Maritime Legacy Tour- Huge Success

I returned to my roots in the Maritimes last month. What a powerful reminder of the importance of legacy.

As we rounded the corner to see the Windsor, N.S. sign, I could hear the ‘thump, thump’ of my heart.

My first speaking engagement was at the Windsor Church of the Nazarene, my dad’s second pastorate.

I stopped the car in front of 161 Gerish St. I ran across the street with emotions spilling out the corners of my eyes and looked up at the second storey windows. My mind travelled back to the 50s. Memories flooded. This two storey heritage house served as a church on the bottom floor and our parsonage on the second and third floor. Many people climbed the stairs to our kitchen after services to enjoy Mom’s cooking. I smelled fried onions and tasted orange pineapple ice-cream, a frequent treats from a business man who came to Christ through my parent’s ministry.
With only one bathroom in the entire building, our personal family space often became quite public.

I learned about God’s provision in this humble home. Our Heavenly Father used His people, our small congregation, to provide for a struggling family through ‘poundings for the pastor’. A ‘pound of this’ and a ‘pound of that’ would be carried into our kitchen and loaded onto our cupboard.

My mom talked about these wonderful people for many years. In her little black book, one entry read:
2 cans soup
1 can corn
2 cans peas
1 can tomatoes
small can salmon
1 can tuna
160 tea bags
1/2 lb. tea

$1.00 cash

Often Dad asked me to accompany him in the vintage Chrysler to pick up members and friends who had no transportation. He wanted everyone to be in church. Extra trips were needed since I occupied a passengers spot, but his willingness to take this ‘little girl’ along gave me a front seat to view what it looked like to ‘serve the Lord with gladness.’

A new church building now replaces the old but for me memories are etched in the old wood structure where my dad and mom poured their lives into service for Christ’s kingdom.

What a lasting legacy my parents have left, one that will impact my family for generations to come.
Never despise small beginnings. When hearts are totally devoted to Jesus , it is there that Christ shines.

Please drop by again soon for more Maritime memories.