Our time in Canada has flown by. We have been warmly welcomed and have been able to visit a lot of people. We have to do some praying and thinking about all our impressions. It is also good that everyone has arrived at his / her own family again after being away for over 4 weeks.The week in Winnipeg was also very varied. We drove to a reserve about 300 km from Winnipeg. This time with 2 cars because we had returned our rental car in Edmonton. It was very special to see how we could encourage people by praying with them, singing in Wajana, and reading from the Bible. Since the distances in Canada are very differently experienced by the Canadians than by Wayana’s and the Dutch, we drove home after the service. Around midnight we got into bed, tired but satisfied. We participated a few days at the Family Life Center in the North End.

Women from the neighborhood come to a meeting on Wednesday, after which they all get a hot meal. Afterwards, they can go to a room where they can choose clothing and household goods. They also receive a bag of food. After a certain time the next group was allowed. Our Wayanas recognized the system as we use it in our clothing sales also. Thursday we did a prayer walk through the neighborhood. What a sad and hopeless situation it seemed to us. It really touched our hearts. In the evening we also shared this with others during a meal. On Saturday we prayed with the Plante family and our group for Winnipeg and the First Nation people at the Forks, the place where two rivers flow together. This has traditionally been an important place because in the past this was where the First Nation people and the white traders would exchange their goods. Again a memorable moment for all of us.On the way back to Suriname we had a long layover in Trinidad. The evening before our arrival, the island was hit by hurricane Karen , which meant that there were still many roads flooded. Our trip to the beach was canceled for that reason, but this meant that we could catch up on some sleep. We made a brunch of breakfast. In the evening we shared during a meeting in church what we had experienced in the past few weeks. This was the last translation moment for this trip for Marjolein. It went well, but because translation had to be done simultaneously a lot of times, it was quite strenuous. She has clearly experienced that God has given her strength and wisdom to do all this translating.Last Thursday we were again waiting at the airport for our next flight, this time to the Netherlands. Friday morning we landed after a good flight. Now we are recovering with children and grandchildren. Marco will be in Rome from 5 to 12 October for a Global World Team conference and a short visit to his only brother who lives in Northern Italy. Marjolein will be ‘babysitting’ the grandchildren when the parents have some days away from home together.