2013

M AY

N E W S L E T T E R

ISSUE #18

THE ELFORDS
FROM THE CAMPUS OF NIPAWIN BIBLE COLLEGE IN NIPAWIN, SK

ABOVE, THE GIRLS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A BIT OF ALLOWED TIME IN THE CRIB WITH JAELYNN. LEFT, A VISIT TO PICTOGRAPH CAVES NEAR BILLINGS, MT

The snow nally left and summer is here...

There were days this spring that we found ourselves asking, did we miss summer altogether? Following what seemed like one of the longest winters in recent memory, we were certainly glad to see the last traces of snow nally gone by late April/early May. Over the next few weeks we were pleased to see the campus here at NBC quickly dry out and surprisingly we actually got our garden planted earlier than we did last year. Lindsay is particularly pleased with the garden this year. She has poured hours of energy and care into planning, then planting, and of course, perhaps most time consuming - WEEDING! Aside from a frost warning in early June (which turned our garden into a mini-tent city!), the gardening has gone well and the harvest looks promising!

COME RAIN...OR SNOW

WATER PUMP NECESSARY

ENJOYING A POOL ON VACATION

LAEANNA -

4 YR S

NOT SOON AFTER LAEANNA TURNED 4 IN MAY WE HEARD HER TELLING PEOPLE SHE WAS GOING TO BE 5 SOON. TRUE TO FACT, SHE DOES SEEM TO BE GETTING OLD SO QUICKLY. SHE STARTED SWIMMING LESSONS THIS MONTH AND ITS NEAT TO SEE HER INTERACT WITH OTHERS FROM A DISTANCE

A quick look back - the spring semester at NBC - January through April seemed to y by faster than any other semester here, and before we knew it, the students were all gone the summer. Before they left, we were able to meet our goal of having every single one of them over for a supper (groups of two) during the school year - which was a nice way to step up in getting to know them a bit more. In February we were able to have a nice date out around Valentines Day - our rst evening out without Jaelynn - where we enjoyed a nice supper together, and then our rst Nipawin Hawks game, which is the local JuniorA hockey team. Work-wise, I (Jason) nd myself on the road a bit more in second semester with the schools music team in various church or youth night settings. I thoroughly enjoy the time with students in those oneon-one or small group settings. I also met with two students regularly one-on-one over the year, both of which times were quite enjoyable and rewarding, if not stretching and valuable for myself. I found myself sad having to say goodbye to both in April. For her part, even though Lindsay doesnt have the same opportunity as me for student interaction, she really made an effort this year to have lady students over, or to attend girls night type activities around campus. One night she had a ladies spa night here at our place with about 10 or 15 of them here to participate (almost half of the lady students), which went over very well. Both February and late May saw us travel to Edmonton for a weekend. Our ofcial reason to go is always for condo meetings with our rental property, but more so, its nice to stay connected a bit with friends and family there, though we always face the challenge of trying to squeeze in so many wed like to see! With Lindsays sister there and many good friends, theres always somewhere to stay and many good visits to be had. The girls travel quite well and the trip is usually quite nice. As for our rental properties in Edmonton, even though theyve continued to go fairly well, they each have brought unique challenges at times. Wed love your prayers in continuing to manage these from a distance and that they would never become something that conicts with serving well here in Nipawin.

KALIA -

2 1/2 Y R S

KALIA ALWAYS WANTS TO DO EVERYTHING HER OLDER SISTER DOES - WHICH, OF COURSE DOESNT ALWAYS QUITE WORK SO WELL. IT IS NEAT TO SEE HER DEVELOP INTO HER OWN PERSON EVEN THOUGH SHE SOMETIMES MIGHT SEEM TO OPERATE IN THE SHADOW OF HER OLDER SISTER

JA E LY N N -

10 MTH S

JAELYNN IS OUR LITTLE SMILER. SHE GREETS MOSTLY EVERYONE WITH A GRIN, AND SEEMS EASILY EXCITABLE AT THIS STAGE OF LIFE. SHES UP TO ALMOST 4 TEETH, AND SEEMS TO BE PROUDLY CARRYING ON THE TRADITION OF LITTLE ELFORD GIRLS BEING EXTREMELY ACTIVE AND NOT LIKELY TO BE FOUND RESTING QUIETLY WITH MOM OR DAD.

When the students leave NBC Campus, our lives dont usually get less busy...the work just changes
After Grad exercises on April 21st, I started working towards our annual charity golf tournament (June 1) and Lindsay was hired by the school to do a lot of cleaning in the dorms and various other buildings over the summer as NBC hosts various events. In fact, she also spent a week as part of the kitchen staff for our annual Encore (seniors) Retreat which ran from June 3-7 while I led music for the week and audio/video. Additionally, there were a handful Alumni events I hosted around SK and MB from April through June, while Lindsay started full-out with the garden. And, (just because we felt bored) we started doing some renos at the house we rent here on NBC Campus to update things and just spruce things up! While on the topic of roles at NBC, this coming fall I am dipping my toes (ok, diving) into the area of recruitment for the school as I become director of Enrollment. It should t well with Alumni Relations, and NBC is nalizing what parts of my current roles I will shift out of to allow for the extra responsibility and time commitment with Recruitment. Prayer for this transition would also be JASON WILL BE ADDING HEAD more than OF ENROLLMENT/RECRUITMENT welcome as TO HIS ROLE AT NBC THIS FALL Lindsay and I still try to balance work/home life and ensure that we are still able to have quality time as a couple as well as with our daughters. Speaking of quality time - we had a great week of vacation in early June which saw us travel to Billings, MT to visit my parents and then to Caronport, SK to spend time with my sister/brother-in-law and their children. The 9 days were a really nice break and change of pace. We made time for shing, swimming with the girls, sitting and visiting, board games, museums, and a bit of alone time for Lindsay and I here and there. We are thankful for the opportunity to do things like that for short periods of time. Here in Nipawin, this past Sunday we were pleased to join Emmanuel Baptist Church as members, in addition to having Jaelynn dedicated at the same time. For Jaelynn, we chose to read Mt.6:19-21 and Col 1:9,10 in spelling out a direction we aim to be walk with her in. As we continue attending there we are slowly getting involved in some music and leadership capacities as we are able to serve. As we look forward to the rest of summer we are eagerly looking forward to a couple weekends of camping in July with great friends at Nesslin Lake (close to Big River, SK) and then additionally spending a week with Lindsays parents at Radium Hot Springs in BC in August. (Continued next page...)

R E C E N T P H OTO S

O URE SPENDING TO YO S N IO AT IC D IN TOP TEN E ELFORDS HOME MUCH TIME AT TH

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Here at home we are chipping away at a summer to do list. Were hoping to re-paint the exterior of the house, and x up and repaint the fence. Inside, wed like to do some more work with painting, casing/door jambs, and replacing carpet in the upstairs bedrooms. We continue to thoroughly enjoy life in Nipawin, especially life and work at NBC, and continue to grow in recognition in how valuable time spent here can be to our college students as we pour into their lives. Thank you for the part youve played in OUR lives, however great or small. Many blessings, the Elfords Jason & Lindsay LaeAnna, Kalia, Jaelynn