CFOT.ca

Go West young man! That is what CFOT said by letting me know I would be crossing to the other side of ‘the island’ following Commissioning and heading to Corner Brook Temple for my summer assignment. I have to say that the 7 ½ hour drive went well even though rain and clouds were the main forecast for the trip. We traveled past many towns, including Gander, until around halfway there, we came to a place called Humber Valley where I looked up into the mountain with rocks and a river right below; it was breath-taking!  We arrived in Corner Brook and could overlook most of the city from a high angle. I was pleased to find the temple is only a 100 foot walk from the house.

Tuesday morning was not wasted.  I woke up and had breakfast with the officers Majors Calvin and Loretta Fudge, and then we toured the Temple and then I was taken down to meet everyone at Community & Family Services!  I had some fun at lunch with a great bunch of people serving soup and hot drinks to everyone who came through the doors. The rest of the week was filled with hiking, sitting in on a pre-marriage counseling session, men’s fellowship prayer lunch, and countless other ministries.

I have now had a chance to meet many of the corps members, as I gave my testimony on Sunday.  What a warm welcome I have had by everyone I have met, whether walking down the streets of Corner Brook, or taking some mail to the post office and striking up a simple conversation with people and letting them know I am from the mainland.

I went on a boat tour of Bon Bay where I was able to see a whale for the first time – what a magnificent sight. This past week has been filled with many blessings that I can not thank God enough for.  Please keep the city in prayer as we have just received a call that a fellow soldier has been promoted to glory and will be remembered on Thursday, July 1^st.

Yesterday, while I was looking after the food bank, a gentleman came in and sat down for a minute. He looked excited and full of energy as he told me that he has been sober for a month and never wants to go back to the life he had.  He said he wanted to stop by to thank the Army for supporting him throughout the past couple of months. During his time of sobering up – the Army had provided him with food, clothing and sometimes an ear to listen, and so he just wanted to thank us and to say ‘God bless’ before going on his way. I am excited to see what will happen in ministry in the next 7 weeks as I continue to worship and experience the work of God in Corner Brook, NL.

Cadet Joshua Downer is appointed to the Corner Brook Temple Corps in the Newfoundland and Labrador Division for his Summer Assignment.  Joshua entered training out of the Mountain Citadel Corps in Hamilton, Ontario Great Lakes Division.