Then to arrive and have Doris and Joe be so helpful in set up and hauling stuff and Sandra checking in to see if we needed anything else. Then the kitchen comfort team ministered to us through beautiful Sonia and delicious food prepared lovingly: Janet & Linda/butter tarts! Yum!

It is no wonder amazing things happened!

I thank you for your quiet service in caring for our group, me and all those who are fortunate enough to pass through your doors.

Blessed by you all!

Shelley

We are planning to be back next year from Sept. 17-22 and will happily give a deposit. Once again we will have to give it in installments – October, March and July.  We would, however, like confirmation on the 2011 cost of facility use, meals and rooms, as we need this for our budgeting and planning in the coming year. There will likely be a similar number of students. We are prepared to book the same week every September for the next 10 or more years.

Once again, thank you and the staff for all your kindness.

Rita S

Fascinating groups, guests who leave as friends, innovative speakers, dynamic presentations and spectacular displays have brought countless hours of interest and joy to those who serve at Cedar Lodge. Below, one of the groups who spent some time with us … training in the freezing waters!

… never a dull moment!

Cedar Lodge boasts of a strong repeat business as well as ‘happy’ ‘happy’ customers constantly and fervently recommending our venue.

Our business just keeps on growing as word of our great …

service …

hospitality …

cuisine …

spreads far and wide.

Thousands of people from all over the globe, National and International Events, weddings, family reunions, retreats, conventions, conferences and seminars … have had the pleasure of our outgoing hospitality, friendly service and outstanding cuisine since 1997.

…  providing a spirit of excellence  …

THANK YOU to all of our very faithful customers, a few of whom are listed below, many who book every year, sometimes twice or even three times a year.  Some of our customers have been with us since we opened … they say they wouldn’t go anywhere else!

They tell us over and over again how they ‘dream about’ our soups, desserts and our famous turkey and roast beef dinners.

In return, our highest compliments to all of our guests … thank you for making our many years here the most exciting, fascinating and fun-filled trip we ever could have imagined.  To have received all of what you have given us immeasurably compliments our ‘first love’ … helping others along their sometimes winding road, and through that process witnessing …

… many renewed hearts and restored lives.

THANK YOU !

Although this list is by no means everyone who has ever been guests at Cedar Lodge (our memory sometimes fails us) if you do not see your name below but would like to, just give us a call and it will be our pleasure to include you.

Until we meet again, thanks for the memories.

Aden Bowman Collegiate Band

All Nations Hope AIDS Network

Agriventure

Assemblee Communautaire Francaise

Bethlehem Catholic High School

Blackstrap Interagency Group (BIG)

BST Tutor Retreat

Cameco

Canada Employment and Immigration

Canadian Diabetes Association

Canadian Wildlife Federation

Christian Cowboys

Christian Heritage Party

Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon

Church of God Moose Jaw Young Adults

Cloggers

Community Living and Resources

Cornerstone Christian School

Corrections

Dept of Highways

Development and Peace

Elbow Lutheran Women

Environment Canada

Erindale Alliance Ladies Retreat

Faith Lutheran Youth

File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council

First Baptist Church

First Nations Health

Flying Dust 1^st Nation

French Parents Association

George Vanier School

Grain Services Union Biennial Convention

Green Party

Health Canada

Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan

Hepburn Youth

Human Rights Commission

Indigenous Peoples’ Health Research

International Bible College

Leadership Saskatoon

MS Society

NNADAP – Emotional Intelligence

North Battleford Food Bank

NSERC

Ombudsman

Open Door

Prairie Pitch Adventure Race

Prairie Therapists

Public Health

Saskatoon Quilters Guild

Regina Urban Aboriginal Staff Retreat

Rug Hookers

Rural Development Institute

SARC

Sask Energy

Sask Environment

Sask in Motion

Sask Justice

Saskatchewan Association of Professional Aromatherapists

Saskatchewan Bed and Breakfast Association

Saskatchewan Career Work Education Association

Saskatchewan Ice Rescuers

Saskatchewan Organic Directorate

Saskatchewan Orthodox Women’s Retreat

Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association

Saskatchewan Prevention Institute

Saskatchewan Soccer Association

Saskatchewan Teachers Federation

Saskatoon Children’s Choir

Saskatoon Tribal Council

Saulteaux’s 1^st Nation

SCSR

Selective Mutism Canada

Seventh Day Adventists Mens Retreat

Sew Fun

SIAST

SIGA

Silverspring School

SSWG

STEC

Society for Aid to the Handicapped

Spinners and Weavers

Sunwest School Division

The Calll

The Redeemed Christian Church of God

The Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement and Integration Agencies

