Hey Gang!  Things are going great in Halifax!  Our youth are doing Bible Club in the mornings and then sports in the afternoon.   About 20-25 kids are attending!  They are also hanging-out with some of the local teens.  

Thanks for praying for us.

Big Dave

2nd Message:  

Yesterday was a great second day.  Kids weren't so much into soccer which was a big surprise since soccer is so popular up here.  So we went back to doing basketball.  We had an Interesting  evening.  We went to Cape Redoubt, a park that was a fort to protect the entrance to Halifax Harbor, and to Herring Point (I think) that is a rocky shoreline facing open ocean.  It provided an incredible view of  ocean and harbor, huge cannons, etc.

This trip gave us a chance to share the gospel with Georgina, a Buddhist psychotherapist walking her pit-bull (that came to the US because he smelled s'mores.)  Pray for Kelsey, a local youth that fell and hit her head pretty hard at the park.  Ron, Mike, don repaired a rotted step for a lady Tuesday will be replacing some shingles at a home today. (Wednesday)   Weather still fabulous - feels like a nice early fall day - hi 70s - low 80s with good breeze and sun.  The lows are in the 60s during the night hours. Please continue to pray for us, the kids at camp, and the random opportunities God provides for sharing our faith here.  We are praying fo y'all for increasing faith!

Big Dave.

P.S> have I mentioned that Justin D and Devin have made, friends with the night-guard at school?

note: It is obvious that Dave has a lot of exciting opportunities in service to Christ going on.  I echo Dave!  Please pray for our people.  Pray that God softens the hearts of the local adults so they might be receptive to our Savior.   All of this is very much foreign to them.  Dick

God is blessing our trip so far!  We did a beach activity Saturday afternoon and Ian said that he had never seen such good weather on the beach although the water, as expected is cold.  Surely God is blessing.  We had 40 beach teens and young adults in "Scum Pit" doing a water balloon war.  Dave's text, "War-crazy fun." A couple of teens said that they were interested in church.  We had a good first day at camp.  It was kind of crazy because the plans weren't perfect.  However, our youth came through and did a great job by filling the gaps and "rolling with the madness."  By the end of the day we had about 20 to 30 youths, mostly from the baseball camp and other church activities.   Some of the local kids who saw us playing on the play ground also joined us. 

We are doing a water-balloon war (The Philistines vs the Israelites via -Goliath Dave.  We had baseball camp today and will be doing soccer camp tomorrow.  Several of our youth made contact with six of the local teens. Pray that they will  come to youth night when we do capture the flag.   We've had several opportunities to share with the local adults.  They are fairly suspicious and/or have a closed mind and heart.  Pray that God may create receptivity and hunger for the good news of the gospel.  

Thanks for the prayers and continue to lift us up.   Love this area, weather is awesome!  Pray that God shows them mercy.

Rev. Dave via Rev. Brian and translated by Rev. Dick.

Observe the picture of our teens in a prayer huddle.

Did you know that Halifax is a natural harbor?  In fact,  Halifax is the second largest natural harbor in the world.  That means that it is very deep water for large ships to cruise through, and it has high mountains all the way around the harbor that provide boats and ships with great protection from bad storms and the water never freezes so it's always open. This is so important to shippers that Halifax is on of the busiest seaports on the East coast of North America, making it the financial center of Eastern Canada, and one of the most advanced in science and oceanographic studies, and one of the most popular tourist and convention destinations in eastern Canada.

Every good sailor knows protection from the elements is vitally important.  Maybe God crafted creation to work this way so we can sense how important his protection is for us.  Consider the great story of Jesus in the boat with the disciples.     Read Mark 4:35-41

What did the disciples fear in verse 38?

How did Jesus respond?

Notice the disciples' response in verse 41.   How is it different than before?

Notice that they became "very much afraid," even more than before!  The only thin more terrifying than having a storm outside the boat was have God IN the boat!  This is probably early in their relationship with Jesus,  and they were still trying to figure who this guy really was.

Based on the story, who do you think Jesus is?

Reflect on ways in your life that god has protected you.  Write your thoughts.....

His love and grace are greater than the deepest water and highest mountains.  I you are reading this, God has truly brought you through whatever is in your past to be here, right now!  And that means He protect you, even when you didn't know it, or even when you thought he was unconcerned, asleep in the bow of the boat.

In your prayers this morning, thank God for his protection.  Ask for eyes to see His hand even when we get ourselves in some dumb stuff. Ask Him to help us show others that the only protection that is eternal is through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Rev. David Tate