Shaun Newman Podcast - SNP Archives #35 - Ta Tumu

Episode Date: December 8, 2021

Originally from the Cook Islands he came to Canada in 1976 to study at Prairie Bible Institute where he eventually met his wife, Sharon, with whom he has three grown sons. He and Sharon planted a church in New Zealand in the 1980s and pastored several churches around Alberta. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Taylor Seminary in Edmonton. He is currently with Mosaic Church and before he was Lead Pastor of First Baptist Lloydminster for 13 years. Let me know what you think Text me 587-217-8500 Like the podcast? Support here: https://www.patreon.com/ShaunNewmanPodcast

Welcome to the podcast, folks. Happy Wednesday. Hope everybody's having a great day, great week. And the week just rolling on. Before we get to today's guest, let's get to today's episode sponsors. Jen Gilbert and team for over 45 years since 1976, the dedicated realtors of Colwell Bank or Cityside Realty of Servloi, Minster in the surrounding area. They offer Star Power providing their clients with seven-day-a-week access

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all the way up to multiple offices. Come in and take a look at what Wade has to offers. Give them a call 780808-50-25. And if you're heading into any of these businesses, let them know. you heard about him from the podcast, right? Now let's get on to that T-Barr 1, Tale of the Tape. Originally from the Cook Islands. He came to Canada in 1976 to study at Prairie Bible Institute, where he eventually met his wife, Sharon, with whom he has three grown sons. He and Sharon planted a church in New Zealand in the 1980s and pastored several churches around Alberta.

He received his master of divinity degree from Taylor's Seminary in Eminton. He's currently with Mosaic Church, and before he was lead pastor of First Baptist Lloydminster for 13 years. I'm talking about Tatumu. So buckle up. Here we go. Okay, it is March 7th, 2021. I am joined by Tatumu. So first off, thank you, sir, for hopping in here.

You're welcome. Now, the way I always start this is I want to know, you've got an interesting story. You come from the Cook Islands. And I know about Zilch about that. So that's what I'm excited about today. but I usually start with going back to your childhood and maybe a first memory or something that sticks out in your childhood. Right.

Yeah, like you said, and I grew up in a born and raised, a very tiny nation of the Cook Islands, northeast of New Zealand, 15 islands that covered millions of square miles of ocean with 15 islands. I was born on one of those little islands, 15 islands. The islands are close to French Polynesia, Tahiti, and Fiji. The New Zealand, the Cook Islands is part of the New Zealand. You know, we are under the government of New Zealand, but we're self-governing. We govern our own affairs in the Cooks, the Cook Islands. So, you know, growing up on the island, you know, it was not about

what are you going to become? There was no question. What do you want to do in life? The question was, how do you better yourself so that you can be able to raise your family? Our vision is pretty, you know, it wasn't long-term. It was more immediate. And that's how we do.

Our lives just lived one day at a time. You know, and we raise our children in a way that we live off the land. To tell you the truth, I was not in a place where I place value on money. We didn't have any. We didn't need it on the tiny little islands. Can I ask, when you say you didn't have any, do you mean like you had zero or you had very little? We had very little, but that was not. the driving force on the little island.

My little island is about four miles around. In the tiny little, well, the widest point of the island is four miles. It's about eight or nine miles around. In the Blue Pacific, tiny little island. So that's all we got. Like, you know, the only people who are employed are some government reps, you know, that are on the island. So that's why I said, you know, we really did not know the value of money, you know, because it was not important there. The importance is, you know, to plant and raise chickens and pigs.

You know, my dad was a fisherman. Mom was a homemaker. And we go to school that there was a government-sponsored school on my little island. And you go to school and you come back. But, you know, the school go from grade one to grade five or grade six. And then for grade seven, you go overseas to another island. Because they have a bigger population. And that was my story.

I actually lived most of my life out of my home island. I left the island when I was 12, 13 years old. I went on another island to go to junior high school. And then from there, go to another island for high school. And all of this time, you're staying with relatives on those little islands. And the importance of that is that family structure, like growing up in the Polynesian way of life, I think I would say that I was fortunate to grow up in the Polynesian way of life. Family structure is important.

And the way that the children's place in the community was important to them. So if I go on, like for instance, that I moved to another island to go for junior high school, school. I stay with the relative. They are actually basically in their eyes that I'm their son. You know, that they treat you like as one of them. And you treat them with respect as if you are, you know, if they're your mom and dad. So that's how close the family structure are. Because that's all they have, you know, in terms of network, in terms of support. is the extended families. So family is very important in the Polynesian way of life.

More than anything else, more than employment and everything else. Now, what I'm saying to you, to put it in perspective, that this was 40, 50 years ago. That's what my childhood is different now. But when I was growing up, that was the... that was the lifestyle, that was the culture, that was the way we lived. Very, very simple way of life. Yeah. When you mentioned in there that there was only a few people that were employed.

So the rest were farmers? Farmers are not in the context of what we say farmers here. Because there's really not in the land to farm. Two farm, yeah, yeah, yeah. We were more planters. Like, they plant veggies or crops that is enough for the family. That's basically what they are. So in terms of employment, you've got government reps,

like the representative of the government, you know, from the main island in those islands. So we have that. We have a post-arversy. person, two or three teachers. Were those spots like very valued, like those positions? Those positions were determined by the authorities on the main island, you know, who's going to go there. So they could be there for two or three years or they could be there for one year,

but that's all, you know, determined by the government. on the main island. So we have a doctor, one doctor. You wouldn't call him a doctor, actually. He's like a first aid person, you know, on the island that dispends some kind of pain. So what happens if somebody gets in a serious accent? Exactly. We just have to do what we have to do.

Well, what is do what you have to do? me. Well, that's where the family is structured, the network of people, they just come to give the possible quality care that they need. Because right now there is an airstrip on my home island where planes can come and take people. But other than that, yeah, they're on the island and we have to do the best we can to do that that to make sure that it's, you know, whoever, like, you know, whether it's an accident or, you know,

they do a lot of local medicines, you know, with those cases, yeah, they have done a lot of those. Like there's no, like midwifery or, you know, when some, when a person, a wife or give birth to a child. I know it's it's the old style like I mean whoever is you know experience in delivering children there is no medication like in those states that there is now no care in terms of medical and and health in those islands back then yeah back then and obviously it's crazy okay yeah yeah I was like growing up we're

aware isn't the right word well maybe it is like of everything else going on in the world or were you pretty focused on just your little group of islands or just your island yeah you can understand that you know we didn't we don't have the age of of network or multimedia or whatever that we have today we were so far removed from the world And that's why our vision of life was just what we have around us. You know, young fellow is satisfied with, after I finished school, I'm going to be a planter, I'm going to be a fisherman. It's basically it. Right?