Thunderchild Human Services Corp

USASK

U of S Support Group

University of Saskatchewan Wind Orchestra

Victim Services

Virtus Group

Water Wolf Regional Round Table

West Portal Youth

World Ice and Snow Sailing Championships

Youth for Christ

Youth Solvent Addictions Commission

Yukon Regional Round Table Centre

My very favourite time every year at Cedar Lodge is the gathering up of the flocks of snow geese that land on Blackstrap Lake.  In mid October, one can spot what appears to be a ‘snow cap’ on the water at the north end of the lake, but in fact, it is the beginning of the gathering of the geese for their migration to the south.

After they have spent often many hours on the lake, they will fly over Cedar Lodge and visit various farmlands within a radius of about 4 kms.  Each stop they make, they meet up with more and more of their fellow geese and after a day of landing and eating and lifting and soaring they make their way … a larger group now … again to the north end of Blackstrap Lake.  This time the ‘snow cap look’ on the lake has increased to about double the previous day.

The following day, the same routine, until a larger and larger flock has developed and when the snow geese finally leave Blackstrap Lake for the trek south, as they pass over Cedar Lodge, their passing can take up to 35 minutes, so many in number are they.

Yesterday, (October 21st) I heard them in a neighbour’s field making a tremendous noise … they were several quarter sections south. We took the truck down the back roads and came to their feeding spot.

See http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/geese.htm … for more information on the snow geese and their gregarious behaviour.

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking care of my dad.

He had nothing but good things to say about you and your kindness.

You supported him unconditionally and I truly believe that if he were still here, he would continue on his road to recovery with your helping hand.

I had faith in him to fight his demons and win, if he had more time on this earth, he would have.

Thank You

Sandra McLeod

Vancouver B.C.

Ross McLeod passed from this life

on August 28, 2007 in Medicine Hat Alberta

He was 42

He will be missed by many

AND WHAT A DECADE IT WAS !!

We have provided hospitality, service and fabulous cuisine for thousands of events, some national, some international. We have provided spectacular surroundings for weddings, wedding receptions, seminars, conferences, family reunions, high school reunions, government workshops, retreats, respite and a whole host of various adventures.

Additionally, we have served hundreds of thousands over the past more than 10 years with our food distribution program. We have served hundreds in drug and alcohol recovery inasmuch as we are a long term residential treatment facility when we are not otherwise fully booked. Individuals have come from as far west as Victoria, B.C. and from as far east as Prince Edward Island for treatment.

Our amazing staff (all volunteers) provide the warmest hospitality and service bar none. And our kitchen staff!! They are unbelievable – home cooked meals that people come back for time and time again.

We have faithful customers who book their events with us year after year and we have bookings into the year 2011. One such customer recently remarked after hosting two events every year since 1997 (our first year) – “… in ten years, you have not shirked in any area, you are just as friendly, just as efficient and the meals have not waivered, not one bit.”

We want to thank our incredible suppliers, sponsors, donors and supporters, without whom these countless individuals would not have been served with our best efforts, services and supplies.

Here are just a few of those – we are sure we will leave out some if not many.
Please forgive us if we do and email us to include you in our list.

Yellowhead Pizzas and Subs, Sobey’s (Safeway), London Drugs, Great Canadian Bagel, Great Canadian Superstore, Martin’s Produce, Star Produce, Star Egg, Family Pizza, Saskatoon Family Network Inc. to name a few.

