We arrived in Calgary, Alberta, on April 14, 2026, and wow… it was hard to believe the weather difference after coming back from California. California was all sunshine, warmth, palm trees, and “let’s eat outside.” Alberta basically welcomed us with, “Oh, you thought spring arrived? That’s cute.” And then immediately dumped snow everywhere.
A LOT of snow
Honestly, it felt like winter saw us returning to Canada and personally took it as a challenge.
But despite the weather confusion, these past few weeks have been incredible.
We have been staying at our friends’ home, and over the last three weeks, there has been so much fellowship, counselling, prayer, Bible discussions, encouragement, deep conversations, ministry, laughter, healing, and moments where you can genuinely feel God moving in people’s hearts. Sometimes ministry happens in church buildings and conferences, and sometimes it happens in sweatpants around a kitchen table at 11:30 PM while somebody reheats coffee for the third time.
And speaking of coffee… our friends have the cutest dog named Coffee. Yes. Coffee. Which, honestly, creates unnecessary confusion.
“Where’s Coffee?”
“Coffee is outside.”
“Coffee needs attention.”
“Did you give Coffee water?”
“I need Coffee.”
At some point, we all just stopped clarifying whether we meant the dog or survival itself. And sometimes it’s trying to remember where you left your coffee while Coffee the dog is staring at you, judging your life choices.
We also attended RockPointe Church, and it was such an encouraging experience. The sermons were excellent, and Pastor Stafford is a gifted preacher with wisdom, humour, honesty, and depth. More importantly, he genuinely has a heart for the Deaf community. Their church provides ASL interpreters, which is wonderful, but we also shared something important: Deaf ministry is much more than interpretation alone. The Deaf community needs support, connection, discipleship, involvement, friendship, and true belonging within the church family.
Interpretation helps people access the message—but community helps people feel seen.
Now all of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. – 1 Corinthians 12:27
And honestly, God has been moving powerfully during our time here. Some people we spent time with shared that they had never experienced God impacting their lives in this way before. Some are believers, some are still searching, some carried hurts, questions, fears, and struggles—but through conversations, prayer, laughter, honesty, and simply spending time together, we watched God move.
And isn’t that often how God works?
Not always through dramatic lightning bolts from heaven.
Sometimes through ordinary moments.
Ordinary conversations.
Ordinary people.
Ordinary kitchens.
Except with Alberta weather. There is absolutely nothing ordinary about Alberta weather.
One minute you’re enjoying sunshine, thinking, “Wow, what a beautiful day.” Thirty minutes later, the wind attacks your soul, and snow starts flying sideways like the weather is having emotional problems.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. – Psalm 19:1
And apparently, Alberta skies also display mood swings.
But Alberta really is beautiful. We especially loved visiting Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. The scenery is breathtaking—long walking paths, rivers, rolling hills, peaceful landscapes, wildlife, and snow-covered mountains in the distance. You stand there looking at creation and think, “Okay Lord… You really showed off here.”
And then five minutes later, you’re putting your winter jacket back on because Alberta said, “Don’t get too comfortable.”
To be honest, the ministry itself is also a lot of work. People sometimes imagine ministry as nonstop inspirational moments with soft worship music playing in the background while everyone smiles peacefully all day long.
Not exactly.
Sometimes ministry is emotional conversations at midnight.
Sometimes it’s listening to heavy struggles.
Sometimes it’s answering hard Bible questions.
Sometimes it’s praying for people while secretly wondering if your own brain still works because you’re exhausted.
But despite all of that—it is one of the most rewarding things we have ever done.
Serving God is never wasted.
Never get tired of doing good. – 2 Thessalonians 3:13
Soon we will be heading east to continue fundraising for God’s Rapha Retreat Centre. This is one of the biggest faith journeys we have ever stepped into.
Our goal is to raise $15 million by August 31, 2026.
Yes… we know.
Some people probably just read that number and immediately spit out their coffee.
And honestly? We understand.
From a human perspective, it sounds huge. Massive. Impossible even.
If this depended entirely on human logic, human strength, human connections, or our bank account, we would probably already be hiding under a blanket, eating snacks and pretending not to look at spreadsheets.
But thankfully, God has never been limited by human math.
What is impossible for people is possible with God. – Matthew 19:26
The goal is to close on the property in October 2026, which means we need to secure the funds by August 31 in order to prepare the offer, legal paperwork, and next steps.
And yes—it is aggressive.
Yes—it is ambitious.
Yes—it stretches faith tremendously.
But throughout the Bible, God has never really specialized in “safe and reasonable.”
Noah built an ark before rain existed.
Moses stood in front of the Red Sea with nowhere to go.
Joshua walked around the walls instead of attacking them.
David showed up carrying lunch and somehow left carrying a giant’s head.
God has always had a habit of doing things in ways that make absolutely no sense until suddenly they do.
For we live by believing and not by seeing.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7
This is our biggest prayer request right now.
Please pray for wisdom, provision, favour, discernment, divine appointments, open doors, faithful supporters, and complete obedience to wherever God is leading us. Pray that fear would never lead us, and that we would continue walking forward with faith, no matter how impossible things may appear.
Because after everything we have already seen God do, we are not about to stop trusting Him now.
And honestly, after almost a decade of ministry with Rest & Talk, we’ve learned something important:
When God starts something, He finishes it.
Even if Alberta weather tries to freeze everybody first.