It is so nice to be sitting in my little basement suite...I have missed this place! It's wierd being back and I know it will take a bit for me to get into a routine again.
I am so thankful for God's provision and His faithfulness and for the prayers of my family and friends during this season of my life. Not counting God's watchcare over me, it was also knowing that so many were praying for me that helped me get through these three months.
We had about an hour at the border last night. The immigration officer needed to see a copy of my seminary diploma/master's degree as proof that I graduated from CSBS, as it is a qualification of the missions ministry position. He knew of this from the 'letter of invitation' I had to present. I had no idea they would need the diploma, since the position had been approved! Praise the Lord that Debbie was home, I knew where my diploma was, she found it, scanned it, emailed it to a friend from work/church who lives on the seminary hill (Thanks Jennifer/Jenna), who could go fax it to the border office from the convention office!! God was definitely in that! For a few minutes, it looked like there was another issue with the document being expired, but the officer had just misread the date! Whosh! I am thankful for the immigration officer who was fairly kind and 'just doing his job'. Once we were in the car and on our way into Canada, it was like a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders; so many emotions ran through me. Finally...I was actually headed home!!! I settled into my own bed around 2AM!
Praises that we did arrive safe and sound as we drove through rain/snow and some snow packed roads once we crossed into Canada (Darla did most of that driving!). When we were near Great Falls, in northern Montana, there was a rain/snow mix. It was about that time that I texted a bunch of folks to ask them to start praying hard for the border crossing in about 2 hours and to pray for the weather. In less than 10 minutes, the sun was shining and it was clear!!! Thank you prayer warriors!!
It was wonderful to be with my Pathway church family this morning. Only one family knew I had made it back, so it was fun surprising everyone. I got some beautiful daisies and folks enjoyed a 'welcome home Ellen' with Canadian flag cake :) Sweet! I shared with the congregation about the past 3 months and what God has showed me and more. On 3 different days in a week, God showed me Matthew 7:7 "Keep asking and it will be given to you. Keep searching and you will find. Keep knocking and the door will be opened to you". Because I have seen God answer specific prayers, this verse holds even more meaning to me...
I will write more as the days go on and as I continue to process through things.
I ask you to continue to pray for me as I get into a routine here and "set up house" again. I haven't had to shop for groceries for 3 months! I am exhausted, so pray for my physical health. I left my family back in MS and TN, so please pray for that. We had gotten somewhat used to being around each other!
So looking forward to re-connecting with my Canadian family!!!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Alberta Bound - Day 1
The first day of our journey back to Calgary/Cochrane is coming to a close after about 14 hours on the road! We drove from Mt. Olive, MS to Guthrie, OK (near Oklahoma City). We had great weather and nice sunshine and warmth the whole way. We got to visit with Mary and Stafford Bryant in Shreveport, LA, as Mary recovers in the hospital from cancer surgery. It was a sweet visit for us and we would have liked to stay longer, but Mary had had a rough morning and needed her rest. Please keep her and the family in your prayers at this time. Mary will have a month of recovery and then have at least 2 rounds of chemo. Pray for strength and healing. She is very weak and frail...
We know you are praying for us. so keep it up! Continue to pray for safe travels on busy interstates, we will be alert and healthy, and have good rest at night. Pray for a hedge of protection around us. I feel Satan attacking and trying to bring me down (literally), but we know our God is bigger! I've been waiting for 3 months to do this journey back and it's finally happening...!
Darla and I are enjoying ourselves...at least I think we are! LOL! We enjoyed some time on the Gulf Coast of MS on Wednesday as she flew into Gulfport Tuesday night. I had not seen some parts of the Coast since Katrina, so we drove around and saw what remained, is still to be done...after 5 1/2 years. Got to see the camp property at Gulfshore Baptist Assembly in Pass Christian, where I attended as a child and youth and worked at for the summer of '95. The building stands though the 1st and 2nd floors were gutted in the storm. It was somewhat eery seeing it like that with the other buildings around it completely gone...I believe it's in the process of being completely torn down.
