Prayer for Convention 2009

To think that this time last year, we were welcoming Convention guests in PEI...and I was pretty sure I was headed back to Cochrane! To think that it's Convention time again!

We've been working hard the past few months and especially weeks to get things ready for this year's meeting. It's being held in Edmonton, just 3 hours north of here, so that is nice. It should be a great time of fellowship together.

CNBC annual meetings are not like normal annual convention meetings. Because our convention is so small (240 churches across the country), it's like a big family reunion filled with worship, some business, and great fun and fellowship! There's leadership seminars, community outreach events, and new this year is a ministry fair. The convention will end with the Global Missions Celebration that I have had a role in planning. I'm excited about seeing it all come together!

Please pray for us this week as we travel and hold the meeting. Many pastors and lay leaders will be in attendance with their families. Many may come weary and ready to "call it quits"...pray they are refreshed, renewed, and ready to keep going! Pray that we as staff will stay healthy and rested for the busy week ahead. Pray that we will hear from the Lord and be able to connect with folks from across the country! Pray that all in attendance will respond to whatever it is that God is wanting us to do!

If you are interested in experiencing our convention meeting, the sessions will be broadcast live on the internet and on our site for future viewing. Sessions will take place Tuesday evening from 7-9, Wednesday morning from 9-noon, Wednesday night from 7-9, and Thursday night from 7-9. We're on Mountain Time. Just visit our website from the Canadian National Baptist Convention link to find out more!

Thanks for praying!

Snow in June

Yep, this is what I woke up to Saturday morning! Crazy! I can now say that I've seen snow fall in June as it was a rain/snow mix on Friday and Saturday. I think July is the only month I've not seen snow and I DO NOT want to see it! Here's to life in Calgary...
These pictures were taken outside the home where I live. Debbie had recently planted the flowers. Many folks have done their planting and had to bring the flowers inside the past few nights or either cover them.
I hope spring arrives soon to stay!

"Jesse's Girls" Run/Walk for ALS, June 14

I will be participating in the Run/Walk for ALS this Sunday in Calgary, in honor of my friend and pastor Jesse Morales. I'll be walking with friends from my church, The Pathway Church, as we seek to raise $30,000 for this cause and the "Jesse's Girls" team!



Jesse was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease in May 2008. (You can read about his family's journey at www.jessemoralesjourney.blogspot.com or clicking on the "Jesse's ALS journey" from this page.) I was in shock when I heard the news. "Not Jesse, Lord? Not another person I know with this terrible disease?"

I guess I've known Jesse and his family since I moved to Canada in 2001. When I heard the news, I immediately thought of him and his wife, Kathy, and their 4 daughters (Angela, Christina, Stephanie, and Emily) and how this will change their lives forever. I also thought of the 3 individuals from Mississippi that the Lord called Home from this disease. For such a rare disease, not another one I know...

When I was in grade 12, Mrs. Donzie Winningham, our pastor's wife, battled the disease. She kept her smile to the end...just like Jesse is continuing to! Dr. Larry Kennedy, a former interim pastor, battled it after he was with us. I think he died shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit. He was a great man of God...just like Jesse! Bro. Freddie Womble, our former pastor, had to leave the mission field after 20+ years in Paraguay. God called him Home around Christmas, I think. He had such a sense of humor...just like Jesse!

It's often in these times, one asks "why?", yet God is teaching me that He uses so many things--the good and the bad--to show Himself and to bring others to His Son, Jesus. Jesse is an evangelist and doesn't miss out on an opportunity to share...even if he can't talk anymore! Caretakers and a cleaning lady have been saved! Nurses and doctors have heard about the one Jesse takes joy in! It's in these things that we can see the purpose in the difficult things of life.

Jesse remains faithful to come to church each Sunday, even if he's not really up to it. I am blessed to know he and his family.



Would you be able to support "Jesse's Girls" in this cause and help to find a cure and give assistance to patients and families? If so, you can donate online at www.als.ca/events/mysite.aspx?fid=2588. If you would like to make a pledge, let me know!

Please keep Jesse and the family in your prayers at this time.

On another note, June 14 would have been my Granny Cone's 98th birthday. She went to be with Jesus on January 25, 2008. I think I'll walk in Granny's honor, too. Though she didn't battle ALS, she wasn't able to walk for the last few years of her life due to the nerve endings "dieing" in her legs. How thankful I am that she is now walking with Jesus!!

Rosalyn's Soccer Game

I was able to be at Rosalyn's last soccer game while I was home. It's so funny to watch preschoolers play soccer. She's quite the little player! Their team won and I was able to get a shot of a point she scored! It was a warm Mississippi "winter" day. The last 2 pictures are Katie's attempt at taking pictures. Not too bad for a 3 year old. She loves taking pictures!

Aunt Ellen's Castle

My 3 year old niece, Katie, thinks I live in a castle in Canada! I bought this castle from Ikea a few years ago and used it with the kids at my former church. When I moved to PEI, I left it at my parents' place for the girls to play in. It's one of those play things that takes up a lot of room, so it's not kept out all the time...But when I am home, the girls get to play in it and have such fun. On most of my trips since Jan 07, I have put it together at my sister's place. I take it apart before I leave and it goes back to Pops and Nana's place. Because the girls only play in it when I am there, Katie has this idea that I live in a castle! It must have been my fall visit that caused her to think this because after I left, she was telling my sister about Aunt Ellen's castle. Isn't that just the cutest? I love the imaginations and thoughts of preschoolers! It was a lot of fun during this last trip to watch Knox play in it. You'll see the box in the picture that we used for a tunnel!

My Valentine's Flowers

Here is the beautiful arrangement my family sent me!

Another Grandmother is now with Jesus

Geneva Mae Estep Gosnell Guess is now walking, talking, smiling, and singing with Jesus! She was so ready to go Home and went this morning. "Murie" hasn't spoken, smiled much, or even walked much in at least 2 years, so knowing that she is now able to do that brings a smile to my face! It is bittersweet, though, when one loses a grandmother, even if she is with her Heavenly Father. You may recall the post I wrote in early '08 about Granny Cone and the heritage she left. Murie has left one as well. Though I was close to both my grandmothers, I feel this one will be filled with more emotions, as my mom is an only child so my sister and I were Murie's only grandchildren. We spent so much time together with her, especially after Grandaddy died in '86 and she moved to Mt. Olive to be near us. She remarried in '94 to a wonderful man, Gene. Please keep him in your prayers. He was Murie's caregiver for a time, until it just became too much for him and Murie went to the nursing home. She suffered from Alzheimer's. Though it was sad to lose Grandaddy so suddenly, our family has been so blessed with Gene. There is so much more I want to write, but I must finish packing. I'll be flying tomorrow. It will be a long week for us as Murie's funeral will be in Mississippi, while her burial is in Tennessee, where she and Grandaddy were from and he is buried. I covet your prayers on behalf of our family. Thanks for praying for my grandmother and our family these past couple of weeks and days, as she had gotten worse. It means so much to know folks are praying!