Archived News: September/October 2006
Family News:
Prayer really does change things and we feel your prayers and appreciate
them very much. This is a real time of transition for us as we reflect and
absorb what God has done in and through our lives over the past almost 3
years.
August/September Illnesses:
July through to September were difficult months with sickness. Danica just
got feeling better and Craig got very very sick with severe tonsillitis. The
first round of antibiotics didn’t work, then we took him to a different doctor
who was quite concerned he may have had an abscessed tonsil and changed his
antibiotics. He couldn’t swallow, wasn’t eating or drinking and was throwing
up. The doctor was quite concerned he may have to be hospitalized. However,
God intervened and he did recover. Praise God! Then a few weeks later before
we left Tobago, Danica came down with tonsillitis as well. It was a tryng time
but thankfully all recovered and are feeling well.
Volunteering at the Hospital Pharmacy:
Michelle is a hospital pharmacist and worked in Nova Scotia for 12 years
before we left. She has enjoyed being home with the children homeschooling
and working with Tim. Her interest has always been to be involved someway
in her profession here. So, she volunteered from June - Sept, one afternoon a
week at the Tobago Regional Health Authority, Scarborough Hospital. She went
on medical and surgical clinical ward rounds, worked in the dispensary, worked
with the staff regarding policies and procedures and gave two direct patient
care education talks to the staff of the hospital pharmacy. It was a great
experience and very interesting. We have so much to be thankful for!
Time with Friends:
We all have been impacted from living here in Tobago, mostly from the
people we have met and their stories. We took time over this Aug – Sept to have
special times with our friends and reflect on what God has done in them. Danica
and Craig share special memories here as well with their friends! They will be
greatly missed.
Our prayer needs this month specifically for our family as we transition
home are:
Thank you so much and we appreciate you!
Michelle and Tim
Ministry News:
It is hard to believe we are home after 2½ years! It has been an emotional
time as we have left Tobago and returned home. It was hard in one way to leave
and it is so great to be home, welcomed by family and friends. We are
believing these next few months will be a refueling and refreshing time
for us as we are home and are in transition to the next direction of ministry
for us. Here are all the happenings over the past 2 months. We will be
continuing to keep you up to date and we appreciate your prayers and support
over this time.
Tobago Youth Leaders Network Meeting:
On September 4th, we lead our last Network meeting in Tobago. It was a
special time to impart encouragement and the vision for the future and
thanks for all everyone had done to be a part of our ministry, helped us
and befriended us. The steering committee members were all there and we
honored them and blessed them in prayer, endorsing them as the leaders.
The night was full of fun. Oswald lead in worship, Shinelle lead in a youth
group game. We showed a highlights video from our time of ministry with the
many youth leaders on the island. We have so many great memories! It was a
powerful time in prayer as we laid hands on and prayed for the youth leaders
and they prayed for us. One of the youth leaders, (Patsy) made homemade Roti
(a local food) and brought enough for everyone. It was yummy!
Here is a note we received from one of the youth leaders.
I'd like to say that the Youth Leaders Network is one of the best things to
happen in Tobago. So many times as youth leaders you feel that you're not doing
a good job in reaching the youths or you might feel so discouraged and think
that you're so alone in this thing but the truth is you're not alone. In fact
almost all the youth ministries do encounter the same basic problems. And being
at the YLN helped me to deal with some of the problems and realize that we do
not have to feel alone. It also gave me and others a lot of encouragement,
which is what we as youth leaders need so much. It was such a blessing and
I know that it would continue to be blessing as long as God is the head of it.
Thank you Tim and Michelle for what you have done and will continue to do and
may God continue to bless you and your family in your future endeavors.
- Kandace Chulhan.
The Network is now being lead by 4 excellent youth leaders: Oswald George,
Shinelle Guy, Giselle Barzey and Cory Waldron. Please continue to intercede
and pray for them as they transition and lead this network of youth leaders
into even greater things in God’s kingdom. They will continue to need our
prayer, support and encouragement.
We plan to be staying in close touch and assisting them from Canada with
resources and leadership to encourage them on in their vision and endeavors.
Orphanage Pizza Party:
We are very sad to say good bye to the children of Jesus Care Family
Cottage. As a family, we have been visiting them ever since we arrived in
Tobago and we also took many teams to minister to them. They are amazing
children who have great hearts full of love, open to just receive your
unconditional love. We decided to throw them a pizza and fast food chicken
party before we left.
Michelle made them homemade brownies! Everyone always
loves a good chocolate fix! It was a lot of fun to hang out with the kids
and share some chicken together. They have touched our lives in amazing ways.
Their smiles are forever implanted into our hearts. We have left funds from
some donations of individuals and churches for the home with a friend to
administrate for us to continue helping the children with travel costs to
Sunday school and also with food. We know we will be back to minister and
be with them again.
Assembly at Pentecostal Light and Life Secondary School:
Tim was invited back for one more assembly with the entire student body.
He shared with the teens how to be ‘salty’ and share their faith with others.
Our RI classes from last year sang a song and the principal presented Michelle
and Tim both with plaques of appreciation for our faithful teaching of
Religious Instruction Classes (RI) last year.
