Vocational Bible School

What a wonderful week it has been. I have been out at Cecil Lake Community Church for the week helping with the Vocational Bible School. In total there were 25 children, I had 6 girls in my class and for one day had one boy. We had bible time, crafts, snack, games and music all in 4 hours. The theme for the week was Gold Rush, it was an Answers in Genesis curriculum written for VBS. We were digging for the true treasure, something more precious than gold. 

We did games outside, this was British Bulldog aka bullrush. This was the start of the week when the ground still had snow. By the end of the week it was more like a giant slushy which then becomes icy when the temperature drops again.

At snack time we made our snacks, they matched the days theme or had a lesson to go with them. This day was Christmas in March (hence the santa hat) teaching on the birth of Jesus. We decorated sugar cookies

This is for the Girlzone girls. I taught them chicken legs and then whenever we had a spare moment they wanted to play it.

My class. A very talkative group of 11 year old's. Four of them are related. We had a lot of fun together.

At the end of the week we preformed for the parents. In music time we learnt songs and actions. This was the theme song, Rock of ages, with everyone. Then each group had one that they did by themselves.

Each day there was a skit at the start. This is Theodore Tweedle and Otis, Discovery City's hopeless Sherif and deputy. Lots of laugh  with good lessons.

I stayed the week at Pastor Dennis and Rose's place. Which was a walk across the car park instead of an hour drive. This is Sparky their dog who has been like my shadow all week.

This morning I got a knock on my door at 6 am to say that there were moose eating off the hay stack in the backyard. So here it is people........a photo of two moose. The quality is not great and it's not a close encounter but...

All and all it has been a wonderful fun week. I enjoyed the preparation and then teaching and getting to know the girls throughout the week. It was also great to get to know some of the lovely people at Cecil Lake Community church.

Snow Day

After the warmer weather the roads were wet then it snowed making them not so nice to drive. I was told by Bernie (one of Millie’s sons who is a truckee) that I should not dive to camp. So I had a snow day. Millie was looking after two of her grandchildren for the day and we had lots of fun together.

Sam who is 2 loved pushing Tom (one of Millies grandsons who lives on the farm that Millies house is on) and I over then falling over himself. Boyd, Toms dog, wanted to join the fun. 

 

We dug a hole at the top of the snowbank and Sam wanted to sit in it. 

Then it was my turn, Sam was helping me get out. 

Emilia and I made snow angels when she came after school. 

Tom took me for a ride on his snowmobile. On Sunday afternoon when it had stopped snowing after several days we went out again and I got to ride Jakes on which is a 350cc one. The paddocks in the background of the other pictures were completely white again with several inches of snow. 

 

It is continuing to snow here and the temperatures are back down to -15 and lower. Please pray for safety when drive to and from camp and when we need to go into town. George is back so I do not have to drive for now. 

I am excited about the coming week. I met with a lady yesterday from Cecil Lake Christian Fellowship where I will be helping with their vocational Bible School in the spring break next week. I received the curriculum and will be working on the five lessons that that will be doing with the Grade 5-6 children this week. Please pray as I prepare and then as I met with the children, teach them and interact with them during the morning.

Road Trip to Tumbler Ridge

George is away, the day was beautiful so Millie and I decided to go for a road trip. Our destination Tumbler Ridge.On the way I got to see many things...

Our first stop. All the signs had dinosaurs doing what they were for. Such as on with at swimming cap for the pool. Unfortunately the museum was closed for four days, the first being when we were there.

The first sighting of a lake since arriving in Canada. It is frozen and covered in snow. Not so good for Kayaking.

Our next stop. This was a cool place. It has over 100 chainsaw wood carving around the town. I think it is funny that they placed the one of a hunter facing straight at the bears in their sign. In June they have a wood craving festival.

I was going to say the one and only moose I have seen but there were two on the side of the road on my way to work this morning. Thankfully they stayed on the side. 

Peace River in the foreground and snowy mountains in the distance. Normally at this time of year everything in sight would be white with snow. The Peace has not frozen over in a couple of years but the rivers feeding it are mostly frozen.

Frozen water falls. Not actually sure where the water came from to freeze in this way but it looks really cool. 

The final destination. A small mining and recreation town.

This is Millie the wonderful lady I am boarding with and her car at Tumbler Ridge just before driving home again.

A view of the wind turbines above Dawsons Creek

The view back across the Peace River on the way back.

There was not really much to see in Tumbler but the views along the way were cool. Have been told that in the summer I could organise a mine tour! It was a 8hour round trip with all our stops and we did not drive on the same road from leaving the driveway to pulling back into it. It would have been a different view even a week ago but warm weather (five days above zero) has melted the little snow they had. I am looking forward to the coming seasons to see the change in the landscape. 

Driving in Canada

I have begun driving in Canada. It has had its moments already. I have had a deer run out in front of me, although it was far enough ahead all I did was slow down in case some of it's friends joined it. The scary moment was when I pulled out of camp and went onto the wrong side of the road. This was enough to give me a fright and know that I have to be so aware. Until I have a vehicle for me I will be driving George's pick-up when he is away, it is a GMC 1500 1995. The best thing about it is it's colour!!

Standing next to George's Pick-up which I will be driving when he is away.

Filling the pick-up up. It takes propane.

This was at the Girls Retreat last weekend. They were playing a giant game of Dutch Blitz. 

Cross Country Skiing

The trail we made behind us. The snow was deep in places.

View of the lodge from where we went to.

Today the sun was shining and it was a bit warmer. I am not actually sure what the temperature was but I ventured outside. I sat down for lunch with the speaker for the Girls Retreat this weekend and she asked if I wanted to do some cross country skiing. Well I was excited to try something new! She took me on a tour of the rest of camp on skis. It was nice to get outside.

At the final destination

Arriving at Fort St John airport, the 12th and final airport of Feb 12

Taffy, the dog belonging to George and Carol who is currently wandering the office.

I have arrived safely to my new home in Fort St John. The best way I can describe it is white and cold. When I arrived it was -13^C with a wind chill taking it to about -28^C. I was met at the Airport by George, the director at Blueberry, and we did some jobs in Fort St John. One of the best things was getting some snow boots. God provided amazingly in this regard and I got some good boots normally $60 for only $9!

George then took me to the place where I will be living for the next couple of months till some other arrive as summer staff at the lodge. I am going to be boarding with an older widow. The house is lovely and warm and she is wonderful. I am looking forward to more time with her. Her Son and family live on the farm that her house is on and they came around to visit.

View from my bedroom window.

View from the lounge. I don't have a picture of the outside of the house as  that would have involved getting all wrapped up to go out to take it.

Road out to camp.

The lodge. The Office is in the basement level on the right.

The cabin view from the upstairs of lodge

Pepsi, the friendly dog that lives at camp. Belongs to the maintenance man.

It is so nice to be unpacked and somewhere I can call home. Right now I am sitting in what will be my office at Blueberry. The temperature outside is -20 but it has stopped snowing and the sun is even out. I do not have internet at home so will only be able to email and skype when at work so will be trying to be a good steward about the time I spend doing that.

Today has been a quiet day, getting bearing and looking at what is coming up. We have a girls retreat this weekend which should be fun and full of learning.

My office!