by Rev John MacLeod
The Dominions and Overseas Committee decided early in the year that, if possible, a deputy should visit the small remnant in Vancouver who had remained faithful to our Church and its testimony. Having been asked to undertake that duty I arrived in Vancouver at 5.30 pm (local time) on Thursday, 6th October, 1994. The ten-hour flight from Heathrow was uneventful. Since we were travelling westward, it was in daylight all the way. At the Airport I was met by Mr John A. MacLeod. A motel room had been booked for me and Mr MacLeod took me there first and after that on to his own small apartment where I was hospitably entertained by himself and his wife.
Due to a misunderstanding over the deadline set by the newspaper for the receiving of advertisements, it was not possible to give notice of the coming Sabbath services in the special supplement placed inside the paper on Saturdays. We did manage to get the information printed in another section of the paper but in the event no one outside our own faithful few turned up. That first Sabbath I preached to a small congregation; yet we were able to plead His promise, and we believe that we were in measure conscious of His presence among us.
On Monday, accompanied by Mr John A. MacLeod, I crossed over to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. At the ferry terminal we were met by Mrs Mann — a daughter of the late Murdo MacIver, who was an elder in North Tolsta — and we were very hospitably entertained in her home. Her husband — Dr Kenneth Mann — who was at one time a GP in Stornoway, was not at home at the time but I was able to speak to him on the telephone. I discovered that there were others from North Tolsta in Vancouver whose parents were faithful to the Church and I was very disappointed that none of them attended the services on this occasion.
On the following Wednesday Mr Robert Ross and his wife arrived and the following day we welcomed Mr Gerrit Schuit, the Chesley elder, and his son, David. The Schuits stayed at the same motel as myself while the Ross’s were domiciled some distance away. The communion service began on Thursday evening when a number of people were present. Mrs Mary Hardy came across from Vancouver Island for the weekend. Her husband, Mr Ron Hardy, who had been a member, passed away about two years ago. We kept the usual weekday services, apart from the Question Meeting, and on Saturday the Session was constituted and “tokens” were given to intending communicants. On Sabbath the sacrament was dispensed and a small company of us sat at the Lord’s table to keep His death in remembrance. My last service was on the Monday evening. The following evening I began my journey home. Mr and Mrs Ross were to continue on to New Zealand and Mr Schuit and David departed for Chilliwack to spend a few days there before returning to Chesley.
We were glad to meet Mrs Janetta Kursar again who attended some of the services and kindly entertained Mr and Mrs Ross and myself. The attendance of Mr Schuit’s nephew, who lives in Chilliwack, together with his wife and four children, boosted our numbers and was a great encouragement to us. We believe that others from that area might well have attended had they been aware of the services in time.
We think everything possible should be done to maintain our witness in Vancouver. Better days will surely come. The few there who love the testimony of our Church deserve our support. To Mr John A. MacLeod and his wife I would like to express my gratitude for their kindness and all others, also, whose help and encouragement were much appreciated. Above all, I have to acknowledge the kindness and care of the Keeper of Israel.