This past week has been a week of answered prayer. We had been feeling quite lonely and ached for relationships here in Fresno. Thankfully we have made more connections and those relationships are starting to form.
On Sunday we went to Butler MB church. We first checked it out because it has the preschool where the kids go and it’s only a 3 minute walk from our apartment. We went back there because the people were very welcoming and the music and style of worship were very comfortable for us. People there didn’t take any time showing us where the Sunday School classrooms were or where the nursery was. There are quite a few young families that attend the church and we think that this is the place we would like to call home while we are here.
While at Butler, we met some very nice people; Rhonda and Kevin Dueck. They asked us where we were from and lo! and behold, Kevin is Canadian too. In fact, his family lives in Winnipeg, in East Kildonan. What a neat connection! Anyways, their home group was getting very large and they were planning to split into two groups. They asked us if we’d like to join either of the groups so that we could make friends and have a place to connect. So we took them up on their offer and decided to check it out.
The home group we joined meets on Monday nights for supper and then either a study or discussion afterwards. The first time we went, we felt right at home. The home group includes Eric and Michelle, Ray and Kelly with their girls Emma and Paige, Tamara and her son Robbie, Gerry and Mika and their son Jay, Kevin and Rhonda (who host) and their kids, Justin, David, Adam and Grace. Kezia is excited about having Emma and Grace to play with and of course, there are lots of boys for Joel to play with too. And the neat thing about the group is that including me, there are 6 teachers! So discussion is always lively. We have enjoyed the openness and honesty of the group; feeling overwhelmed with raising children, culture shock, the heaviness of church leadership…all things that we can relate to.
And if that weren’t enough to find a church and a home group to join, I found a coffee buddy. Derek and Laura had been studying at CMU in Winnipeg and had come to Braeside a few times in 2005. They came to Fresno to study last year and when we moved here, we connected up with them. This past week I bumped into Laura on campus (she works in the administration building) and we decided to go for a quick coffee. It was such a nice visit; it was my first social outing since we arrived in Fresno. Laura suggested that we get together each week for an hour or so to visit. I was thrilled at her suggestion because I wondered if I would end up meeting someone who would have time to fit in a new friend into their busy schedule. So Tuesdays are my coffee dates with Laura.
Our family is feeling like we have a place to belong now. We have people to relate to and places to be supported. It’s such a comfort when we’re so far from home. God has answered prayers and we are very grateful.
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2 comments:
My eyes are welling with tears as you told your story, i can imagine your loneliness but God has heard your prayers. we are rejoicing with you! I will continue to pray as your connections turn to friendships.
So happy to hear you are making connections. When I read that your coffee date with Laura was your FIRST social outing since you arrived in Fresno, my heart broke for you. Friendships are SO important, and I pray that God will continue to bless you as you develop these (and new) connections!!
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