what's been on the go!!!

Yes B'y!

So... Mike and I are three full days away from having to leave this beautiful country!  What a scary thing to think about!  Where has the summer disappeared to!?  My goodness, I would like to just stay.  I am going to miss the people here so much. :(  I have truly fallen in love with the area.  And I hate goodbyes.

Last week's Kids Klub has come and gone, along with the team from Kentucky that led it.  We had a really excellent time with this group.  They made some really good connections with some of the locals, which was awesome! :)  to God be the glory.

The next few days are going to be VERY busy.  The Regatta is on Wednesday! AHHH!  I've been so anxious for it all summer!!  I am very excited!  Pray for divine appointments at this event.  There are thousands and thousands who attend each year.

Here are some photos to help summarize the past week or so.

Last Sunday, this Chinese student came to know Christ after the Sunday morning service.  This is Steve announcing the good news to all of us! :) :)  I would tell you his name if I knew how to spell it, but I don't.

Stu (the youth pastor from Kentucky), Mike, and Gary (a Newfoundlander) all chilling at the Lantern Festival.  Gary was supposed to be working.

SOFTBALL CAMP!!!!

Daddy at Signal Hill with me :)  I was so happy to see him and I cant wait to see him again in 4 days!!

Kids Klub last week led by the Kentucky team

more Kids Klub

...and more.

Okay.  That is all for now!  I am so eager to see all of you so soon!  Pray that my fellow summer missionaries and I can persevere through these last days  in the name of Jesus!  Let us not lose focus!!

Grace && Peace,

Gwen Marie

Tennessee leaves, Kentucky arrives

Hey Cool Kids!

So this is going to be very short.  I am quite exhausted.

Daddy came and visited for three days, and it was so much fun!  It was a nice break from work and a good opportunity to remember that there is still something for me back in NC.  I catch myself wishing I could just live here in Newfoundland sometimes, so this was a good way to remind me I need to go home.  I would post pictures of his visit, but I cant yet.

I didn't get to spend nearly as much time with the Nashville team as I did with the Texas team, so that was really sad.  This was their third year here, so they have a pretty good handle on how to serve in St. Johns.  I will post pictures of that later, I hope.

While the Tennessee team was here, I learned some very important things that I would like to take a moment to share right now:

1.  Bleach on moldy leather will kill the mold and not damage the leather.

2.  It is perfectly safe to put leather in a hot oven when you need to dry it out (i.e. softball gloves)

3.  Mike Smith carries a black Coach wallet.  Also, he is quite touchy about the subject.

Kentucky arrived last night.  There are like six youth and five adults.  They are an awesome group and I am so excited about this week, you don't even know!  We spent today at the Lantern Festival (which was straight baller) and some of the group went to Ferryland to check out the Shamrock Festival.  An exhausting hour and a half uphill (with a toddler in a stroller) walk followed the festival as we made our way back to campus (this team didnt rent vehicles, but I think it's going to be fine anyway).  So, I think I am going to go and pass out now.

Oh, and pray for the people we've met in the past two weeks.  God has really revealed himself in a mighty way to me.. I wish I could share.  AHHH!  =) =)

Church in the morning and Kids Klub all week!

Grace && Peace,

Gwen Marie

Texas leaves, Tennessee arrives

Hey Guys!

What a week!  God truly did a mighty work through the Texans in the short time they were here!  My goodness, I wish they could have stayed longer!  We concluded the week with some pretty nifty events.. which included a whale & puffin tour, passing out water at Signal Hill, shopping downtown, a cookout on Topsail Beach, and so much more.  I am eternally grateful to the cook for the Cajun Feast, Martha, who did an amazing job of bringing me back to the south =)!  Here are some pictures that can sum up the week with the team.

Worship on sunday morning in the UC (our usual location)

My second encounter with the Canadian Fire Department this summer!  Standing outside in the cold waiting for the clear to re-enter the store.  Dominion is were we held the Kids Klub!  All of the grocery stores have these "community rooms" on the second level.  What a perfect place for VBS! 

