MOVING to Vernon

Yes it's true we are moving to the metropolios of Vernon (50,000 compared to Ladysmith's 8,000 is big time...right everything is massive compared to L-town except Chemainus [3,000].)

On Feb 1st 2007 I will beginning as the Associate Pastor at Alexis Park Church in Vernon, BC. My main responsibilities will be Youth and Young Families as I help with the direction and vision of the church.

I am excited to be working with Pastor Eldon Schultz and his wife Marilyn. He was at Elim Tabernacle in Saskatoon, Sask for 8 years (working with Shawn Chapman). Eldon is 60 years old and perfect to help rebuild this church. I have heard nothing but great things about him. Ginny and I are also very excited to be working with Pastor Jesse Vandermeulen who is the music pastor at APC. We all went to Bible College together and we know Jesse is a humble, kind hearted, and very talented man who loves God.

We are excited about moving to Vernon and nervous at the same time. We desire to see great things happen in our church and in our community. We desperately need the Lord to do His work. Without Jesus we can do nothing of significant value.

We are going to miss all our youth, friends, and church family in Ladysmith. We will come and visit. We know that God has great things in store for all of them. And with our youth we are pleasantly pleased to announce that Pastor Kevin Jansen will be the new Youth Ministries Pastor @ Bethel. Kevin is a friend of mine (whom I did recommend to Pastor Rob) who will do great things in our church. He's about 26 yrs old, single (calling all single, normal, Christian women), and originally from Winnipeg (don't hold it against him). He just resigned at Elim Tabernacle in Saskatoon Sask working with Shawn Chapman. Wierd PAOC circle eh? Kevin starts Feb 1st. Go Janzen you are going to be great!

This new adventure for our family has lots of great perks. Living in the Okanagan ...hello! It's going to be nice to be near two amazing lakes and eating fresh fruit. We have incredible friends in the area like the Rakoczy's (Kelowna) and the Toews (Enderby...bad guys living in the same area, Lord help us all). Great golfing...Kenny let me drive the golf cart (ask Chapman I am really good at it - 4x4). We are looking for a home that has 4 bedrooms so many people can visit. One thing we learned with selling our house is God has our new home in mind and we do not have to worry.

Larry Bouwman - Thank God for a miracle

This week has been an emotional roller coaster ride. Ginny’s dad Larry went from being totally fine to being rushed to the Intensive Care Unit at Lions Gate hospital in Vancouver over the span of 1 week. With over 15 tubes running into his body, a ventilator machine, and being watched 24 hrs a day, it didn’t look good. We were definitely preparing for the worst but hoping and most of all praying for a miracle. Ginny, her sisters, Uncle Bill and Auntie Barb and of course Ginny’s mom stayed in Vancouver most nights.

Seeing their dad like that was so difficult. It was hard not to think of the worst. Lots of tears, concern and, thankfully support. This is the reason for this posting, we just want to say a HUGE Thank You for all your love and most of all prayers. We needed a miracle. And I am so thankful to God that He answered a big Yes to our prayers.

I know God is able I just wasn’t sure if it was in His plan. Today they are talking about sending him back to the Squamish hospital to be monitored. The antibiotics are finally working. Ginny’s dad is not only awake but sitting up and joking around. He’s still on the road to recovery but things are super positive. And when you are walking in the valley of the shadow of death positive is life giving.

We just want to give praise to whom praise is due and that is Jesus Christ. We had people receiving visions and words of encouragement. One said they were reminded about the creation of the world where the Holy Spirit hovered over the waters and that the Holy Spirit was hovering over my father-in-law. Another had an image of Larry with family at Christmas. And another in the middle of the night felt God speak to her, “I am the Lord that healeth thee. By My stripes you are healed.”

One thing I do know is my mother-in-law will have the best Christmas ever.

Here is a quick explanation of what happened to Larry: An infection started in a disc in Larry’s lower back. We don’t know how the infection entered his body, or why it decided to manifest in his back. The staff infection became so strong that it entered the blood & was circulated throughout the entire body. It started attacking organs & deteriorating his lungs. (hence the reason for the breathing machine). We are so thankful that the infection did not attack the heart or brain. Throughout his sickness my Dad’s vital signs were always strong. The Doctor told our family that if he was not such a healthy man, we would have lost him. They were able to fight the infection with VERY strong doses of antibiotics. Dad will be on these drugs for another 6-8 weeks.