I decided to celebrate the coming of summer to Saskatchewan…finally. I went to Canadian Tire today, and bought a little inner tubey thing to float down the river on. As you can see, it’s lime green with little circles on it. In hindsight, it was probably made for kids littler than me. But it was $4.

So along with two of my sisters and my cousin who’s visiting from Ontario, off we went. Of course, being the Grandpa that I am, I immediately fell asleep on the beach for a little nap. I woke up just in time to see the wind take the tube and send it skittering across the sand. I jumped up and went running across the beach to catch it.

Well…actually, I watched and waited to see if some random brush would stop it. When that failed, then I jumped up and went running after it. By the time I caught it, it was in the water and making a run for Saskatoon. I think it knew what was coming and was trying to escape.

After staking the tube to the sand with a stick, I continued my nap. After a hour or so, I decided it was time for my celebratory summer float down the river. I hiked farther up the river (mostly to avoid the lady who figured Saskatchewan beaches are bathing suit top optional…she made the beach a little awkward), then found a good launching point, and plopped my butt down in my inner tube.

Referring back to my first paragraph, I think it was at this point I actually understood that this tube was not made for big people. But like I said…I really liked the lime green. So I ignored that little voice in my head my parents taught me is important for my personal safety and well being, and I bought the silly thing.

Anyhow, my butt hit the tube…the tube bounced once…and tube and Ken flipped over backwards. All anyone watching would have seen was my legs and butt in the air, sticking out of the water as I back-flipped into the river. Fortunately, due to the aforementioned lady on the beach, no one was paying any attention to me. All I can say is, that crazy little tube should have had a warning on it.

Okay funny…no lie, I just checked, and there is, in fact, a warning…

“FLOTATION TOY WARNING: for use in shallow water and under competent supervision.”

It’s in twenty-four different languages, including Arabic, Chinese and what looks like Russian.

Competent supervision? What exactly does that mean? Whatever…there should still have been some kind of verbal warning at the counter when I bought the thing. Not all of us have the time or inclination to read large-print, clearly worded warnings! Besides, it’s that nice, friendly lime green colour, with all those happy, multi-coloured circles on it. It should have been bright red and covered with tears and little sad faces. And with those circles with slashes through them…over big butts…

I eventually got myself situated on it, but it was still kind of tippy. I figured out, though, that if I wedged my butt way down into the tube and held on down by my legs, I could stay on the thing. That worked quite well until I dragged backwards across a shallow spot and the butt of my bathing suit filled up with sand.

Third time was the charm, as they say. I managed to float happily down the river enjoying the beautiful sunshine and warm summer breeze. It was fully worth whatever pain and humiliation I may have suffered in my earlier acrobatic escapades. It was a good Saskatchewan summer moment…

Well…in a little over a week I’m back on my way south, and this blog will once again be filled with thought provoking, serious and introspective stories of my life as a missionary. Ha ha…that was so funny I almost couldn’t finish typing it. I do hope you keep coming back to the blog, though, and continue walking with me on this crazy adventure. One of the things I love most about this, is that I can write about life and post prayer requests, and I know that people are praying. That’s huge for me…

So thanks for taking the time to read and pray everyone!  I (we) appreciate it!

PS I wasn’t going to write about this, in case some of my guys are reading along. A couple of them are learning English. But I figure they’ve probably given up trying to read this by now. I’ve been wanting to get the guys set up with some soccer gear for awhile now. Soccer is (of course) huge in Bolivia, and most of the guys don’t have anything to play with. Starting out, my plan was just to get them shoes if I could find some deals. In the end, I not only ended up buying shoes, I was able to get shorts, jerseys, socks and a Team Canada soccer ball. I ended up getting nearly $1900 worth of gear for less than $500. There were some great deals…all of the shoes were in the $70-$80 range, and I didn’t pay more than $30. Also, the store manager was great and definitely got caught up in the moment too. She kept finding us more stuff. And every time I asked her the price of something? $5.

Best deal? $80 soccer gloves. Price? $5…

So this all should make going back even more fun! =)

(A huge shout-out to the Soccer Centre on 2^nd Ave. Go there and buy lots of stuff and tell them thanks from the guys from Bolivia!)

The good news is, my passport is back in the hands of my lawyer and it should have my visa happily tucked away inside.  Isabel is picking it up tomorrow and FedEx-ing it to me Friday.  Obviously that makes me happy.  I am now a permanent resident of Bolivia and no longer have to apply for expensive visa’s every year or so.  And I should be able to wing my way back to South America in a couple of weeks with no problems (well…no more problems than normal anyhow…). 

Man…I’m down to less than two weeks…it’s crazy.  But I’m excited about heading back.  Like I said, I talked to the guys last Saturday, and it was fun to hear their voices. 

