  My heart was so filled with thanksgiving and Joy!  It was a rebirth in me!  About 3 years later our church did The Passion play again.  I made sure to be in it that time!  I did not weep uncontrollably or have the same overwhelming feeling, but the Joy was there!  I'm pleased to say it has been there ever since.  It is in the spring, when Easter comes, that I get to remember that experience, and it renews my soul again.