Travel
We love to travel and have travelled to several different countries. We have been to all 10 Canadian Provinces. John has been to 49 of the 50 Unites States (missing Hawaii).
Many
of our vacations have been spent camping. In 1999 we took a trip
across Canada. Eric had graduated from High School and Liesel was
entering her final year, so we packed our camping gear in our new
van and drove across Canada. On our way back we drove down through
the Unites States. In 4 weeks we drove 18,500 km, drove through
parts of 10 Provinces and 27 States.
On the year of our 25th wedding anniversary we went to Europe. Liesel was living in Switzerland so we met her in London, England. After spending a few days in Zurich we (along with Liesel) took the train and traveled to Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France and Italy. We had an amazing time.
Liesel moved to Dublin, Ireland in 2005 so in the Spring of 2006 Debbie took her sister Serena and they visited Liesel at DCM in Dublin. The weather was cool, but it was a great experience.
In
the Spring of 2007 we marked our 30th anniversary and we once again
went to Europe to visit our daughter. We then took Liesel with us as
we took a week of vacation in Egypt. Spending a week on the Sinai
Peninsula was a highlight. Staying in Sharm El Sheikh we hiked up
Mt. Sinai, experienced a camel ride and a Bedouin Dinner (on
Liesel's 25th birthday) and snorkelled in the Red Sea. Back in
Ireland we visited Kilkenny and spent a weekend at the Aran Islands.
In April of 2009 we again went to visit our daughter in Ireland. We took one weekend to visit County Meath, then traveled north to visit Northern Ireland and then west to Donegal. For a second weekend we traveled to the south-west of Ireland and visited Killarney.
In February of 2011 John had the opportunity to travel to Australia to visit his brother who teaches at North Queensland University in Rockhampton. John enjoyed playing 13 rounds of golf in 12 days. He also had the chance to visit friends near Brisbane.
To
celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary we travelled to Ricon de
Guayabitos, Mexico to spend a week at Decameron Los Cocos resort.
In September, 2012 we once again flew to Dublin, Ireland to visit our daughter. Together the 3 of us visited Scotland for the first time and then spent a few days in England where Debbie and Liesel took in the Jane Austen Festival.
We have been on several missions trips. John went to Nairobi, Kenya in November of 1998. Working to upgrade the computer equipment, John led in daily devotions for the Trans World Radio staff and taught a daily 2 hour class at Carlyle College - Church Army Training College in Nairobi. In September, 2010 Debbie & John joined a team from three churches in Alberta to lead a retreat for missionaries at Lake Garda, Italy. Then went on a visioning tour of Romania.
We have been to Colima, Mexico twice. Our Church in Westbank partnered with Hogar De Amor (children's home) in Colima. We established lasting friendships through this experience.
