Hello team! And just like that…. it’s 2023!
I trust that you had a wonderful Christmas time and holiday season; getting in some wonderful family fun as well as time to honour Jesus and His birth in Bethlehem. Lorraine and I travelled a bit at Christmas, (adjusted slightly because of winter storms) visited family and also had a few days at home.
Here are a few recent ministry highlights:
During the fall while the weather was still beautiful, I was happy to officiate at a few weddings. One of these was for Keziah, a young lady who has been a long time staff member at our HMI summer camps in BC. It was a wonderful privilege to unite Keziah and her husband Robin in marriage. Another wedding was for Josh, a junior hockey player. (I guess I looked pretty serious walking down the aisle with Josh….! I must have been deep in concentration!)
Not often, but there are times that chaplaincy involves some difficult tasks. One such occasion was when the West Kelowna Warriors club held a memorial night for one of our former players (Parm Dhaliwal) who passed away this summer. The memorial was on a home game night, and I was asked to lead the ceremony at centre ice. It was a very difficult and emotional time for the Dhaliwal family, who came up from Delta, BC for the memorial. Around 80 friends and family made the trip, all wearing Parm’s #22 Warriors jersey. I will never forget that evening. I have included a picture of Andy Dhaliwal, (Parm’s father) as he clasped his hands together and thanked the crowd. As difficult as the evening was, I am thankful to the Lord to be able to have a part at times like this. May the Lord be honoured and lifted up in every situation.
I have been holding regular chapels with a couple of clubs, the Kelowna Chiefs being one of them. (I asked the guys if I could snap a quick shot of some of the gang just before we started chapel.) Chapel times have been the foundation for my HMI ministry for 23 years, as we regularly get together to chat, read scripture, share our lives and finish with prayer. One of the guys at chapel just this week asked for a chapel bible, which I believe is the work of the Spirit.
I have a few other chaplaincy irons in the fire as well. Serving as the chaplain of the West Kelowna Fire Department, I am involved on Remembrance Day at the city cenotaph ceremony. This year, the Warriors players were in attendance, and we got together and had a picture taken of all of us. It is an honour to serve the Lord in my community as chaplain for a number of organizations. One more of these is chapel work with the Okanagan Sun football club. In November the Sun won the Canadian Bowl National Junior Football Championship in Regina, SK with an undefeated season. (I will be getting my second National Championship ring this coming spring, the first coming with the Warriors hockey club in 2016.)
Finally, I include a picture of our Warriors 2022 Christmas Hamper day, when the team packs up groceries in boxes and delivers them to the public school system. The principals have chosen the struggling families in their schools that will receive these hampers. This is all part of being involved in serving Christ and showing up in the community.
Thanks so much for reading my update, I trust that you have been encouraged by it. I am grateful for your prayers, your financial suppport and your encouragement.
Blessings to you all,
Don Richmond
Hockey Ministries International
Pacific Region
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