Thanks for praying everyone!  I appreciate it…
 

I know I keep promising to post here more, but as you can see…that hasn’t been happening so much.  But I’m back in Bolivia in two and a half weeks, so no doubt there will be more things to say then. 

I did want to ask you to pray about something though.  I’m having problems with my passport and visa (my permanent residency).  I had to FedEx my passport back down to Bolivia when I got home to Canada, so my lawyer could finish the process for my visa.  Unfortunately, there were complications and now it looks like I may lose my visa and have to start the process all over again.  At least he has my passport back (for awhile Immigration had siezed it and we weren’t sure I’d even get it back in time for my trip back south).  My lawyer has asked for an extension (or something) to finish the process, and Immigration is considering that request.

So please pray that the give me that extension.  Otherwise I have to start the process over again, and I’ll lose the $1000 US I already had to pay.  That would be grumpy to say the least.  I really don’t have that kind of money.

I spoke with the guys last night.  It was the first time in awhile.  It was good to hear their voices.  They tell me they’re excited that I’m coming back.  =)  It’s always hard to leave home, but I’m getting excited too.  I have three young guys from Saskatoon coming back with me as well, to work with us for a couple of weeks, so that’ll be fun too.

Anyhow, thanks for praying.  I’ll let you know what happens as soon as I know!

Enjoy the summer weather we’re FINALLY having…two weeks before I leave…
  

I spoke with Isabel tonight, and I wanted to post a quick note to ask you to pray for her and the guys when you have a moment.  One of the guys decided that it would be better if he moved out on his own, and so he left yesterday.  He, Isabel and the guys had a meeting, and he explained why.  As sad as I am to see him leave, for different reasons, I kind of think it’s for the best.  He left on good terms with all of us, and I’m sure we’ll continue to see him and hopefully be able to help out when he needs it. 

But this has been difficult for some of the guys.  Probably a few of them saw it coming, but it’s still sad.  Along with that situation, I get the sense, talking to Isabel, that the guys, the leadership and the ministry are all under some fairly intense spiritual attack.  These things always seem to cycle…things have been good for the past few months (and still are for some of the guys), but then the attacks come.     

So if you could pray for Isabel, Tonchy and those who are helping out, that would be great.  Please pray for wisdom, compassion, patience, and a sense of God’s presence.  As well, please pray for protection for everyone who is involved in the home, both for the leadership and for the guys themselves.

And finally, if you could pray for Jorge.  For those of you who’ve been following along, you’ll remember that Jorge was in a serious accident last January, and wasn’t expected to survive.  God healed him, and he’s been recovering well since he got out of the hospital.  However, recently there have been complications, and a surgery that was supposed to be routine has not gone well.  He’s home again, but I understand that the healing process has been much longer and more difficult than anyone anticipated.  I guess he’s been feeling pretty discouraged.

So please pray for Jorge and his wife, Viviana.  The problem is with Jorge’s inner ear (which was damaged when his head impacted the window during the accident).  Pray that they would trust in God’s faithfulness and timing, and that Jorge’s injuries would heal quickly. 

Thanks for praying everyone.  I’ll try to keep you informed of what’s happening as I find out.  I’m down to less than a month left in Canada, so my time is going quickly.  If you could pray that God continues to work in me as well, that I’ll be rested and ready to head back south, that would be great too! 
 

Feliz dia de Canada!  I know I haven’t been around here much lately, but that’ll eventually change once I’m back on Bolivian soil I’m sure.  But thanks to all you faithful ones who still come and check each day to see if I’ve written anything interesting or worthwhile.  =)  I appreciate it. 

I celebrated Canada Day with my sisters, brother-in-law and my nephew and niece.  We walked over to the park to watch the fireworks.  Other than the part where we had to try and navigate walking back in the dark with two little ones in tow, with thousands of other people…it was a lot of fun. 

A couple of pictures…

Getting tatooed…

Showing off said tatoo’s…

My good lookin’ niece and nephew!

What it means to be Canadian!

What it means to be a Switzer!

So that was Canada Day!  It was a good time.  But Canada Day usually is.  I was sadly asked by one of my American friends today what Canada Day was.  Uh…it’s kind of like July 4th…except better.  =)

Before I go, could I ask you to pray for the guys back in Santa Cruz?  I spoke with Isabel yesterday, and some of them are definitely have a rough go of it.  There are different things happening, but I can safely say that a couple of the guys are making some bad decisions that may mean they’ll be finished at the home when I get back in August.  I hope that doesn’t happen, but that seems to be the direction they’re moving in.  So please pray for wisdom, conviction and a sense of God’s presence and direction in their lives. 

Thanks everyone!  I’m coming up on my last month here in Canada.  That’s crazy!  But if you’d still like to grab that coffee or lunch, just let me know!  It’d be great to hang out!