And they don't have, they don't have the exposure to the outer world that they do have now. right and but in a lot of ways like I think there's another question then about who's the most

influential person in your life yeah I would say my dad was first of all without him knowing like that

like he could understand a lot of them did not have a junior high education you know they learn life just from experiencing and doing it.

But my father was influential in the way that he didn't know that. But hindsight, looking back, he has deposited some life skills and life lessons in my life that prepared me

for the bigger world and never thought that I'd be traveling to Canada after 40 years in this country to be able to adapt. But adapting and adjusting to this world called Canada this big place. My upbringing contributed a lot. Like Dad was a fisherman. It was a very good fisherman. Let me give an example.

Like, Dad, without saying, son, I'm going to give you some leadership principles today. He didn't say that because he didn't know what they are. But he built it inside of me. And he's a good fisherman. He knows the certain kinds of fish. He knows the tides when the tides coming in, when the tides going out. He knows the phases of the moon. And they go by that in terms of what kind of fish is going to come,

what kind of fish will come a certain time of the day. and the tides. And so if he goes for a certain kind of fish that can only, you know, that feeds at a certain time of the day. So he's very direct and saying that, you know, I cannot afford not to go at that time. Whether it's 3 o'clock in the morning, I got to go.

So me and my little brother has to help him out to take his fishing gear and stuff. you know, to the sea side. Of course, mind you that tiny Rhode Island, we're about 20 minutes. We're 10, 15 minutes. We're right there. But we have to do that. So he's very persistent in saying that you have to be the, you know, we're kids.

You grow, you know, you wake up in the 3 o'clock in the morning, really. Get up and go. Like, it takes the time. But he cannot, he cannot afford. To miss it. to miss it. Those are life lessons for me. You know, like, he said, I got to go.

I got to go a certain time. So you've got to be there. And so he built that in me and my little brother to make sure that that when you're going after something in life, you can't afford to waste the time to do it. You got to do it. So those principles like that,

That you've got to understand the formation and the feeding habits of the fish in order for you to be a good fisherman. And so I learned those lessons that I can transfer it in other areas of my life. I never thought that one day I'll be a pastor trained in this country. what, eight years in theological schools, you know, to do my master's in Eminton, you know, from a place where you don't know how to speak English, do the place that if you really want it badly, you know, you're going to go after it. And I'm sure I'm speaking to somebody who can trace some of the principles there

to be a Guaracchio player, you know. You've got to give up that. which is comfortable. If you're going to accomplish or if you're going to fulfill your dreams, you've got to go after it. Whether it's comfort or not,

that's the price to pay. Yeah, going after it is. That's a great way of putting it. You're learning by osmosis is all I was thinking, right? By just being around him

and seeing how he conducted himself. Yeah, it's experience. It's not theoretical. It's experience. Experience is a good teacher. It depends on you being, yeah, but it depends on, because experience can also provide negative effect too. But if you're guided, that's why I say family is important.

And, you know, if the family foundation is, you know, it's good, it's become a good platform for you to launch out and learn those experiences that will take your places. You know, and that's what we, that's what I learned when I was going up. And a defining moment then on my life, that's why I end up in Canada, was as a young fellow, you know, and that guy said, we went out in, our vision was short. kind of like just all around us there was no exposure to a bigger world that you can be somebody in this world

like you know it's so intimidating for a young fellow come from tiny to island you didn't have any like when you were a kid even when you were moving islands at 13 you didn't have any thoughts of like maybe someday I could go to New Zealand and

you had no thoughts of that no I'm not never and that is a good point to bring. At that time, one of the things that lacked that I wish it was there when I was growing up was the power of mentorship of people who would paint that picture that young people could entertain that idea

that life is more than just a tiny little island here. And that's why I say, I think people, and I'm going to see a little bit that later, coming to Lloyd, that was an opportunity, you know, you know, not being able to let go of the power of people to mentor and to help you to say that, you know, you can dream and you can dream big. Coming from a tiny little place where you say,

well, any good thing can come out of this little island, you know, we're an old fisherman, you know, that's what we're going to do, and raise children and do that and get your canoe out and come back. There's no life going to New Zealand. Now they do because there's an opportunity to do that. But then I wish somebody would have stand up and say, you know what?

The world is your playing field. So get out there and do what you have to do. That's a good message for kids here, though. that like i mean lots of people are nervous to chase it to go after it yeah

i think you saying the world is your your field right to go plan i think that's a great way to put it a lot of people probably don't look at it that way no but because i think the thing is because sometimes fear like fear of failure

can be a moderator can be a moderator to move forward or it can be paralyzing. Paralyzing. But fear is a motivator. Because for us in the island, the fear of launching out is greater than the opportunity that it presents,

you know, for you to be somebody. So then they reside or they position themselves, I'm not going to amount to nothing. But if as a hockey player comes to me and says, you know what, you can be a good hockey player. You know, somebody like Wayne Gretzky comes by. I mean, that's a powerful, because the power, like sometimes some of our most influential people,

even in Lloyd, need to understand the potential that they have. Even if one person can be able to find and to see and to go after their dreams. The potential is there. You know, we got a lot of good pro sports or especially hockey players out of Lloyd. You know, to be able to basically to say you have other options in life.

You know, you can go after it. You know, if you put your heart to it, you put mind to it. You go after it. But sometimes it takes people to open up that door for you. You know, and then go after it. So that is my experience anyways. I wish I would have had some of those people that have come,

like leaders that come to the other and say, hey, New Zealand is a place. But mind you, you can only dream as far as, and sometime your resources can allow you to. You know, like I said before, we did not have the finances, you know, in the islands. I mean, even to go to New Zealand, to fly to New Zealand, it's just unthinkable. You know, there's no way we can afford it. Right.

And so those are factors that sets people's dream back and I can't do it, you know. And so to create that kind of adventurous spirit in the person, to say you can do it, there's other ways to do it. You know, you can move forward to that. And maybe a little bit later, I'll tell you, a most influential book, maybe another person that was most influential in my life that I've always read. It was a co-calander. like my dad I cling on some of the principles of life

so so that yeah that's what it is role model is huge in people trying to to say you can dream to better oneself you can better yourself

you know you can get out of this cocoon of self you know and now and then somebody I need to get a swift kick in the backside you know to move forward you know I guess like you can

you can give me an opportunity to explore you can motivate me to do but until I get off to do it that they are so they work maybe not until you start believing is that what you're saying yes yeah believing is it's important yes Yeah, it's one thing for one person to tell you you can go do it. It's an entirely different thing for you to actually think you can do it.

