2025 David, Kentucky "Learning Opportunity" - Saturday and Sunday

 

Good afternoon.  

This is my first Blog entry for yet another Mission Trip, or as I like to call them, "Learning Opportunities." 

We are once again going to David, Kentucky. 

This time, there are several different churches and 31 people. A nice mix. 

We have been preparing by fundraising, and reviewing the book "When Helping Hurts" for those who have not gone on a trip with us before.  

And before we knew it, Saturday, March 8th was upon us. 

This is the rental car/van this year.  The beloved white Mercedes was sold off : (  

On Saturday morning, I had 7 guys pile (including me :) ) into my van at 5 a.m. with all their luggage (and believe me there was ALOT of luggage: ) ) and we travelled to Angelo's truck stop to meet the rest of the group.  

When we got there, we got into a circle and prayed together and off we went.  

The border was easy peasy to go through D.V. 

I started off my trip well with a speeding ticket.  Yep, not paying attention to the 30 MPH small stretch at the beginning.  I've learned my lesson : ) 

Rohan was my front passenger buddy for the first part of the trip.  Some buddy he was : ) 

The rest of the vanload settled in for the ride. Hello there Holden.  

We stopped a bit less often this time, which was good.  First one was to get Sam in Buffalo, at Chik-Fil-A. We needed to get Chick-Fil-A out of the group's system     : ) 

Dinner was this small Subway.  

It took a while to get 31 people served.  

But we made it : ) 

At 9:19 p.m. we arrived at St. Vincent.  An hour earlier.  

Settle in time.  

An a brief time to get everyone settled in before bed.  

This group was definitely over tired.  

I know that because they were laughing at a joke I told. It wasn't that funny.  : ) 

Everyone ready to listen.  

Ha ha. 

After a solid night's sleep 

(Thank you Meletonin) 

It was breakfast time. 

Matt and Julia are our cooks.  Whoot. They are doing a fantastic job!! 

Tia joined us again this year after taking a year off last year.   That smile every morning is gonna drive me nuts : )  But it makes my day.  

Matt doing the dishes 

Breakfast. 

All the fixins.  

We ate in shifts. Not enough spots to sit  

Then we had free time before church. 

POKER!!!  : ) 

Greetings gentlemen.  

Awe, Marika and Annika helping their parents out with the dishes.   Sweet.  

And a game of sophisticated Euchre was played.  

Looks more complicated than regular Euchre. 

Our volunteer leaders getting to know each other.  

I went outside to take some pics. 

A bit chilly but it's gonna be a beautiful sunny week.  

Our dorm rooms are upstairs.  

A pic outside.   

If you want to see more inside pics then you can check out last years' blog entry. 

Playing chess. 

And that frustrating game of Dutch Blitz is back!!!  

Some baseball.  

And I wanted to get a group pic at the beginning of the week, juusssttt to be sure I didn't miss the chance. 

Sam and Holden wanted their pic taken first.   Notice the nice light blue crocks Holden is wearing.  They are in leisure mode apparently. : ) 

Our group of 31, minus me of course : ) 

We went to Erin's church once again.  

We doubled it's size. It was a good service.  They were happy we were there.  

We came back to warm sunshine.

and lunch. 

Basketball outside. 

Lewis, Holden and Theo washed the dishes. 

A time to get to know each other came next because I don't know everyone here, that's for sure. 

And then we went for our walk to the David Sign.  

At the sign once again.  

even some strange jumping. 

And Mavis, our dog, wanted in on the pic as well.

Part of the walk is seeing the mine shaft.   

They went up, I did not : ) 

We stopped at the bridge and spent some time there chillin', and then turned back.  

What a GREAT picture !!  

If I do say so myself : ) 

Holden had to go to the river and get a small football. 

He got it and climbed back up in his Crocks, but they are in Sport mode now, so all is good : ) 

After a bit of free time it was SUPPER TIME!!! 

Spagghetti and two different kinds of sauce and garlic bread and Ceasar Salad. 

Matt and Julia are doing an AMAZING JOB. 

The line up for food. 

And dishes after.  Sam, how ya doing...??

Tia is the BEST dishwasher we have !! : )

And Amy is too busy to pose for a pic. : ) 

Oh, and Matt and Julia didn't want leftovers.  Holden and Lewis kindly obliged.  : ) 

So tonight we chill for the rest of our time and tomorrow we start work.  

Blogs may be sparse as no wifi here, and I'm using my cell phone plan, but I'll do my best to get you something each day. : )   

Blessings to you all. 

Pray for us this week that we will be safe and be a blessing to those we meet.  

2025 Calvin's Pancake Breakfast

 

It's FEBRUARY once again. 

We did our care packages (see entry before this one) and the next thing on the youth group agenda was the annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser. 

Last year I gave all sorts of facts and figures, and I'm transferring them here so you get a better idea of what has gone on over the years and how your donations have helped in many areas for our youth and other organizations.  

