Thursday's This-and-That

Hello everyone! I have to confess I’ve been a bit slack in posting lately, simply because I’ve had such a busy and exciting two weeks! Before I share what I’ve been up to, I have to say that I borrowed the title of this post from Michelle W. over at Blogging from the Boonies. I’d like to invite you to pay her a visit as she shares lots of exciting letters from her many Compassion children! Now, on to my updates!

Outside my window: It’s raining steadily outside, and there’s a miniature river of water pouring down the trunk of the maple tree that stands right outside my window. I can hear a chickadee chirping merrily though! The temperature stands at around 13 degrees Celsius, which means that fall is finally setting in! Even though it’s the end of September, the leaves haven’t started changing colors yet. Here in Newfoundland, fall is generally late compared to the rest of Canada. There are a few brown leaves scattered over my lawn though, and the branches of my Mountain Ash tree are sagging downwards with the weight of its many clusters of red berries.

My Week in Review:  (Actually, this should say, “My Two Weeks in Review” since it’s been that long since I posted!) I’ve been keeping busy with band practices lately. Our church worship team, Driftwood Cross, meets together regularly to prepare for Sunday mornings and also to practice for the different events we perform. Here in Newfoundland, “Coffeehouses” are a regular event in many communities. Different performers and musicians gather together for an evening of fun, fellowship, and of course, coffee or tea and dessert. I always enjoy our practices as we always have such a wonderful time of fellowship and sharing together.

On the 22^nd of this month, Open Door celebrated our first anniversary together as a church. I’m so proud to have been a part of this wonderful “community” since the second week of its inception. We’ve come a long way in just one year, and it’s been so exciting to celebrate the “firsts”: our first infant dedication, our first church barbecue, our first baptismal service, our first bake sale, our first Biker Sunday, our first Arts & Crafts show, our first Sunday School class, and so much more. We pray that this anniversary is only the first of many!

On the Compassion side, I got word that a letter is, at long last, on its way to me from my oldest boy, 18-year-old Mbula Timothy from Kenya. Mbula was assigned to me as a Correspondent on May 31^st, and this is my first letter from him. I can’t wait to receive it and share it with you all!

This week was also the start of what I can certainly call my biggest venture yet: taking over as youth group leader! Open Door Youth generally runs from September to June, and we were a bit late starting this year since I needed time to prepare. We have a small group but we are a close-knit one. I’ve known these kids ever since I moved to Newfoundland three years ago, and it’s wonderful to see them growing and maturing. As I told them yesterday, this is a learning process for me as I’ve never run a youth group before, although I’ve always helped out. I’m really embracing the challenge and looking forward to stretching my wings and growing right along with “my” kids.

Coming up: Later this evening, we’re heading out to see Richard Roberts, the son of great healing evangelist Oral Roberts. I’m really looking forward to a wonderful, spirit-led time.

On Friday night, Driftwood Cross is also playing a Coffeehouse about an hour-and-a-half drive from here, which is the farthest I’ve ever traveled with the band. I’m really excited about all the opportunities that God is giving us.

Open Door Youth is also having a movie night next week, so I’m eagerly anticipating that!

I hope that you all are having a wonderful, blessed week as well. What are some of the highlights/lowlights of your week? Feel free to share in the comment section!

Until next time… See you on the Path!