The van't Wout Family say THANK YOU!

It's almost been 2 months since the wild fires began in Fort McMurray. At TCS we wanted to help. At first we collected grad dresses to donate. We collected 15 dresses. We wanted to do more but were not sure how best to help. Our prayers were answered when the van't Wout family, who had sadly lost everything in the Fort McMurray fire, dropped into our school to see if their daughter could attend. We feel blessed that they found us and that their time with us provided them the much need peace for their daughter Sophie. Thank you to all of our students and parents that helped provide for the van't Wout's while they were here.

We encourage you to read the letter below the van't Wout family wrote to us. Sophie's family has promised to keep in touch and let us know how the next chapter of their journey or "new normal", as they call it, goes. God bless.

"Just a few short weeks ago, our family made the heart wrenching journey of fleeing our home during the Fort McMurray wildfires. Little did we know as we drove through the flames that it would be the last time we would see our beloved home. We could never have imagined the moments of discomfort, times of immense vulnerability and episodes of inconsolable grief that would follow.

But in the midst of our storm, there have been some much needed lessons for us (can someone say "patience" or "humility") and so many demonstrations of kindness that we are constantly reminded of the goodness and faithfulness of our Father.

And that's where Trinity Christian School comes in. Our biggest blessing by far has been in finding a school for our daughter that truly felt like home. From the very moment we stepped inside the doors, the staff, students and parents of TCS opened their hearts and arms to us and have shown us what heavenly love looks like. For the unconditional acceptance, thoughtful gifts, continuous prayer, and overwhelming acts of generosity, we could not have ended up in a better place. Sophie has thoroughly enjoyed her time at Trinity and we are so grateful for the love and support of her incredible grade two teacher, Mrs. McMillan. You took her in and gave her routine, stability and a home when she needed it the most. For that, we will forever be in your debt. She has made some wonderful new friends (as have we) and is excited about telling all her Fort McMurray Christian School friends about her time here at TCS. God is so good.

In late July, we will head back to Fort McMurray to start a new "normal". While we still don't know what the future holds for us, we do know that our God knows the plans that He has for us and so, we will simply trust him to figure out the details.

There can never be enough words to say thank you, so we simply pray God’s blessing on all of you for showing God’s love and mercy to complete strangers. Calgary and Trinity Christian School in particular, will forever hold a special place in our hearts and who knows, maybe someday, it will be home for us again."

Daphne, Glenn, Sophie, John and Dorreen van't Wout

Thank You Letter from the van't Wout Family