It was right around Youth
Conference when Ralph Shellrude called to say he had found a rental we could
afford in Canby and would we reconsider and come. The senior pastor at the
Canby church had resigned and was moving to take a church in Australia. He was
willing to rent his home to us. We would have preferred to buy, but it was a
start that would let us get into the area. Della and I reconsidered.
Our visas were already in process.
We had not stopped the application when we first said no, thankfully. It was
time to give some moving bids. We have begun accumulating “things” and needed
more than a U-Hall to get our things down there. We had also been told it would
be easier crossing the boarder if we turned it over to professionals.
Tim and Heather Barton were at the
Canby Church as the youth pastor. He was going to remain after the senior pastor
departed. There had been another pastor on staff who had already left. I knew
nothing in advance of the departure of these two senior men and we both felt
concerned about Tim and Heather being the only ones left in the church and
wondered if we might be able to be a support and encouragement to them. Former
students always held a soft spot for both of us even though we didn’t know them
well.
We made the decision to go. I was
very nervous about the decision as I still had a month of school left, a tour
and a commitment to be at LIFE ’80. I was worried that my heart would begin to
leave and that did gradually happened. Information was being forwarded to me
from the district office. At the same time I was trying to keep my head in
teaching. My passion to teach was pretty well gone two weeks before the end of
school year. I was dreaming of what would come. I was just going through the
paces and finally just canceled some classes in the last week. I knew the
students would appreciate that. Finals were coming and they were all happy for
the extra time.
The decision was made and now we
just needed to finish well.
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