Nick Vandenbogerd | May 2023
It was nice having Lynett and family here from Texas at the beginning of the year. After dropping them off at the Calgary airport I continued on to visit my Mom in Swan River MB (sleeping in the car). This was the first of several trips my family made to visit her. Judy had 3 extended visits with her Dad in Lashburn SK until he passed away in Sept. My Dad in Nipawin SK passed in Nov. shortly after visiting him and Helene with several of our girls. Our ’05 Caravan doubles as a taxi and motel.
I managed to squeeze in a 7 week trip to East Africa and connected with my personal sponsored families in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. They all got help and encouragement with building, education and/or medical. They asked me when I would be back and I told them 2025.
My income work involved several commercial renos and new residential washrooms. Of course I again worked in Jaffray which included constructing an air flow pit in an existing paint bay which was a head scratcher - literally when I had to strip the concrete forms under the suspended part of the slab. I would stay for a few days and then drive on to Cranbrook to help Travis and Nadine build an addition onto their house.
We flew to Hamilton to visit Karyn and while there got notice that our new Afghan family would arrive in 2 weeks. What a scramble trying to find accommodation. Our developer friend had just bought a country estate and he agreed to them living in a very nice house, albeit 40 kms from town, but the mom Nadiya and 4 children like it there. I’ll be doing some work on the house in lieu of rent.
My income work involved several commercial renos and new residential washrooms. Of course I again worked in Jaffray which included constructing an air flow pit in an existing paint bay which was a head scratcher - literally when I had to strip the concrete forms under the suspended part of the slab. I would stay for a few days and then drive on to Cranbrook to help Travis and Nadine build an addition onto their house.
We flew to Hamilton to visit Karyn and while there got notice that our new Afghan family would arrive in 2 weeks. What a scramble trying to find accommodation. Our developer friend had just bought a country estate and he agreed to them living in a very nice house, albeit 40 kms from town, but the mom Nadiya and 4 children like it there. I’ll be doing some work on the house in lieu of rent.
The refugee fund was slower this year but I managed to fix and sell a donated ’91 Sonoma besides household items. It all takes energy and time online.
Last year I created an account CNCF: Canadian National Christian Foundation. The account is called ‘PSR Abundant’ with my name attached. Anyone can contribute to that fund and get a charitable receipt.
‘PSR’ comes from Luke 6:38. Based on my mission research, I advise CNCF to send it to a specific registered Canadian charity that works to alleviate physical and spiritual needs in current world ‘hotspots’ such as the oppressed in Afghanistan, Ukraine war relief, and Pakistan flood relief, besides medical missions.
$70k (‘k’ represents thousand) was processed this past year.
CNCF is at 89 Auriga Drive, Ottawa ON K2E 7Z2; cncf.ca. You can click here to donate through them (or click the button at the top or bottom of this page).
Considering that most missions charge 20% administration fees I was thankful that two ministry partners charged 0% and one mission offered 5%. All relief is done by nationals.
Two books I would recommend are Mama Was a Missionary by her son Charles Ludwig (founder of girls schools in Kenya) and In the Presence of Mine Enemies by Gracia Burnham (kidnapped by terrorists in the Philippines).
My inspiration comes from the words of Jesus: ‘My yoke is easy and my burden is light’ – provided we keep in step with him.
Wishing you a Fruitful New Year. And by that I mean continual character development.
- Nick Vandenbogerd and family
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