Indian Birthday Tradition

So I was involved in a Birthday Haze with the guys downstairs.  When it's your Birthday all of your friends break eggs on your head,shove cake in your face

Karate for boys

 So Solas went to his Karate class last week, he hasn't been in several weeks.  It was wonderful to see how much he has grown and how much he has retained.  Toward the very end everyone had to get in a line and flip then get up and block and punch, Solas was one of the only kid who did it right the first time...couldn't be more proud.  I met a father with his son Aldo and had the opportunity to tell another parent the reason we were heading to Thailand.  Afterward the boys and I had about 30 minutes to play on the grass of the community center.

Boys' Birthday Party

This was the boys Birthday party!  We had many people from the neighborhood, people who we've met here, and friends from Christ City Church.  It was such a blast!

Week of July 8th--Westside Day camp

This was such a fun Day Camp--i.e. VBS.

I was in the performance as "Brutus the Strong Man!"

Tracy helped run all of the outside games and activities and I helped do the memory verse for everyone on sign language.  Solas and Judah were a part if it and they had such a blast!

Camping Trip

So the the fellas and I decided to go on a camping trip to Garibaldi Lake.  There were about 12 of us total.  Seven friends --who have been in Vancouver for about 2 months who are originally from India, Di who lives across the street who is 22 from China but has lived in Vancouver for the past 7 years, Arnold and his brother from London Ontario whose parents are from Nicaragua, and Trevor who is originally from Ottawa but has lived in Vancouver for the past year, and of course yours truly.  The hike up was brutal, it was a 9 k--over 6 mile hike--carrying heavy equipment. Some of the guys took 6 hours to get to the lake, others took as long as 8 hours to reach it. No one expected it to be snowing. That night it was too cold to camp in tents on the snow--most of the guys did not bring sleeping bags but rather a few blankets to share. So we brought the tents inside the shelters that were set up. That night we played cards in the tent--10 full grown men in a 5 person tent--and I cooked dinner on the little propane grill that was brought.  One of the more comical moments were when in the middle of the night a few of the guys heard wolves around our shelter, to which I was awaken to, "oh my goodness, do you guys hear that?!? Those are wolves, quick help me push the picnic table in front of the door so the wolves don't come in." I just imagined wolves standing on their hind legs opening the door handle 😀... The thought actually still makes me chuckle. 
The next morning we all were so cold we woke up at 5 a.m and started our trek back down the mountain.  Most of the guys have never hiked, and most of the friends from India have never seen snow...shoot, most people who live in Bakersfield never have either. The hike down was brutal on our leg muscles. But we survived and most of us were severely sore for the next 3 days...good story for the grand kids nonetheless.

Potluck Saturday

 

Well Tracy and I have been talking for awhile about having another get together at our house, and today it finally happened. We had our neighbor Di, and his father from across the street over and we had Nancy who is a Christian who lives in their basement suite over, we had a family, David and Corrie--and of course their 3 little girls over, who are Christian join. And finally we had the 8 guys who live downstairs join...it was a blast today. Everyone brought something, and as we were enjoying some good Indian food and pizza, I thought to myself...Lord you are so gracious to give my wife and I this opportunity to be involved in these peoples lives.  And to have friends and to be cared for by so many people.  ~Cecil

The Bridge Bible Church

Well I can honestly say that I have a much higher view of preachers now more than ever. My only experience in preaching includes sharing my testimony in front of a congregation, leading Bible Studies, sharing/preaching to the High School group and preaching in front of a congregation in BC.   But when Tracy and I shared at the Bridge Bible Church at all five of their services, two on Saturday night and three on Sunday, I truly understood why Pastors take a nap in the afternoon.  I was truly grateful for the opportunity to share and for all the encouragement after the service.  It is the desire for Tracy and I do ignite a passion for Jesus and the advancement of the Gospel and His kingdom wherever we speak.  I was able to challenge the congregation and tell them that we are praying for 5 families to join us and  commit 10 years to overseas missions with MB Mission. Pray that Jesus would raise up those families.    ~Cec