WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 9 – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13

The drive to Kelowna was…. well…. scary!!  We left Grande Prairie around 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 9.  The roads looked great at first, but they got progressively worse as we headed into the mountains.  The snow was falling heavy and covering the roads, leaving a narrow and slippery path along the steep mountain side.  We had a very close call with a transport truck which clipped our mirror off.  It was a bit of a jolt for all of us.  Charles got out his video camera and taped some footage of the storm with very animated commentary, including a close up on Jim’s weary face and the shattered mirror.  When it was safe to stop, we pulled over, pulled out some good ol’ duct tape and some acrobatic tricks and fixed the mirror, Mully style!  Jim, our fearless transportation manager hopped atop Justus’ shoulders to fix the mirror.

Mully mechanics 101

 

Once we hit the Okanagan valley, the snow disappeared and we were greeted by dry roads.  When we arrived at our new home in Kelowna – the Manteo resort – we were welcomed warmly by Cheryl & Sid Molenaar and their team of volunteers from church.  We were blessed with 3 condos – 1 for the girls, 1 for the boys, and 1 for the Mulli family.  They stocked the condos full of groceries and we even had a view of the mountain and Okanagan lake – lucky us!

Thursday morning we got up early and headed to Kelowna Christian Middle School for two back-to-back performances, then over to Kelowna Christian Elementary school for another show.  The students were fantastic and gave a very warm reception, even though Kelowna was unseasonably chilly!  After the shows, the team got treated to an afternoon off at a sports complex, complete with a jungle gym, trampolines, climbing wall and ball pit.  They had a great time but were quite exhausted afterward!

Friday was another school performance at Okanagan Mission School.  Some of the students opened with a welcome dance for the MCF choir.  It was rhythmic dance that blending two different beats of stomping of their feet and clapping their hands.  It was interesting to watch and the MCF team gave them a well-deserved standing ovation!  After leaving OKM it was back to the Manteo for a business luncheon.  There were about 85 business leaders from the local area who came together to hear the children sing and share, and to hear from MCF friends Cheryl Molenaar, Henry Hamm, and of course the Mulli family.  Cheryl did a great job organizing the event – thank you!  Also, thank you to Starbucks for donating some African coffee for everyone to take home… I’m going to make some Christmas morning!

Friday was an evening off, and Michael and I decided to take the kids out to a movie!  We went to see A Christmas Carol in 3D at the Grand 10 Theatre in Kelowna.  We had a lot of fun, ate a lot of popcorn and had a lot of laughs. 

So cool with our 3D glasses!

The choir sang a song for the movie-goers afterward and the general manager, Amela Cheng, offered to treat us all to another movie the next day if we were free.  The next day just happened to be Kenya’s Independence Day and we thought it appropriate to take the kids to see Invictus – the story of Nelson Mandela using the national rugby team to bring the country together in post-apartheid South Africa.  What an inspiring story!  During the movie I was thinking about how I would have loved to be there in that rugby stadium, cheering on the team, being a part of restoring the hope of a nation!  … and then I got to thinking – I am part of it!  I’m part of the Mully Children’s Family – a family and an organization in Kenya that is fighting for forgiveness, reconciliation, hope, and restoration in the nation of Kenya.  Like Mandela, Charles has sacrificed his life to secure a hope and a future for others.  You and me are a part of this exciting movement!   If you haven’t seen Invictus yet, I encourage you to go this Christmas!

To wrap up our time in Kelowna we had an evening show and two morning shows at New Life Church.  Saturday night the sanctuary was packed with nearly 500 people.  It was so great to chat with people afterward and hear their stories and their passion for wanting to get involved.  We met a lot of terrific people Sunday morning as well.  It really felt like an instant bond with folks in Kelowna and we hope it won’t be too long before we see you again – in Canada or Kenya!