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Christmas letter 2002
Greetings Friends and Family,
As I think back to the year that has passed so quickly I am reminded of a McIvor church tradition where the minister would say, “God is good” and the congregation would respond, “All the time.” He most definitely is good all the time and this is evident in a year of triumphs for us. We have seen how God is working in our lives and how He has a plan for us when we trust and follow Him.
The first triumph actually belongs to Jai-Len, Trevor’s youngest sister. She won the Manitoba Provincial Youth Bowling Championships and so was sent to the Nationals which were held just across the river from us in Gatineau, Quebec. That translated into a visit from Jai-Len and her parents Carl and Sheri. This visit was just what we needed. After our visit home last Christmas, we weren’t planning another visit until late summer and as those of you who have moved away from home will attest to, the first year away is always the most difficult. (At least that’s what we tell ourselves now since we don’t know that for sure yet.) God is good to provide us with a family visit just when we needed it.
The next two triumphs were both academic in nature. Trevor, who is still working towards his Bachelors of Administration, decided to take Management Accounting. This course proved to be very difficult and he was expected to learn more in this one course than I learned in my 3 accounting courses put together. With nothing but shear determination and hard work, Trevor managed to complete this course with flying colours and is now hoping that the rest of his degree will be smooth sailing in comparison. I, too, had an academic accomplishment this year when I successfully finished my French language training. I wrote my two written exams in March and then passed the oral exam on my birthday in June and am now officially bilingual. God is good to have given us the ability to learn.
The next set of triumphs is more physical in nature. In May we decided to go “Camping Sauvage” which translates directly to “wild camping” in French although most Anglophones prefer to call it “backwoods camping.” After spending a small fortune on gear, we drove to Algonquin Park only to find out that they had overbooked the backwoods sites for the weekend. The Park Warden decided that they would therefore be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Since we weren’t the last ones to arrive, we could have a site – unless we hiked too slowly and were overtaken by those trailing us. God is good to us however, and we succeeded in getting the last site available with only a few blisters to show for the effort (all on my feet for some reason). In addition, we have earned our yellow and orange belts this year in Ju Jitsu
We each picked up a new hobby this year as well. Trevor developed a passion for photography and now brings a camera along virtually everywhere we go. He displays some of his work on a peer review website called Photosig, this site allows photographers to critique others’ works while also having their own works critiqued. You can view his pictures on our website at; ca.geocities.com/siwaks. I chose to learn how to make stained glass panels, sun-catchers and candleholders. It is a challenge but well worth the effort. So far the hardest part has been giving them away to their intended recipients. God is good to give us enough time and resources to pursue these activities.
Our final triumph was driving straight through to Winnipeg in late August – safely. It was touch and go for a few seconds when I pulled over in the middle of the night, too tired to continue. Trevor was sleeping in the passenger side and I thought that I just needed to sleep for a few minutes before continuing. I forgot to put the parking brake on however, and the car began rolling into the ditch. Trevor awoke and after searching frantically for the handbrake through all the pillows and blankets, managed to stop the car before it rolled too far. We had a wonderful visit in Winnipeg, albeit too short. God is good to have kept us safe.
In July the list of available posts abroad came out and we spent many weeks researching countries and evaluating them as well as praying that God would prepare a place for us. We submitted a list of 6 countries where we wanted to be sent and as it turns out, God had a completely different plan in mind all along. My assignment officer has asked us to go to Bridgetown, Barbados for a three year posting beginning June 2003. Since this country was not even on the list of available posts, we were (and still are) shocked. We trust, however, that God has done just what we’ve asked Him to do: prepare a place for us.
In the upcoming year, we will need to trust in the Lord more than we have ever had to in the past. In January, I am going to Tokyo with work for 4 weeks. No one is picking me up from the airport, which is 90km away from the Embassy. I’ll therefore have to find my own way there on the subway system in a city where less than half of one percent of the population speaks English. In April I will be traveling across Canada in three, grueling weeks with a group of 10 co-workers to get a better understanding of the Canada I will represent abroad. For these two trips, Trevor will be alone in Ottawa and we expect it to be difficult on both of us. Then in June, we will be moving to Bridgetown to start our 3 year posting (yes, we’re already taking reservations). As you can imagine, this will be a stressful time for us; we would appreciate it if you could remember us in your prayers.
We wish you a merry Christmas and the happiest New Year so that you too will be able to say that God is good, all the time. We will try and keep in touch with all of you and hope you can do the same. The lack of family contact and old friendships is truly the hardest thing about living away from home. You are all in our thoughts and our prayers.
Sincerely
Trevor and Rachel Siwak
231-C Brittany Dr.
Ottawa ON K1K 0R8
613-746-5744
trsiwak@sympatico.ca
What we have to look forward to
Christmas with some friends (if they are over the Flu) and Rachel's trip to Tokyo in January.