2009 -  $1,300 Peru trip 

2010 - $1,800 for Peru trip

2011 - $1,800 for Youth Group

2012 - $2,000 for Peru trip

2013 - $1,600 for Youth Group

2014 - Part 1  for Peru trip

2014 - Part 2  - $2,000 for Peru trip

2015 - $2600 for Youth Group and Gamaliel Christian School

2016 - $2350 for Peru Trip

Took a break in 2017

2018 - $2,000 for Peru trip 

2019 - $2,300 for Youth Group events and Ottawa Inner City Ministries

2020 -  $2139 -  All Ontario Convention 

2021 - No event due to COVID

2022 - No event due to COVID

2023 - $4118 for Mission trip to North Carolina and Refugees coming to Canada

2024 - $3062 for Mission trip to Kentucky and "Carleton Exam Pause Table"

2025 - $4020 for our Mission Trip to David, Kentucky and supporting our very own missionary Emily.  Our best fundraiser amount yet!!! 

The total profit made due to Calvin's generosity over the last 15 times, with a couple of breaks, has been 

$33,089  

WOW!  

THIS year we once again are raising funds to help support those going on the mission trip  (a.k.a. Learning Opportunity) to David, Kentucky to help with disaster relief.  A portion will also be donated to Emily, a missionary we sponsor here at Calvin. 

Going this year are

Ron 

Matthew 

Julia 

as adults, and youth are: 

Marika 

Annika 

Rohan (the MET but went with us last year)

Lewis

Holden

Theo

Gareth 

Petra (from Dixon's Corners). 

There are 20 others going from:

Montreal CRC

Dixon's CRC

Williamsburg CRC

Calvary CRC 

Kemptville CRC

for a total of 31. 

Below are the pics from this year.  

I was a bit busier this year helping serve, so there are not as many pictures, but for some of you that comes with a sigh of relief, I bet : ). 

Here we goooooooo!!! 

We began the night before by preparing the fruit. 

I went shopping with Phil this time (forgot to get a pic of him so go back to the 2024 one and just assume it's pretty much the same : ) ) 

This year we received some donations from Costco and Pancake Mix from Parrish and Heimbecker Milling Group (thanks for finding this Martin), which helped lower our costs.  We were very thankful for this.   

The group is hard at work. 

I see Rohan is pleased to be part of the group this year : )   

Running like a well-oiled machine - because I'm not getting involved : ) 

Yes, those scissors were washed first : ) 

Rohan and Theo said this worked better than the knives they were using : ) 

Phil asked someone to get the frozen fruit from the basement freezer and Theo, Gareth, and Rohan raced downstairs to get them. 

THEN they proceeded to work as a team to get the TWO bags upstairs.  Made me chuckle. : ) 

The end result always looks so colourful. 

No strawberries this year. 

TOOOOO expensive.  No one noticed : ) 

Adding the final touch to keep things good overnight.  

OJ. I see Marika, Petra, Annika and Emma are making sure Matt pours it juuussssttttt right : )  

We began at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning.  

We probably could have come in at 6:30.  

I need to make a note of that.  

Set up of the tables begins

The early birds went to work pouring the REAL syrup and getting jam into containers.  

We stopped for a prayer to bless our time together. 

Now this needs a comment : )

I asked Rohan to put a table by the door so we could put dishes on it as a transfer station. 

This is what Rohan thought I meant : )

Communication IS a fine art. 

That too made me chuckle.  

The team getting mixes mixed.  

Petra was on whipped cream duty. 

I discovered once again that this is a very important ingredient at the pancake breakfast.  

We didn't have a dedicated whipped cream person this year so I was kept hopping moving the bowls from table to table.   

Rohan on OJ duty.  

Phil gives all kinds of instructions. 

Holden, Theo, and Gareth are listening?? 

I think??? : ) 

Time to try out making Pannenkoeken.  

I googled how to spell it again and apparently there are two different ways? 

Pannenkoeken and Pannekoeken

Can someone set me straight as to which one is correct?  

Matt trying to get the blueberry pancakes to cook juuuusssstttt right : )

Looking good. 

Batter and whipped cream continues to be made.  

The whipped cream is ready and waiting for the pancakes 

Soon the guests will arrive. 

We have stocked up on Pannenkoeken (Pannekoeken), blueberry and plain pancakes.  The blueberry and plain ones seemed extra thick this time due to the mix that was donated.  

Our FIRST guests.  

It wasn't Nathan and Magaret and family, but it stayed IN the family once again.

Welcome Evert and Annet. 

A few minutes later they showed up :) 

Let's eat!!! 

our table setting.  

The first shift started at 8 a.m.  

This fundraiser is about more than raising money.  The youth get to work together and get to know each other better, and those who show up get to chat with people they have not seen in a long time in a less structured way.   Janika came all the way from Sudbury to join us.  Whoot!!! 

  

oh, and guess who dropped by to sample our food. 

None other than the infamous John!!!!  

I think he liked it, but he did let me know that some of the Pannenkoeken (Pannekoeken) had holes in them.  : ) 

It's good to have quality control people around.  

As I mentioned, part of the fun is socializing. 

BUT, 9:15 does come, and I had to ask some to leave or move to the couches :) 

Look at that precision work : ) 

Petra restocked the cutlery 

Rohan taking some time out for breakfast with his dad.  Sweet.  

The gathering of folk.  

Holden, Theo and Gareth taking a well-deserved break.  

Our 9:15 a.m. crowd. 

Before we knew it it was time to clean up and give away the leftovers. (which there was not much of this time around).    

We were done by 11:10.  Whoot!! 

Thanks to all who came out to support the youth group and Emily.  

Our best year ever thanks to all of you.  

Until next time D.V.