S'mores

The wheels are turning! Last week we met with Pastor Irv here at the Atlin Christian Centre for dinner and we made some plans to get a few things going on here! Tuesday nights will be our prayer evenings. Nothing really structured, just praising and praying. We had one new attendant and he spent a couple of hours just dumping some stuff he needed to be rid of in his life. We prayed with him and talked and it was an amazing time! Friday evening we held the first of the Friday night fireside fellowships! We roasted marshmallows,  made s'mores, hot dogs and sang songs. We chatted to everyone who walked by and waved at all who drove by. We had a few people pull in and join us. It always takes awhile for people to see that it is "safe" to show up. Our goal for the camp fires is just to get the community members to come. There is no sermon at these, the music is camp fire guitar worship songs, but they would have to listen closely to the words to know this. We are really hoping to encourage people just to show up! Enjoy some fellowship and free food. In tough little towns it is so important to promote a sense of community and show that segregation is not on the agenda. Sharing a meal seems to be the universal language for fellowship. From the people we have talked too, the response when asked,why don't you pop over for a hot dog, is, well I don't go to church, or I am not a Christian. We just tell them after that, well we aren't asking you to come to church, just come hang out at the camp fire on Friday night! SO if you would pray that the local people would just feel like stopping in to see what's going on, that would be great!
    There are so many people desiring prayer and guidance for their lives. So many broken hearts and broken lives.We have had a great moments of acceptance  and encouragement the past two  weeks, a fellow from the village stumbled over in his drunken state to give us some worship cd's he thought we might like. He told us he likes the book of John, as his middle name is John. So Bill read scriptures to him, and drove him to his flight out to work in the bush for a couple of weeks. People have come asking questions about us and our changed lives. Our coffee pot is always on and I bake daily to share a treat with those who venture over or to take to the church to have goodies on hand there.We also have a handful of children from the village who come over faithfully every afternoon for freezies and play time with Ella. My studies are a real struggle but I don't mind a bit! Bill has more work than he can do by himself at this point. We will be happy when our friends arrive from Sylvan Lake Alberta in a couple of weeks! We are blessed, and feel so very humbled that we can be serving our Lord here in this way. God has so graciously answered our prayers to use us. Thank you again to those that have prayed for us and that are praying for us!

Ella & Pastor Erv sweeping the front deck of  ACC

As we excited as we are to be actually physically working with and for the church here and praying with people here, there is an obvious resistance also. Almost every time we have really pressed in and had a chance to pray with some one here or share our stories  and faith with some one , we get hit with an exhaustion or depression. We have come to recognize it and are praying against it, but would appreciate your prayers for covering for us also. Bill lost an Aunt this week and my Grandfather is hanging on to life by a thread, there are always things in the back ground , but we feel God's guidance and loving hand protecting us.

Blessing,

Bill & Tammy & Ella!