Update Tuesday - 05/07/11

After a really busy weekend two weekends ago, things slowed down just a bit by the time this past weekend arrived.  On Thursday we said goodbye to our oldest son Daniel as he headed out for his first mission trip.  He went with his Grandparents to Calgary where they will visit with a close family friend and then head into Calgary for our denomination's annual convention.  After the convention winds up they will be heading north to Worsley, Alberta where they will be doing some repair work on a church as well as a number of other projects.
As Daniel headed off to Alberta the rest of us headed north for the Canada Day (July 1st) long weekend.  It was a great chance to rest a bit and to recharge the batteries.  Seeing as Sunday was our first Sunday that we were not going to be at Milton it was a bit easier to be away.  We did, however, hold church around the campfire on Sunday evening.  We had a great time singing and we were joined by guitar, mandolin, drums and various percussion instruments that my uncle brought out for the kids.  The interesting thing about my cottage is that there is a lot of family around as my parents, two sets of aunts and uncles and my grandparents all have cottages beside each other.  Most of my family, however, is unchurched.  It was interesting to be playing and singing hymns with them and even having my grandfather request "The Old Rugged Cross."   My dad actually found it in a book that he had (yes I know, I should know it...but what can I say) and so we were able to play it for him.  I don't know if his hearing aids were turned up enough to hear it all, but it was the thought that counts!  We followed up the music with a simple Bible study in which we began the book of Mark.  All in all, it was a bit chaotic but a whole lot of fun.   Thinking about sitting around a fire, singing hymns and reading scripture with a group who are, with the exception of my parents, disengaged from church, gives me pause to think about the possibilities of an ongoing summer bible study there.  I would appreciate prayer as we think through what this could look like and how we might be a help to establish something.   Could it be out first summer mission?
We are back to the Hammer now where we are preparing for a visit from our first Mission Team.  a group from a prayer partner church in Hertford NC, are actually here for the week serving primarily in Milton with the folks from our sending church, the Sanctuary.  Tomorrow, however, they are going to be spending the day with us.  They have been praying for a specific street here in our neighbouhood and so this will be an opportunity to see and prayer walk on the street, as well as do some prayer walking in the rest of the neighbourhood as well.  I am excited to have them visit the city, to show them a bit of what Hamilton is like,  help them to see the need for their prayer support and to have them pray through the streets in these early days of our ministry as we begin to lay a foundation for what is to come.
We would also like to thank you and encourage you in your continued prayer for our ministry.  We are excited about all the opportunities that we have had to meet people in our neighbourhood and we look forward to seeing what God has planned.  Please keep praying.