Over the years, our many tireless volunteers, many of whom have been with the ministry for more than these 10 years, with few vacations – Sandra Howarth, Linda Laird, Lee Hilton, Keith Hills, Sonia Hazen, Al and Audry Wersch, Rob and Georgia Van Doornum, Jonathan Wiebe, Richard Perras, Sandie McDade, Sheldon and Lisa Dyck, Casey Stokman, Helen Kvale, Dave and Lori Washington, Colleen Troesch, Doris and Joe Rubio, Cindy Kemp, Janet Sebelius, Rachel Laird.

Without the help of these diehard troopers, there would have been no honors, no awards, no literary events … no wonder when the Premier invited me to his banquet, when I told him of their work of constant dedication, and that I did not do any of this alone, he told me, in that case, bring them all.  I believe there were 14 who attended the Saskatchewan Order of Merit ceremonies with me.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS, MANY OF WHOM COME OUT AND WORK WITH US SIDE BY SIDE WHILE WE CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PROVINCE AND OUR NATION.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Suzanne Claire Olaski, S.O.M.

Written by Suzanne Olaski.

This part of the journey all began in 1990, when a prophecy was spoken over me that I would be a part of  the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. I was told that I would be in charge of a location that would include one large building with two side buildings and there would be about 240 people there.

That evening a few of us searched the scriptures regarding the various things that had been spoken … we noted how Ephesians 4:12 speaks of this directly … we looked for 240 but there was no such number … but what did seem to fit was 120 … in several places … not the least of which was … about 120 in the upper room at Pentecost.  Two Hundred and Forty was DOUBLE 120! And we have all heard about the double portion that is coming.

During that season of my walk with the Lord, although I was deeply involved in mission work in Oakland, California … (mostly street ministry in the heart of the ghetto) … I wasn’t very sure of what such a prophecy could mean for me and so, as had proven wise in the past, I put the prophecy on the shelf and determined that whatever the Lord wanted, I would trust that He would prepare me for whatever it was that He had in mind for me.

In 1994, I was visiting friends in Saskatoon. A long time acquaintance called me and happened to mention about a property out at Blackstrap Lake that was for sale. This person knew nothing of the prophecy and quite frankly, when she first mentioned it, I took no particular notice. When I hung up the phone, Keith, who is with this ministry still today, asked “what property are they talking about?” I told him and he said “It sounds like that prophecy spoken a few years back. I think perhaps we should go to look at it.” Someone else said “yes, we’re supposed to.”

This then confirmed in my spirit and everyone jumped up to get ready to go. But the Lord put His hand before me and asked that we WAIT … just a little bit … so I told everyone … “OK, we ARE supposed to go, but not right now.” Since most of my friends were pretty used to the fact that the Lord had purposed to train me to specifically WAIT … that the timing was always critical … they gave me no difficulty about this … and so we all sat down to WAIT, filling in the time with a variety of occupations. About an hour and a half later, the Lord made it clear that it was time to go to see the property … now. At that time, only Lee was available to drive me.  So, off we went.

Cedar Lodge had been vacant for more than 5 years and so there would be no-one on the premises to show us around, but we went ahead anyway. As we were about to drive onto the property, a car drove in ahead of us and we followed it right to the front doors. We all got out of our cars and a gentleman came towards us and asked who we were and what we would like. I said we had heard that this property was for sale and so we just drove out to take a look.

“Well,” he said, “you’ll have to get yourself a real estate agent or you can call the listing agent and get more details.”

We said that would be fine and we chatted somewhat briefly when I happened to say that the Lord had brought us to see the land.

With a sudden shift in his eyes, he asked, “The Lord told you to come here?”  He seemed amazed and even shocked.

He took a deep breath as he pondered my response … and after not more than a moment, this statement proved to be the deciding factor for the man to take us into the building to show us around. He spent the next two hours showing us everything and telling us all about the property. It turns out he had been involved with the property since it was first built  (The Seventh Day Adventists built it in the early 70′s).  George lived on an acreage just south of the property and was the person hired to check the site on a regular basis to make sure everything was in order.

