Back and trying to make sense of it all.

And now we have returned. We are back in "canadia" and trying to make sense out of what we've just been through and what that might mean for tomorrow. For some it is a bitter return to the mundane and problems we left behind and that is sad. In a way, it's like God is in kentucky and not here...but that simply is not true. For all it's a time to reflect on what God did inside and how to respond to Him and be more in His will. Hard or easy, we are back and we will be here for awhile. We believe He has asked us some questions and given us some considerations. Are there poor people in our neighbourhoods that we might have overlooked? Does poverty have a place amongst us and are we doing anything about it? Are we sharing the love of Jesus with others in tangible ways - like we just did in Kentucky? If we are not asking these questions and if we are not pursuing the answers then what are we doing? Sadly...NOTHING. Our God is a great God and He has to be because we are not so great. Our world is not so great...He is. If we follow Him into His will and into the tough stuff - then will our adventures be great again?!? I believe so. May God stir our hearts to follow Him. May He stir our hearts to bring others with us. May this journey be a real adventure, hard and difficult, full of love and grace, sweat and tears and full of His love.

...from Sarah R and Jenn H

Greetings and Salutations. This week we had the privilege of serving the Appalachian People of Kentucky. Through the experience we learned about the negative effects of the coal mining industry in Kentucky and how something that seemed so brilliant at the time could have such long lasting effects...and how it manifests itself in both the material poverty and spiritual poverty. We also explored the rich culture of Kentucky learning about "hollars" and how we were from "Canadia". Eating yummy food like biscuits and gravy beans and grits. And seeing adorable puppies and the occasional monkey dog. We are looking forward to sharing more with you when we get home!!! from Sarah and Jenn PS. Laura and Renee we wish you were hereand are looking forward to telling you our stories when we get back.

Last post from Kentucky

Well we have all finished our last day here in Kentucky and it has been rich and it has been good. Starting last night we began to look towards Canada and towards home. Will this trip have made a difference in us....maybe. Will we do different things when we return? Maybe. who knows what God has done and will do with this journey and our lives but we are hoping and praying he will do something and it will be wonderful. Last night during devos we focused in on baptism and living the real christian life rather than pretending to be perfect. This morning we focused in on living Gods plan not our own and being the essence of Christ so that others will be affected for the Kingdom. We have learned about poverty. We have experienced disappointments. We have been challenged. We have been hosted by three gentle servants and have been housed by a small church in the Appalachian hills of Kentucky. We have seen and eaten culture here, tasteds grits and soup beans and we have bathed in the lazy drawls of the local people...the beautiful local people. Is God at work here? Mmmhmm for sure. i have heard his name mentioned and I have seen his fingerprint. What a privilege!!! When we return I will be adding one long extensive post in summary of our experience and I will also include a picasa web album site where you can go and see the team photos - all of them. Thank you for sending us, thankyou for journeying with us and thank you for your prayers. May his peace and grace pour over you. O and if you have the chance, stop and sit down with one of the team, ask them about their experience here and listen to the story.

Hey everyone, I miss you guys back in Canada so much. This has been such a rewarding experience on my first short term mission trip. We have learned so much together from the people we serve. I've never felt closer to my friends and God. The biggest thing that has shocked me is how no matter who yiou are, you can come into someones house and they will provide though they seem to not have very much. I feelo much more richness here when it comes to relationships. I can feel the Holy Spirit with us all. The best experience has been sitting down with my friends when we wanted to give and putting my hand on them and praying blessings. The change has been so big. I can't wait to come home and tell you the rest and maybe bring back some of the ways here like more community free of judgement. I love you all around the world and God does too... Lydia V

James post

I had lots of fun Thursday at the cool mine and museum. It was amazing and very beautiful.

Thursday adventure

So today we were off to explore a mine a museum and a mountain. We headed off early to get to the mine. It was so cold and everyone was basically freezing but OK. The mine was called Portal 31 and has been closed since the early 60s. It's now used to educate and inform. we split into 2 groups and each went on a 45 minute train ride back into history in the mine...pretty cool (literally) it was fascinating and the stories and stats and photos really helped us to understand more about "coal". Then we were off to the coal museum which was quite extensive and even had a section dedicated to Loretta Lynn a local hero of the stage. then it was off to a mountain trail and a beautiful waterfall. What a great way to spend one of our last days here and a wonderful time to simply spend together. Love Kentucky.