Yes, yes. But it takes all of those connecting, it takes all of those people, the networking people, to help you make those decisions, to believe in yourself that you can do it. You know, and if they can open that path for you to do it. So is that what happened with you then?

Did you have a lot of great people around you? Absolutely. Because, you know, you were back at that time, back when nobody left the island or very few did. And I kind of get the sense of what you're talking about is reminiscing on the times of all those great people, helping instill that belief that you could get somewhere else or go somewhere else. Yes. Yeah. And it's very important. And it's important to do that through our young people.

It's important to do that, the people who are still stuck, or maybe stuck is no word, but people who are on those islands because they have no other option. There's two people. The tragedy right now on the islands is now a lot of the young people are moving out of those islands.

Because now they could afford it. Now the world is open. Now they can go to New Zealand. They can go to Australia. Why did I end up? in Canada. But there's others who are still there, who didn't have that platform to launch out into the deep,

you know, to find that. So I find talking about your childhood is so foreign to me. I can't even like fathom some of the things talking about. I really want you to paint a picture for the listeners or the viewers for that matter if they ever watch this. Of some things like about growing up in the Cook Islands that we just probably, you know, like I just think, okay, around here in the 50s, into the 60s, et cetera, the automobile, the color TV, God, there's probably a thousand.

and other things. But, I mean, I just think even now our world, right? It's built on transportation and communication. Were people ripped around on the small island in, I don't know, cars and trucks and everything else? No, when I was going out, there was one person who was actually a politician who represented my island. I think he was the only one at the time who had a car.

I think it was a little hinder that he had there. But I could count, you know, different, you know, those little mopeds. Yeah. You know, you see them around there. I can count that, oh, there are three or four or five of them, you know, on the island. But basically, we go on foot, you know, in the morning,

you know, like your kid to school, you go to school and you come back, and you go to the plantation to help. your father would help those older siblings and there's been out of school already with planting you go out there and you help bring some goods back home that that's that's a day by day life you know you go to school you come back you go to the plantation you come back and you bring the goods and mom will cook and dad will go fish right day in day off did you ever get tired of fish eating fish? Yes.

Yes, I did, but I never did. See, that's the other thing about us. We thought we were in a way that we were so poor in terms of nutritious food. You know, you eat fish every day. And you thought, oh man, give me a hamburger or something. and hindsight looking back.

Yeah. You were getting the greatest food ever. Exactly. Yeah. Well, we never thought it that way. Like, fresh fruits. Like, we're picking mangoes ripe off the tree. The papyrs off the tree.

The banana is ripe on the, you know, and all the tropical fruit. And in fact, even what we have here, we call it health food, like avocados that you go buy them here. We feed them to the pigs. They're so big this way. And we thought, okay, we've been dished out with some of this. Okay, it seems like that we're giving the short end of the stick, right? That it was, okay, this is. But didn't we realize that you've got some of the most healthiest, you know,

food that you can provide for yourself? So that's what we eat. That's what we've been doing. And different now. I never heard of cancer when I was growing up on my home island. Cancer? Right. Okay.

None of those disease. Like, you know, I never heard of it. Like, when I was growing up, then everything was so good. I mean, we did have epidemics or pandemics like that we have here, like the measles. And back then, you know, a lot of people lost their lives and that. But generally speaking, in terms of the diet of the islands, looking back, I think we have one the best, you know, opportunity to have those kind of healthy food like that. But no cancer.

No. Now there is. Now you can go to every place in the island. We go to the cooks. I mean, there's a lot of chicken joints, like hamburgers and stuff. That's where they are crowded to, like, you know. Yeah. Nice, easy, quick, not fish.

Not fish. Right? Get the hamburger. Like that, like, fish is like a punishment. You know, like, go get a cheesy hamburger. Like, you know, but you don't know that it's not good for you. But, you know, like as the time is gone by, right? So, like I said, we need it at the time that we need some positive role models.

You know, when I was going, we needed mentors. We needed mentors. dietations, people who will come and educate us. You know, this is, now they're having those. We would have had those before. You know, we didn't. You know, we just have what we get off the land. You eat, you know, you live another day.

You go about your business and then come back. You eat and you live another day. You live another day? That was it. Well, that's the philosophy. He said they are, you know, look after today. You know, I think we get so, we're dying of, like, because we're so planning ahead in our Western culture. We're planning so far ahead that we forget to live today.

Yeah, enjoy what's sitting right beside us instead of staring off in a five years from now. Yes. Yeah. That has its place too. but at the same time, yes, living in the day. We have to get our perspective proper. You know, sure, plan forward but live today. You know, plan their life.

People are dying to try and to attain their dream and for God, you know, to harvest the blessing of the day in our Western culture. You know, enjoy the precious moments that you will never be able to get it back. I got three kids, the oldest turns five here in April. So actually, it's the seventh. It's the seventh today, right?

So a month today, he turns five. And I keep trying to remind myself day by day, because he is full of pissing vinegar. to put it lightly he's fun fun but he is rambunctures like he has got man if you could tap him for energy you you power the planet he is a go go go and I keep reminded myself that these years will only last for so long you got to you got to pay attention because the day you forget to pay attention is another one lost because the time marches on exactly and then that is the problem that

has been happened I had the opportunity I'm fortunate to raise my three boys in in Lloyd. Lloyd has been really good to us. It's been good to me. Lloyd has been an opportunity, actually. Part of my life that I have not talked to you about was how did I become a pastor? You know, but my life made a, you know, took a route

that to me, contributed to where I am today. As you know, as a young person, you know, just because I grew up on the island, you know, that we couldn't even think about the bigger world out there, that doesn't mean I didn't have no dreams. That doesn't mean that I didn't think that I have potential.

That doesn't mean that I didn't have the, they go get it spirit kind of thing. They were always there, but it takes, like I said, a network of people to help explode those. Yeah, to help foster it. Yes, it was always there. So then in 1975, a Canadian missionary, for all people, a farmer,

grew up on the farmer in Watansburg, in South of Eminton, took his young bride, and two children, two girls, and took the trip. This is back in the 60s, and took a trip and went to the Pacific Islands. That was the openness. When he came, you know, my goal was to be a good rugby player. Rugby was really huge in the islands, why it still is,

and wanted to be a good rugby player. He came, you know, this guy that, the missionary from what else when they came. He had those huge projectors with reels, with films. That was his ministry to show this gospel films. Open air, because there was no building. So he came to my home island. This is funny, but that was the, I was able to a defining moment

in making that adjustment in my life. he came and that night there was a big rally for a rugby you know so he came and then he wanted to show this film and so what he did was he tied this big white screen on two coconut like you know what from one coconut like in this white sheet and he beamed the movie on there

on to it yeah guess what it doesn't matter where you are it just that sometimes it's back to front or you know and I didn't want to come in a light like where people will see because, you know, like I was under the influence of alcohol at the time, and I was sitting in a dark place where nobody could notice me, and I watched that film. That was a defining moment in my life.

