...on to completion

Hey all,
Sorry about the lack of updates in the past couple weeks. The team was at Redberry Bible Camp last week and the week before, which turned out to be a huge blessing for all of us. For Erik and Jamie, it was a place of stability for Micah who has done so good on the road, but might be a little tired of being strapped into his carseat all the time. For the first week, Jon and Nathan took on the responsibility of being camp cousellors, which were roles they both enjoyed. What an awesome opportunity to build relationships with kids! On top of that, they both got to act like goofs all week which wasn't a huge challenge. Elissa was able to lend a helping hand in the kitchen preparing food for the many kids, and Doug took on the role of planning most of the evening worship times. For the first week, Senior high camp, Steve was the main session speaker, and we were all blessed to be able to listen to hi as e shared what the Lord had placed on his heart each night. the theme for the week was "Luvin to the max" - So Steve was able to challenge the kids into a deeper love for their creator and those around them through personal testimony as well as scripture recitation. On Sunday the team was able to be a part of Waldheim MB to lead the morning service there, as well a worship might to kick off the Waldheim missions conference. It was awesome to be part of a conference with such history. We sensed the spirit moving in that body of believers. It is always encouraging for us to see young and old alike, lifting hands in worship to our great God.
As the trip winds down, we find oursleves reflecting more and more ech day at how the Lord has brought us through this summer. It still amazes us how when we step out in obedience the Lord takes care of the rest. It sure hasn't been easy the whole way, but through awesome times and difficult times we have seen firsthand that we serve a loving and faithful creator. As we prepare to head home after a final service in Saskatoon this Sunday, we are confident that the Lord will continue to protect us and carry this good work which he has begun, on to completion. Thanks again for all of your faithful prayers. Please keep commenting, as we do check this regularily.
-The team -

Back in the Bus... 

Micah cooling himself down with a beverage on a hot day. 

Leading Worship @ Soar with Dan Loewen, his wife Lynn and Natalie... 

The SOAR youth in Montreal @ St. Jean Baptiste church 

Moving our trailer down the narrow streets of Montreal - the wrong way on a one way! 

@ the Quebec border... 

Go West Young Man

Hey all,
Well, our time in Montreal has come and gone. Sorry about the lack of Blog updates, but it has been quite a busy time there. We had such an amazing time there. The team was able to be under the leadership of Dan Loewen for the week, and we led worship for the some 100 SOAR Montreal participants (SOAR is a 2 week YMI program for high schoolers). We were stationed out of a Catholic church in downtown Montreal. The city itself is quite amazing, there is a depth of culture and freedom of expression there like I have never seen. Unfortunately there is alot of obvious brokeness and sinfulness as well. We experienced the Lord together with the SOAR kids this week, worshipping with them, and watching as walls of shyness and independance came down so that they could effectively be used in Montreal. What a blessing to be there. On top of it all, the Montreal Jazz festival was happening about 10 minutes from where we were sleeping, so I diddn't let my time there go to waste, taking in all of the jazz I could at night...
As we left Montreal, SOAR leader Phil Sorez prayed a somewhat prophetic prayer over our team - he asked that the Lord would protect us as we drove through the U.S (it's much quicker than going northen Ontario) and that the border crossing guard (who he felt would be a woman), would let us through without question. As it turns out, we were let through by a gracious woman without question, and our Motorhome provided faithfully for us as we drove through the night to reach Manitoba. We were let through into Canada without question again in the morning. So here we are in Boissevain, thankful that the Lord has brought us safely this far. Tomorrow we head off to Saskatoon area for Redberry Bible camp, where we will spend the next two weeks. Pray for us as it will be a pretty intense couple weeks. For the first week, Stephen will be the main session speaker, as well Jon, Nate, and Doug will be counsellors. We are looking forward to building relationships with the kids and are pumped for what God is going to do. As our time on this trip begins to draw to a close, I can't even believe how much God has shown us and been faithful. We are so thankfull for his servants who have been praying for us every day. Blessings,
the team
By the way, if you want to check out whats going on with SOAR Montreal, check out
www.soarmontreal.blogspot.com

Ever heard of cars?

Bonjour,
Well today marked the beginning of our Montreal time with the YMI SOAR program. We arrived in Montreal yesterday feeling revived off of a four day break in Quebec City. Not knowing where to stay, we were hooked up with an amazing family in Montreal who opened up their house for us for the two days and two nights before SOAR begins. We have again been blessed by amazing hospitality. The family gave us free reign on their outdoor pool as well, which we didn’t resist. The Lord has surprises us in often extravagant ways. Today we went downtown Montreal and got a little bit of a feel for what SOAR will hold. We will be leading the worship times for a bout 100+ kids and adults on the Montreal trip (they will be from Manitoba to Nova Scotia – about 70 percent English speaking). We are leading with Dan Loewen who will lead half the songs in French, which should be awesome. Anyways, we will be stationed in a Catholic Church which is about 100 years old. It is breathtaking from the inside and out. We have realized that for the most part, Quebec is largely an unreached people group. Talking to our friends last night, we learned that only about 0.5 % are Christians. There is a longing in people here for independence and freedom. Pray with us that through SOAR Jesus can begin to flood this province with truth. If God is calling you to Quebec and you are reading this, believe me you need to come…There are beautiful people and cities here who need the Lord. It has been encouraging to hear of some of the cool things God is already doing here through recent church plants, some of which have been established through the rendevous Montreal project.
Anyways, I hope this gives a little insight into where we will be over the next week. Thanks for your prayers for us. It has been such an encouragement to read comments and just to know that the Lord is raising people up who are interceding for us. We have been blessed and feel strengthened and unified as a team since coming to Montreal…Having a pool to unwind in helps with that. This week you can pray that the Spirit would blow us away with His presence as we worship with the kids, unifying us and giving them courage as they go out into the city. Pray for patience as accommodations will be tight this week. Pray for protection over all involved as we will be downtown Montreal all week. Pray that God would begin to pour truth into this place!
Thanks again…What a blessing to experience these things.
-about the title - today we found ourselves moving our 10 foot trailer by hand down a busy street in Montreal - we thought it would be quicker than moving it with the motorhome. It must have looked pretty funny. One passer by (we must look like non - quebecers) yelled in English -" You guys ever heard of cars?"
-The team-

