Guess what we found at the end of our street!

We've been a bit remiss in posting things, but as predicted, it has been a very busy transition (and continues to be so). We have seen the Lord's providence in amazing ways over the past few weeks and we continue to do so. This was a neat thing for us to discover at the end of our street - we live right by the Rouge Valley.

If you can't read it, it says that the Carolinian Life Zone covers less than 1% of Canada's landmass but contains habitat to more species of wildlife (including Hannah's tiger at the zoo!) than any other zone in Canada. We miss all our US friends very much but we would be happy to welcome you all to Carolinian Canada!

Much love,

The Powells.

Our God is so GREAT... so strong and so mighty

There's nothing our God cannot do...

This is one of Hannah's favourite songs and one that she was singing (and dancing to) in the customs station at the Queenston Lewiston bridge. Val and I were smiling because God was working His grace at the border. We breezed through and although we were prepared to pay up to $1400 in duty (for importing our van, some books and a bed we bought), we only had to pay the import fee of $400 for our cars. The customs official was extraordinarily gracious to us and we know that that was no accident - God works out all the details, from lost laptops to ensuring we have some money to get started on fixing up the house.

The trip up had its challenges which needn't all be detailed here, but suffice it to say - we're home! Well, we're staying at Grandma and Grandpa's house (while they are visiting their newest grandson). In a few hours we go to the lawyer's for the closing on our new house. We took a peek last night and discovered some things, both positive and some negative, but we're excited and thankful to have a home. We realized, in a very small way what it feels like to have no home. Hannah is very keen to go home and not to have to go to another hotel or strange place. She was very glad to get to grandpa's house, as it did not seem so strange.

We're tired, but we're here and we are thankful.

Our God is so great, so strong and so mighty there's nothing our God cannot do

the mountains are His,

the valleys are His,

the stars are His handiwork too,

Our God is so great, so strong and so mighty there's nothing our God cannot do!

Better than we deserve

It would appear that the bag (we're not sure if the laptop is in it) was turned into the hotel office. Praise God for answered prayers. It will be a challenge to get back, but, if we know its safe and will eventually make it back to us, hopefully functional, that's alot.

We are better than we deserve. Thanks be to God.

Now off to the hospital and then the border... Our time in the USA is down to the hours and minutes. We will miss you all, very much. Much love to our American family.

Crisis in Buffalo...

Ok, one of my worst nightmares just occurred.

We arrived in Buffalo and went to unpack the car. After a frenetic search it would appear that I have left my laptop behind somewhere. Please pray. We have a sovereign God. I will know for sure by tomorrow morning whether or not it is gone for good (the place where I think I left it has a locked room and the nightwatchman doesn't have a key - the woman who does doesn't come on until later).

We are buying identity theft insurance and changing all our passwords, and doing all we humanly can. But this is where the faith rubber meets the road of life. He who works all things for the good (even if they are bad and involve many trials - see Joseph's final response to his brothers who tried to knock him off - Genesis 50:20) has that laptop in His hands. We'll see how He uses this in our lives.

Coveting your prayers for a speedy and positive resolution.
In Him,

Chris.

Happy in Dublin...

Virginia. We have made it as far as Dublin, Virginia and we have a long day ahead of us of driving (Buffalo via Carlisle and our beloved friends, the Millers - with baby Cratherine as Hannah calls her). With the help of Edie, Stephen and Nathan Wessel together with Helen Sarratt we were able to finally get away. Without them, Val and I are convinced it would have taken us another day or two to finish. We are very thankful.



In the meantime, in other much more exciting news, we have a little wonderful bit of news to share. Hannah and Noah have a new cousin! Daniel David Ryberg was born yesterday, June 9, 2008 (his grandpa Powell's 72nd birthday) 8lbs 7oz. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Here's a beautiful picture of healthy and happy mom and baby:

I know it says Val, but this was posted by Chris (we're one flesh anyway...)

Moving Time...

We're getting ready to leave...

Still lots to do - something is wrong with the camera so we can't really post pictures too well.

New family photo

Our New Home just inside the city of Toronto

Hi all,

Thought you might want to see our new place. It's been amazing how God has provided in so many ways. This is where we hope to live (we have a house inspection yet, but our offer's been accepted). We are very thankful, there is quite a bit of fixer-upper work that needs to be done - but then we have Val. The main thing is that we have a place that is 10 minutes from Chris' parents and 22 minutes from the Church (in no traffic). This is more than we could have dreamed of and far more than we deserve. Very close by is the Toronto Zoo (5 minute drive), the Rouge Valley Conservation area (10 minute walk) and the beach near our old house is about a 15 minute drive away. God worked out the timing such that we take possession the day after we move out of our South Carolina home. The Bible is right when it says in Prov. 16:9 "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." We cannot believe that with all that had to happen (and still does) that we were able to sell a house and buy one in just over a week. God had a better plan than we did and we are so very thankful and grateful. And thank you all for your prayers and efforts on our behalf.

New Family Photo

Here is a new family photo. Things went well up at our home church, and we hope, God willing, to return home to minister there.

Chris' trip to Canada

This is just a short post to say that Chris will be off to Canada to candidate at our home church in Toronto. We would appreciate your prayers for his travel and his preaching and presentation to the Church.

Holiday Update

Dear Friends and Family,

It has been a while since we gave an update, but, here's a quick one. We had a lovely white Christmas up in Canada. It was a bit hard with all the back and forth, so after a 20 hour trip (with breaks) we were happy to arrive back home in South Carolina.

Sadly, it was a bit of a rough trip for Noah. Thankfully, Noah's ear troubles were addressed and are no longer an issue. However, he has developed both reflux and colic troubles. So, the last two weeks or so have been without much sleep in the Powell household. We've found some remedies that seem to be having some effect, so we will have to see how they go.

Hannah loved visiting friends and family and was quite actively involved in whatever was going on wherever we went.

We ended our holiday with a lovely New Years with the Millers who were down for the Sarratt wedding. Here's a picture of the two families on New Year's Eve, 2007