Now that we've thawed

Now that we have thawed out I am able to do an update to this blog.

This canoe ride actually took us for a nearly 300' ride right onto the lake.
Before you know it we will be paddling on the lake.

Talk about CRAZY Weather! just a few weeks ago we were frozen solid with negative 45 degree temperatures. Now we are nearing plus 45 degree weather. The snow is melting and the dirt roads are washing away. Even the geese are returning to the lakes.



God tells us that we have seasons of life we pass through just as we passed through this last winter. Please pray for my family and I as we reflect on this past year and seek God's wisdom for the coming year.

No way can we say God isn't Faithful and Loving. But often we stress our selves out worrying about so many things. This past year I have had so many large projects to oversee and deal with personnel issues. I did let some of it get to me. I went to the doctor a few weeks ago for a basic exam that my wife has been hounding me to do for some time. The doctor was quite concerned about my blood pressure being high. He scheduled me to return in three weeks to check it again and if it wasn't a lot better he would have to put me on medication. Well, I sure didn't want to go on medication so I drastically changed my diet. I go back to the doctor on Monday but a nurse on staff checked my blood pressure for me today. My blood pressure has gone down from 160/110 to 138/85. Praise God. I still need to bring it down but it is great to see God at work. Thanks so much for your prayers.

Cedarwoods Retreat ministry is still in progress. Last week we had several school groups here doing Art Workshops. We are not allowed spend any kind of time with these kids but we pray for them atleast twice a day while they are here. And on their final day we give them cards telling them how to sign up for summer camp. This weekend we have a small Youth For Christ Ministry group here with some non-Christian kids. They will be strongly impacted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It can't be that COLD!

We got a phone call this morning that we will never forget.

Our girl's school called and said that school was canceled; Lisa asked why and they said that the temperature was minus 48 degrees, yes I said MINUS 48degrees. Some of you may say, well that's Celsius. If you do a temperature conversion you will find that minus 48 degrees Celsius is Minus 54 Fahrenheit. This is a cold just beyond what you can imagine! Lisa is so thankful for the flannel sheets a supporter gave us for Christmas.

This photo may help you imagine how it must feel.

We just returned from our trip to visit friends and family in the southeast. We had a fantastic time and want to say a great big thank you to all of you. Without you not only would we not be able to be serve God here in Manitoba but we would not have been able to make this last trip.

God continues to prove Himself worthy and faithful in so many little ways. We had fantastic weather and no real traveling problems. God also provided free tickets, parking, and deep food discounts to none other than Disney World Orlando Florida. The girls were so excited and we had a blast. As we serve Christ it is important to give God credit for all the little extras He sometimes brings your way. Thank you Jesus!

Please remember to pray for us as we begin this new year with new opportunities and challenges.

1. The first thing I ask your prayers for is my families continued adjustments to; The Cold - Girls education - our continue financial support.
2. Cedarwood Ministry staffing needs
3. Short Term Volunteers needed for a week or weekends.
4. Projects in the works such as the new Water Filtration Plant, Septic Fields, and Expansion Plans.
5. Pray that as staff here at Cedarwood would share the love of Christ and the knowledge of His sacrifice for us with all those who come our way.

My Father how awesome you are. There is none other like you. We commit our lives to serving you and ask that you give us ears to hear the clear direction of your call on our lives. Help us to live not for self but for You and find that in doing so we gain more for ourselves than we could have ever imagined. To Father be all Honor and Glory, Amen.

The McGraths

Sliding into the New Year

Can you believe we have been in Canada for going over 5 months? Where has the time?

We just had about 150 youth out to the camp where we made the most of every opportunity to share Christ with them. They also took advantage of all our snow. Below are some pictures of them sliding into the New Year:

Now here are a couple of my daughter Hannah and I taking the plunge:

Thanks to supporters like you we are able to head to the southern U.S. for a couple of weeks to visit with family and friends. Today we are on our 8 hr drive to Minneapolis where we will catch a flight to Atlanta Georgia. We will be in the Atlanta area through Christmas. We will then head a couple hours north to Chattanooga TN where we will spend the New Year. Early next year we will drive to to Summerfield FL for the remainder of our trip until we fly back to Minneapolis out of Orlando on January 9th. Please pray for safety in our travels.

This new year brings with it many continued challenges and opportunities to exalt Jesus Christ through our ministry here at Cedarwood. God never stops reminding us of His love and sovereignty in our lives. Much of His goodness and blessings of financial provisions is provided through great people like you. Thank you.

