Sabbatical

Wow, only one more day and then back home again! It's hard to believe that 3 1/2 months have gone by since we left. We've had so many wonderful and interesting experiences everywhere we've gone, but now it's time for some routine again and to be back in our own home and bed again.
Last week we spent the week at a call to worship conference with YWAM in Epe, Holland. We both felt really blessed there and it was a perfect time to have this conference before we go home again.
The last few days we've spent at Pete's aunt's place in Harderwijk, who was away for a few nights and then spent time visiting other relatives. Today we went for a wonderful bike ride with another aunt and uncle and tomorrow we leave to another relative who will bring us to the airport. (Musical beds lately!! Good thing every-one has two beds pushed together, so we don't have to worry about sinking together and having a sore back!)
Looking forward to seeing most of you again soon!!!!!

Love from Corinne

Hi all! We just got back from an interesting 11 days in Romania. The country is a conglomeration of 3 major ethnic groups: Hungarian, Romanian, and Gypsy...all jostling for position. Buildings are interesting: amazing palace architecture from the Austrian-Hungarian past; the ugliest massive apartment blocks from the communist era; Romanian Eastern Orthodox churches and peasant homes; and the mudbrick shacks of the Gypsies. The roads are interesting and include luxury vehicles driven by business officials(mafia) as well as horsedrawn wagons used by peasant farmers and gypsies. In our time there we met the friendliest and most hospitable people...most of them linked to the mission work engaged in by our Dutch relatives. We visited: a few thrift stores for the poor--goods come from donations in Holland: several schools that receive help with after-school programs, preschool, and remedial help; soup kitchens; healthcare ventures, and several senior care homes. The work is done mainly by Caritas (a Roman Chatholic agency) and by the Hungarian Reformed Church in the smaller town where we stayed. We thank the Lord for safe travel by car to and from and within Romania and the opportunity to see in detail the work God is doing through sacrificial servants.

We didn't have too much summer in B.C. before we left. While August and Sept. had some good days in Europe, it was also rather cool and sometimes wet. Now finally we've enjoyed 11 warm sunny days on the Mediterranean. The ocean temperature was also very agreeable and we swam 7 out of 10 days....the only swimming we had done all year!

We enjoyed getting around on a motor scooter for 3 days, which was a great and cheap way to travel. We also enjoyed the hiking up on the cliffs and ocean kayaking. We didn't realize that when we were in the inlet and lazing on the beach that the wind had picked up and we had to get engage the open seas on our way back. It made for an exciting if not somewhat fearful paddle back.

The beauty around here has been overwhelming and our pictures don't do justice to it. So we leave here tomorrow rather sadly, but excited for another adventure. On Tuesday morning we leave with Pete's aunt and uncle for Romania for 10+ days to see the work that they are doing there with their church. Till later - Corinne and Peter

Peter here, letting you know that I don't miss Canada!! The reason? We are in Norway now which is like being in central B.C. and Nova Scotia at the same time. We are enjoying a few days of indian summer. The people are also familiar. We keep meeting doubles of our church friends in Holland and now also here in Norway. A few weeks ago we spent part of the day with my engineer-nerd cousin and his toddler son, definite clones of Ed and Benjamin R. Right now our friends in Norway have their son and daughter in law, clones of Michael and Blair V. living in their basement suite. Mountain biking Mike has had some plastic surgery to make himself look older since Blaire's clone is 6 months pregnant. (don't mix this up and start any rumors) Her voice, looks, and mannerisms are identical to the Canadian Blaire and she's smart. Lots of other familiar people over here that we've just met.....so I love you all and enjoy being with people just like you! Peter

I recently read the book "The Rage against God" in which Peter Hitchens concludes that two world wars lead to destruction of family life, social stability, and faith in God. Church attendance also dropped by 50% after WW1 and again after WW2. A climate of distrust and adversarialism has grown in Great Britain ever since. His conclusion is that we need to return to faith in God. Speaking of faith, my dad turned 80 this week. I thought back on his healthy years before alzheimers. During the 1960's a lot of people were angrily demanding rights and freedoms and pursuing "peace" through war on the establishment. In contrast I see my dad teaching us squabbling siblings (I heard a dutch parent recently shout to his children "Niet vegten!") that peace came by turning the other cheek....by grace. If dad's earlier life was a testimony of faith displayed in peace, his later life with alzheimers has been a testimony of faith displayed in joy. In the past year, he's been unable to do anything much more than swallow the food fed to him. Communication is mostly met with a vacant stare. But there are also moments of surprising recognition followed by laughter and tears of joy. Joy: a fruit of faith! So.....happy 80th birthday dad!(Those who promote peace have joy Prov. 12:20) Peter