Days 12 & 13: Dawson Creek and Tumbler Ridge
We woke up at Pineview Alliance Church, with some of us more rested than others. After getting a breakfast of eggs and sausages, we packed up to make the drive to Dawson Creek. We were told of a unique location nestled between the mountains, where one can hear their voice echo back to them, so we stopped by there first. There was a rock maze at the center of the clearing which the kids found amusing, as it always took you further away from the center just when you thought it was about to end. We left just as the team began to smell the nearby sulphur deposits, leading to many pinching their noses. After driving a bit further, we stopped at a park for lunch, where the kids got some time to play on the playground and blow off some steam.
We eventually arrived at Dawson Creek Alliance Church, where we unpacked and prepared for the night's performance. We were finished rather quickly, so the kids had lots of time to relax and play before supper. We were even able to bust out some arts and crafts for them!
The Dawson Creek performance was fun to watch, as the church had a balcony that I could use to get a bird's-eye view of the performances and testimonies. It was also a good night for me, as I had become tongue-tied during my speech the night before, but I experienced no such issues here. The kids were great as usual, and I found myself falling into the dilemma I faced last year: as strange as it sounds, I want a blooper to occur during a dance, as it would give me something to write about, because the alternative is just repeating how good the kids are doing. So here's hoping for some non-serious and lighthearted goofs.
The next day we had some time to kill before our drive, so Sarah led a hike to a local playground. While some of the team are still coughing and have the sniffles, all of the kids were in good spirits and were able to enjoy the time outside. I particularly liked seeing all six boys walk with their arms over each other's shoulders, as the two previous tours saw lots of posturing and competitiveness among the boys, but that does not seem to be an issue this tour. It looks like all of the boys and girls were already close before the tour, leading to no drama so far, which is how I hope it stays.
We then made our way to New Life Assembly in Tumbler Ridge. We explained to the Cambodian adults why this was an important performance, as none of them were aware of the terrible tragedy that occurred back in February. It was heart wrenching to hear of how the church was connected to some of the lives that were lost, and it served as a sobering reminder that terrible, awful things happen all around the world, no matter how developed a nation might be.
The church was very welcoming to us, and we were able to set up a snug little marketplace in their foyer. The girls were immediately drawn to the fireside room, which became very warm very quickly. The boys, meanwhile, were more focused on the toys in the nursery. The church graciously fed us supper, and then it was time for the performance.
To nobody's surprise, the dances and testimonies went very smoothly. My speech, however, felt extra heavy, as I was telling a very sad story of one of Rescue's grannies, Koemlim, to a group of people who were already familiar with how awful life could be. I am greatly appreciative to the New Life Assembly church at Tumbler Ridge for listening to my speech, especially the children who were present in the room. The entire team greatly appreciated everyone who turned up and showed support that night.
The next blog post will cover our performances at La Crete and Buffalo Head Prairie, two locations that know us quite well. See you there!
God bless,
Adam Sylvester
Thanks again Adam. I love hearing all the updates although it pains me not to be there with all of you. I can imagine how many people are being greatly impressed by the stories. Nice to hear my "grandkids" are all getting along with each other. Please tell them Makyeay says Hi