The Blessings of Beginning

Hello Everyone,
   Its our third Monday in Vancouver as I write to you. Its the first rainy day after 3 weeks of gorgeous sunny weather. I hopped on my bike, in the rain,  to meet my staff colleague Susan Norman at a nearby coffee shop to discuss the start up of our new ministries at UBC - I arrived mostly soaked! I hope to ride a lot here, but I think I'll have to adjust my attire to match the weather.

Home
  We are beginning to feel quite settled in our new home. Our family loves the playgrounds, the trails near our home, and our backyard. Last night we played some badminton in the yard then let the kids watch a little movie on the grass. We are feeling more grounded and a sense of family team as we spend all this time together exploring our new world here. Its not all roses however as we also miss home in Grande Prairie a lot. There have been nights of tears for the kids and more than the average amount of arguing among the kids. No matter how good our new home and life is here it is still unsettling to feel new and uncertain about how to live here.
Two couches have come to us as free gifts. One was from a long time IVCF support couple in Vancouver. The other was a free on-line find of a hide-a-bed from a young guy who just moved here from...Grande Prairie. We knew some people in common and had a chance to share how "nothing happens by accident" (his words). We are certainly feeling that God continues to be in the details of our settling in, right down to providing furniture that meets our needs.

The new favorite reading couch

Outings
   Our last month of transition has taken us to many fantastic locations, for which we are grateful.
We began with a fantastic time of family reunion on Vancouver Island

The fun continued during the week of tenting that followed with Kara and John (sister and brother) near Victoria. We were in awe of the old growth forest, hiking to a waterfall, and a fantastic local beach.

Camping with John and Kara

At Goldstream falls on my birthday

July 30th to August 6th, had us at IVCF's Pacific Pioneer Camp helping as staff for family camp. Kleanza and I took turns on the kitchen team cooking large delicious meals. The kids participated in the activities for kids and we had several chances as a family to enjoy the beautiful location. On the last night we took a late night boat ride to see the bioluminescence in the sea water (glowing microscopic algea in the water which glows as you disturb the water). We'll never forget this warm evening boat ride in the dark on a glowing ocean.

Teaching some "calf roping" during Family Camp. It was a western theme

Exploring the inlets near camp on the Whaler. All the kids got to drive

After a week of moving in and setting up our home, my sister Janelle came to visit us with Curtis, Casey and Elizabeth. Together we saw many sights around town. We enjoyed supper on the beach, the Vancouver Aquarium, and Granville Island. This helped us get to know our city (including the traffic clogged streets) and see locations that we'll later visit with students. It was really fun to be with family in our new home creating some great memories.


Ministry Beginnings
  August 31st to September 2nd I will be part of hosting our Student Leadership Camp. New and returning student leaders from the UBC group will join us for 3 days of connecting, sharing the IVCF vision, and planning events.
September 6th our on campus ministry begins. My International Friendship Group will have a table display at UBC's "Imagine Day" clubs fair. We hope to attract many new students to our month of start up activities. I'm planning a month of hospitality events to attract a multiethnic group of internationals into community. Friday dinners begin September 9th. Saturday adventures begin September 10th.
At these events I plan to talk about cultural transition, helping new students over the hurdles of culture shock. We have certainly felt this disorienting stage by moving here and I pray that we can serve new students by providing a place of friendship where they can process all that they are going through.

Prayer Requests

•  Thank God with us for wonderful provision of a home with all the details. I'm praying for humility to receive all of this as a gift and to be able to communicate this as a testimony to many who visit us.
• Pray for continued family settling. We are finding a church to settle into. The kids have lots of questions about new schools and friends. We are praying about whether Kiara will continue in French Immersion and whether Callen will get a spot in the local school. Jalena and Treah both have school spots so far.
• Pray for the Student Leadership Camp. We are looking for God to ignite in these student leaders the same vision we are sensing as staff for a fantastic ministry launch on September 6th.
• September 6th - A drawing in of new students at UBC into our ministry.
• September 9th and 10th - Fantastic first events that are well attended and that begin to communicate Gods kind of kingdom welcome.

Ministry Finances:

I’ve been sharing with many current and potential supporters about how to partner with us in Vancouver. We are grateful for many who will continue supporting us.  Currently we have a need for many new partners to join us to meet a budget shortfall.

 We’ve been 100% funded for the last four years and anticipate a return to this. Being fully funded fuels an effective ministry of touching student’s lives.

I am currently $20,000 short on meeting my target. Several more supporters are needed. Here’s an example of how 20 people could partner with us to meet this need:

            2 @ $250/month = $6000

            5 @ $100/month = $6000

            13 @ $50/month = $8000

Please contact me if you want to talk more about partnering with us.

Donation by Mail:

Designate Cheques to “IVCF”

memo line: “Mike Bennett”

Mail to:           IVCF

            1 International Blvd

Toronto, ON M9W 6H3

Donate On Line:

www.ivcf.ca

Click : Donors: Make a Gift: Support a Staff: 

"Mike Bennett" is listed alphabetically under M. 

Our New Home

Hello Everyone,
  Week one in our new home is almost through. We finally have phone and internet so its time to update you. Saturday, August 6th, we returned from family camp on Thetis Island to arrive at our new Vancouver home for the first time. It was such a thrill to turn the key and enter the home that will house our ministry and family life for the next years to come.

The house, yard and neighborhood have exceeded our expectations.

It's large and beautiful.


Here's a tour in photo's to give you a walk through





The Main Floor

Our Front Entry

Dining Room

Living Room

Kitchen

Callen's Room

Upstairs:

Look up...the sky

Kiara's Room

Jalena's Room

2Bathrooms up there

The Master bedroom...and my office space

Dinner in the yard with friends who helped us move in

We are getting excited about how this home will help us host alot of new students at UBC. It can handle a group in doors and games out side. And its close to campus. We have daily reminders how God answered our prayers. The launching of the International Student ministry at UBC appears to have all the touches of God's provision and guidance. We are anticipating a fantastic beginning on September 6th.