Category: 2025-March

Not to diminish or forget the serious matters I’ve written of occurring in Moon River, I would like to mention some good things Marilyn and I have personally experienced and appreciated from certain neighbors, just so you don’t get the idea I’ve let them go unnoticed and unappreciated. I’m sure I’ll miss a few but for now, here goes.

ANDY DORMAAR

After a substantial snowstorm some time ago, Andy was snow-blowing his driveway. He saw me shoveling, came across the road, and offered to help with his blower. I gratefully thanked Andy for the gesture, but declined his offer because I needed the exercise.

DARREN AND JOAN KRONLUND

Darren and Joan have been great next-door neighbors, always friendly, cooperative, and willing to help if needed. Marilyn and I have always appreciated them in the many years we’ve known them.

One day when I was pruning some trees in the neighborhood, the branches needed hauling away, but I had no trailer. Darren was hauling some of his branches to the dump and instantly offered to take those branches away. That was nice.

A couple of winters ago, Marilyn and I heard a motor running, looked out the kitchen window, and Darren was snow-blowing our driveway. No permission requested and none required. I came out with tears and hugged him. We were so thankful for his thoughtfulness. There was a lot of snow this time. It was so good to be at the receiving end of a willing, spontaneous, and kind favor from a neighbor.

One fall day, we heard Darren’s tractor in our yard and found him gathering the beds of leaves from our lawn with his catcher.

Yes, that’s Darren.

LES HILLIARD

At a time of another big snowfall, Les Hilliard came by with his skid steer. It seemed he had been helping others that day. I was standing in the driveway facing a lot of work. Les offered to help. He cleaned it up in short order as a neighborly favor. We were grateful.

Les also helped us, along with Paul Graf, Rene Barendregt, and Allan Jacobs to blow out our Aqua Luna irrigation lines. I was thankful for all of them.

I mention the others with gratitude but in this case, I wanted to make special mention of Les’s attitude, personal interest, and sincere kindness. It was uncommon and special. His wife Wendy is always friendly, as well. We’ve appreciated them both.

JOHN VANDE MERWE

There was a day years ago when my car battery was dead, so I called John, our resident mechanic. He came right away to give me a boost and we were off to our business. He was friendly and thankful to give us service without charge. It was a neighborly gesture, perhaps not an uncommon one to those in such circumstances, but still, one to be appreciated.

There was another time when I was having a complicated fuel problem with our car. John was able to diagnose and solve the problem in his garage in good time with a modest service charge.

He recently asked Marilyn to advertise his small engine repair business in the Moon River Community Facebook Page. Marilyn also emailed the Aqua Luna membership his offer of mechanical services, particularly the small engine department for the lawn season approaching. But from what I know by experience, he’s a good mechanic all-around with honest and fair dealings. That’s the John I’ve experienced.

REMINDER NOTICE

People, I’m not here to blow my horn unless it’s a trumpet call to make our lives right before God in all departments necessary. I’m not here to beat on anyone but I’ve had to declare that hard times are upon us for good reason. I’ve had to repeatedly warn about what was coming, and declare the Solution not only in my neighborhood but to the entire world. Now, it’s happening just as God had me to prophesy over decades. He’s Faithful in warnings, not willing that anyone should perish but to look to Him for deliverance and shelter.

I happen to believe that for some, it’s too late – there’s a time and place appointed for all things and all persons. I’ve spoken with the hope that for some there may still be the opportunity to change their mind and attitude about God and their relationship with Him.

If you don’t know, I can solemnly tell you that He is ultimately, our ONLY HOPE, our ONLY SURE SOLUTION to all our needs and problems. His Name is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior of all men.

No, the ultimate help is not in ourselves, not in our family, not our church, not our pastor or priest, not our fellowship, not our religious offerings to man and God in any possible way, not our employer, not in community services or donations, and not even in the good works such as mentioned in this paper. Though with the latter, there is a reward not ignored by God.

Jesus said that if someone gives so much as a cup of water to one of His disciples in His Name, he or she will not lose their reward. He said:

“As you’ve done it to the least of these My brothers, you’ve done it to Me” (Matthew 25).

In the Lord Jesus Christ’s service to all His creation,

Victor Hafichuk