DR Connections

 The link for this week's live-streamed service is here.

On Sunday morning we welcomed Pastor Byron Knight to the pulpit. Byron is known to many in our congregation through his work with the House Upon the Rock. He has been leading mission trips to the Dominican Republic since 2009. He has been a youth minister on the peninsula for over thirty years but, in April, he takes up a new position as food manager at  Camp Imadene. Before that, however, he will be leading another mission team to the Dominican Republic, including six members from SPPC.

Speaking of the mission trip, on Saturday afternoon there was a pie auction at Saanichton Bible Fellowship. Proceeds went to support this year's mission team in their travel and work. They leave in just a couple of weeks.

The pies were fresh and delicious looking and commanded prices to make a baker drool. $70 for a gluten free lemon meringue pie, $70 for a carrot cake, and $400 for Peter's pecan pie. Two other pecan pies commanded high prices as well. I guess the bidders were big on nuts. 

In total, the event raised about $5000.00, all of which will go toward supporting our mission to the Dominican Republic.

 

Our team was well-represented with Will, Peter, Joan, and Diane. 

Keeley and Quinn came in later and took a turn as auctioneers.

Notice Diane is modelling her 2020 t-shirt. We had another team ready to depart just when COVID hit. They were commissioned on a Sunday, and on the following Monday in March 2020, travel was shut down. So, the 2023 team is carrying the spirit of the 2020 team as well

I was talking to Peter last week about all the packing required before the group gets on the bus. Everyone is allowed two suitcases. One they fill with stuff they will need for themselves, the other is packed with donated supplies -- mostly medical and school needs. Packing a full suitcase is one thing, but, since getting through DR Customs can be tricky, each item must be listed. All of the supplies the team takes with them are donations and, as such, are duty free. However, it pays to know exactly what is in each suitcase in case any get "lost."

Modern travellers tend to stuff a few t-shirts into a back-pack and off they go. Preparing to travel to Pedregal and House Upon the Rock, is a whole other kettle of fish.

Byron's message on Sunday morning was about the importance of prayer. As members of our congregation ready themselves physically for their mission, let us hold them close in our prayers.