GO, Canada!

Well, it wasn't easy at times, but our Toronto GO! TEAM made it out of Orange County and into Canada! We took off Friday morning from LAX with no problem, making a connection in Chicago. That ongoing flight was delayed an hour (no big deal)and we made it into Toronto by 10:00 pm. Edmundo Lucido, the admin pastor of Churchill Meadows Christian Church (our host) met us there and took us to pick up the car we rented. Once onto the freeway, we got ready for the 20+ minute trip to nearby Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto with a population of more than 700,000. However, even through it was a late Friday night, freeway construction squeezed everything down to a choke point (one lane), and our short jaunt took nearly two hours! Weary but undeterred, we made it to our accommodations, met our hosts and settled in for a short time of rest.

Saturday began with a great breakfast time with Jim Tune, senior pastor of CMCC and president of Impact Canada (the church planting organization with whom we partner). He clued us into the spiritual situation in Canada, the heart of Impact Canada and the beginnings of CMCC. We even got to sample REAL Canadian bacon, called peameal bacon. Wow! What a difference from our faux product in the US!

We took off from there for our one free day outing- a drive to Niagara Falls, about a 60-mile drive through beautiful countryside.

The Falls was an unbelievable display of God's handiwork and we were blessed to take it in. But the evening was even better. We got back to the church about 5:30 and bumped into the Polish church plant pastor, who meets with his small group on campus. Gregory invited us to meet with his group that evening, as they were gathering to watch a Joni Ericson DVD in Polish. We were so blessed by our time with these believers! So much sharing of life and encouragement between us all, even with language limitations. The four of us agreed that this was even greater than what we had experienced earlier in the day.

Sunday's two services at CMCC were outstanding. This congregation, newly moved into its current outrageously outstanding facility, numbers about 600- that's mega-church size in Canada. And the ethnic/cultural diversity is overwhelming. At least 46 nations or people groups are represented in the church, all moving and working together as one, and all for God's glory. It's like looking at a small piece of heaven when they gather to worship!

Jim and his wife, Claudia, took us to an Indian dinner where they shared their story, and we were able to see their heart for God and His Kingdom. It was challenging to hear them and know that the burden they have, not just for their city, but for their country and world, is one that needs to be shared by each of us if we're going to complete the task of proclaiming the good news message to all peoples in all places.

Our opening weekend was a great one. And the week promises to be even greater. We'll fill you in on it as it happens- will you remember to lift us in prayer? Specifically ask the Father that we would have opportunity and courage to share with those who need to know the Lord's love. Thanks! More soon...