Well, here we are, thousands of feet above the Gulf of Mexico I expect, though I can see nothing of it as I have an aisle seat. I feel as if all my friends are here with me, and so, I suppose, you are. Thanks to all of you who made my departure so stress free (at least for me). Perhaps by now you have discovered all the things I have left undone and which you now have to look after! But getting to the plane was a breeze, thanks to Jim and Pat who made sure I was organized at home, Bill and Kate who packed for me, Diana who drove me to Oshawa, Steve and Jeanine who drove me to Bolton, John and Susan who put me up for the night and and took me to the airport by 6:30am. And they are just the ones who helped in my last few hours in Canada!

In a cople of hours the process will start over as a whole new set of friends-to -be move in and look after this new volunteer from Canada. I wonder if they will have any idea of the host of people back home who have helped this happen.

My camera is packed in the check-on luggage so no photos accompany this, but check back soon

Today I got an email

Today I got an email from Paul in Punta Gorda (PG). He’s ministering there until I arrive and looking after arrangements for my Induction. He had heard from Tess (the deacon in the neighbouring parish) that I was a little concerned about these arrangements. Well, yes and no. I’m not at all concerned that everyone there will do a great job, what I am concerned about is the sort of job I’ll do after all the excitement is over.

I know I shouldn’t be.

• All my life as a Christian I’ve been learning to trust and not to worry.
• Today’s Scripture Union message asked: Do I sense God’s presence with me each day? Have I been consecrated by faith in Christ for the sacred purpose of serving him? Will I commit myself afresh today to God’s mission for me as one of his people in the world?
• And here is a picture of my favourite t-shirt hanging on the line!

What, me worry?

Here we are. What an enthusiastic group! That's Carlos, our teacher, top row 2nd from right. 

Stanley Isherwood, Anglican priest, writing from Cobourg, Ontario, preparing to join the congregation of St. Joseph, in Punta Gorda, Belize

I thought, as the time for departure races towards me, that I should probably set up a blog and give people the opportunity to keep in touch. However, not being very computer savvy, I'm having a terrible time getting used to working with the program! Can't figure out how to get my picture in the proper place on the Profile, can't seem to import pictures which aren't jpeg - it all sounds so easy until I come to doing it. I'll probably be saying exactly the same thing once I arrive in Punta Gorda and begin my ministry there.

Who knows when this journey began, other than 68 years ago - but I date it from March 2004. My wife, Jane, had died a year and a half earlier, I was retired but healthy, busy but unfulfilled. So - contact Volunteers in Mission. And some 16 months later I was in Toronto attending a 2 1/2-week orientation for mission, with a wonderfully mixed bag of other missioners heading out to all parts of the world.

Yours truly, still smiling at the prospect of joining an Anglican congregation in the southern Belize town of Punta Gorda.