Since my last posting...

How in the world I can go two months without posting, I do not know. My pregnant sis, Christy, and mother of 2 manages to get hers done and my friend and fairly new mom, Kara, who works full time, is very faithful with hers! Good grief...what is my excuse?! Well, its not like I sit around and do nothing. I will say that I was just sitting around the past few weeks off and on. I had a terrible cold for almost 3 weeks and a cut finger from a tin can. I have decided that I don't make a good sick person. I am better now, PTL!

Here's a few things that have been going on in my part of the world:

Thanksgiving Activity: Thanksgiving is celebrated here the first week of October. Around that time, I had a kids' activity and we had a great time playing on our new playground set and having a picnic, even if it was a bit chilly. The kids enjoyed their little craft/snack. Don't you love the turkeys!

Fall Party~I have no idea what I was, but I had fun in it. We had a fun time playing games, doing crafts, & icing cupcakes and eating them!

Parents' Night Out~in October, I began a Parents' Night Out event where parents drop off their kids and have a night out, while we keep their kids and have a fun time of stories, games, crafts, and snacks. This is for kids in our church, as well as more of an outreach for the families we met this summer. We've held 3 so far and about 10 or so kids come. The parents really appreciate it and we're glad to be able to offer something like this each month.

Youth Events~John and I have a great time with the youth every other Friday night. We have about 10 or so that usually come out for whatever we have planned. Only about half of those come to Sunday morning church. The youth love playing the Sardines hide and seek game--someone hides in the dark and when you find him or her, you hide and pack in like sardines. I don't care much for it, but it's fun watching them walk around in the dark! We have games nights, build your own pizza, movies nights, and recently we had a Christmas party. A few months ago, I had the youth gals for a sleepover and we had a good time. I'm enjoying getting to know these youth. This week, I went to 3 of the gals' Christmas band concert. I really enjoyed seeing this part of their life and remembering my band days! Pray for these youth as John and I seek to reach out to them more and hope to plan a retreat weekend of sorts in the spring.

Young Adult Friday Night group: We've been doing a study on Discovering Life Together every other Friday night. Our group is growing and we are getting to know each other more. We have been reaching out to others in need and it's great to see the group so willing to do this.

Christmas Tea~these are very popular on the Island and I enjoyed being a part of Community's. Tea and coffee is served with plates of sandwiches and sweets (squares), as well as a bake sale. Yummy! I'm not a big hot tea drinker, but what's going to a Tea without drinking tea! Unfortunately, we had a snow storm the night before and the weather was terrible that day. The crowd was very slim, so we held it over til Sunday afternoon. It gave more of our folks a chance to come, seeing that most didn't venture out.

Snow, snow, snow! The pictures will speak for themselves. The past few weeks have brought snow storms and Islanders say this is not normal for this time of year. It's not even winter. I must have brought it with me from Calgary, as this is really nothing for me! I am having to get used to driving a car in the snow and ice, as I had learned how my Blazer handled. I'm very thankful I have the car. It holds up well. My heater wasn't working recently and one of the gentleman in the church was able to give the car a flush for me and all is better! So thankful for men like him and that the heat is now working! I spent almost 45 minutes shoveling snow off and around my car after that first big storm!
I will post a video of some of the snow, so stay tuned!

A Best Friend's Wedding

I was able to go back to Alberta for a dear friend's wedding in September. Hyun Jeong Bok, aka Little Bok, and I were at seminary together. She was in the college program and I was in the Master of Religious Ed program, while both of us were custodians. There were about a half dozen of us single gals who hung out a lot. Little Bok and I have kept in touch and I consider her one of my best friends. With our special friendship, I couldn't let her wedding go by without being there myself. I'm so glad I was able to be there for her special day. We had been praying that this day would come!


Little Bok & Justin


me, Little Bok, Sung, and Deen Deen ~ Little Bok, Deen Deen, & me were students & Sung's husband was as well

So fun to visit with sem buds!



While in Edmonton for the wedding, I stayed with dear seminary friends, Nathan & Adele, aka Deen Deen, Vedoya and their precious kids, Charis and Malachi. The kids gave up their room for me and Deen Deen made me feel so at home. Their kids are just a few months older than my nieces. Their son, Kai, is my godson, so it was very special to be able to have this time with all of them. The kids and I had tons of fun together! I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and that we've been able to keep in touch.

