Jason and Nicola Topsom

Congratulations to Jonny and Hannah on their first wedding anniversary! That was so wonderful to all be together last year, seems like a long time ago, we need to meet up again soon.

Attendance: 9

Had a few look-ins last night, 5 different people, and some of the Kidtropolis staff will soon attend, I'm sure. We sang some praise and then got straight into the message about how to know what God wants...to live justly, love mercy, walk humbly with Him. We closed with some more praise and worship, and the last song was "My heart burns for you", that is so powerful.

Thanks for praying for WEM, we are really enjoying being in the new location and there is lots of room for growth there.

Attendance: 15

Some of our regulars were away camping for the long weekend, but a new family of 5 came so that was exciting. Jason and I preached about healing for our body, spirits and relationships. We really enjoy preaching together.
Thanks for praying for WEM, God is doing good things at the mall. We are able to put our sign up in Kidtropolis, just have to double-check with the owner where would be best.

So this week we heard all sorts of stories of things that kids put up their noses because that's what Shantaya has been doing with her hair beads! I had to take them all out of her hair (and it looked so nice!!!) because four days in a row she put them in her nose. The Lord helped us, they came out fairly easily (had to go to ER yesterday, and learned a trick from the Dr there...plug one nostril and blow in her mouth). So no more beads for awhile, after having them in all this time.

The car is running well, it has to pass an insurance inspection this week but shouldn't be a problem.

We had three couples over on Wednesday night to talk about adoption, that went really well, I would like to set up an agency or be a facilitator for international adoption, and I am looking into that.

Shantaya moved out of her crib into her new Blue Bear bed, and slept really well in it the first night. She only got up once, and then stayed in after that.

Oilers game was huge last night...ended up winning 6-3. GO OILERS!

Pastor Carmen is home from Haiti with their new son, Joshua, and we get to meet him tomorrow (Mother's Day here).

We got given a car yesterday! Our van needed loads of work on it, and it just wasn't worth putting another penny into fixing it. We cried out to God for a new vehicle, we really didn't want to add more debt, we are getting out of debt this year. So Jason and I and Shantaya prayed and when I called Kevin and Liv from church to see if Kevin had found anything in the auto bargain finder, Liv said, "We have a car you can have. It's been sitting here waiting for someone who would need it!" It's a '91 Plymouth Acclaim, runs like a dream, and has 50,000 less KM than the van, and cost $15 less to fill the tank. It's burgundy inside and out, and has a proper tether anchor for Shan's carseat. THANK YOU, LORD, YOU SHOWED YOURSELF STRONG ON OUR BEHALF!!!

The name is "Argyle" due to the Plymouth football team called "Plymouth Argyle", and "Fruitfulness" is the name of a new baby at mom and dad's church,we love that name! The baby's twin brother is named "Dominion", how can you not succeed and be a blessing to people with names like that!

We gave the van to Dani, her car was in a wreck two weeks ago and isn't drivable. Her brother is a mechanic and he will patch up the van for her and her mom to drive. Also, giving the van away is a seed for a next vehicle. God is so good, breakthrough is coming to our family this year.

It's 9:30 on Saturday night and the maintenance guy is here to unlock the upstairs bathroom...fortunately Shantaya didn't lock herself in!

Earlier this week we took her with her giftcard from Steve & Carmen to get her ears pierced...and after 20 seconds of crying she was fine. She looks so adorable with them (even though tonight a lady said "Oh, I didn't know it was a girl"...thought the bright pink sweater and the gold earrings would be a clue!).

Dad is home from the hospital and resting, Jonny is helping with the business and everyone we know all over the world is praying for a full recovery.

I met three new ladies this week, one from South Africa, one from Kenya and one Edmontonian! We are really believing and praying for breakthrough and growth in church, and it is encouraging to meet new people and have them respond so positively to an invitation to church.

I'll ask Curtis to help me put some new photos up tomorrow, I got some developed today.

Edmonton Oilers in the NHL play-offs! Real hockey town here, so could be some fun.

Have a great Sunday...more next week...love, Nik

Attendance: 8

Don and his son Logan came and helped to hand out the 200 Easter egg invitations we had made up (plastic eggs with 3 chocolates and a paper invite inside). It is SO EASY to give things like that out, and it is powerful to work in the opposite spirit of the shopping mall...we are giving something away for free and the mall is getting people to part with their money. We would like to give out 2000 or more next time, there's no shortage of people.

Jason and I did our firt "tag-team" sermon, where we both have a pulpit and do part of the sermon from the same notes. It was so much fun, and really inspiring and exciting. That will probably be a habit we'll get into. At the end we ministered to nearly everyone there, and God gave us encouraging words to share.

Thank you for praying for WEM, we believe to see great things happen! This week we are going to work on advertising, pray for good ideas that will be very effective.

Have a great week!

This morning the three of went to Edmonton's valley zoo, it is only 10 minutes away and cost less than $15 for us to get in! The weather was bright and sunny, it was lovely to be outside in the fresh air and see the animals. One of the elephants was being led down the public pathway, right in front of us! Two tigers came close up to the glass, that was really impressive. Shanny loved the otters swimming and playing in their little pond. It was a really fun morning, we will be sure to take any visitors that come to Edmonton!

Attendance: 8

The new stereo was blasting as we had a great time of praise and worship last night, tried two new songs from the Heaven CD and they went really well.

Jason preaced four points on getting over fears, fear that can stop us from moving on in our lives. It was clear and encouraging, with a couple of funny stories thrown in, of course!

After most people had left, four of us prayed for growth and new people to come in and get plugged in with us. Next week is Easter and that is an awesome opportunity for people to check out church.

This Wednesday we have cell group, and we are going to prepare 200 Easter egg invitations to give out next Sunday before church.

Also, Monday Night is now men's soccer night, that kicks off tonight!
It will be good for the church guys to get together and it's a good way to get some excercise and meet new people.

Thanks for praying for WEM!

Last night we had 14 adults and 13 kids over for Shantaya's birthday party! It was nice enough to go outside so we went for a walk to the park where the guys played football (soccer) until the little kids joined them, and then all trooped back, babies on shoulders, for icecream cake.

Jason is probably going to get a church football game going once a week like he did in Swindon, that will be good for him. Don and his son Logan and Roger and his son Jabez are keen to play.

Church this avo at Spruce, it's potluck so I think I'll make (!) something, stretch my domestic self a tad. Then church at West Ed tonight, we always look forward to that.