And then the next morning, and I went to see that Canadian missionary. I said, hey, what do I need to do? You don't need to do it. And you just committed your life to Christ. And follow that route. I did. Then he said to me, if you want to go to study,

I can think about it, I have a suggestion for you to go to Canada. I mean, that was the last thing that I were. Like, I mean, go to Canada, really? That's an impossibility. There's no way I can go to Canada. Long story short. found myself on the plane, 1975.

1976, sorry. That's when I came to this country. Since then, Canada is now my home. Opportunity raised my kids. Lloyd has become, like, has an opportunity for us to pursue dreams and to realize that I had a very important role to play. in Lloyd,

help study the tennis club in Lloyd, involved with the soccer, association in Lloyd, involved in all of that stuff, became a pastor in Lloyd in a pretty well-established church in town.

And for 13 years, became the lead pastor in the church there. And then it was in that church that I look at, the church is not only one of this religious institution, but I see there's a huge part of a community. So that church, with my influence in that church, we became really community-minded. You know, there was one time I start, like on Sunday morning here at the church, it's got to ask me the first Baptist church in town, that I invited the professional. people, the public servants, like the health department, the police, our counselors, that I

invited them to come to church on Sunday. No briefing, no nothing else, but we were there to thank them. And I think the churches, maybe are missing that part of playing a positive and major role in creating a community where people that come to this community can find a place to raise their children, to have a good marriage, you know, to build a community, to know people, because that was my experience, you know, being able to help start the tennis club, to work on the earth here. I came to, actually, I resigned from the pastor for one year when I was pastored with Taskman. That was actually where my wife was. I met my wife. I met my wife.

wife, the Bible school. She's from a Tascoen, so I end up going there for one year. But as you've been hearing some of my story and the way my makeup is, I'm always, you know, I'm always one who believe that if you wake up in the morning and you start questioning, should I go to work or should I not, it's time to refresh yourself. It's time to renew yourself. It's time to have a perspective. So I was beginning to be in that position in what else going. Should I be in a pastor? Should I not?

You question that? Maybe it's time for you to kind of, because sometimes you need to get out in order for you to be empowered to get back in. Whatever it is, it doesn't matter. You know, whether it's church or it's different employment. You just need to have a time to rejuvenate. to refill. That's how I end up here. That's what I believe, that if you question your place of employment,

that should I go to work today, you need to find something. So I did. I just left the pastor, went to work on the oil field here in town. So they're quite a drastic, right? The oil field brought you to town, not your... Exactly. Yes. There's a good friend of mine who was pretty successful, back in the, yeah, back in the early 90s. I met him in Provost.

I actually went, I was pastor in Provost. Met him there. He was in the church person, but he was a businessman. Sold his business there, came to Lloyd, started one in Lloyd. That was in 1994, maybe 93. Did well. And I said to myself, I phoned him.

He said, hey, do you have a position for me? and he was surprised because, you know, kind of from the line of a pastor into the oil field. I mean, that's a big contrast. And I worked for him for three years in Lloyd. So after that, I went back into a ministry. That's why I said, you know,

sometime when you question, when you wake up in the morning, time to get to something else. When I came back in the ministry, I tell you, man, it's like a new person. So pastor the church here, and the church was wonderful. The church was really wonderful to me.

A huge network of people who supported me. The joy came back, the passion to do what I was doing, come back. It took me those three years to get away. Sometimes we're enduring ourselves to stay in the same place. You're unhappy. You're not productive. Time to get out.

I did for three years. Came back. We're back up. And that's where Lloyd has become. You know, a really awesome place that I can stay home for me and my wife and our children. Now, I got to, I probably want every five guess. I just, I got to ask a boat, because now I just, I see it on a lot of people. But do you ever wonder, or maybe you've already thought this through, I assume you have,

that you're on this little tiny island and a Canadian missionary comes to you. Yes. And then you're in Wetascoen. Yes. And you come to Lloyd because of oil field work. Do you ever just wonder what that is? Or do you, have you thought ever about that? You know, some people call it fate.

Other people have different words for it. I just, you know, you tiny little spot, and then one person comes in and I'm going to take as kind of pull it back to what you said before. When you walk out the door, you know, you just, if you're positive, you just don't know where that spreads. Yes, absolutely. And I just look at what you've been kind of talking about. I'm like, man, one person walks in and all of a sudden, boom,

you were hanging a hard right and now you're you know you're talking about hiding in the shadows and drinking to now the man upstairs and talking to congregations yeah and becoming part of a national council of a big denomination and the meetings in Toronto once every other month yeah he's here's my my story on that coming from the Tynado Island. There are people in life, I don't know, maybe the same with you. Like people often, they know what they want in life. They go after it.

And they steer their path towards that end. You know, people are that, okay, I want to be a doctor. For me, I did not know if I was going to be a path. I don't know what I was going to be. for me, opportunity came knocking at my door and I let them come. And as you get into there, you know, to begin, yeah, because when he said, I got a suggestion for him to come to study in Canada, when this missionary said that, well, what is that? Like, I mean, I wasn't planning to be a pastor.

In fact, I went to be a lack of term, but one of the influential pastors in my denominations in Canada. Never thought that that was going to happen. But what happened was every circumstances or every opportunity that came, I just jump in it. And sometime, jumping in them opens another door. That's how my life was. Then another door opened another. Okay, then you find out,

this is my calling. This is my purpose in life. Some people, they know exactly what they want. Me, I didn't. Other people are floating in the breeze. I did. I float, but then that's where you find your place in life. But that's how I came, and now that's what it is. So I would never, ever forget the humble beginning in the islands.