I was able to go to the Vedoya's church where Nate is the English pastor at Agape Chinese Baptist. Deen teaches the kids and she interviewed me, so I got to the tell the kids what I do in PEI. What a blessing to make new young friends and have a sweet gal named, Erica, standing beside me, say a precious prayer for me! I, in return, was able to pray for their church. Erica and Diane, tallest gal, made the flowers in the center for me! Sheer sweetness!

The kids & I have a party for the dolls!

I kept the kids while mom and dad went out for a bit. Charis read to me! It was precious as she told me the story from the coloring book.

Kai is almost going to the potty! We thought he had gone poo and we were excited...turns out, nothing there! Too cute!

I had a couple of days in Calgary and stayed with the Eaglesons, a family from my former church. They are precious and always make me feel at home and a part of their family. I was able to visit with some friends and wish I had time to visit with everyone! I really enjoyed my day in Cochrane, at the seminary & convention office, and seeing friends. I don't know a lot of folks at the sem anymore, but what fond memories. One morning, the mountains had a fresh coat of snow! Though I didn't get to take a trip to Banff, I'm glad I got to see the mountains from afar. How beautiful!

the Eagleson/Taylor gals ~ Thanks for fun times, gals!

I had lunch with friends and new parents, Garth & Cara, & little Hezekiah. We met at sem and were at the same church for a time.


Special friends, Fatima, and her boys, Joel and Nour. I have watched these boys practically grow up. Fatima and me are special sisters in the Lord!


Thank you, Lord, for times of refreshing, wonderful friends, & getting back to a place that had become home for me!!

My Boston Trip

Thanks for giving to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering & the North American Mission Board! What a blessing to get to go to Boston in August for a missionary conference that was sponsored by the NAMB. I loved finally getting to see this city and to visit with my junior college associate campus minister, Shelly Webb. It was so refreshing to just get away after a very busy summer and to be among other missionaries and NAMB personnnel, to make new friends, and to have fun! We enjoyed a night out downtown. I hope to get to go back sometime and really take in the sights! The Northeast Connection was a first for the mission board. They hope to hold conferences like this in each region of the continent.

Recognize the infamous Citgo sign? Unfortunately, my camera was messing up when we drove right up to Fenway Park!! Bummer...

Oh, how I miss this place! What a treat to get to eat here and then take in a Rascal Flatts concert~two of my fav things!!!

I had a wonderful time with these ladies from the NAMB. They helped make the weekend so refreshing! Thanks, my new friends!!
Shelly and me met at Jones County Junior College when she served as the associate Baptist Student Union director. We have managed to keep in touch and how cool that she now serves at MIT in Boston and is Mission Service Corps as well! We were at the conference together and enjoyed dinner and the concert, since I got to stay an extra night. Thanks for a wonderful time, Shelly!!!

Happy Birthday, Rosalyn and Katie!!

To think that Rosalyn Marie is now 4 (September 3) and Katherine Noel is now 2 (today)! Wow! The girls are growing so fast. They are such a blessing to our family and bring such joy. I can't wait to see them at Christmas.

To my precious girls, though I live very far from you, I hope you know how very much I love you! You bring such smiles to my face every time I look at your pictures and get to talk to you on the phone. You are a gift from God and I pray you know how special you are to Him and me!

Ro, it is so much fun to talk to you on the phone and I can't wait to see your new room, play together, and hear about all you are learning in preschool!

Katie, you are learning all sorts of new things and saying new words now! I can't wait for us to play and do fun things together!

I know both of you will make a great big sister to the new baby sister or brother that will come in March!!!

I love you very much and I'll see you soon! ~Aunt Ellen

Summer Fun

My first summer in PEI wasn't all ministry related! Here are a few of the fun times I had with friends.

My precious new friend, Barbie, and me on the ferry ride to Nova Scotia. We went over for a weekend women's retreat in June that was sponsored by our convention.
What a special treat for BC 'parents', Mom Karen and Papa Marv Harris, to make a visit! It was somewhat unexpected and though we didn't have much time together, I sure did enjoy lunch with them and the birthday gifts. They and their family are a special part of my life since my 98 summer in Vancouver.
I had 2 birthday celebrations this year. One at John and Erin's place for dinner, cake, and games with church friends and then a week later with some girlfriends from church, as we went for dinner and the restaurant gave me a cake, and then we enjoyed going to see the musical, Anne and Gilbert!
What would the summer had been without a visit to the Anne of Green Gables house with Barbie, and our summer missionaries, Freda & Kendall. We enjoyed many outings together and they are my special friends.


