When you meet authentic people, they inspire and make an imprint on your soul!
So, in June 2018 I had an opportunity to meet such people: Cross Canada Grandpas Blog. You can read more about them here:
Crazyguyonabike.com
– copied from their blog. Cross Canada Grandpas
“If life serves you lemons, make lemonade”
All the campsites in Sudbury are full, until I call “Villa Marie”, and Father Peter invites us to stay. He gives us the gate lock combination, and we have exclusive use of the expansive field, with power, good washrooms and a wonderful lake.

We barbecue sausages and corn, dine under a pavilion by the lake, and I swim across the lake. Father Peter is a charming young Ukrainian Catholic Priest who arrives and regales us with stories of the camp, his church, life and faith. He mixes humour with humanity, and asks only for a donation.

I introduced myself to Father Peter as an Englishman, and he told the story how earlier in the day he had driven to Sault Ste Marie with another priest to conduct a funeral, and when Croatia scored he said a Hail Mary, and when they scored a second ctime he said another. I guess he has Croat neighbours. It’s tough for me to make lemonade out of that score.
How to deliver sermon without opening a bible and without wearing a collar? I discovered through camping ministry!
Copied from the grandpas biking blog:
Day 47 Sudbury to Sturgeon Falls 97Km 326m climb 5hr ride
Thursday July 12, 2018
“Walking the talk” To perform actions consistent with one’s claims.
When Father Petro came to meet us at Villa Maria campsite yesterday evening, we chatted around the charcoal barbecue for half an hour, and he delivered a sermon without opening the bible or wearing a collar. He told stories about restoring the once proud campsite to a workable condition over five years (Vision), instilling a sense of spiritual enquiry in a young boy during a church open house (teaching), digging weeping tile trenches with a contractor (respect), confronting a snowplow contractor who was cheating (honesty), the power of suggestion to others (encouragement), and explained some of the ritual in the Ukrainian Orthodox liturgy (th
eology). His parting gift was a punnet of strawberries from his patch (generosity). Usually we ask site owners for a discount or freebie, with Father Petro we were honoured to to make a donation towards the restoration of this wonderful site.