I can’t count the number of times Charity or I have said to each other: we should write a blog post about that! In some ways, this delay has been intentional: lest we post only in search of “likes and comments” on yet another social media quest. Our goal is rather to fellowship with you from a distance and glory in all that God is accomplishing in our lives.
July marks our very first whole month on Prince Edward Island. We certainly expected “different” weather, but it was still a bit surprising to feel “cold” early in the month. Perhaps it was the same in Ontario, but for a while it seemed to us that the rain would never end and that perhaps summer wasn’t officially recognized on the island.
Complicating things for us “city folks” were the insects: June bugs smashing into the window in the evenings, never-ending mosquitos invading the house when the doors are left open, and black flies leaving us bleeding from unexpected bites. As near as we can tell, this has been an unusually bad year for insects on the island — perhaps, in part, due to the excessive rains, but also the reduced bat population along the east coast from the white-nose syndrome epidemic. On the flip side, the spiders here are abundant and very effective!
The LORD knew we might find change to be a bit difficult, and prepared a flurry of friends and family to visit with us this month. We enjoyed spending time with our friends from Quebec, friends on sabbatical and from First Baptist Church, friends on vacation from Charity’s childhood, and even a visit from Grandma herself! Not to mention how much of a blessing it has been to be in regular fellowship with the Stiff family once again.
We’ve also been incredibly blessed to enjoy new friends and church family over the past few weeks. We welcomed our new piano teacher and her family to our home (not to mention enjoying a most incredible roast beef dinner thanks to our new Instant Pot). We enjoyed six young people following the Lord in believer’s baptism — in the ice-cold, muddy Bonshaw River! And our landlord and landlady blessed Charity and Anne with tickets to the Anne of Green Gables Musical.
Anne & Charity before the musical.
Of course, none of this can really make up for the friends and family we left behind. Yet it is a comfort to know that we can never leave God behind!
Among other events, we celebrated Alfred’s 4th birthday, Anne’s 9th birthday, and Charity’s … birthday. We made our first trip back across the bridge to make a Costco run and visit our favourite restaurant in Moncton: Gusto Italian Grill & Bar. Charity and Anne met the governor general at a music event in Charlottetown. Oh, and we welcomed three new, as-of-yet-unnamed additions to the family: Barred Plymouth Rock laying hens. Christopher was thrilled to collect his first few eggs! Now if only we can convince them to lay inside the coop,
Anne’s portion of the birthday custard. 
Anne and Her Honour Antoinette Perry 
First two eggs!
Of course, summer did arrive on the island, though tempered somewhat by the ocean breezes. I’m thankful we didn’t hit Ontario highs out here, as I’m not sure we would have been able to survive without air conditioning! The weather was perfect for various beach outings.
Our hunt for a home and property of our own continues, having secured the help of an ex-software developer turned realtor who actually understands me when I describe my bandwidth requirements to continue working remotely! I’ve been making connections with some tech-savvy islanders to shed some light on the rural Internet situation here. I may just hold out for Starlink and the like to change everything!
What’s next? Kathryn turns 1 next month, and I take one more bold step towards the mid-thirties. But the reality is that we don’t yet know all of God’s plans for us here yet. How could we?
4 Lord, make me to know mine end,
and the measure of my days, what it is;
that I may know how frail I am.
5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth;
and mine age is as nothing before thee:
verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew:
surely they are disquieted in vain:
he heapeth up riches,
and knoweth not who shall gather them.7 And now, Lord, what wait I for?
Psalm 39:4-7
my hope is in thee.
Until next time!
Jesse, Charity, Anne, Christopher, Alfred & Kathryn Hallam
Your humility and humour are refreshing. So glad I can keep up to date with you guys. We love you and pray for wisdom foryou as you lead your family.
Dear Friends:
It was a joy to read your latest email!! I’ve been praying every day for you and it was nice to see how you are allowing God to direct your paths!!j