It was just this past Sunday afternoon. My sharing at Grace Bible Fellowship in Sexsmith went well. It was good to see long time friends and meet new ones. After the service, I was invited to lunch with two of the ladies at the church. We headed to Grand Prairie and were seated in the restaurant of the Stonebridge Inn.
Next to us was seated a very large family and I thought they might be Filipino but most of them were speaking English. One of the ladies with me pointed out a friend of her son's who was in the group.
Sometime during our meal, I did hear one or two Tagalog words coming from one of the ladies in the group next to us. We had opportunity to chat as they were leaving the restaurant and I did find out that they were from the Philippines. I explained that I was a missionary there. Then they left.
A while later we left. Outside the restaurant the family that was next to us was still saying goodbye and loading up vehicles. We had another opportunity to chat and the ladies explained to their husbands that I lived in the Philippines. One of the men was a bit dubious about my ability to speak Tagalog until I shared with them about the work of ACTION in the Philippines and what I was doing, in Tagalog. Well to say that his chin hit the ground would be an understatement.
It was a wonderful contact to make. Their families have been here for a while in Canada.
As I headed to my car, I noticed that the one man's chin was still on the ground; he was so pleased that I could speak the language.
'Be ready at any time to share about the hope that you have.'
Blessings,
Barbara
Praises: I am back in Kamloops for a few days! I arrived safely.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Music to my ears
I have been back in Canada for 2 months now. The list of wonderful experiences is now so long that I am glad that i have been keeping a journal. Longer still is the list of visits with friends, supporters, churches and so many different groups. This has been a good home assignment so far.
After these long weeks on the road, I am tired. I thought that my car would be less full at this moment that then when i began the road trip, but along the way there have been a variety of use book stores and pottery shops. I have added to my collection of reading material and mugs.
But of special note are the opportunities I have had to meet a number of Fillipinos here in Canada who are here on work contracts. The first was the young man I sat next to on the flight to Vancouver in May. He was coming to Canada to begin his first overseas contract with a company in Calgary. What a treat that as the wheels of the plane touched down at the Vancouver Airport, I was able to offer my hand and say, "Let me be the first to welcome you to Canada." We parted in the immigration area and I wonder if he was able to bring the sack of mangos into Canada that he had brought from the Philippines.
I have met others along the way and have had the opportunity to find out why they have come and what work they are doing here. In Prince George, the young woman attending church there, pregnant with her first baby. She was able to connect me with a shipper there and we have sent 3 boxes of material so far back to the Philippines.
Also in Prince George, three women who are here as caregivers, who were so tickled that I could speak Tagalog.
Up north, in Eaglesham, Alberta, I met two other Filipinas who are here as care givers. They shared with me that it was music to their ears to hear Tagalog after so many months of just hearing English. We chatted and laughed after church last Sunday. I shared with them as well that it was music to my ears to hear Tagalog after all these weeks in Canada.
The most recent was yesterday, while staying in at a motel in Grand Prairie, Alberta. As I was coming back to my room I heard voices in the hall. They were chatting among themselves and I was sure that I heard words in Tagalog! So I asked, "Are you Filipino?" All four stopped, all four faces broke into smiles, all four began to speak at once. We stood in the hallway and chatted for a few minutes. And for me it too was music to my ears.
I do have to admit...I miss being in the Philippines. And even if the language at times is difficult for me to understand or get my north american tongue around, it has become music to my ears when i hear it.
I am hoping that I have many more experiences this side of the world to share in Tagalog with those Filipinos who are working here, maybe to encourage them, maybe to share what I am doing in their home country, maybe to direct them to a closer relationship with Jesus.
Blessings,
Barbara
Post Prayers:
1. Safety on the last few days on the long road. I arrive in Kamloops early this week.
2. More opportunities to share about Mustard Seed.
3. For the financial and prayer support for the ministry.
After these long weeks on the road, I am tired. I thought that my car would be less full at this moment that then when i began the road trip, but along the way there have been a variety of use book stores and pottery shops. I have added to my collection of reading material and mugs.
But of special note are the opportunities I have had to meet a number of Fillipinos here in Canada who are here on work contracts. The first was the young man I sat next to on the flight to Vancouver in May. He was coming to Canada to begin his first overseas contract with a company in Calgary. What a treat that as the wheels of the plane touched down at the Vancouver Airport, I was able to offer my hand and say, "Let me be the first to welcome you to Canada." We parted in the immigration area and I wonder if he was able to bring the sack of mangos into Canada that he had brought from the Philippines.
I have met others along the way and have had the opportunity to find out why they have come and what work they are doing here. In Prince George, the young woman attending church there, pregnant with her first baby. She was able to connect me with a shipper there and we have sent 3 boxes of material so far back to the Philippines.
