Visiting Old Spots
Sep 30
What an encouragement! One Sunday earlier this month when on vacation in Collingwood we decided to visit Hepworth Baptist Church located west of Owen Sound at the base of the Bruce Peninsula. This was Gary’s first full-time pastorate in the early 70s and where our two eldest children were born. We didn’t know what to expect as we had not dropped by there for about ten years when they were struggling. The only person we really knew was Ron who didn’t recognize us while sitting in his wheelchair. He had suffered a terrible dirt bike accident, maybe 30 years ago. Gary baptized him and his wife after they had recently moved to Canada from Ireland. We were really thrilled to revisit this congregation that is highly energized with a friendly atmosphere and abounding with young families. This old spot made our day.
Do you know where Hog’s Hollow is located? It is a ravine that the 401 crosses over very near Yonge St in Toronto. My dad was one of the first to build two houses on the vacant land north of the 401 and west of Yonge St. in the early 1950s. It was way out in the country at that time! Today this community is filled with small homes still owned by elderly folk and monster houses newly rebuilt along with numerous high rise apartment buildings. I remember taking a trip to buy building material at Dempsey’s Hardware store with my dad at Sheppard and Yonge. Our recent casual drive through this old spot that Gary and I took brought back more fond memories from my childhood. The second home my father built by the ravine was where I decided with my mother’s help at the age of 8 to become a follower of Jesus.
Last month I asked for prayer for the problem we had encountered this summer over the Canada Summer Jobs program we were involved with in 2021. They sent us a bill for over $7000 which was the amount they had previously sent us for hiring summer students. After my contact with our local MP who responded immediately to me, he connected with the staff there. The next day Scott received a call from a Sr. Director who looked at the history of our account. In a few short minutes he had reversed our balance to $0! Thank you so much for your prayers on our behalf. The old records were revisited and corrected. We hope to apply for their financial help again in early 2024 for Milton outreach for our Hillside church.
Scott is beginning to make good relationships with Heritage students who may be willing to come and work for us on a paid or volunteer basis. And by the way, since you are such effective prayers, please pray that Scott can purchase a good used car sooner than later.
Many of the people of Milton probably don’t have a lot of old spots to visit since they are very new to Canada; however, the older you get the more spots you do accumulate in your memory bank. Through our Hillside church we want to help them build good memories and relationships through the years that can be passed along to their children and grandchildren.
The life of Esther found in the Old Testament is an interesting story. God used her influence with King Xerxes and her uncle Mordecai at the time to help relieve the suffering the Jewish people were experiencing. As a result, an annual celebration has been held to this day to inform following generations what happened way back then. Esther 9:28 records, “These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city… nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.”
What old spots are you telling your children and grandchildren about? They will be curious about your history and where God has led you through the years.
Enjoy the beautiful autumn colours once again! This month has been terrific, wouldn’t you agree?
Wendy