8 Mile DVBS, Days 1 and 2

Hi again! Our internet connection was down last night so we must hurry to try to get these latest pics online for our praying friends. Forty one children came out for the first day of DVBS at 8 Mile. The team is really working well together and the Lord is blessing their various gifts and talents to reach these boys and girls with the gospel. Today, when the rain stopped briefly, the team went door to door in another nearby town to invite more kids to the program tomorrow. Sunday we plan to have all the parents come and join us. Hopefully tomorrow our connection will be here again so we can share more blessings in Belize. Thank God for our connection to heaven through our Lord Jesus Christ which is alway open. "Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace to find mercy and grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

Mr. Cane plays "Jesus Loves Me"!

Greetings from Belize! Ben fixed our internet connection so we can post a few shots of day 1 at 8 Mile. We began the day in the Word. The team is surveying John' gospel each morning before breakfast. Some yummy pancakes helped us as we proceeded with brainstorming and planning the VBS for 8 Mile. Before lunch the team finished decorating the chapel and in the afternoon the team went door to door to invite the kids. In the evening the team joined the saints at Grace Chapel in Belize City. After meeting we enjoyed a scrumptious meal of fried chicken by the Caribean Sea. The highlight of the day was presenting Mr. Cane with a new accordion. Mr. Cane has played almost every hymn known to man since the 1950's and his old accordion was very tired. A dear brother from our assembly in Barrie donated a beautiful accordion and it was a true blessing for us to present it to Mr. Cane and hear him play "Jesus Loves Me". I hope you enjoy the photos below and then pray for the team. Tomorrow will be our first day with the kids of 8 Mile. Thanks for visiting our blog,

Team Canada


Thalia and Ben playing with some kids who can't wait for the club to start.
Some of the many young people of 8 Mile
The team breaks into groups to cover the community with tracts and flyers. The Christian literature was donated by Gospel Folio Press.
Tiffany (left) with team going door to door with literature and invitations to the VBS. Tiffany is a young Belizean believer from 8 Mile. She has joined our team part time.
Ben inviting some boys to the VBS
The team with Mr. Cane and his new accordion at Grace Chapel in Belize City

How beautiful are the feet!

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! —Isaiah 52:7, NLT

Greetings from Belize! The Short-term Youth Team has arrived safe and sound, pictured here at the Leslies enjoying spaghetti. Our day began at 2:50 a.m. in Ridgville where Mr. Edwards (jr & SR.) drove us to the ariport in Buffalo - Many thanks to them and the saints at Ridgeville for helping us on our way. Our journey took us across the skies (via 3 airports) and the team of ten are now resting thier beautiful but weary feet. We stopped in at 8 Mile on the way and the team had a look at the facilities and we're anxious to get started tomorrow, decorating, visiting and inviting the precious children of 8 Mile. Thank you in advance for your prayers.

Make a joyful noise!

DVBS at Northside concluded today. Some 25 kids attended and recieved well earned prizes for their efforts in memory work etc. The effort was a great blessing and a success and we hope to hold another one next year, Lord willing. Thanks to all the helpers, you did a super job! Our last post did not include the excellent "singing". So, here is a shot of Andrew and Aaron, my helpers in praise for the week - Good job guys! "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD" (Psa 100:1).

VBS at Northside: Day 2

Team
God'sWord


Refreshments


Crafts
Games
Memory Verse

VBS at Northside: Day 1

Seventeen children came out for the first day of Vacation Bible School here in Barrie. These are a couple of shots by Ken Wallace, an elder at Northside, who has been helping with power Point. The team (pictured in conference)is doing a super job providing the children with games, refreshments, crafts and amazing Bible stories. Point your browser here again soon to see more. We are praying that the Lord would bring many boys and girls out to hear the Good News of Jesus and His love and to have loads of fun.

Set Sail with VBS

This is one of the T-shirts I just picked up for the VBS. Everything is just about set. Vera has been working so hard with Melanie and others preparing for the upcoming Daily Vacation Bible School to be held at Northside Aug. 14-18. The theme will be “Set Sail” and will focus on some of the great boat stories of the Bible: Jesus walking on the water, Jonah and the whale etc. The Lord has blessed with many volunteers to help set the sails for this adventure in God’s Word. (The Belize team will repeat this program at 8 Mile). Let us pray that God would bring many boys and girls out to hear the Good News of His Son.

