Life is bitter sweet

A lot has happened since the last entry on our blog, so thought I should do another update. A lot has happened in the last few weeks. We had four Brazilian friends in for a typical Brazilian meal of beans & rice, roasted ribs, a green salad and a milk custard pudding for dessert. Our guests were Lucas Lara, right here from Salmon Arm, Solonge Detmering, also from Salmon Arm. She came to Canada 28 years ago to work for my sister Edith. Then there was Rotary exchange student by the name of Gabriel Di Bello from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and last but not least, Neusa da Silva, from Fairview Ab. that came to Canada 22 years ago to work as a nanny for my nephew and his wife. We just had a ball jabbering away in both languages. It was a fun evening and I vowed I would cook beans more often. I’ve forgotten how good they can be if one puts some imagination to work. Solonge or Sula, as we call her has to be the world’s best bean cook.

Gabriel, Neuza, Luke & Sula

Then we had some very sad news … First, that Eric’s brother Guy and a friend of his were instantly killed in a tragic automobile accident on their way from Saskatoon to Ft. McMurray where they both work. Eric is now bereft of both of his parents and one brother. It was such a shock to all of us. Ruthie and Luke flew to Saskatoon to be with him through this most difficult time. We hardly recovered from that when we got word that a very dear friend of ours that has been involved with the mission in Brazil drowned while on a fishing trip. He was a good swimmer so no one really knows just what happened. He leaves behind his grieving wife and three young daughters. He worked for the mission for many years as did his wife and her family. Recently he started his own business and was doing so well. It is still hard to believe we won’t see Miro in this life again … however, we have an eternal hope, and can look forward to seeing him in heaven. In the mean time we can weep with them and offer them what comfort we can, even if it seems insignificant to us.

Miro and his wife Joce

Our granddaughter Ruth and her husband Royden are in Salmon Arm right now. Royden’s father Ed Lepp was sick with cancer and has since passed away. He was only 64 and had so much to offer this world. Ed was a pilot and his plane crashed many years ago in northern Ontario. His passenger was killed but he survived against all odds, but did retain many scars to show for it. He lost one hand, and the fingers on his other hand. He limped badly as a result of his crushed ankles. He used a metal hook and was very dextrous with it, we were always amazed at the things he managed to do with it. The ‘Lepps’ are a large, closely knit, loving family, and when one suffers, we all suffer. Please remember them in your prayers.

Royden & Ed

Our friends Bob & Sharon Guzak from Edmonton come to spend time at their Mara Lake cottage, every winter and Bob loves to snowmobile. His other friends couldn’t join him last week so he took Earl out with him. That was a first for Earl and quite an experience by the way he tells it. He had no idea it involved so much special equipment and special clothing. I think he had stiff byceps for a few days … but would probably do it again if the opportunity arises again.

Earl & I and our friends Sharon & Bob

A New Year to All

We’ve made it through another year and not the worse for the wear. All in all I would class ours as pretty good. No serious illnesses, no fatal crashes, no money invested and none lost. God has been good to us and He always is, and we give Him our praise and honour. We spent a wonderful Christmas in Lander this year with Earl’s brother Elmer and his wife Marlene, just doing whatever we felt like doing. Besides the big family dinner on Christmas Day, we went for long walks, set two 1000 piece puzzles, and watched movies we’ve been meaning to see for a long time. We appreciated their invitation so much, I think it was the first time we haven’t been home cooking a turkey for the family close enough to enjoy it with us in as many years as I can remember.

Christmas at Earl's brother's house, in Ladner.

We drove to Seattle to spend New Year Day with Ruth & Royden (our grand daughter and her husband. Pat joined us on that part of the holiday. We did the Outlet Malls and managed to pick up gift for our Brazilian children and grandchildren whom we keep in touch with on regular bases. We raised a family of five, plus two other boys that live close enough we get to see them every time we go to Brazil. They are all married and have children, then there’s our director & his family, Luke’s mother etc. This means finding a suitable gift for 35 people. It’s something like running a marathon, but we enjoy blessing them.

Does it look like we like coffee or what?

A walk through the park in Seattle.

If you can't beat them, join them! :)

For the last few years Sam Ministries has put out a Unique Christmas Gift brochure and we are always so pleased to see how many people are waiting for an opportunity to share some of their Christmas money to help a poor person or family in Brazil or Mozambique. We are so thankful for these special gifts and we are so glad to pass them on. God’s people surely are the most generous in the world.

Now that we’re into the New Year Earl is busy getting tickets lined up for his trip to Brazil in March. We are hoping for enough air miles so we don’t have to use any mission funds. I likely won’t be accompanying him again this year, it’s become too costly for both of us to go. Plus, I don’t do as well with international travel anymore, so that’s my excuse, even though I miss seeing all our friends so much.

The family is all well, Pat is still recuperating from back surgery and feels so much better, she’s even talking about going back to work someday, though I’m not sure it will happen. Lynn & Dwight are busy doing all the things they always do in Mozambique, while their children are in Edmonton. Russ is waiting to hear from the navy, to see if he’s been accepted, and Amanda is back in university working on her teaching degree. She wants to teach high school math and science.

This promises to be a usual winter for us with lots of snow, which is nice because it covers up lots of ugly stuff, but makes walking and driving more difficult.