More streets in Old Quebec. 

Some of the streets in Old Quebec. 

One of the guards at the Citadel in Quebec City. 

Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City 

Ottawa by Night 

In front of the Parliament Building -center court in Ottawa 

Micah is totally pumped about Niagra Falls. 

The team @ Canada's Wonderland in Toronto 

Another common sight for us in Ontario. 

A common sight for us in Ontario.. 

We posed at this sign only to find the real Ontario sign (a gargantuan one) just a minute down the road... 

Great shot by Erik from behind the set @ MBCI in Winnipeg - we had a ton of fun leading a very energetic group of students in worship. The Lord is Good! 

At MCI in Gretna, Manitoba - Quite a beautiful new auditorium... 

Vive la Quebec!

Hey all,
Well, today marks the second day of our team's much needed break. Although we have had a little bit of time off prior to this, we really needed a break from each other and the Lord has provided in huge ways for us. Last week we were in Ontario, and led a Sunday morning service in Kitchener...We were blessed to be a part of the Dwelling Place Church that morning and the service went well; it was good to worship together again. We were again blessed by the hospitality of the Church, and experienced probably the best meal of our lives staying with Gareth and Gail Goossen...From Kitchener we expected to bust out to PEI as soon as we could, but once again the Lord had other plans for us. The Motorhome decided that it didn't want to make the trip out to the coast and we had a God - ordained rest in a little town outside Kingston, Ontario. It turned out that we broke down right on the turnoff to Ottawa, so we took that to mean the Lord wanted us to be in Ottawa for a couple days. We headed there, and experienced the praliament buildings together, as well as other sites...It was cool to experience the Senate, House of Commons and the Supreme Court, the places where our countries' leaders make decisions. It was interesting that while in Ottawa our team had a tough time with unity, we spent a great deal of time while we were there working out team issues...It was tough to go through some of the things we did, butI think the Lord refined us during that time. Thank you for all of you who were praying for us during that time. It is amazing how the Lord can take us through times like that. We were able to stand together at the end of our Ottawa time as a unified group over Ottawa and pray that God would continue to break us and unify us. This was our cry for the nation as well; that God would be the voice of reason for our leaders and unify them in the same way...
From there we decided, upon recommendation, to spend our break in Quebec City, which is where we are right now. The Lord allowed us to split into three groups, and experience this time in relative solitude. Quebec City is a great place...We feel fortunate and blessed to be able to experience this, once again riding on the prayers of the body and it's support. Next week we are in Montreal... Stay tuned for more pictures.
Au Revoir!
Jon

Muggy Boots?

Hola,
Sorry about the title, I couldn't think of anything else. It's just so hot and humid out here in Southern Ontario! This update finds the team @ the university of Waterloo, taking advantage of the free e-mail service they provide...yes, we are ALL mennonites. The last week has been great. The Lord knew when we started that we would need a six day break in between our Manitoba and Ontario deputations, because it took four of those days to get out here. The Lord has definately blessed us with an amazing Motorhome, and we are so gracious that it has withstood the test. After a tire blowout and an electrical problem, we have been reminded that the Lord works on His time, and His plans are what we will submit to. Anyways, for those of you who are wondering, we are here, and blessed to be able to experience the goodness of God each day. Thanks for your prayers! Gotta Go!
Jon

Muddy Boots

Hey out there...
Here's some pictures for you guys to give you a bit of an idea of whats going on with us...Things have been pretty sweet, right now we are stationed just outside of Winnipeg in a small town called La Salle - we've been surprised at how much rain Manitoba has graciously offered us...Actually I think the BC folk feel quite at home out here with all the moisture. Anyways, we just finished playing in a chapel @ MCI in Gretna, Manitoba (thats Mennonite Collegiate Institute) - it was great to be able to play in their new auditorium - the Winnipeg symphony has recorded there ( It's absolutely beautiful). As we prepare to head into Ontario, we would ask for prayers both for safety as there is a lot of driving in the next few days for us, also that the spirit would be our guide during the next week as our scheduling isn't as concrete as it has been thus far. We are anticipating good things...
Thanks again for all the encouragement, the Lord continues to answer your prayers in being always faithful, and we are incredibly humbled to have such support...Blessings,
-The team-