Context—we bought a car this month to haul our stuff back to BC. This has allowed us to travel beyond Montréal’s public transit system for the first time since October. PAST—first order of business with the car we are trusting to bring us across Canada was a road trip, so we loaded up, picked up Jaedyn, and headed 1000 km east, to the Gaspésie. It was here that my dad was born, and I believe that instilled a love for Québec in me on some subconscious level. After nearly a year in a very urban setting, it was great to get out of the city. The Gaspésie is gorgeous! Most significant for me; however, was connecting with my family’s history. Thanks to my cousin who got in touch with her friend who, in turn, contacted people in Sandy Beach (my dad’s birthplace), I was able to meet the sons of one of my dad’s childhood friends, learn that they still call the place my dad grew up (which one of them owns) “the Harbour property,” and was able to go to the cemetery at St. John’s Anglican and literally find my grandparents’ gravestone as we drove up to the church! PRESENT—as mentioned, we now have a car. Jaedyn has moved into her own place too. We are still doing our nominal custodial duties for the church’s apartment building where we have been able to live, and are doing the last few things to conclude our internship here, including some “good bye” visits. As mentioned in our last post, the things we are doing won’t really change though. We will continue with our small group from Église Gospelvie, and connecting with friends to help them with their English. We have been thrilled to finally welcome guests again as Québec has begun to open up. Val’s brother & wife came from Calgary for the (cancelled) F1 race. We seem destined to have epic difficulties when it comes to seeing races live. Five years ago, we were in Austin, TX for the US Grand Prix the year a hurricane all but cancelled the race! However, Dan & I were able to walk to course the day the race was supposed to be run, and we went up to Québec City overnight together, which was poised to reopen the day after we got back to Montréal. It was still unusually quiet, but that did not diminish our time there. FUTURE—this has the least certainty, of course! On some levels we are sad to leave Montréal; our daughter is staying here, we have made good friends, and we have seen God’s faithfulness when we haven’t had our own structures and systems to rely upon. And, despite the lack of money, not having a set work schedule (once we finished classes) has been wonderful. In some ways, it has been a sniff at what retirement may look like! However, our new Zoom reality means we’re not leaving our Montréal connections. We can still visit face-to-face whenever we want. At the same time, we are excited to return to BC! I was reading 1 Thessalonians this morning. In chapter 1:3-4, Paul says “It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn’t just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions.” Something has happened to us here. We are not the same people who arrived last August. We have been impacted by the Québécois people and culture, and are excited to figure out how that new piece of our lives will be used for “something special” in BC. A couple of final notes--
2 Comments
Arne Hanson
6/16/2020 16:47:06
I are looking forward to seeing you in person again at CLBC.
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Chrissy
6/16/2020 17:58:49
It's been an amazing adventure avec vous ici à Montréal. Je vous souhaite all the best pour votre voyage and for your return to BC. Vous laisserez un morceau de votre coeur ici....mais don't worry...on la gardera! Thanks for your friendship. On vous aime et we'll miss you. À bien tôt!
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AuthorTom & Val, off on a mid-life adventure (but not crisis) in la belle province! Archives
May 2020
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