Pray for:

1. Children's education
2. Adjustment to cold and seclusion
3. Financial support for us and the ministry
4. Wisdom in managing a large facility and staff
5. Additional staffing needs
6. Personal vehicle for home to camp travel needs. (perferably a ATV)
7. Continued opportunities to share Christ.

1st Snow

In case you didn't believe me I took these photos this morning.

Not a lot of snow but it sure makes things pretty.

The temperature was 18 degrees Fahrenheit.

Just perfect weather for you to come by for a visit.

Happy Thanksgiving Canadian style

Yesterday was Canadian Thanksgiving. In 1859 Thanksgiving for Canadians was moved to October so they could enjoy the outdoors during the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving.
As my family and I discussed things we were thankful for one of the items on top of the list is our supporters, those who pray and or financially support us regularly. Thank you so much. Without you we would not be able to be part of the fantastic ministry.

This morning's temperture was 0 degrees celsius and our first snow fall is predicted for tomorrow 10/11/06. My family and I plan on taking an overnight trip to Grand Forks this weekend. Lisa and I still have to get some winter wear for this quickly aproaching cold weather.

A couple people have asked about a how they should give a special holiday gift. If your desire to do this please send it directly to us at. - (Special postage required)
McGraths - Box 148 Lac du Bonnet - MB Canada R0E 1A0.

While on this note please pray for us and for God to continue to meet our needs in this area. Initially, before deciding to come to Canada the majority of our support was pledged. We have found that several pledges have not been recieved.

Our fall and winter retreat/conference season is great. We have been booked nearly everyday since summer camp ended and that trend looks to continue through the Christmas season. While this is great it also means a lot of hardwork for me and my staff. Please pray that God would strengthen us and build us up together to glorify Him in all we do. Each week the staff get together and share about opportunities the have had to share Christ with guests.

Finally an up-date from Canada

This is our new home in Manitoba Canada at sunset.

It has been three weeks since we first arrived in Canada. I just don’t know where to start with all that has been going on.

The four hours of hellish torment at the border crossing?
The strains of unpacking and setting up a new home?
The frustration with dial-up internet? My first capsizing in the canoe?
The stress of visiting the grocery store for the first time?
The gas grill fiasco?
My fish stories of all the big ones that got away?
The overwhelming responsibilities of the new job?
The adjusting of the girls to a new & strange environment?

I need to start with what is most important

and pressing on my heart

and that is,

kids are coming to

know Christ

at an amazing rate!

Nothing motivates me more than to see people hear about Christ and choose to surrender their lives to Him.
I don’t have the exact numbers right now but I know that during the first five weeks of camp over 140 kids have a new eternal destination and heart to serve Christ.

The air is blasting with the sounds of angels rejoicing

and we still have three weeks of kids to add to the Kingdom.

Nothing can compare! I remember when I used to hear about people coming to Christ in these kinds of numbers and thinking it’s not real. They must just be counting people raising their hands for anything or they must be pressuring them to make some kind of commitment. It’s not that way here! The vast majority of these kids just never heard about Christ, they never knew about our awesome God, what sin is, the penalty for sin, or the atoning work and love of Christ. God is here and at work in so many lives, in so many ways.

While I could go into so many things that have been difficult, the cost for us sacrificially just doesn’t compare to the joy in seeing a person realize that they have just made a choice that makes an eternal life and death difference. Praise God!

Please consider joining with us in this AMAZING ministry. Help us continue and expand this great work.
Here are some ways you can help:
1. The #1 way to help us is to faithfully pray for God’s blessing,

1. that we may clearly hear His voice and follow with a courageous obedient faith.
   2. Pray for the Spirit of God to continue to reveal Himself to our campers & guests.
   3. Pray for God to work in the lives of our staff.
   i. All summer staff raise their own support as well.
   4. Pray for safety for staff & guests.
   5. Pray for God to continue to direct us to great supporters who see God at work here and are willing to give sacrificially to maintain and expand this great place.
   6. Pray for adjacent property owners favor. There are 20 plus adjacent acres that would be a great benefit to the camp but the owners are environmentalists. They want to protect the land from any type of development.
   7. Support us financially. 100% of our financial needs are only met by individuals like you who are willing to give sacrificially to help advance God’s kingdom.
   8. Specific personal needs:
   - Winter clothing for all of my family. Warm socks, gloves, jackets . . .
   - Long distance phone bill
   - 4x4 All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) is needed for me to get back and forth to the camp. I am currently sharing use of the one maintenance has. It is one of the most used pieces of maintenance equipment we have. A used one would cost about $5,000.
   