Also in Prince George, three women who are here as caregivers, who were so tickled that I could speak Tagalog.
Up north, in Eaglesham, Alberta, I met two other Filipinas who are here as care givers. They shared with me that it was music to their ears to hear Tagalog after so many months of just hearing English. We chatted and laughed after church last Sunday. I shared with them as well that it was music to my ears to hear Tagalog after all these weeks in Canada.
The most recent was yesterday, while staying in at a motel in Grand Prairie, Alberta. As I was coming back to my room I heard voices in the hall. They were chatting among themselves and I was sure that I heard words in Tagalog! So I asked, "Are you Filipino?" All four stopped, all four faces broke into smiles, all four began to speak at once. We stood in the hallway and chatted for a few minutes. And for me it too was music to my ears.
I do have to admit...I miss being in the Philippines. And even if the language at times is difficult for me to understand or get my north american tongue around, it has become music to my ears when i hear it.
I am hoping that I have many more experiences this side of the world to share in Tagalog with those Filipinos who are working here, maybe to encourage them, maybe to share what I am doing in their home country, maybe to direct them to a closer relationship with Jesus.
Blessings,
Barbara
Post Prayers:
1. Safety on the last few days on the long road. I arrive in Kamloops early this week.
2. More opportunities to share about Mustard Seed.
3. For the financial and prayer support for the ministry.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Shower of Blessings
It has been an amazing time home so far. Last April I wrote to many people and churches about collecting material for \mustard Seed, baby blankets and sleepers for the baby clinic, and personal hygiene items for a ministry to the men prisoners at the federal prison in Manila. So far, three large boxes have been sent back to the Philippines! Thank you so very much.
My car is again full and there is much more to collect before I head back. It may take three or more boxes.
Thank you to all who have contributed to the various ministries that will benefit from the gifts given.
Blessings,
Barbara
My car is again full and there is much more to collect before I head back. It may take three or more boxes.
Thank you to all who have contributed to the various ministries that will benefit from the gifts given.
Blessings,
Barbara
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
I am Finally Warm
I have been in Prince George now for almost two weeks. The weather has warmed up now moving from being quite chilly to yesterday's high of 37C. It has been great.
During my time here I have shared at two of churches in PG. It has been great renewing friendships and making new ones. It has also been a season of enjoying the changes in this northern city...new housing, new buildings, new businesses in old buildings.
I also had the opportunity of visiting the PG Railway and Forestry Museum located near Cottonwood Park. My husband and I and a group of railway fanatics were instrumental in beginning this wonderful site many years ago when we were still living in PG. The first piece of machinery to be restored was the old Russell Snow plow, found at the Northwood Pulp and Timber Company. Underneath some of the boards in the cab of the plow we wrote all our names and the date of completion before the last pieces of siding were put in place. What fun!
I remember the moving of the Penny Train station from the town site of Penny, BC, to the museum site in the middle of the night. The building was placed on a flat bed truck and moved ever so slowly to where it is located today.
The museum site today is wonderful. So many more railway pieces have been added as well as the Forestry Museum. The society has also been able to build a beautiful information center at the front of the property. It was fun to visit again.
This next week I will be sharing at a church in Smithers BC. It is also a city that has many memories for me.
Thank you for praying as I have been traveling. These recent weeks have not been as exciting as the first few weeks, with deer and murders. But they have been just as wonderful.
Blessings,
Barbara
During my time here I have shared at two of churches in PG. It has been great renewing friendships and making new ones. It has also been a season of enjoying the changes in this northern city...new housing, new buildings, new businesses in old buildings.
I also had the opportunity of visiting the PG Railway and Forestry Museum located near Cottonwood Park. My husband and I and a group of railway fanatics were instrumental in beginning this wonderful site many years ago when we were still living in PG. The first piece of machinery to be restored was the old Russell Snow plow, found at the Northwood Pulp and Timber Company. Underneath some of the boards in the cab of the plow we wrote all our names and the date of completion before the last pieces of siding were put in place. What fun!
I remember the moving of the Penny Train station from the town site of Penny, BC, to the museum site in the middle of the night. The building was placed on a flat bed truck and moved ever so slowly to where it is located today.
The museum site today is wonderful. So many more railway pieces have been added as well as the Forestry Museum. The society has also been able to build a beautiful information center at the front of the property. It was fun to visit again.
This next week I will be sharing at a church in Smithers BC. It is also a city that has many memories for me.
Thank you for praying as I have been traveling. These recent weeks have not been as exciting as the first few weeks, with deer and murders. But they have been just as wonderful.
Blessings,
Barbara
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