Holiday Update

I realize that I have not written an update since the beginning of the summer so this is a little over due.

I had the opportunity to do an internship in New Liskeard this past summer as an assistant pastor at the baptist church. It was a great experience and I loved my time there. It was really nice to spend the summer with my Grandma and Uncle as I normally do not get to see them all that often. At the church,I was responsible for the senior high youth group as the couple that normally oversee it were away. The youth were really awesome and I still miss them. Nonetheless, it was a stretching experience. I also helped run VBS, help out with the junior high youth program, and fill in for the pastor when he was away. In the process I discovered that I love preaching. I guess I should not be too surprised as I used to get comments on my mini sermon'ettes many years ago. All in all it was a really great summer and I went home with mixed feelings.

While I was away, my home church in Collingwood experienced a small transition and was in need of a youth pastor. The evening before I got a call asking me if I was interested, I was up at night praying about it even though I did not think there was a chance that it would be offered to me. It was really awesome how it all worked out and I started as soon as I arrived home from New Liskeard. That being said, I am now in my fourth month of youth ministry in Collingwood. I love it but it has its challenges. The cool thing is that I know that this is where God wants me for this season in my life. It has been stretching as I have also been doing school full time as I work towards my Masters of Theological Studies and I have been working at Pita Pit too. It has been a very full semester and I am now rejoicing at the idea of a break--at least from school--for a couple of weeks.

Prayer Requests:
Please keep me in your prayers that I would have wisdom for leading the youth group and that the kids would encounter God and grow in their love for Him.  Please also pray that God would send some people to help with the youth as we are in need of some more volunteers. Please also pray for continued safety as I commute back and forth between Collingwood and Hamilton each week.

Praise Reports:
We have seen a number of the kids want to know God and desire to have a Bible to read and so on. I am really excited to see the little things that God is doing in our youth!

I pray that you have an amazing Christmas!
Love, Beca

Pictures

Mama

Uncle Irv and I all geared up for a ride on the four wheeler!

The waterfront near my new place.

First Baptist Church--where I work.

My new digs.

The backyard & view.

My first week!

Wow, life at a church is busy! Of course I knew this already, but doing it full time is a lot. It is also enjoyable. This week they had me tearing up carpet and scrapping off the old rubber glue that was behind it. They also had me bush wacking at a Baptist camp (clearing out old srubs and weeds etc.) to make it more child friendly for the summer...this is along side of the ministry duties. As far as those go, I have been leading worship at church--Bapist style. In other words, I welcome people, pray, tell a children's story...it's wonderful. I also am responsible for the youth. This week youth was only three kids but it was still good. I am looking forward to what this summer will hold.

I have also have had the opportunity to spend a lot of quality time with my Grandmother and Uncle. It has been really special.

The challenges for this week have been adjusting to living such a busy life, and feeling lonely as I have yet to meet people my own age. Regardless, I am excited for the rest of the summer.

Beca
:)

Time Capsule

When I was walking to my car today after my final class I realized that a lot has happened in my life these past three years--I have lived in two different provinces in Canada and lived in Cambodia. I have resided in seven places that I have called home. I have met many wonderful people. 

Three years ago I was preparing to go to Cambodia. I was excited and scared for the adventure that lay ahead of me. I never imagined how much that nation would capture my heart nor all the adventures that I have been blessed to have there.

Two years ago I was prepare to leave Cambodia anticipating to only be gone for a short time period. Never did I imagine that I would not return and would end up in Bible College in BC instead. I got to experience the beauty of God's mountains. I got to go to Bible College which was something I always wanted to do. I made some fantastic friends and have a plethora of wonderful memories.

One year ago I was preparing to come home to Ontario for the summer to spend time with my family. I was supposed to return to Bible College for another year and even had a job as an RA. Instead, I came home and fell in love with Collingwood and all the wonderful people here. I found myself in seminary where I have been challenged to really get into my faith. I have had the opportunity to spend a lot of precious time with my family whom I had missed greatly. I have even experienced health challenges. Yet, through it all, I have seen God's hand working in me. I have seen how He has been leading and guiding me and opening up doors and closing others.

Now another school year has finished and I am preparing for my next journey to work in New Liskeard. I have no clue what God has in store. I find it exciting to realize that while I would have never imagined anything that I have done these past few years, God has made them remarkable. He has brought really special people into my life. He has filled me with His joy. He has provided for all my needs. It is so amazing that we can trust such an awesome God! I am excited to see what lays ahead in this wonderful journey of life. 

Onward and Forward

Guess what...school is almost done for the season. This week is my last official week of classes for the school year. I still have a couple of assignments to do yet, but things are winding down. While this season is ending, a new one is about to begin. I am heading up to New Liskeard for the summer for a job as an assistant pastor for four months. I am excited for this new change and to spend some quality time with my grandma who lives there. God has clearly provided this job and worked out all of the details so far. Now, all I need to do is finish school, get ready and go. It will be sad to leave Collingwood and all my amazing church family and friends there, not to mention my family here, but I am looking forward to meeting some more people. Please remember me in prayer. I am a little nervous as this role will take me outside of my comfort zone...but I am also excited for the challenge. I know that in our weakness God is made strong, so that is my prayer, that He would be glorified and use me in what ever way He chooses.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I am reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Letters and Papers from Prison for one of my classes. There is something special about reading the personal letters of someone as they walk their path in life. I have found that Dietrich`s letters are not at all like what I expected them to be, yet in a few there is a glimmer of raw humanity that is refreshing to read. The following quote is from his prayers for his fellow prisoners:

Morning Prayers

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you;
I cannot do this alone.

In me there is darkness, but with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways, but you know the way for me.


O heavenly Father,
I praise and thank you for the peace of the night;
I praise and thank you for this new day;
I praise and thank you for all your goodness and faithfulness throughout my life.


You have granted me many blessings;
Now let me also accept what is hard from your hand.
You will lay on me no more than I can bear.
You make all things work together for good for your children.
...


O Holy Spirit, 
Give me faith that will protect me from despair, from passions, and from vice;
Give me such love for God and men as will blot out all hatred and bitterness;
Give me the hope that will deliver me from fear and faint-heartedness.
...


Restore me to liberty,
and enable me so to live now
that I may answer before you and before men,
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.
Amen


These words just resonate with me for some reason. I find them encouraging. Here is a man sitting in a prison cell in Nazi occupied Germany. He thought he would only be there for a short stint but instead his trail was delayed and at this point he had been there for seven months. From his letters, he felt useless. He watched the bombing of the city from his window but was unable to help anyone. Yet, through it all, he still says: "Lord, whatever this day may bring, Your name be praised."

[Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Letters and Papers from Prison. Eberhard Bethge, Ed. Touchstone: New York, 1997. 130-41]