Kendall, Freda, Seth, and I had crazy times together. If you didn't meet K & F earlier, read about them below. Seth is a seminary student who was in the Summerside/Slemon Park area doing his Nehemiah church planting internship. I think at every park we were at this summer, we went back to our childhood and played! I miss these guys!!!



I tried mussels for the first time and actually liked them, though I can't eat to many or my tummy hurts!


Now, this was not one of my most favorite parts of the summer, but quite an experience...holding a jellyfish! Of course, it has no tentacles, but it sure did leave my hands all slimy!

Happy 35th, Mom and Dad!!!!

I couldn't let today go by without posting about my wonderful parents. They celebrate 35 years of marriage today and that encourages me so much!!! I am so blessed to have such Godly, precious parents who have given me all I have ever needed. As I get older and since I have moved away, I realize how blessed I am to have Mom and Dad in my life and that they raised me as they did. I know it is not easy for their oldest to be living so far from them, but they trust that I know what I am doing and that this is where I need to be right now.
They have made sacrifices for me and have taught me so much about life. They drove up with me when I first moved to Canada, flew up for my seminary graduation, drove up the next year and we had a wonderful vacation together, and they recently drove up to my new home and brought the rest of my belongings! It's those things that mean so much~for them to want to see where I live, meet people who are a part of my life now, and to take their vacation time & spend money for me! I pray God's blessings on them as they have blessed me!!!
Mom and Dad, I don't have words to say what you truly mean to me! I think you know as we often leave things unsaid, but we know...
I pray that I can leave a legacy as only you are living out for Christy and me!! Thank you for being such an example for me and others!!!
I LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH!!!

My First Summer at Community

Well, summer ministry has pretty much wrapped up at Community. We are now in the fall planning mode. To think you plan and plan, events come, and then they are gone! All in all, my first summer of ministry has been good. It has been a very tiring time for me with all the mission teams we had and 3 weeks of camps (sports camp, backyard Bible clubs, and vacation Bible school), but it was all worth it. I have made wonderful new friends and we saw some children become Christians! God is good!! Between our church and the two church starts, we have seen over 180 children! WOW! There's much follow-up to do. We pray that we'll see families become a part of our church as a result of our outreach this summer. With the two church starts: one in Summerside/Slemon Park, about 45 minutes west of here, and the Mount Stewart area, about 20 minutes north of here, we hope to see ministries of some sort continue in the fall. Please pray for all the follow-up efforts! Thanks for praying for our ministries this summer and know that you are playing a part in God's work in PEI!! It was wonderful to have such great teams from North Carolina with us this summer, as well as the summer missionaries. I have made forever friends and been forever impacted!!



Thanks to help from First Baptist Church, Salisbury, North Carolina, we were able to hold our first ever Sports Camp of basketball and soccer! That's 'one of mine', Tamara, wearing the cap.

The team did a wonderful job leading in sports, Bible stories, crafts, and just sheer fun! Here's Kim with 'one of mine', Cameron.


We held day clubs in 5 parks and had over 75 children attend! Eric, in the middle, became a Christian!!

A spin-off of musical chairs on a hot day!


A wonderful team from Old Town Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, came and led in the day clubs.


"Man, I Feel Like a Woman!" will never be the same when you hear two guys belt it out! The two Jonathans, Freda, Kendall, and I loved singing Shania while driving back from helping out with a Block Party in Slemon Park, as well as while driving the guys to the university where the team was staying. I wasn't quite paying attention while I was belting out another Shania song and ended up driving partly on the sidewalk when I turned into the university! The looks on everyone's faces were priceless and I will never live it down! Here we are singing for others. Blond Jonathan is the one who prayed with Eric when he became a Christian!!!



Another 'one of mine', Ethan, who was so proud of his "new do" one morning at VBS. He and I could never smile at the same time for a picture!
I was so glad to see the bulk of our church's kids at VBS!! I have really enjoyed getting to know them better this summer.

4 year olds to K class~Ethan, then Anthony 'one of mine'--Tamara's brother

Kids perform for parents on the last day before we have a hot dog lunch together.

What a joy to have a team from Green Meadows Baptist Church in Mocksville, North Carolina, with us to help lead in Vacation Bible School!