9. Lisa would sure love a Chick-fil-A delivery.
10. For you to visit and see first hand this great place we now call home. We would love to see you.
11. Come and volunteer your time to help maintain this awesome facility dedicated to proclaiming Christ and giving youth an opportunity to choose a joyous eternity.
a. Installation of a new water filtration system
b. Repairing our septic field
c. Building additional staff housing
d. Building expansion of dinning room
e. Building expansion of kitchen
f. Building expansion for 30 additional bedrooms
g. Kitchen help
h. Housekeeping
i. Painting
j. Re-shingle roof on the maintenance building
k. Repair program equipment such as bikes, climbing gear, boats, snow shoes, skis, . . .
l. Clear trails
m. So much more . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

God has made this incredible place what it is today.
I know like I know that He will not only continue blessing Cedarwood
but has plans to use this place and all those here who are so incredibly
dedicated to His service to increasingly reach more people with His Salvation message.


$$ Support Information:
100% of our income is provided by those who choose to sacrificially support us.
Please send in your pledges and or other monetary gifts to :

YFC Winnipeg (if no tax benefit is desired).
If Tax benefit is desired please send to YFC International.

Youth For Christ Winnipeg · 325 Talbot Avenue · Winnipeg · Manitoba · R2L OP9 · (204) 669-4205
Missionary support for David & Lisa McGrath

Youth For Christ International · PO Box 4555 · Englewood · Colorado · 80155 · (303) 843-6033
David McGrath – Account # 57138

Our NEW Contact information is:
Dave@YFCWinnipeg.ca

David & Lisa McGrath - Box 148 Lac du Bonnet Manitoba Canada R0E 1A0(204) 345-6083

Lisa, Hallel, & Hannah standing at the dock in front of Cedarwood

Satan at work on the Canadian Border.

I had to dig 22' into the 26' truck to get a serial # of a rifle.

Below you can see me close to death as I crawl back out of my nearly 3 hour grave.

If you look closely below me you will see a small hand holding onto a piece of plywood. That is Hannah. Just as Lisa took the picture Hannah fell into a hole.

"Hand to Hand and on your knees Combat"

Most Powerful way to fight our adversary is on our knees and hands together calling on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So many new answers to prayer:

• Some of the remaining needed financial support has come in. Still trusting God to provide
• God supplied great (new to us) Mercury Mountaineer 4x4
• Our van is sold
• Our car has had offers and will be sold soon
• I recieved the needed aproval for my work permit last week
• Packing continues

Thank you for going before the throne of God our glorious Father on our behalf. He contiues to provide just enough and we trust He will continue.

Pledges supporters have made are now to be sent in:

*Sending in your financial support:*

You have three options to choose from on how to process your donations.

Option I

The best way to contribute would be to ask your church if they would be willing to process your donations, issue you the tax receipt (monthly or at year-end) and then forward the full gift to Youth For Christ Winnipeg as missionary support for David and Lisa.

Option II

If Option I is not possible, we have arranged for Youth For Christ/International to manage Dave's support account, issue the tax receipt and forward your support to Youth For Christ/Winnipeg, (less a processing fee to manage their account). An account has already been set up under the name of Winnipeg YFC /David McGrath * Account # 57138

Under this option, you have the choice of using an "Automatic Gift Withdrawal" from either your checking or savings account or by credit card. There is a form required by YFC/USA, which must be completed and signed and forwarded in the enclosed addressed envelope. *Please note*: If you are choosing a checking account withdrawal, you will have to include a *voidcheck* along with the "Automatic Gift Withdrawal" form. If the "Automatic Gift Withdrawal" is not possible under this option, you can also send your checks to YFC/International.

Please make your checks payable to"*YFC International*" and make sure to write *Winnipeg** YFC/David McGrathAccount #57138* on all checks for easy reference by YFC/International.

Option III

Where there is no personal benefit from a tax receipt, you can send your gift directly to YFC Winnipeg, 325 Talbot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R2LOP9. Please remember to use Canadian postage! One ounce is .63 cents and two ounces is .90 cents with delivery time of 4 to 6 days. The full amount of your gift received by Winnipeg YFC will be designated to Dave and Lisa's support account.

Any questions can be Emailed to yfcmail@yfcwinnipeg.ca