Over and out....

It has been good to spend time with the Kostamo family and the A Rocha team in Canada this week. The pace for me has changed from one just of holiday to beginning to get back into operational mode with time with the team here and with Markku in particular - comparing notes and learning from each other.

So today was a full day with Markku in Vancouver - leaving at 6 and getting back at 5 - meeting with other business leaders for a bible study, time with the chair of the board and one other board member, time with a web company, and lunch with a major supporter....whilst Jean caught up with herself at the house.

The evening gave us chance to catch up with much of the rest of the team at the A Rocha centre over a meal. So we just have a final visit to the coast in the morning tomorrow and then I meet with Markku and his leadership team in the afternoon before we fly back in the evening.

Thanks to all our readers for journeying with us and we look forward to seeing many of you soon. It has been a great trip for us and one we will remember for a long time to come.

Reifel Bird Reserve

A wander along the west coast to the south of Vancouver today to look at the birdlife of the area. Spring was just beginning to burst out here with trees beginning to come into leaf and birds on the move. There was a flock of around 2000 Snow Geese in one of the fields and a good mix of ducks and herons including this Night Heron and Wood Duck.

There were also a number of squirrels about including this Black Squirrel - it is apparently another race of the Grey Squirrel and was introduced to British Columbia as well with the same impact as in the UK of reducing the population of the native squirrel.

In the evening the A Rocha team assembled for a potluck supper and I spoke to them about the work of A Rocha UK.