Saturday, July 15, 2017

(For the full effect play the video while you read this blog)


On my way up to serve in northern British Columbia for most of July, I failed to make arrangements for a place to stop the first night.  Normally when I’ve traveled with my church from the Portland area, we would make arrangements to stay in Williams Lake at St. Johns Lutheran. But in my haste to get everything packed and things at home taken care of for the time I will be up north, I had forgotten to call ahead to Maureen Welke the host at St. Johns. Once I crossed the border I called Maureen but got no answer and I left a message. So I thought of a hotel but I would literally be sleeping and going. Then I thought, I could always sleep in the car in the church parking lot or just set my cot up next to the car and sleep outside but then I remembered the mosquitoes are much larger and more aggressive in Canada. Just around dinner, Maureen called. I mentioned that I was traveling by myself, ahead of the mission teams. I asked if the church would be open, there was a pause, “Just come and stay here”, was Maureen’s reply. “You mean at your house?” I asked. “Yes, we have an extra bed just come and stay here. We would love for you to stay with us”. The Welke’s house sat up on the hill with an amazing view of William’s Lake, similar to the view from the dinning hall at camp Lutherhaven in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The Welke's hospitality did not stop there; the next day was the 91st William’s Lake stampede. Every morning of the stampede there is a cowboy breakfast, bacon is served with a side of eggs, hash browns, pancakes an­­­­­­­­­d coffee. Maureen and her husband Rick invited me to be their guest. 
The breakfast hit the spot but the atmosphere with live music and local folks was awesome. In the story of Mary and Martha, Mary was spending time talking with Jesus. Martha is busy getting everything ready for the guests that are about to come over. Martha perturbed with Mary for not helping, ask Jesus to make Martha help her. Jesus explains to Mary that Martha is doing the right thing, she is spending time listening and learning from the Savior. For many years, decades really St. Johns has hosted teams coming from the states. Most teams traveling from Oregon and Washington can make the trip in a long day. The church during a remodel, added showers in each of the bathrooms for the teams. I also found out they collect donations for treats for each team, watermelons from Saskatchewan, Dilly Bars from the local DQ, yes they have those up here. There is plenty of room and it’s a way to save money on a place to stay. Maureen and the many others that have hosted teams at St. Johns, are there to help teams to spend time teaching and loving others as Jesus did with Martha.