A great illustration of how I felt all week.  haha.  Luke resting before registration at Kids Klub.  Like the koala bear? 

One of the Bible study areas.

Watching the missions video

Peter himself came for a visit!

Snack time!

Oh, what is VBS without the music!?  It was good =)

The whole crew, the day of the concert at Sobey's.

I love Amanda. =)  During her performance at Sobey's.

The cajun feast!

Mike mackin on Lauren at the feast.  Just kidding! =)

Picnic at Cape Spear!

Ally and me!  After handing out New Life Newfoundland water bottles at Signal Hill.

The highlight of my day at Signal Hill!  Two full-blooded Newfoundlander dogs... a nine month old and a seven year old!!!  I was so excited. haha

Another tour boat just like ours.. searching for humpback whale!

THE PUFFIN!

A whale, duh!

Brent and me.. and this guy from Ireland who I got to talk about Christ with.

Some of our team enjoying the boat.

Cookout at Topsail Beach!

They didnt know what they were doing.  Its okay though.

Everyone =)

Our last night together... =(

Last night the team from Nashville arrived!  =) This team is comprised of 6 adults and 4 teenagers.  I have already gotten to know them pretty well.  It was a lot quicker than the Texas team because there are only 10 on this team.. very helpful.  The Tennessee team is here to lead a softball camp for children ages 5 to 15.  And, if any of you are aware of just how nonathletic and uncompetitive I am.. you should know this will make for an interesting week in my life.  lol

Thankfully, my dad arrives tomorrow night to spend a few days with me!  I am eager to spend time with him and away from softball.  Just kidding!  But.. I am very excited about him coming here. =)

Please be praying for the people that we encounter this week and the kids who will be attending the camp.  I am very eager to see how God will use this ministry.

Grace && Peace,

Gwen Marie

Texans come to Canada to teach an Australia-themed VBS

Hey Guys!

This is going to be quick.  I need to nap.

Our time with Pastor Adam Dorsey was incredible.  He is such an intelligent, faithful, and talented man of God.  I am so thankful for all the things he taught Mike and me while he was with us for just a short period of time.  He truly impacted the way that I view this summer, my call as a missionary, and my role as a woman.  Mike and I are planning to visit him in Tennessee before he moves back to Newfoundland in a few months. =)

On Saturday we traveled to Bellevue Beach for a retreat with a group of believers in that area.  Although I couldn't understand their thick accents (called Baymen), we really enjoyed fellowship with them.  Also, it was humorous to spend time laying on this 'beach'.  The five feet of sand made me laugh.  Oh, and the 'waves'.  haha.  It was good though.

Here is a video clip of Pastor Adam leading a time of worship in Bellevue

The Texas team arrived that night!  OH MAN! =)  I love them!  The team, comprised of three children and sixteen adults, have reminded me so much of home and the south.  I really have already enjoyed all of the time and conversations I have had with them.  I will have to post some pictures later!!

By far, this week as been the craziest of any week this summer!  I am so exhausted, but it has been so good!!  On Monday morning we began the five day Kids Klub (Vacation Bible School).  The turnout has been good.  I am so excited to hear stories of what a great response the children are having to the Gospel message.  I wish I could tell all of it.  In the afternoon on Monday I took the team to Cape Spear, which was GORGEOUS as ever.  Then, on Monday night we held a concert outside of a grocery store (right in front of the liquor store, haha) and it was EXCELLENT!  Oh my goodness.  Tuesdays and Wednesdays Kids Klubs went even better than the first day.  Tonight the team is holding a Cajun Feast!  Gumbo, banana pudding and REAL SWEET TEA.  Amen. Amen. Amen.  I am very excited about tonight!

I've been realizing that I am terrible at describing what God is doing here.  Just know that I have left out so much that has happened this summer it is crazy.  I sort of feel like I haven't been putting any effort into this blog and I am sorry for that.  I am lazy sometimes.

Oh and a fun surprise for me... my daddy is traveling to Newfoundland on July 20th!!  I am so excited to see him!!  Please be praying him to have safe travels on his trip.

nap time!

Grace && Peace,

Gwen Marie