One of the things that I first noticed (which had been removed prior to our purchase of the building 3 and 1/2 years later) were praying hands above each doorway to each room. Another thing of interest was that there were 60 rooms … if there were two double beds in each … the sleeping capacity was 240 … as well, it could be considered that there was a large building in the middle with two wings to the building which almost appeared to be “side buildings.”

Not wanting to make anything more out of the situation than what God intended, we decided to move with moderation. And yet, the Holy Spirit was prompting me to take the next step.

Having been at one point in my career a real estate broker with my own firm, I was fully aware of the law of agency. When the Holy Spirit asked me to make an appointment with the owner, I did. I made it perfectly clear that I had no intention of dealing out any real estate agent, but I simply felt that with a property such as this (and considering the prophecy etc) a meeting with the owner to determine his heart in the matter was absolutely necessary.

A few days later, a friend agreed to drive me to Regina to meet with Ray Gerry, the owner of Regina Recovery Homes … a drug and alcohol recovery organization. When we first arrived at the meeting, Mr. Gerry made it quite clear that he would only look at cash offers, that he was not interested in taking back a mortgage nor being involved in an agreement for sale. I asked if we could possibly look at a rent to own situation since at least someone would be on the property which is always a benefit to maintaining the condition more easily than someone caretaking the building. He said, “No, I’ve got to have cash.”

He then went on to say that the Lord had told him to hold on to the building for a special purpose … but he was genuinely hoping that it wouldn’t be that much longer since it was costing him several thousand dollars per month just to keep the building maintained sufficiently. At that price, over five years he had likely spent in excess of $300,000 with nothing coming back to him in return. He also informed me, “the Lord has told me that I will know which offer to take when the right one crosses my desk.”

At this point, there did not appear to be anywhere else to go with the meeting, so we each said we would stay in touch and Ray suggested that I contact him as soon as we had some money. As we were standing by the door, about to leave, Ray somewhat wistfully remarked, as if he were speaking to himself …

“Who knows … maybe the people that buy this building will do something so amazing … it will change the whole world.”

I simply said … while trying not to appear to notice the enormity of what he was saying …
“Who knows … ?”

From that time on, Ray and I would speak on the phone every several months usually prompted by a call from me to see if the property was still for sale and to ask if Ray was any closer to finding a buyer or possibly changing his mind about finances. Without fail, he would ask me if I had any money … and time and again, I would answer, “not yet.”

This continued for about three years until in January of 1997 when the Lord had me prepare an offer to purchase which I typed on my computer. When it was finished, the Lord then asked me to “put the computer away” … which I did.

During this three year stage, (1994 – 1997) there were 7 of us being prepared to work together in a single family home … we were learning that Christians are “called” to take in those less fortunate, which enables us to share what God has given us … (so that none would lack) … the Lord brought us, one at a time, situations to test our faith and He asked us to love some of the least … the learning included providing for the needs of others to the point of leaving far behind our comfort zones … in order to truly sacrifice our time, our resources, our energy, our LIFE.

In June of 1997, on a day that seemed to be just like any other day, while we were all at home, I was compelled to enter the office and bring out my computer. I set it up and began to print up the document which had all the details for purchasing Cedar Lodge.

Someone was looking over my shoulder and said “is that the Blackstrap offer?”
“Yes,” I answered.
“Does that mean we have come into some money?” they asked.
I said “no, it’s just that the Lord is impressing me to send the offer out today.”

At that point I began to fax the papers to Ray Gerry in Regina. As it turned out, Ray was in the office and called me within a half hour. My offer had asked for him to give me 40 days within which to raise enough funds for $800,000 and that in 3 weeks I would give him $100,000 as a sign of good faith.

The first thing Ray said to me somewhat chastisingly was:  ”Suzanne, I can’t possibly take my property off the market for 40 days in the height of the best selling season of the year.”

Since by now we were talking on a first name basis with some friendship in our conversations, I chided him by saying, “Now Ray, you have had the property on the market for literally years and if you haven’t sold it by now … I can’t see how these next 40 days will make all that much difference. Besides, you could accept conditional offers if ours falls through.”

