On the Road Again

This morning I finished packing the car and headed out for the journey to Rock Nest Ranch. There were tears all around, as I left Leanne and the kids for four weeks. This will be the longest we’ve ever been apart, and none of us like that part of this adventure. We like being together. We enjoy each other. But it was a good chance for all five of us to express love to one another. And we are all looking forward to being together again when they arrive in July.

The journey on the road so far was perfectly uneventful, as I would have hoped. The experience at the border… a bit more eventful. I am currently writing from my phone as I sit here at my campground in Hope, BC (apologies if the formatting on this email comes out a little funky as a result of writing on my phone versus a computer). But there was a bit of time tonight when I thought I might be writing from somewhere in northern Washington, instead of BC.

It was my turn this week to write our weekly “column” for our church email that we call The Evergreen Connection, so rather than tell the story twice, I’ll just paste what I wrote for the Connection below.

CREDENTIALS 

When was the last time someone asked you for your credentials? I was asked today, during a very formal meeting. I had not been warned that I would need to produce my credentials. In fact, when I was asked, I was confused. I had no idea what credentials I was supposed to present. So I asked the man. And he looked at me like I had just asked him how to tie a pair of shoes, or how to chew a piece of gum. 

This meeting was with a border patrol agent. My ability to enter Canada was entirely in his hands. And the letter I had given him told him I was entering the country as a “religious worker”. And so, according to this particular border patrol agent’s reading of the law, on this particular day, at this particular border crossing, I needed credentials to prove that I was qualified to be a pastor. (By the way, I am convinced that they make the rules up on the spot. In my 23 previous trips to Rock Nest, this has never come up!) I mentioned the EBC website, but that would not be sufficient. What he wanted was to see my college diploma. He wanted to know that I had a degree in a field related to “religious work”. Why? Because he said so. 

In this moment I refrained from explaining that the biblical qualifications for a pastor mention nothing about a piece of paper. I didn’t get the impression that he was in the mood for a hearty theological discussion. As you can see from the picture, I did graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies and Youth Ministry from Multnomah Bible College. But up until today, I have never been asked to show anyone that document. And I was feeling more than a little panicked, because I had no clue where it was even located. I was told in no uncertain terms, though, that if I could not produce a picture of that diploma in a relatively short amount of time, that I would be turned away at the border. 

I called Leanne to ask if she had any idea where my diploma was located, but she said she didn’t think she had ever even seen it! We concluded it was possible that it was stuffed in a random box in the attic, but that was the only real chance it was at our house. Before sending her up the ladder on a miserable deep dive through the dusty Donovan Archive, I decided to call my Mom. Maybe, just maybe, she had it. While her first instinct was that she probably didn’t have it, she went looking in the one place it might have been. Lo and behold, my diploma! Eureka! We had evidence of education! She snapped a picture, I showed it to the stern agent, and 20 minutes later I was moving down the road with a work permit in hand. Phew!  It was an apt experience to have – sitting in front of an authority who is asking me for my credentials of entry. My purpose in serving at Rock Nest Ranch, both this summer, in summers past, and on into the future, is to invite First Nations kids, teens, and even adults, to become eternally credentialed. That is to say, to invite them to place their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, so that He will write their names in the Lambs Book of Life. Revelation 21:27 is clear, that the only people who will enter the eternal city, the New Jerusalem, are those whose names are written in that book. What a glorious day that will be, when we aren’t greeted by a dour border patrol agent, but rather, a glad and happy Savior, who Himself did everything necessary for our names to be written in that book. That’s some good news! 

Gratitudes

• We are grateful that we all really love and enjoy one another.
• I’m grateful that Canada eventually allowed me entry.  
• We’re grateful that the Lord isn’t primarily interested in our competency or education (though it’s important), but that He is more interested in our hearts.  

Prayer Needs

• Safe Travels for Ryan. Heading to Quesnel tomorrow, and then on to Rock Nest on Wednesday.
• For an encouraging time as I meet up with dear friends, Wendell and Heather Garrison, tomorrow. For many years they served as the directors at Rock Nest, and our paths just happen to cross tomorrow as I head north and they head south.
• For grace and comfort for our kids, especially, who have a hard time with Dad being away. (Leanne will miss me, too, and I will miss her:). But as adults it’s easier to manage than for children.)

Conclusion

Thank you all so much for praying. We truly are so thankful, and even feel a bit guilty, for the riches of having so many people praying for us. What a blessing! May the Lord hear all our prayers, particularly as we pray for Him to work in the lives of kids and teens at camp this summer!

Ryan and Leanne Donovan

Rock Nest Summer Schedule

For those who are curious, this is what the summer camp schedule will look like this year.

• Summer Staff Orientation – July 1-4
• Teen Camp (13-15 years old) – July 5-12
• Junior Camp 1 (9-12 years old) – July 14-19
• Junior Camp 2 (9-12 years old) – July 22-27
• Family Camp – Aug 1-3
• Lead Camp (16-18 years old) – Aug 5-10