Farewell Service at Plymouth Pentecostal:
We are very blessed that our church prepared a wonderful farewell service
for us on September 17. The church was almost full with many people from around
the island joining us. Several people gave us gifts and expressed their
gratitude for us coming to assist the youth leaders and teens on the island.
The youth group sang a song, and the Sunday school kids and the kids from
Jesus Cares Children’s home also sang a song for us. A children’s dance
group from another church, performed a dance. There was wonderful worship
and Pastor Bernard Alleyne preached about stepping out in faith.
It was a beautiful time to reflect and praise God for His guidance. It was a real
celebration of what God has done in Tobago in the lives of leaders and teens.
We were presented with a special scrapbook of photos and special notes from
church members, friends, neighbors and youth. It was very thoughtful gift
and a cherished token of appreciation. They made us feel very honored,
loved and appreciated.
Blessings and Farewells:
As we prepared to leave Tobago, we took time to visit and share many
prayers and blessings with friends and special people we were ministering
to and have become close to. It was very hard to leave. In a short time,
we have made many deep long lasting friendships.
From Eulan, who owned
the little corner store which supplied us our daily fix of Pepsi, to John,
a beggar who we frequently gave a loaf of bread to, to Ava and Alia, our
neighbor and God daughter and their family, a visit with Oswald and Rhea,
time with Sheldon and Christine and our Godson, Nathan, a bonfire with Barb
and Aaron, pool day with the Boodrams…too many to name it all!……There were
many calls and suppers with leaders and ministry friends. God has truly
blessed us with special people in our lives who we will greatly miss!
Returning Home:
We returned home on October 3. It is great being back in Canada. The kids
(and of course us!) were very excited to see friends, family and cousins as
we arrived at the airport! It was so great to see the smiles and giggles as
they hugged and talked! Everyone couldn’t get over how much the kids had
grown. We had supper with family and then returned to New Glasgow to be
surprised by friends at Tim’s mom’s house who had planned a welcome home party!
It feels good to be home, relax and be with family again! We spent a week
in New Glasgow, then in Lower Sackville with Michelle’s Family. We quickly
purchased our own used car so we could get around. We’ve been settling,
catching up on all our mail, making doctors and dentist appointments and
getting re orientated!
Blessed with a house to stay in!
God always knows what you need and when you need it! He is a God of miracles
and provision! Friends, Cindy and Bart Brown who own
Harbourside Cottages
just 15 min outside of New Glasgow, offered for us to stay in a winterized 3
bedroom vacation home on their property while we are home during this
transitional phase of life. It is fully furnished and is perfect for our
family. We moved in on Sunday, October 22nd. The Brown family homeschool
as well so it is great to have friends next door for the kids to play with.
We are so comfortable and at peace here. We praise God for this provision.
Tobago Sunday at Christian Fellowship Church:
We had the pleasure of presenting about our ministry in Trinidad and
Tobago at our home church on Sunday, October 15th. We dressed in our
Indian attire and the kids shared some stories too! It was so great to
see everyone again and encourage others to reach out to those in need around
them. We have so appreciated the support and love of our home church.
Change Conference, Oct 20-21, Toronto, Ontario:
Tim and Michelle both traveled to Toronto for the weekend of Oct 20-23rd
to attend this conference organized by the Canadian Youth Network (CYN). The
kids stayed with Tim’s mom for the weekend. It was a great weekend to be
refreshed in worship and great teaching. We had time to spend with Dale
Winder and John Latta, the directors of CYN and connect with leaders from
across the country.
We made great connections and are seeking the Lord about how we can play a
role in their vision. Our hearts are still to reach this generation of youth
for Christ here in Canada and overseas. We are seeking God’s will in the next
step in our ministry journey.
The Plan:
We are gearing up to revisit the churches that have been supporting us
over the past few years. We are taking the next 10 weeks to travel and share
what the Lord has done. We would also like to connect with all our ministry
partners - that means you! So if you haven’t heard from us yet, please do
call or drop by to see us if you are in the area. We are living at 7824
Pictou Landing Rd, Little Harbour which is beside Harbourside Cottages.
Call for directions!
Our email is the same as when we were in Tobago -
tim@clearpassagemusic.com.
Our new phone number is 902-695-5613.
Our mailing address is PO Box 74, New Glasgow, NS, B2H 5E1.
We ask for your continued prayers as we get organized and settled here for
the next few weeks. For safety as we travel and favor with churches to share
about our mission work. For us to hear God’s voice in regards to our future
direction in ministry. For us as we transition and adjust and that we would
be spiritually refreshed and rested during this time. Also, continued prayer
for the teens and leaders of Trinidad and Tobago.
We appreciate you very much and thank you for our ongoing support and belief
in us and our ministry. You are still a vital part of this ministry even as we
are home on Canadian soil! We still need your support in prayer and
financially even more now as we are home here in Canada.
Upcoming Mission Presentation Schedule:
Feel free to join us at a service time that may be near to you and be
encouraged by what God has done in T&T! Check out our
on-line calendar.
God bless you,
Tim and Michelle
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