Blessings at this Christmas and a special journey into 2017.
Happy New Year- 2017 Dear Friends: Time does fly by and time to get caught up again at this special season of the year and a time to look to the future in the coming year. Every time and every season has it special meaning for us. It seems I do not get as many emails or letters out to everyone so thankful for this chance. I do think of you often and keep you in my thoughts and prayers. It seems I have busy seasons/times through out the year with the various things I enjoy both in my local church and community as well as the WMS. Our CNOB Synodical Annual meeting last April met in Barrie Presbyterial at Elmdale. The moderator of General Assembly, the Rev. Karen Horst was our speaker and Bible Study leader brought special meaning to our theme “Wandering Ways” and special reference to her time with the refugees in Ukraine. As member on the Planning Team for the next 3rd National Women’s Gathering in May 2017 I am convener of the committee responsible for the Ecumenical and Overseas Partner Visitors. Our team has sent out all the invitations, and arranging their week’s schedule for the conference, WMS Council and touring some of the area. It was a wonderful experience at the previous two gatherings with over 600 women from across Canada. Praying this will be as spiritually uplifting and challenging time for those who attend. I am greatly involved in my church and community. I continue as elder of session but resigned from the position clerk of session last June after 9 years. We have not found a new person yet so I do a few of the things to assist our minister. I lead the Pastoral Care Team and that involves visitation to the hospital, nursing homes and in homes. There are several on the team and we just delivered 25 poinsettias to the friends we care for. I have known many of these members for several years. It seems like we have had 5-6 funerals of members who have been in our church for many years and some have been close friends. Our “Young at Heart Group” meets every Friday mornings. I lead that as it is under Pastoral Care. I enjoy choir and this past Sunday we sang our cantata “One Silent Night”. We still are preparing for Christmas Eve and Christmas day services. We are most thankful that over these past 2 years our church school children have increased in numbers. Now there seems to be over 20 children plus infants in the nursery. We appreciate our teachers, their assistants and the children are all so excited and lively during the church service, church school and when they join us for cookies and juice after the service. We need to pray for people who are willing to assist with this programme. Some learned to play the chimes and did three songs for us recently. They will also participate in the Family Service on Christmas Eve. Our church has joined with the other churches in Cobourg to bring Syrian Refugees to our area. There was enough money raised for 7 families but after the slow down the procedures have changed and the third family I just arriving this week. Our family came in February and have adjusted well to school and the father has a job. We pray all will go well for the coming year as they become more self sufficient. Our family continues with the same or similar health concerns. Richard continues to keep busy as much as his health allows and enjoys working outside. This past summer he and Braden rebuilt our deck which was a challenge both were very patient. We enjoyed our times there with family and friend. It will be more enjoyable next summer. He continues with his visits both for his heart condition and the follow up for his cancer and now 5 years celebration. He still enjoys choirs, UEL, Genealogy and member of the Historical and on Cobourg’s Heritage Committee and relied on a great deal for his knowledge of the history of Cobourg, buildings, etc. He received the Town of Cobourg Heritage Award last spring for his “decades” of work in this area. THEN in October he got a major infection in his right knee and within a few hours had surgery in Peterborough– to scope it and clean it, etc. He returned to Cobourg but ended up with IV antibiotics for 6 weeks, was in hospital for 4 weeks and now home for two weeks. This resulted in gross swelling in his abdomen and both legs and only now has most of the fluid gone, leaving problems from blisters, etc on both his feet. So difficult to do his rehab with much success and continuing with VON nurses visits and St Elizabeth Home care worker. Now it is three times a week. (I think I have done more dressing and bandaging than I have in many years.) Appreciate all the prayers of Richard and me during this time. John, my brother, moved into his condo in Port Hope in June. (about a 10 minute drive to our place.) We enjoy sharing times with his son and him. He still has few health concerns and going through several tests. He enjoys the summer at the beach and walking, went to most of the Cobourg Concert Band in the park with us in the summer. Jonathan, his son, is busy with his work but home from Toronto most weekends. David, another brother, Marlene & family, Jason, Shandelle, Cole and Jordan are busy. We are most excited as Jordan- 7 years old, had a Christmas project to collect “Socks for the homeless”- last year she had 2287 pairs. This year her aim is 3000 and has 1500 (12/12). She shared them with places in Mississauga and over 200 to two places here in Cobourg. Cole at his birthday asked for second hand soccer things to share with youth in Toronto and other areas. He not only did he received some used but a lot of new ones that had not been used from the Cobourg Soccer Club. We are thankful for their kindness in thinking of others less fortunate than themselves. Andrew, another son, is back in Cobourg and works for Burnham Family Farm- in the bakery area. He shares his gift of music with groups and churches in Cobourg. I am about the same – health wise- but will have a couple of test later this month as I had not seen a cardiologist in a long time and have had atrial fib for many years. My arthritis (knees) continues to bother me and I should get more exercise! I was suppose to go to Taiwan for Changhua Christian Hospital’s 120th Anniversary in November and was looking forward to seeing everyone again. But I was concerned about a few things here and really had not booked my ticket before Richard took ill and hospitalized when I knew I could not leave. I think a couple of the other previous missionaries were to go but both had serious health problems. It would have been great to share times with them as well. But guess it was not to be…maybe another time. I did get to Halifax in August to visit a good friend. After her sister, a good friend of mine died of cancer in July we felt we needed to share some time together. It was spent talking over “old times” and sharing our concerns. We did get to three music concerts that were wonderful. On my way back I stopped at the airport in Moncton, NB for 2-3 hours and saw my room mate from Ewart College days. Don’t think we had seen for 40 years but it we just like it had been recently. Usually our whole family Christmas gets together before Christmas but we still do not have a date for this (maybe during the holidays). David and Marlene will go to Mississauga to have Christmas with them. Christmas day John, Jonathan and us will be here along with a couple of friends who are part of the family! Appreciate all your cards and letter and emails with all your news and thankful we do find time to be in touch at least once a year. Keep you in my prayers and appreciate all your prayers for us as well. May God continue to bless us with his love and care in the coming year and help us to continue to serve Him and others in the various ways of service. PEACE, LOVE AND JOY TO ALL & PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR WORLD! Love Joy *& Richard Randall |