Because that was where the cultivating of it starts in those tiny little islands. sometime we looked down on some humble beginning of people, whether it's in the professional world and all. I think when I hear you talk about your simple way of life, I just, I think simple times back in this area, a little bit before the 50s, I would argue. But I've interviewed people in here that talk about how they didn't know what money was. They lived on a farm and all it was was

Provide for yourself and take care of your neighbors And that's the way life was and money was pretty irrelevant Because you had nothing to spend it while you had no money So you had nothing to spend it on You might be the first guy though That has 12 siblings 13 siblings 13 of you or 13 siblings

13 siblings So 30 Okay Or 12 You're one of 13. 12. Okay, I see what you. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I'm curious. Did you live in a 13-bedroom house? Yeah, right. Yeah. Yeah. You know, there's a lot of open space, coconut trees. You've got to understand

this beautiful weather down there year-round. You know. So you were sleeping in the coconut trees? Whether it's a coconut tree or whatever is to provide the shade for that time, that's where you sleep. No, like, I mean, we have a house, right? but it's nothing compared to here right well that's what that's what I'm curious about I'll give you so I'm reading a lot about our area and some you know

we we we have minus 40 you well know that right so you can imagine trying to sleep anywhere in that is not quite the same so I really want you to paint a picture for me and anyone listen and watching on what you know what was your house Was it just a simple little spot with a little fire in the middle? Or was it a few rooms? Did you guys all sleep in bed at night? And kind of give a picture because otherwise I'm going to think, well, you're just sleeping under trees and kids were roaming everywhere.

Well, it's sometimes that we do. Like, I mean, not because, you know, there's no place to sleep. But it's nice. The weather is not beautiful. It's actually better sleeping. I've slept under the coconut tree how many times? You know, not because I didn't have a house to sleep. It's just that, you know.

But when we grew up, we have a house that is four bedrooms. But it's a simple construction. It's actually made out of limestone. It was an art that was brought in by the missionaries. Those islands were, you know, the missionaries have a huge influence in those islands from England, like back in the 1800s. They brought that technology of, you know, they came to the island because there's a lot of coral rocks on the islands. I remember growing up, and one of the highlights as a child was when the man created this huge bonfire, they cut all of these coconut trees, the dried ones, and they piled this up on a huge bonfire.

And then on top of the bonfire that they would go and harvest some of these coral rocks out of the water, the ocean, you know, they will pile them on top. and then they burned that thing for weeks, like from under the water, until the coral rocks became more liquid form. And then what they would do is like it's almost white powder when it dried.

So they mixed that with sand and stuff. That was our cement to build our house then. Really? Yes. So we had a house and it's an open room, you know, just mat on the floor. All the kids just line up, sleep. That's how we sleep, yeah, growing up then. I'm curious, what lessons did you pass down to your children having that range of experience?

When you started having kids and are just in a different world compared to that, What were some of the things you were impressed on your children? Well, that's a good question. I never thought of, you know, I'd never thought of that. All I shared with them, you know, of your humble beginning and the things that, but to pass on what did I learn in order for them. But I think the only lesson that I would have probably left or give to them was more the appreciation of what you grew up in.

Because it doesn't matter what. It doesn't matter we grew up in a house built of limestone. I think you mentioned about when we started off if these stories could speak. I'm the only one who could, if those limestone could speak, it speaks tons of memories. It speaks a lot of the pain, the heartaches. the frustrations, the doubt that my parents had as a planter and fisherman and as a homemaker, how they were going to raise 13 children. You know, it speaks of sibling rivalries and fights,

memories that build who you are. Those were the things that I would say, and the experience that I will never forget, but it enriched the person who I am. And if they could speak, that's the kind of language that they will remind me, you know, that you have some of these precious building blocks that made you today who you are. And hopefully my children, your children, could grasp that principle that the fact that they are, really made at home. They've built at home what mom and dad have created. My boys live in

Calgary now, but they can translate the story that I told them of their home in Lloyd. And if our home could speak, it's the same kind of memory that they will take as part of who they are. Because, you know, whether it's in the islands or here, those stories and what you are creating now, which is great, are part of who we are. Identity is huge in the lives of people today. You know, and sometimes we find ourselves wanting in life, finding a place to connect, you know, looking for identity.

These are part of that identity. That's who I am and who you are. is the place that you grew up. You know, because otherwise, you know, you've got no platform to stand on. So you, who are you? You know, and it creates havoc and confusion in the lives of people and it becomes, you know,

that here, and I don't want to create any. You know, one of the things I appreciate about Lloyd is the opportunity that Lloyd has brought. to me to go help and serve our First Nations. And I've been doing that in the last 10, 15 years. What a rich, rich experience to do that, you know, to be able to open up to another world and begin to learn from them and to grow and to appreciate who you are because you hear this story.

You know? And until today, I began to understand and to have a deeper appreciation. You know, and not going into any other form of stories or whatever, but nothing can stop you to learn and to add value and to be valued in your life. the people that you work with. And that's why I said, I'm a brown skin fellow, but Lloyd is a beautiful home. You know, I remember, this is a funny story, but I remember going to, like this is back in, when did I came here, 96, I came to Lloyd.

So three years I worked for this oil company, and then I went in the pastoral here town. There was a couple Sundays I would stand up in front of the congregation. And I would say, you know, it's funny because me and my three boys, you know, I consider this church as a multicultural church because I'm in it. And my three children are in it. But you see at that time, you know, there was a back in it, like, I didn't remember this.

Back then there's a very few non-white people, right? you know, in Lloyd. But now... Every day there's more. Every day. Yeah. We can look at it as man what a added value, or we can look at it from a different perspective.

But all I'm saying is, I have gained to appreciate the people of the North. You know, the more I talk to, I don't know, immigrants that are fresh or even in their... first generation of being here. I mean, you go back far enough in my heritage. It's, I don't know what it is now, 110 years, something like that.

We were doing the same thing. So it's, I really enjoy sitting across from people. Just people. There's not a specific type of person. I just like people. And hearing about their experiences because, The more we can do that, the more we can listen and open up ourselves and hear the other side and see where people have come from, geez, that'll create a tight-knit community because you'll start to understand. That's what the simplistic times created was you had to depend on everybody, which means you got to know everybody pretty well, right?

And there was nowhere to go. You provided food and sustenance and a roof over each other's heads, and if people got in trouble, you went and helped them. And that's what it was. Now the world is picked up pace and it is moving very fast. You can connect with people on the other side of the world, but we don't stare at, you know, we don't connect with the people in our own backyard. Right.