He paused for a moment as if he was thinking hard … suddenly, he said … “let me ask you a question … do you have ACCESS to that $100,000 you mentioned?”

“Well,” I thought, “he didn’t ask me if I had the money in the bank, so that was a good thing … but, I thought, as a child of the King, OF COURSE I HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE FUNDS.”

And so, without any hesitation at all, I said “YES I DO !!”

His answer took me totally by surprise … “then why don’t you just give me $100,000 on closing and I’ll give you a mortgage for the rest.”

I said ok … and the deal was struck!! … no more paperwork, no lawyers, no haggling … it was finished!

Ray took his papers the next day to his lawyer and I found a lawyer in Saskatoon.

You must understand that at that time, I had no idea where the $100,000 would come from … since I had left my job as a paralegal in Toronto many years ago, venturing out on a journey with the Lord, even my business acquaintances were few.

But one thing was for sure … if God wanted the deal to go through, then He would make a way … and I could rest in that knowledge. Since it was the Lord that had told me to proceed (His words exactly were “buy and occupy”) I had absolutely no difficulty in following through with what He had instructed me to do.

By now it had become easy to continue in the ways that He had been teaching me for about ten years … that I need not even ask anyone for anything (since my Father knows what I have need of before I even ask) … and that He would surely be my provider. He had called me “out of the world” in 1988 for this purpose.

Way back then He had told me that there was coming a day when His people would need to be reminded that He was looking for a people of faith and we cannot know what our faith consists of until we are tried … only then is it made known whether you wholly “believe” … such belief allows you to “enter in.” He wanted me to bring to His people the message that He and He alone by His hand can make a way for them, not just sometimes, but every time.

It was also made plain to me that we can preach faith all we want, but if we do not practice or exercise our faith, if we do not allow God to prove His faithfulness in times of trouble, then we can speak about His provision all the day long but we really do not KNOW that it is true. If the experience is REAL for you then it will bring truth to the hearers.

One week after I had delivered the papers to the lawyer, he asked me if I would be bringing in the $100,000 in order to get it into the trust account … I said “not this week.” At this point in time, he did not really show any concern about this delay but the following week he asked me again … “did you bring the $100,000 with you?” … again, I said “no.” He looked at me a little hesitatingly, but again he did not press me … but when the following week he asked me if I had brought the money with me and I had not, he began to express his concerns.

“You do HAVE the money, don’t you, Suzanne?”

I knew that the gentleman had some knowledge of Scripture, so I said …”well … you know Daniel … and the angel … and the 21 days? … It’s something like that!”

He thought for a moment and then a look of horror came across his face … “Oh no,” he said, “you DON’T have the money do you?” And then he asked me … “Do you know what they are going to do to you if you don’t complete this deal? They are going to sue you for everything you have!”

I smiled just a slight smile of knowing … “well that’s ok,” I said, “for you see, I don’t have anything. So, if all of this is simply about becoming a fool for the Lord, then so be it. But I must tell you, if the Lord God asked me to buy the building and occupy it, I can assure you He has a plan and His words spoken to me will not return void.”

Everything else was proceeding nicely, but a week before closing, the lawyer was very very concerned … particularly because the lawyer from Regina asked him if he was holding the funds in trust as yet … and my lawyer had to say no.

Faith continued to allow me to remain in His rest … I asked no-one to help us … this spoke very loudly to the lawyer and others who were watching … I was unaware of neither their interest nor their concerns.

As promised, THREE DAYS prior to closing, a lady came forward and said that she had been wrestling with the Lord about Cedar Lodge and the Lord had shown her that she was to be the one to give us the $100,000.

Much of the story is already long behind us … many believed that we had no capability to remain here … I never gave it a thought! It is, after all, a House of the Lord and, as such, it is HIS provision that keeps us here to serve.