...from Art Janzen

Here we are, day three of our SWAP mission. Where do I start? Day one, the word of the day was stunned. As the day progressed it became more and more apparent that we were not in Kansas (Waterloo) anymore! I was emotionally and physically exhausted by the end of the day, 13 hours in a van full of kids, perhaps, lack of sleep and a time change, maybe, meeting a family living in 1969 mobile home in a ditch with holes the size of end table in their floors, definitely! On a scale of 1-10: Disturbance Level: 1 Building Code Nightmare: 1 Hanging out with awesome kids including my daughter: 8 Day two was a new day, we knew what we would encounter on site, we began to see a spark in the family we were working for and I was able to concentrate on the task in front of me and not be so concerned about the rest. It was a day of much progress, time spent connecting with the homeowners Bert and Patricia and a great day of connecting with our team, Sarah Reed, Sandy Koop, her son Noah, and my daughter Maddie. This crew can work and it was great to teach and learn together throughout the day. As a group that night we made our way into town for a great night of pick'n & grin'n! I'm sure Pete has shared this already. Today our work group really began to see what our trip is all about. Our homeowners tell us many times throughout the day how thankful they are for our work. They are eager to pitch in and help where they can which is not the case on other team experiences. It's giving lots of good reason to question WHY we are doing what we are doing. What is the point?, Are the families impacted? Will the homes we refurbish just go back to what they were after we leave? The answer: Why Not. There doesn't have to be a reason other than we are here to serve. Uncomfortable, yes, stretching, yes, a joy to see our kids grow, share and serve, definitely! We ended the day with a very cool visit to a luthier makers shop. That's a fancy way of saying guitar maker, what an amazing craft with a deep and rich history in Kentucky. A little square dancing with our banjo playing friend Randy and we are all ready for bed! Tomorrow is a break day that will have us traveling to a museum and going for a hike on the tallest mountains of Kentucky. Stay tuned, there should be lot's of exciting things to report! ... Art

Our Team, Dancing and Music

what it's all about - working in a beautiful place

more Wednesday work

Kentucky work

Wednesday - learning about Kentucky music

Wednesday

Well, today has been a good day. My small team finished the jobs at the home today and said goodbye to Dolores wishing her the best. She has repaired and newly tiled floors, painting done, a closet repaired, new lights installed, a new shower faucet and handles, some new plumbing and bath repairs, new skirt on the back of the house, a new window in the back door (almost) and a better home. We had a beautiful snow shower today to remind us of Canada. Other teams have been repairing floors, building proper steps into homes, repairing rot in floors, painting, plumbing and doing electrical repairs and more. Our team has been interacting with our homeowners, chatting and learning about them, sharing lunch with them and enjoying sharing our week with them. The days start with youth driven devotionals and they have been great. Then breakfast and off we go. Back by 3:30, shower and then dinner and the evening programmes. Tonight we're at a local centre where culture and history are taught. he team is being hosted by an astounding fiddler who is a local celebrity and is teaching us stories of the area, dancing moves familiar to the locals and Appalachia culture. Wonder stretching of our world views. God is good and we see evidence of him here. We have become familiar with cultural poverty, situational poverty and generational poverty. Ask your kids when they come home and they can explain. Today we visited a local artisan who handcrafts musical instruments like the local dulcimer and guitars and Ukeleles made out of local woods. Pretty amazing! Tomorrow we have a day off and a journey to a museum, a mine and a hike up a mountain. Can't wait.

Mid- week

Morning everyone. Well e're halfway today and things re settling in well. Anxieties have subsided, the rhythms of the jobs and chores and prayer times and Devos etc have set in well and I would say the team is quietly content nd learning and that is we some. Breakfast this morning was eggs, sausage, hash browns and biscuits with gravy. For us meat lovers...YES! Today we will work nd thn go nd visit a musical instrument maker and I think, get some square dance lessons. Fun! We love you all. We miss you. And we are having fun exploring where God is at work and what he is teaching us.

Pickin and Grinnin

Today was another awesome day of construction and renovation and each group was more in thr groove of things and less tired and less jangled by a new culture.I think today we trully began to say hello to the Kentucky people and meet them really in their circumstances. It was an awesome day. This evening we went pickin' and grinnin' at a local hall where musicians and singers came to play and we enjoyed their music and did some fancy footwork on the dance floor. What fun. We got back late so I don't have everyones pics but heres a few from tonight.

and a few more