And so we got to, I think, I think we got to find a way to create that community again because we can do that. All the people coming into it, there's always been people coming into it. And there's going to be good and bad. Yeah, exactly. People who add and people who subtract. Exactly. And I totally adhere to what you're saying.

and I agree with you. And I love the word community. I love what you mention the word community. This community is us. And community is what we made out of it. You know, and to be part of this community. And to influence, and I may say that, a lot of people, even in this community,

is because of this idea that I think I can add value. You know, I think I can add value. can be part of this community and network of people that I can you know meet friends I can meet people that you know one of the interesting thing about being a pastor in this town back then back in the 96 97 2000 was when I started the pastor because I was working on the field but one of the the thing that I've noticed about this town because we have a lifespan of this town or this city maybe five six years because of the of the turnaround the people coming in in four or five years

because of the energy sector, they come in, that they're gone. And a very interesting dynamic, you know, that it brought in Lloyd into the church and other places, so they come in and they're gone. But when people come, there are some people saying, okay, they're this year for five years anyway, so they're going to go. But we don't think about it that, man, they can contribute. You know, they have resources that they can invest into this community

to make this place, a better place. for five years. And I'm speaking to that, because I know what I'm talking about, like in the church circle. There's good teachers, there's people who are tons of experiences. The thing is,

if you invite them into the community, chances are they won't be so quick to leave because it'll be hard to leave. And that has been a story for many of them that I've seen. You know, they say, there's a guy here from Newfoundland who's been here,

I'm going to hear through five years. he's been here for 15 years. You know, I said, why did you stay 15 years? Because I know the value of being a part of a community. And so what you're saying is absolutely true. I think we need to do that. We need to play our part. You know, it is new.

The reality is that there's bad and there's good. You know, we live in a broken world, broken people, you know, broken system. It's only you and me who can value what we need to value to bring a better community, you know, include sports and tennis. I met new people and friends, business people, you know, on the tennis courts and the squash courts, the soccer field. You know, I see mom and dad screaming and yelling to their kids, you know, to play hard. You know, my kid came home, excited one time because he was in there. in hockey here. And he was excited.

They said, Dad, I got my first fight today. Oh? Where did you fight? We played against Dewberry. The Mustangs. So, you know, those kind of stories is what make the community. That's the kind of thing that we need to continue to build to know that this experience means something, you know, to a son, to a father, to parents.

community i gotta ask you know you've you've now experienced canadian winter a canadian snowstorm on awful week of just horrendous weather yes but the ocean terrifies me um and being on an island out in the middle of it i have to assume you had some pretty i'm going to use the word gnarly storms out there. Was that precarious being out on an island in the middle of here comes a Hail Mary? You know, it's funny

you asked that question because when I was growing up, they have this big waves that comes in. How big are we talking? We're talking about 15, 20 feet waves. Big, big guys. You know what we did?

kids. We will get our boogie boards, like, you know, this is a... And we will ride that wave. Scraped up in the front there because it's coral rocks and stuff. It came out.

And you know today? They still have those 15 waves. You know what they call them now? You know, these are cyclones or these are hurricanes, you know. So it just... The perspective just changed. Back then,

We didn't think about it as cyclones, there's a tropical storm or something. We thought, oh, it's another great day to go boogie, like, you know, to go body surfing. The waves are huge. Let's go boogie. Yes. They kind of let you go in there and do. Here's the truth about my home island, about the cook island itself. You know when the native people call the land Mother Earth, they connect. Yeah.

That's the same with the Polynesian people. You cannot take a Polynesian out without the ocean. One of the things that I miss when I came to this country was the sound of the waves. It was the first thing to hear in the morning and the crashing of the waves on the reef in the evening. You know, the first thing that you hear and the last thing that you hear.

Like, you know, before you go to bed. I miss that. You know, in the audience. Because the sea the sea is like part of who we are as Polynesian people. You care about separate a Polynesian from the ocean. And if you read the history of the Polynesian people

who have gone thousands of miles from my home island to New Zealand that are 1600 miles on a canoe to sail from island to island. You know, that part of the ocean the smell of the ocean, you know, is that. It took me a long time to get over that. You can't hear the ocean no more.

You can't walk down to the beach. You can't smell the seaweeds. You can't hear the seagulls. That's basic. Basically, the surrounding of those islands, right? And in late October, you see the sperm whale goes up north, you know, the spawn way up in Alaska area, but they come through the cooks. And you can stand on those high cliffs on my home island in the evening, beautiful sunset, and see the whales go by. beautiful

but it could also be you know your worst enemy like they take when they come they come bad you know the waves the wind

but we're a friend with the ocean this country I thought I was going to die the first winter I was here I was back in 1990 back in 1976. I came to this country in October,

late October, in 1976. I don't know if you were born yet that. I was not born yet. In 1976, I came to this. Funny story. Came through L.A. This pulled a context, like, you know, from a tiny little island.

The widest part is four miles. And it's around the island. First time I'm over, get into the plane, came through L.A. Seattle to Edmonton. At that time there's no walkway

you know, you get off the tarmac in Eminton. So when I came to late October, it was minus 10 degrees. Remember that went vividly. And there was snow on the ground. So when I were coming from Seattle to Edmonton that I saw this white stuff on that.

That was the first time I saw snow. Polynesian wore shorts. You were wearing board shorts? Shorts. Shorts, yeah. beats all around my neck, pair of, we call them jambles or slippers, with a minus 10 degrees and slow on the ground, got off the plane in Edmonton,

on the tarmac and walked to the building. It was so cold. The missionary that came to the islands there was waiting for me, because he was from a town square and they just came. So the airport is this heavy downfall coat. You know, the top part of my body was warm, but my knees were shaking like crazy.

It was so cold and the snow. You know, so, yeah, that's an experience itself. Well, that's from one extreme to the next. One extreme to the next. And then not only that extreme, also the vastness of this country. I couldn't describe it, and I said when we're going from the airport to Atasca, and I said to the mission, man, what a big island.

Canada is. This is a big island, and everything was so different. I can't see coconut trees. You know, all I see, even there's lights, there's lights and stuff. All new, you know, the building, the houses, and the pave roads and all of that stuff. He's all new. But he took me from Wutaskan,

because I went to school in South Redia. It's a place called Three Hills. That was my home for four or five years. And I say that the missionary, you know, when are we going to get there? If there is a definition for eternity, this is it. Like this driving from Edmonton to Three Hills. Like, I mean, you walk around the island, right?

You see the picture that I'm trying to paint? Yes, you're doing a great job. A tiny little island. And to drive from, I think, what, what, three and a half, three and a half hours or three hours from what else? It's like 30 hours. Like, it's like eternity. That's how big and how different it is. And your perspective is just, there's no comprehension.

really because like you said you go from one extreme to another extent whether there's weather whether this is the gigantic place the different the buildings the trees are different the food is different were you speaking English by now very little very little so did you get homesick like were you like yes I like everybody who travels away from home especially for the first time that's an experience right but to be so far removed in such a different culture not speaking your language yeah I mean you're just multiplying the effect over and over and over again yeah go back to what I said to begin when

dad was cultivating a spirit in me that if you want something go go after it you know and and really not really understanding the impact of that is I was lonely. I miss my family. Stuff were different. And I cannot communicate properly because English is pretty limited. If anything, it was so broken that, you know... It's pretty good now. It doesn't make sense at all. I mean, after, what, 40 years here, and I married somebody who speak English from a task one. And when we had children, I tried to raise my children bilingual. It did not happen, you know.

