Three full days here so far. I am tired, but it is a good tired, because there is no other place I'd rather be right now: in the center of God's will, serving Him here on Les Îles de la Madeleine. The needs here are staggering, but the beauty is breathtaking, and I am grateful for His continued blessings!

 

Here are a few pictures...

 [taking care of a friend's baby while they were out]

 

Thanks to Augs for the pictures!

Thankfulness Day 10: On the Islands!!

Thank-you SO much to those of you who were praying for our trip + ferry crossing yesterday! Everything went smoothly, and nobody got sick, despite some rather rolling swells and a boat that was definitely moving... at one point I walked up front to get a drink of water and it was quite difficult to even walk, let alone keep the water in the cup. :) The waves were hitting us on the front corner, which meant that every couple of seconds the whole ship would give a lurch and roll heavily onto one side, then mount up the next swell and sit suspended for a moment before sliding down into the trough between waves and beginning all over again.

Now I am sitting in a warm kitchen on Les Iles de la Madeleine, listening to the sounds of the waves as they break against the shore less than 100 feet away, and feeling the wind shake the house. It is so good to be here. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I pray that God will work through us, despite our inadequacy.

Here are a few pictures from yesterday's ferry trip:

 The last few people in the ferry-lineup, waiting to board

 Looking along the side of the boat, while still in the harbor

Pulling away from Prince Edward Island

In the middle of the crossing, there is a point where you can't see land in any direction for a while...

They really pack us in!

Watch Live: Emily's Arrival on Les Iles de la Madeleine

If you happen to be viewing this blog around 7 Atlantic time (that's somewhere in the next 35 minutes), Ems and Company will be arriving at Cap-aux-Meules and plan to wave out the window so Curtis and I can watch from home. Join us if you'd like.  Here's the webcam site:

http://www.ilesdelamadeleine.com/webcam-2/

Or you can visit the home page for the islands at: www.ilesdelamadeleine.com to see where they'll be serving in the coming days.

Ems said that their van is parked on the raised ramp section of the boat, so they will likely be one of the last to disembark.

We are missing them already!

Posted by Emily's Mum

Thankfulness Day 9: Ferry Day

This is what we will see in just a couple of short hours...

So happy to be taking the ferry today! We got up early this morning and looked out the window to see if there is any wind (there is) and if there are any whitecaps on the ocean (there are), which means that the long crossing may find most of us sleeping and trying not to look at the horizon. It is not a good idea to watch the horizon line going up and down and all around, when one is on a large boat in the middle of the Gulf... (I speak with experience :).

However, it may prove to be a calm voyage and if so, there are sure to be several competitive games of Rook. Also there is a lovely bag of peanut MnM's waiting to be consumed, and a good book which I'm halfway through reading.

I'll post pictures of the crossing tomorrow!

-Ems

Thankfulness Day 8: In for the Night!

What a day this has been! We were up at just past 5:00 a.m., to grab a quick breakfast and pack last-minute items into the vehicle before hitting the road for Les Iles de la Madeleine... and then there were miles upon miles of driving, most of it through a deluge of rain, made warm and pleasant with wonderful company and stimulating conversations. It has been a long day, but good, and the sound of the wind outside reminds me that in just a few short hours, we will board the ferry for the five-hour trip into the Gulf of the St. Lawrence... I can't wait. :)
 

For now, I'm super grateful to be settled in for the night!

-Ems

Thankfulness Day 7: Solid Examples of Young Couples

I am so grateful for the young couples in our lives who faithfully set an example of Christ-centered courtship, engagement, and newly-married-life. Such examples are, unfortunately, a rare commodity, and I deeply admire couples who abide by Biblical principles even when the going gets tough.
Zack & Kristen (pictured in this post) are great relationship mentors. Over the past few years, our family has had the privilege of watching their love story unfold, complete with a beautiful wedding and the beginning of a new family firmly grounded on the belief that --while it's not always easy-- following God's will is always the best course of action.
Last year they were part of a panel of speakers at a marriage conference we attended. They told stories of  God's leading them together and what He taught them along the way. Our family still talks about the principles they shared: heeding parental advice, not giving into temptation, and living life abandoned to Christ, despite the magnetic pull of culture.

So to all you young couples who are faithfully staying the course - keep up the good work! There are a lot of single people taking notes from you and being greatly encouraged by your faithful example.

Thank-you, Zack & Kristen!

Thankfulness Day 6: Brothers in Leadership

This picture was taken last year when Curtis & one of his classmates were chosen to teach a group of students at Oak Brook College of Law's yearly conference...

I am so grateful for brothers who are sought out for their ability to lead well!