July 2, 2012
QUEBEC REPORT
Have just returned
from my third ministry visit to Canada this year. Thank you, God for
opening this door. Left early Wednesday morning, going Mass Turnpike
West, New York Thruway to Syracuse, and then due north to Ottawa. As
always the Berkshires were spectacular; I hope to spend some time
there this summer. Passed signs for Guilderland, NY, near Albany.
Oddly some of my best high school friends were from that town
although I went to school about forty-five minutes away. Farmland
begins just past Albany and stretches to the end of Nebraska as one
drives west on I-90. You can also see something that may be the Erie
Canal on your right. As I had very little Canadian currency, I tried
to purchase some at American banks near the border. Unlike my
successful experience in Maine, I went to four different banks and
ended up with only $50.
Crossing into
Canada has always been pleasant. Just before I reached the border I
went over an extremely high, narrow bridge but am uncertain of the
name of the water below. Although I studied French in junior high,
high school, college & grad school I never became even
conversational in the language although I did learn to read it. About
twenty years ago read the New Testament in French three times and
about twenty other books but hadn't used it since. In Quebec most
signs are in French and the Brazilian friends with whom I stayed
lived in French speaking areas.
Reuel, Erika
and Mateus, their toddler, greeted me warmly when I arrived about
4:30. I met them originally in Brazil, several times in the U.S. &
in Canada on a previous visit. We watched “Courageous” a movie by
the film making church in Georgia that has also produced “Facing
the Giants” and “Flywheel” among others. Each one seems better
than the last. The theme centered on the responsibilities of fathers
towards their children wrapped around a police thriller.
The next day we
went to a beach along the river with our friend Adolpho & his
daughters. Very pleasant, and I didn't burn. Adolpho gave me a tour
of downtown Ottawa before picking up his wife Flavielli. (As always,
I have not seen these names written down and am guessing at the
spellings.) Thursday we returned to the beach (a Brazilian pastime)
but it was very windy. Erika made the classic beans, rice, salad mix
that I like. That evening we gathered together and had a time of
worship, testimonies and prayer. I shared some Scriptures and related
thoughts on the theme of persecution referenced in the previous post.
Friday we
relaxed and then after dinner I drove to Montreal, about an two and a
half hour journey. There Wellington, my host, greeted me. We talked
and prayed together. In the morning we ate breakfast, took a walk
with May, his Jack Russell terrier, and then went to lunch at a place
called “The Cage aux Sports.” The wait staff spoke French, which
Wellington knew but I did not. (I am limited to about 4 or 5
sentences and a few stray words.) So I explained in French that I was
an American, and did not speak French. She replied (in French) that
she would do her best to understand me. I caught the word “comprend”
(to understand). While we ate I heard rap style music in English and
heard our waitress singing along. I asked Wellington to mention this
to her. She launched into an explanation (in French), which
Wellington repeated in Portuguese. (Brazilians love to joke) Now my
Portuguese is not much better than my French although I have about
80% reading comprehension. The gist was that she watched English
language TV, sang English songs, understood English but was too timid
to speak it.
That evening
several Brazilian Christian families came over. I shared on the theme
of glorifying God and Wellington spoke on His eternal purpose. He
diagrammed on a big sheet of paper. I think I understood about half
of his spoken communication. Brazilians love to talk and eat, which
we did afterwards. On Sunday we hung out, I took a walk, prayed and
went to dinner in the city of Montreal, located on an island in the
St. Lawrence river. Andre and Camilla were our hosts, along with
Davi, their toddler. We ate something resembling meatloaf, and Andre
told me the fascinating story of how he and his wife had met. Left
early this morning and drove about 340 miles home.
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