Number one, I'm the only island here, as far as I know. In Lloyd? Yeah. There was another island, but it's from another different island. There's a couple of people from Samoa, the island of Samoa, and one from Fiji, I think. But they're different, they speak different languages, right? But the cook island, like it's not like the Filipino or the Chinese or the others that we can speak their language.

When I go back to the island, they mock me because I try so hard to speak my own, and I still have it. I still have the language. Could you do me a favor? Could you, I don't know, say a few sentences in your language? I always love hearing a new language.

Well, you know, when we greet you, we say Kia Orana. You know, like in New Zealand, they say Kiaora. You know, the cook island is Kia Orana. that cook, the New Zealand, the New Zealand, the Nusian Māori's, the natives of New Zealand,

the Cook Islanders, the Hawaiians, the Tahitians. Very similar language. In fact, I could find my way around, like even Hawaiians and the Tahitians and the New Zealand Maori. You know, so when we say Kiyahorana, which means, may you live on? That's basically what that word, that phrase means. So that's what you hear when you get off the plane. And in the Cooks, the Cooks is a, you know, like pre-pandemic. It was a popular spot.

There's a lot of Canadians have gone down to the Cooks. And still there's a lot of them there in the Cook Islands, right? So Keorana is a phrase that you can greet. And like I said, New Zealand's a Kiyohara, she has very close. We say Kia orana. Hawaiians, the Tahitians say, Ia orana. So they don't have the K, they have the I, I, Ia orana.

We said we have the Kia orana. And the Nizzerian Mao say Kia orra. So where is the milk? But, you know, the funny thing is that every time I, like this coming in Saturday, I'm preaching in Melbourne, Australia, That's a big Brooklyn communities in New Zealand and Australia. They want me to preach. So you're doing a Zoom call or something and preaching, okay.

But not in Maori. That's the language that we speak. Is Polynes in Maori? Okay. And that's, I cannot preach it in my language, which is funny. But the problem is the English is not a problem, right? They speak English. They're a lot.

Like Australia and New Zealand. Only the cooks, when you go to my... home island because like I said a lot of the young people move out of the island there's only the older people there and they speak very little English and you need to try to speak in Maori which I you know after being 40 years here I don't have anybody to speak Maori with so that's that's the that's it was the struggle but you know it took time for me to do that speak English and to teach to take classes when I was at school in English.

Yeah. You know, before I let you out of here, I always love asking people about their significant others. You've been married for 40 years? 40 years, it is, yeah. I know on this, on these, it seems like, you know, 40 years actually is one of the lower ones, which is kind of cool.

I've had people in here who've been married 60-some years. But I mean, in the world today, 40 years is a feat. It's very, like I said, I want to get in between your ears. Well, I want to know what is 40 years of marriage taught you? Oh, man. Lots. Yeah, lots. You know, the daily grind of being a family,

the relationship. And in my case, of course, you got a cross-cultural marriage as well, right? The wife grew up on the farm in Rattaswin. And that itself was a challenge then, right? But, you know, each day we never forget to say, I love you. it's it's basic like that some of those 40 years you know if those 40 like like I don't have my ring on my hand but if those 40 years were counted on your rings I think like in terms of the highs and the lows you can see more dense on that ring than you know that's that's that's the

Well, that's life, isn't it? That's life, but the problem is sometimes we find an easy way out. We don't deal with it, right? Well, it's hard to, it's probably hard. If you knew day one what you were getting into, it might even scare you off. I don't know if I can handle all that, right? But that's kind of the journey. I mean, it's probably a poor analogy, but I mean, you talked about taking a canoe or

Polynesian taking a canoe across the island. ocean. I mean, if you knew what you were probably in for over the time it takes the canoe to go that far, I don't know how many you get in the boat. Yeah. But once you're in it, there's no, well, in my mind, there's no turning around. The problem is, you know, the problem is there's so many distractions, you know, and and sometime you wake up, you say, man, is there any better deal out there, you know, in terms of, I, I, like you said, there, you know, I, like you said, there. You know, You know, right from the beginning, the first day, I kept my promise. She kept her promise for better or for worse.

That's life. Deal with it. Move on. You know, the problem is that there's so many distractions that they said, hey, maybe there's a better offer over there. You know? So, but it's almost like it's easy come, easy go. But commitment is more than that.

You know, you're going to commit. you know, we live in a community. Sometimes we lack commitment. That's how I see it. Anyways, you ask me, what's the secret commitment? 40 years together, I was told, this is the fact. I was told you're going to have one year marriage because it's a cross-cultural marriage.

You're done. I was told that. You were told because it's a cross-cultural marriage that you would only last year. Yeah. Well, geez, isn't that a challenge? Hey? I proved him wrong.

Yeah. Yeah. I think that there's other stuff because you've got to understand this is back in the 80s. There's still some ideas about different things happening. I met my wife in Bible school in Three Hills. And I was looking for some help in terms of a relationship, you know, to strengthen my life. relationship there I had nothing but some more a negative I think we I think it was more it's it's it's it's more than this preconceived idea because of the different cultures

it's gonna it's gonna fail you know that that was idea that was an idea back then you know because it was a cross-cultural and it's it I didn't see it that way. Anyways, that was the message that was given to me. Then 40 years later, you know, like today, you know, I'm really caring for my, I wasn't sure if I would be able to carry out of this interview. And the wife is suffering from cancer here in town, right? I'd be caring for her.

I'm sorry to hear that. It's been a, it's been a charge. You talk about that. I mean, but, you know, we decided, as you said before, this is a journey. And you can have to make the adjustment along the way and do what you have to do to stay together. So it's a challenge, right now, even right now as we speak, you know, with the kids not here, with the pandemic that is happening and not being able to see our families. It just presents a whole bunch of stress, but you're going to do the best to camp, right? Could we talk finally then about faith?

I know that has been obviously a giant part of your life. Huge. You can take it wherever you like. I'm, I guess there's faith is an interesting one because some, Some people have it or some people have found it. Lots of people are searching for it. Yes. Yeah.

And as a guy who has found it and come across the planet, following it, maybe you could talk a little bit about it. Thank you for that opportunity. It was an incredible journey to be able to find a path forward with someone that I believe who have paved the way for me. by the name of the Jesus Christ. You know, like I said to you, I found him in my darkest moments.

