An Ending and a Beginning

Dear All,

Thank you for your fervent prayers for us throughout the week!
We do apologize that there has been so little communication from the island.
Our schedule has been exceptionally busy with intensive responsibilities
for all from dawn to dusk. When we did have moment or two to catch
our breath, we had spotty internet access and little or no cell phone coverage.

Well today is the final day of camp and in summary it has gone SOOO well!
We have had well over 150 children and young people from the community
attend our day-camp. We've traveled back in time through our very own
time machine to see the full scope of God's plan for salvation from the creation
of man in His image, to the fall of all humankind through Adam and Eve's act
of rebellion, to the solution for our sin provided in Jesus' sacrifice upon the cross,
to the empty tomb and the risen Christ, to the story today of a changed life
through the testimony of the Apostle Paul.

Our day-campers have been engaged in crafts and games related to the our daily
Bible stories, we've sung of God's sovereignty over creation and desire to save
us through His Son. Yesterday we had the opportunity to explain the Gospel
to the children in small groups and today they'll be receiving a host of gifts
including a special coin and tract that will reinforce the message we've declared
once we've departed these fields of harvest.

Please pray for us today as our time of testimony about our Lord is completed:
Please pray that these dear children will be softened to the call of God. Pray that
they'll understand the Gospel. Pray that they'll have the courage and conviction
to turn from sin, respond to our Savior, and lived changed lives for His glory.

Thank you for your prayers for us throughout the week! We look forward to worshipping
with YOU again - our family of faith - this Sunday morning by the grace of God! God
be with you all!

IN the service of Christ and Cornerstone, Nathan

A Golden Day

Hello dear family, friends, prayer warriors, brothers and sisters in Christ! We so appreciate your prayers for safe travel as that is exactly what the Lord has been gracious to grant us. Though we were slightly behind schedule in departing from the church Saturday morning and were caused to hurry a bit, we made it to the ferry in Tobermory, Ontario with forty five minutes to spare. Phew! Our fearless leader, Craig Tucker, was beginning to tease us about the possibility of having to swim to Manitoulin Island if need be. Looking at the company of weary travelers with blood-shot eyes, drool-stained mouths, and bodies limp with exhaustion, swimming didn’t sound like an option anyone wanted to pursue.

Once safely in Tobermory, we boarded the boat for our hour and forty five minute ride to the Southeastern tip of Manitoulin Island. Though the weather and scenery were spectacular, most of the group took time for some well deserved sleep to the gentle rock of the mighty Chi-chimaun. While I was looking for a place to sleep, I found three sisters trying to take a picture of themselves. I offered to take the picture for them. A meaningful conversation flowed naturally thereafter and lended itself to the opportunity for all four of us to confess our faith in Christ and promise to pray for the forthcoming trip to the Island. It reminded me of the importance of being more purposeful in praying for such moments everyday and confirmed the fact that ministry doesn't only await us on Monday morning when our Daycamp begins. Ministry is awaiting us all the time and everywhere we are.

Following the ferry ride to Southbay, our port of entry to Manatoulin Island, we loaded back in the bus for the forty five minute drive to Blackrock Resort where we'll be staying for the duration of the week. No rest or the weary however, for immediately thereafter, we headed over to Community Center in Wikwemikong where we will be holding day-club for the host of native children who'll be coming from the surrounding community.

Once at the arena there was so much to be done! Trailers with hand-crafted and hand painted set pieces to unload; hoards of tools and props to assemble and stage for the week of dramatic activity; craft supplies, gift boxs, T-shirts, and tracts to sort and ready for distiribution to the day-club kids. Then there were sets to assemble, lighting joists to hoist and massive curtains to raise all in preparation to turn a common hockey arena into a remarkable stage; the back-drop for our week long declaration of our Creator God and His ultimate purpose in redeeming all things through his Son. Work went late into the night and thanks to the persevering efforts of everyone on the team all our setup went well.

That is not to say however, that everything went completely without incident. David Kolis, first timer to the island, went with a small group of the guys to retrieve some set pieces and materials that had been left from last year. While in the stable where set pieces and horses co-exist, he was reminded why is is not wise to play with dogs that often play with horses. Now you have understand one “minor” detail. He is highly allergic to horses. So without realizing he had come in contact with them, hives began to develop, and his eyes began to swell shut. Don’t tell him, for you might hurt his feelings, but he looked pretty darn awful. Thankfully, someone had benadryl! After taking it, the symptoms slowly began to dissipate but the medicine brought with it a wave of exhaustion that knocked David out on the way back to the cabins. Today (Sunday) he claims he feels much better.

Anyway, today most the group went to church while some of the crew completed our stage set up. Some team members lead in worship and Craig preached at the Daystar Center. After grabbing some lunch, we came back to club to put the finishing touches on the arena. Most of our team divided up and went into the community to pass out posters to invite kids to club.

Today was a truly beautiful day on the island! Bright blue skies, a gentle island breeze, a meaningful day of Gospel work accomplished, a great harvest awaiting we pray, and the evidence of God's eternal purposes displayed in a glorious midnight sky. May the Lord help us to add many more souls to the nations of the earth he promised He would bring into the kingdom of our Lord. In the words of our own Craig Tucker, it was truly "a golden day."

We close today with the name of every team member so you can pray for them all by name. Thank you for your partnership in ministry with us through prayer.

-Craig and Lynn Tucker

-Nathan, Janie, Johnathan, and Hannah Platt

-Jeff, Debby, Isabel, Jane, and Scarlet Wuttke

-Mark, Ruth, Matthew, and Rachel Klein

-Brooke, Elizabeth, Leah, and Rebekah Avolio

-Jonathan and Rachel Hess

-Ryan and David Kolis

-Eric Hatfield

-Matt Hicks

-Emily Horodko

-Michelle Johnson

-Natalie Kotal

-Rachel Moen

-Josh Scott

-Emily Stevens

-Stephanie Tomkoviak

-Joseph Wasil

-Christine Weiler

-Kathryn Weishaupt

-Matthew Woodson

Miigiwech! Thank you!

Posted by Rachel Moen and Nathan Platt