Family Camp 2

Today we handed out flyers inviting kids to the upcoming DVBS, but that will have to wait for another post. Here are some shots I promised of Family Camp 2. Jeremy fishing with Kendal and Rachel with painted face on the carnival night. What great fun and fellowship. Peter Kerr and Gary McBride were the speakers for the week. Gary spoke on James and Peter shared a series on Haggai entitled, "Restoring your spiritual passion". Both were very challenging and refreshing. Be sure to visit Northland's website at www.northlandbiblecamp.com

Jeremy's Baptism

This will be, by far, one of the most gratifying posts to date on our blog: Jeremy's Baptism. We have just returned from Family Camp 2 at Northland Bible Camp. On July 25th our home assembly in Matheson, including his "Oma & Opa", was in attendance and all witnessed Jeremy O'Byrne take a step of obedience to the Lord and be baptized. The Lord blessed us with a beautiful day. You don't know what a joy it was for me to have this privilege. I am so proud of my son. The verse I gave him was Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you says the LORD; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, and to give you a future of hope."

Way to go Jeremy!

Baptism at Northside

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(Matthew 28:18-20)
It was very encouraging to see three candidates step forward to be baptized recently at Northside. Many were in attendance to witness this event. Baptism is one of two ordinances that the Lord gave to His church, the other being the Lord's Supper. Both are visible, symbolic acts. Baptism is a picture of our identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. Those baptized announce by their baptism that their old life is over and they have begun a new life in Christ. (See Romans 6; Acts 8 etc.)

Jr. Boys 2006, Part III

Knots are always fun. James is teaching the bowline or half-hitcth, I think.
This is one of my favorite shots from this year. Can you see the delight in the faces of these campers as they chow down on dessert? They'll need the precious calories for the wide game following supper.
The "Craft Shaft" is a fun place to do crafts, especially if it is kinda drizzly outside.

Jr. Boys, Northland Bible Camp, Part 2

Chapel time is always an important part of camp where boys and girls learn precious truths from God's Word. The day is filled with a variety of activities including sports, crafts, games. The friendships forged are life changing and lifelong.

Jr Boys at Northland Bible Camp 2006

Jeremy and I just returned from a week at camp. This was Jeremy's first year as a Jr Counselor (see picture with Otter Slide cabin) and I shared the lessons on "Under Siege" Battle of the Ages, a study of the Armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-18. Over the next while we'll try and post some shots of the boys as they enjoyed a week of Christian camping. We praise the Lord for blessing the staff, counselors and campers. A number of campers made professions of faith in Jesus Christ the Captain of our salvation!

Missionary Picnic a success...

Vera and I attended the missionary picnic in Toronto where we gave a report on short-term missions to Belize. We really enjoyed reports from various missionaries sharing the many joys, trials, needs, and nature of their work. Countries included Nigeria, Philippines, France, Canada (Toronto), and other areas. A fellow blogger, Nigel Barham shared how he will be George Verwer's (founder of Operation Mobilization) personal travelling assistant for a year. Nigel challenged the group to think through missions, prayer and the great need to reach our generation with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here is his prayer card...

Got "M A P" ?

Got a "MAP"? ... that is map as in: "M-issionary A-awareness P-roject" I am very excited to be a part of the upcoming Toronto and Area Missionary Picnic on Saturday, June 24. We look forward to reporting on short-term missions and Belize in particular. Have a look at your calendar and jot down the address. Plan to come and enjoy the reports and pray! We have exciting updates coming for the Youth Mission to Belize in Aug., too...

Sean

Guelph Bible Conference

Hi,
I know our Blog has been dormant, but not for lack of material. I should have reported on the night of prayer at Northside or the Workers and Elders conference in Oakville. Life seems to be going too fast, even to update a blog!!
However, I thought I should tell you about my latest excursion with Jeremy. This past weekend the 50th annual Men's Conference was held in Guelph. I have been going to this conf. since I was saved in 1985. This time my twin brother Derry went with us and my son came for the first time. We enjoyed a great weekend of fellowship, food and great ministry. Joe Reese spoke on the Lordship of Christ and Alex Strauch (author of Biblical Eldership) spoke on Leading with Love. We renewed many Christian ties with other men who God has used in our lives. A highlight for me was Dr. Jim Rennie's seminar on "7 habits of a highly effective father". Of course, it is beyond words to describe how happy I was to have my son along with me. We played floor hockey on Saturday night which reminded my of my age!
Now I am looking forward to celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary! Vera and I were married on the same weekend as the men's conf. 17 yrs. ago. She doesn't mind celebrating it after the conference because I usually come home encouraged by the mountain-top experience that the annual conf. is. Praise the Lord!