Darla shared with my home church in Mt. Olive last night and I know they enjoyed hearing about her and Ken's ministry. Keep Ken in your prayers as he has joined a few others for a mission trip to Cuba for a week.
Oh, how could I almost forget to ask you to keep the border crossing in your prayers. Remember that is where I get the work visa (hopefully with no issues!). Customs and Immigration stuff is so nerve wracking for me, so pray I can "Be Still and Know that He is God". Would you believe that as we walked into Cracker Barrel for dinner tonight, the first thing I see is a beautiful print with that verse on it?! Needless to say, I had to buy it and will find the perfect place for it...
"Keep asking and it will be given to you. Keep searching and you will find. Keep knocking and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7 (verse from 2 separate devotionals on Mar 14 and Mar 15...)
Well, until next time...Keep the prayers coming!
We know you are praying for us. so keep it up! Continue to pray for safe travels on busy interstates, we will be alert and healthy, and have good rest at night. Pray for a hedge of protection around us. I feel Satan attacking and trying to bring me down (literally), but we know our God is bigger! I've been waiting for 3 months to do this journey back and it's finally happening...!
Darla and I are enjoying ourselves...at least I think we are! LOL! We enjoyed some time on the Gulf Coast of MS on Wednesday as she flew into Gulfport Tuesday night. I had not seen some parts of the Coast since Katrina, so we drove around and saw what remained, is still to be done...after 5 1/2 years. Got to see the camp property at Gulfshore Baptist Assembly in Pass Christian, where I attended as a child and youth and worked at for the summer of '95. The building stands though the 1st and 2nd floors were gutted in the storm. It was somewhat eery seeing it like that with the other buildings around it completely gone...I believe it's in the process of being completely torn down.
Darla shared with my home church in Mt. Olive last night and I know they enjoyed hearing about her and Ken's ministry. Keep Ken in your prayers as he has joined a few others for a mission trip to Cuba for a week.
Oh, how could I almost forget to ask you to keep the border crossing in your prayers. Remember that is where I get the work visa (hopefully with no issues!). Customs and Immigration stuff is so nerve wracking for me, so pray I can "Be Still and Know that He is God". Would you believe that as we walked into Cracker Barrel for dinner tonight, the first thing I see is a beautiful print with that verse on it?! Needless to say, I had to buy it and will find the perfect place for it...
"Keep asking and it will be given to you. Keep searching and you will find. Keep knocking and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7 (verse from 2 separate devotionals on Mar 14 and Mar 15...)
Well, until next time...Keep the prayers coming!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Preparing to Leave
It was 3 months ago (Dec 13) that I had to leave Canada and I think my blog entry just before that was 'Having to Leave'. Well, I am now 'preparing to leave' to go back to Canada, the place that has become home and specifically to Calgary and my ministry with the Canadian National Baptist Convention and The Pathway Church!
Just on Thursday, I received the documents I need to get new work visa at the border, I received money that will help with expenses on the road, and my Canadian missionary friend Darla Ponath said that she could travel me! It was neat to see God answer my/your prayers in this way...I don't think I'll believe all this is happening until we are on the road, the work visa is in my hands, and we cross into Canada!
Darla will fly in on Tuesday night, have a chance to speak about her ministry at my home church in Mt. Olive on Wednesday night and we will head out on Thursday morning. We'll stop and see our dear friends Mary and Stafford Bryant in Shreveport, LA. They are Americans who serve as North American Mission Board MSC missionaries with our convention. Mary oversees our Mission Centre in Cochrane and Stafford serves in many different construction projects. They have been in the States since December. Mary has been undergoing cancer treatments and will have surgery on Tuesday the 15th. Please say extra prayers for her. Stafford recently began treatments for prostate cancer, so remember him as well. They are servants of the Lord and we look forward to the time that all of us will be back in Canada. You can follow their journey at www.carepages.com (canadalovesmary). Surely Darla and I will be home sometime on Sunday!
Tonight, the pastor preached on the importance of intercessory prayer. Oh, how powerful that can be! That is the role that so many of you have been taking for me. Please continue!