I didn't want to come out in a light to see that movie. I didn't want people to see me. I was out under the coconut tree in the dark spot, but the missionary probably, I don't know how, maybe he figured this out or ran. that he put this white sheet between the, like, you know, it doesn't matter where you're watching it from. You can see the pictures, and some of them are backwards,

and that's what I was, and that was the defining moment in my life. I came in, and he told me that time today, you give you a life to God. Because I want to run my own life. I just want God to be part of it, as long as I'm running it. You know, if I need him off, column. And he said, no.

It's either he runs your life or you run your life. You can't have one or the other. So that's what I did. I said, you know, I'm going to commit my life to God. I did. Left the comfort of my home. Left my family. And not knowing what that future looked like, like I said.

I wasn't planning to be a pastor in Canada for 35 years now. opportunity came and I took that. I studied at Bible school and met my wife there. We felt the call of God to go back to the Polynesian Islands. We went back to New Zealand to help start a Polynesian church down there. And we did for five years. And we came back to Canada and I went to Bible school to seminary in Emmington. I went in a Bible school. I went in master's program there and I graduated and then wasn't like I said I didn't end up in Lloyd being called into the ministry in Lloyd I resigned from a task when came to Lloyd work on the oil field that's a school in itself if you know what I mean I

certainly do yes it's a school in itself but you know what what a great place Sometimes people say, oh, why did you go there? That's it. You talk about the contrast between the church world and that world. But that world made me more appreciative of the people. Do you know, let me tell you a story. I used to run the paint shop at the Kowlack, at the, you know, those big tanks on the, I was 16. I used to run that paint shop.

How many times at lunchtime I got some of these young fellas? under those grain rails, you know, and said to me, why are you here? You're a pastor. People coming to say, I don't know what's happening. My marriage is done. You know, I began to appreciate the people that work, you know, those blue-collar workers, the people that out there just work day and day out. And that I keep telling them that when they come see me.

You know, you and I have the same struggle. I struggle with my marriage. There's other stuff that I struggle with. Just like you. And sometimes I find it hard to pay the bills. It's like you. The only difference is I have somebody else to look to. His name is Jesus Christ.

Do you know that I had more people attend the church? So the work on that oil on that site, on the tank fabrication there, I've never regretted being there. It was a challenging place to work in. You know, there's people there. You kind of question whether they're fit to come to work that day, you know? But you learn to appreciate people. I think it was because my faith in Jesus Christ that I'm beginning to understand that there are people who are hurting, but we have a good job, we do a good job of covering it.

And unless somebody is interested in it. So I worked there for three years, enjoyed it fully, you know, in terms of really, you know, like I said, there was a dry spell in my life. I left the ministry and came and saw these people in need. Spiritual, like you said, they were searching. Is there something else beside this? Boy, it's invigorate the passion again. The church called me into the pastor to the church there after the three years. Because I did promise my friend there, I'll work for you for three years,

and then maybe I'll go back to the Pacific Islands to teaching Bible College. But there was other plans. I end up being the pastor here for 15, for 13 and a half years. I know some folks from Hillmont whole bunch of communities that have come I don't know if you were here when you know Merv Lowen or Merv was before your time

I think Merv was you know I think it was the principal here at the high school here in town awesome fellow awesome community guy you know knows Redden's parents well and I met them too

You know, like out of that, it positioned me to the place of really exposing the deep heart in my life for people around me. I don't see people in terms of color. I see people in terms of a need of somebody outside of their world. You know, and I have seen people come to know God in that way because you just live. live your life, you love people, you know, and people who say, this is, I need God. How do I find him? How do I connect with him? How do I talk to him? You know? And out of that opportunity at the church here, it just grew to the next level, like in terms of my faith journey, moved on to the council members.

You know, one time one of the mayor, one of the mayor backed them. Tar can you come and pray in my office? Can you imagine? I did. And so some of these opportunities open up. It's because I said yes to God. Thank you for dying on the cross. That's basically nothing.

Thank you for dying on the cross for me. And back in the islands started that spiritual journey. for me. I have never looked back. Did I make some adjustment? Yes. I resigned from ministry. Went to work here. Went back into the ministry. 13 years now, I've been working. I'm not at the church there anymore. Still love the people there. And well as far as the Ontario in different places, you know, on the leadership of our denominations. More to impact a lot of the people. in this community and also in our country, this country, Canada. So I'm now working together with a church plant work.

We meet, it's called Mosaic. I interviewed Ritchie Davies. Ritchie. Yes, a couple weeks ago. Well, that's it. That is a story, and you're going to find my name inserted in his story. Yes. And ask him someday.

But that was that was it. That was my commitment to God. You take me. You know, the way I am, whatever potential that I have, all I have to do is I appreciate what you did on the cross for me, and I repent of my sins, and I give my life to you. You take my life. And he did.

And I, you know, I'm here today, and Lloyd, still continuing to be part of this community. If I can make a difference in the life of another person as I continue to grow old in this country, in this community, may it be. And that's my commitment because Lloyd has been good to me. Lloyd has been good to my family. And there's no better way than to invest back into Lloyd,

whether it's in terms of my, you know, the faith journey, that I have in touching the lives of people or even in just loving people the way who they are and involved in their lives by way of sports by way of you know going for coffee like in my age now like had a bunch of these guys that we do coffees in the morning you know and and so that's that's my faith journey and I do appreciate you asking me about that because that is the number one part of my life well I appreciate you coming in today this has been um Well, I never have a bad time in this room. I got to be honest.

Everybody who walks through here is always got a story to tell. Yeah, I was beginning to be, you know, there's trepidation or something. What is he going to ask me? All kinds of stuff. So, you know, I thought you enjoyed it. Well, I try and put that in the sheet, right? You use the word I. Everybody has trepidations in walking in here.

They're worried. But, I mean, you're the author. You're the story. You know, you're the writer of your story. I just want to hear about it. Yeah. And try and hopefully. uncover a few gems that if you're listening or you know watching in the next year or the next 10

years you can go back through these and and be like oh that's well that that's all right I can handle that right and there's so much that around here that's so much of that anywhere you go anywhere in the world you can find it you just have to be willing to listen yeah yeah no I appreciate your effort you know to pull out the stories out of our people in the community you know, because some of those stories are worth telling. A just need somebody to pull it out, you know, and unfortunate some people die with their stories. And the cemetery is a rich place for stories.

There's a lot of rich stories that are buried. That's what I'm saying. Well, thanks again for coming in, and I appreciate you sitting with me. Thank you so much. Hey folks, thanks for joining us today. If you just stumbled on the show, please click subscribe. Then scroll to the bottom and rate and leave a review.

I promise it helps. Remember, every Monday and Wednesday, we will have a new guest sitting down to share their story. The Sean Newman podcast is available for free on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever else you get your podcast fix. Until next time.