A High Mileage Day



Moderately successful but not without its frustrations. My trip took me in a "Grande Tour" from home in LA (Leduc Alberta), to St Paul, to Bonnyville, to Lac laBiche and back home again - all in all about 750 km.

I had spoken to a church in St Paul where they ran both Alpha Campus (as their regular Alpha) and the Alpha Youth Film Series (YFS) for their youth. When I called Wednesday to firm up my appointments the youth pastor told me he would not be there Thursday (the day of my trip) but that the Senior Pastor would. So, once on the road, I called the church to let them know I was on the way.

"Oh," said the receptionist, "The Senior Pastor is on his way into Edmonton."

"Well, OK," I thought, "I'm on my way, I'll just have to make the best of the rest of my trip."

I had one other stop in St Paul, at the Catholic church, where I had a very nice meeting with Fr Gerard. This is the church where their Associate Priest was shot and killed a few months back. I didn't get to meet the bishop because he was in Rome; (I assumed the Rome in Italy, but I didn't ask.)

From there it was on to Bonnyville. I had made an appointment with an Alpha church there but once again, it fell through at the last minute. However, I had lunch with Rev Ken Jagessar of Bonnyville Community Church, a who has run Alpha a number of times. After lunch, when I dropped him back at his church, he said, "Here's someone I want you to meet." He led me over to an old camper van in the church parking lot and knocked on the window. The occupant opened the door and Pastor Ken introduced me. It was John Bergen (check out their amazing story), who was on tour and speaking at the church. We spoke for a while. John was quite familiar with Alpha and very pleased (encouraged was his word) to hear how well Alpha is doing. The Bergens' next stop, next Sunday, was to be the Evangelical Free Church of Lac la Biche, which, coincidentally, was the very next stop on my own trip.

This church has run both Campus and YFS, and during my discussion with Pastor Emmanuel, it became apparent that the town might benefit from a Marriage course, so that too might be in the works. After my visit there, and a cold-call to the Lac la Biche Victory Church, I headed home. I had left my house at about 8:00 AM and got back about 7:45 PM, but as I tell everyone who will listen, I love Alpha and I love driving.

So I have the perfect job.

Blessings,
John

ADDED: I just noticed that Google Maps says the trip should have taken 8 hours and 57 minutes. I don't think it took me that long of driving, and one stretch was on gravel. (Although I did have to slow down to 110 for that stretch.)

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