Pray for:
~my remaining time here and as I sort things and pack up
~for Darla's flight on Tuesday
~for our travels (safety, good weather, alertness, good health)
~for the border crossing and that all goes smoothly with getting the work visa. I feel pretty confident, but one really never knows how these things can go. Even though I have the document needed to get the work visa, that doesn't guarentee my entry into Canada.
God does continue to show Himself faithful. There is so much I could write about these 3 months and much I want to share. I shall do that in small segments in the near future. There were some weeks that each day's devotional/verse that I read went right along with my situation. I continue to be in awe at how God goes before us!
May you see God at work in your life...even in the difficult days and trust that He knows what He's doing! Thanks again for your continued love, support, encouragement, and prayers.
enjoy the moment!
Just on Thursday, I received the documents I need to get new work visa at the border, I received money that will help with expenses on the road, and my Canadian missionary friend Darla Ponath said that she could travel me! It was neat to see God answer my/your prayers in this way...I don't think I'll believe all this is happening until we are on the road, the work visa is in my hands, and we cross into Canada!
Darla will fly in on Tuesday night, have a chance to speak about her ministry at my home church in Mt. Olive on Wednesday night and we will head out on Thursday morning. We'll stop and see our dear friends Mary and Stafford Bryant in Shreveport, LA. They are Americans who serve as North American Mission Board MSC missionaries with our convention. Mary oversees our Mission Centre in Cochrane and Stafford serves in many different construction projects. They have been in the States since December. Mary has been undergoing cancer treatments and will have surgery on Tuesday the 15th. Please say extra prayers for her. Stafford recently began treatments for prostate cancer, so remember him as well. They are servants of the Lord and we look forward to the time that all of us will be back in Canada. You can follow their journey at www.carepages.com (canadalovesmary). Surely Darla and I will be home sometime on Sunday!
Tonight, the pastor preached on the importance of intercessory prayer. Oh, how powerful that can be! That is the role that so many of you have been taking for me. Please continue!
Pray for:
~my remaining time here and as I sort things and pack up
~for Darla's flight on Tuesday
~for our travels (safety, good weather, alertness, good health)
~for the border crossing and that all goes smoothly with getting the work visa. I feel pretty confident, but one really never knows how these things can go. Even though I have the document needed to get the work visa, that doesn't guarentee my entry into Canada.
God does continue to show Himself faithful. There is so much I could write about these 3 months and much I want to share. I shall do that in small segments in the near future. There were some weeks that each day's devotional/verse that I read went right along with my situation. I continue to be in awe at how God goes before us!
May you see God at work in your life...even in the difficult days and trust that He knows what He's doing! Thanks again for your continued love, support, encouragement, and prayers.
enjoy the moment!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
An Answer to Prayers
Praise the Lord that on Thursday, the Canadian government approved my position with the CNBC!!! This is the biggest hurdle, so there shouldn't be an issue with getting the new work visa at the border. I thank each and every one of you who have been praying for me and this process. Your prayers mean so much. God has shown Himself to me in big ways in the past few weeks and His timing is perfect!
I will write more later, but wanted to let you know the latest. Also wanted to let you know specifically how you can continue to pray.
Pray for just the right friend to be my traveling buddy. Pray for financial needs of traveling to be met. Pray for me to know how I am to spend my time until I leave. Pray for me as I say 'see ya later' to family and friends. Pray that I can continue to trust God in the timing of getting back to Canada. I wish I could click my heels and be there! Pray for my health. I have managed to stay well all these weeks, so I don't want to get sick now. Pray for the border crossing and all goes smoothly.
Thank you and blessings to you!
I will write more later, but wanted to let you know the latest. Also wanted to let you know specifically how you can continue to pray.
Pray for just the right friend to be my traveling buddy. Pray for financial needs of traveling to be met. Pray for me to know how I am to spend my time until I leave. Pray for me as I say 'see ya later' to family and friends. Pray that I can continue to trust God in the timing of getting back to Canada. I wish I could click my heels and be there! Pray for my health. I have managed to stay well all these weeks, so I don't want to get sick now. Pray for the border crossing and all goes smoothly.
Thank you and blessings to you!
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