Having spent 25 + years in the residential construction industry I acquired the needed skills for most home maintenance. I spent a majority of that time as a "Finish Carpenter", which means that I did the doors, window trim, closet systems, baseboards and many other special requests on custom homes. Many times I would be given a picture from a magazine and asked to recreate the item in the picture for a home owner. Sometimes it was a fireplace mantle, window valances, shelving etc. I did this work as a self-employed carpenter since 1997 and had a full work load until about 2008 when the housing market in California took a turn downward and continued in that direction.
In 2010 I moved to North Dakota to build a home for a friend there and made plans to stay there afterwards as an Oil Boom was growing in that area and a shortage of housing was in effect. A good spot to be in.
In February 2011, Ken, a friend and fellow Elder at Palomar Mountain Community Church sent me an email. Ken had been the Facilities Manager at the Palomar Mountain Christian Conference Center for about 10 years and had recently accepted a position as Director of the Guelph Bible Conference Centre, (GBCC), in Ontario Canada. He stated that the Centre was seeking a Facilities Manager and informed me of the responsibilities and said that he would never ask me again about the position, but wanted me to be aware of it. My wife, Holly, has known Ken & Peggy for at least 10 years and was eager to return to Christian Camping so I responded to the offer. GBCC flew us there in late April for a week to check the place out and to meet some of the Board Members. The meeting went well and I accepted the position.
We returned to North Dakota and over the next 3 months prepared to move to Canada. I have never had any desire to travel abroad of out of the United States, (except after accepting Christ I do desire to travel to Israel), so moving to a foreign country was never even a thought. But God changes us over time. We arrived in Guelph, Ontario on July 28th and have begun working here at the Conference Centre. We are finally unpacking and settling into a house and yard, knowing that God is the provider of all things.
I now serve the Lord full-time using the skills I learned over the past 25 years and being part of a team of believers who provide facilities for others to come relax, fellowship with old & new friends, and study Gods word in a camp setting.
The next step for us is locating a home church and serving there too. I look forward to sharing my experiences here with you.
The Lord is good!!!
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