Ponderings from Pastor Pamela's Pen
By Rev. Pamela Fitkin
Our First Full Summer in Norfolk has been amazing, praise the Lord!
I cannot believe I am now writing in September, where has the time gone? Summer in Norfolk meant day tripping, vacation, and enjoying God's great creation. We were able to visit many places such as Cayuga, Port Burwell, Long Point, Tillsonburg, St. Thomas, Dorchester and Port Dover where we take nightly swims. It was a hot and often stormy summer, I actually don't mind the cooler August evenings and the annual trip to the CNE in August was a blast.
However the greatest joy I had this summer was spending time with our youth and kids that come every Sunday. As Pastor I don't always get to connect during the school year as much as I would like because the kids are busy with school. This summer brought some great days with them.
Our first adventure was to Otterville, where we had a private tour of the railroad museum and then toured the burial grounds of the freed slaves that had escaped slavery in the U.S.A. Seeing the place of their first church and it's remnants was very special. Knowing the Black history of Norfolk is really important as it is part of Canadian history and a testament to this community's vision to love and support our neighbours. There is something sacred and moving about standing on the graves of children (there are plenty). These kids were rescued from slavery and arrived in a new land. On the note of caring for our neighbours, Paul and I discovered the mass graveyard near Norview nursing home which was the original site of the Poor House and a jail. Here too, the history of caring is clear….
Now, back to the kids. We all had a ball hanging out at the splash pad near the church, lunch at a local restaurant, and then crazy crafts at my house. It was a great time to just be goofy together. Then we had an outing to the see the Paw Patrol movie.
One of the best parts of the summer was the day I spent with some of them at Deer Creek Conservation Area swimming and boating. It really is a beautiful place. We had a fun day on the beach, a picnic lunch, and swimming. It was even more hysterical when I fell out of our inflatable boat and watched the oars float away. I was fine and two people in canoes rescued my oars. Certain kids were not impressed with my boating skills! We had a trip on a sailboat too (highlight of the whole summer for me) and one the kids came with us. Then a family day at Clovermead Farm. (That place is amazing!)
There are a few days left in summer and I will be in Port Stanley by the time you read this.
When I look back at our first full summer here, I realize how blessed I am and how much joy the kids/youth of our church bring me. Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me” (Matthew 19:14 KJV) and what he meant was that they are part of the Kingdom now. They are an important part now and we need to mentor, coach, nurture, raise, and love them in Christ. I am grateful for my time with them and all the giggles, a messy craft-room, tons of pizza & burgers, ice cream galore, and having the opportunity, for bit, to watch them grow. My own daughter is also grateful for the honorary brothers and sisters that she too loves!