Although there seemed to be huge obstacles to overcome (the pool was not working … there was no water flowing to the building and we were told that the pipes were collapsed … just to name two) the Lord has never failed us. In spite of the enormous financial commitments each month … a monthly mortgage payment to be made which is more than $6,000 … insurance close to $1,000 each month … utilities that together run as high as $7,000 … these are just for starters before we buy food and all the other necessities to run a 60 room hotel and convention center, not to mention care for many people who reside here either as volunteers or people seeking refuge.

And these are only the financial demands … there are the human resources which are ALL donated by our generous volunteer staff. It is these resources that run the treatment and recovery elements of Cedar Lodge with the gift of “hospital..ity.”

In addition (since 1996) we operated a food distribution program wherein we picked up from various wholesalers countless products including fresh produce and distributed these to several churches and dozens of individual families in crisis in Saskatoon. This part of the ministry required more than a thousand dollars per month and countless hours from volunteers. This program continued for more than years … and when the truck finally ran out of steam, about that same time our elders who were providing the service pretty much ran out of steam too.  We took that to mean that the Lord would have us retire from this ministry … whether for a season or not, we don’t know, or perhaps just waiting on a younger bunch to continue the work.

In spite of the enormous providence required (we have no idea from month to month from what particular avenue our supply will come), but we DO know that God is our Provider! He has continuously made a way when there seemed to be no way … I do not concern myself with upcoming bills … for this is HIS HOUSE … and I am merely His child. If I never needed to worry as a child if my earthly father would provide for me and if I never had to think if the lights would be working the next day, now much more would my Father in Heaven care for me?

Since we opened in 1997, we have held literally thousands of events !! These include both national and international events. We have rarely advertised, we have never called anyone to come, we made no promotion of the facility whatsoever until someone offered to put up a website for us on the internet. The Holy Spirit arranges by divine appointment every guest who arrives here and every one who serves here.  For many years we were all volunteers and in the past few years we have a couple of part time people.  Not one of our volunteers gets paid – however, those of us serving know only to well that to be a part of what God is doing here is payment enough … it’s exciting to work in the House of the Lord!

The Lord’s Word to me is continually confirmed. One of the things that He told me was that I would never have to go anywhere to preach (although I would be often asked to preach elsewhere) … that the Lord would bring the people right to the door … that everyone who crossed the threshold of this building had been brought here by Him … that I would not have to lock the doors for He had sent His angels to watch over us … and that anyone who came here would in time obtain their heart’s desire (with many many testimonies confirming).

If a person wanted more faith, they would obtain more faith, … since this is a move of Faith, this promise is not hard to understand … but it had been also prophesied that worldly requests would also be met and these too have come forth.

It is true that the Lord has given me a gift of Faith. This gift has served me well, but gifts of God are for the blessing of many. Each member of the Body of Christ has giftings, not for themselves alone but for the edifying of the whole … for the benefit of all … I thank God for the number of people who have come here and by His Hand, by His Grace and Mercy, through this House as one of His appointed places, He has blessed so many.

The call is going out to the Body of Christ in this day, in this hour, to rise up and be counted … many who have laboured here have given their all … and many have been set free … please heed the call to be “builders of old waste places, to be repairers of the breach and restorers of paths to dwell in.”

The Ministry at Cedar Lodge has stood in faith for more than 13 years. Your support in whatever form God has made provision for you to provide … prayers, giftings, finances and time is sincerely appreciated.   We are blessed by a continuing release of the resources of the Body of Christ which allows us to provide the excellent care that is being increasingly sought by individuals, by government, by addictions services & ministers of the gospel. Even the secular community has said … “surely God is in this place.”

Sometimes we have been chastened for the ‘variety’ of people who have come to our place of refuge. Please understand, Cedar Lodge is not about me and my decisions. But we press on in spite of those who may misunderstand our work, knowing clearly the calling upon Cedar Lodge and its servants.

In fact, it is not very difficult to stand strong, remembering always the very first day we arrived … with the keys in my hand and the enormity of the project momentarily flashing before me … I stepped out onto the deck overlooking the lake and I asked the Lord … Why DID you give me this building?

And the Lord answered …

“Because I knew that whenever possible, you would not turn anyone away.”