Summer.

Warmth, growth, abundance.

Picnics, bonfires, Bible camps, vacations.

Family.  Travel.

Weddings, reunions, celebrations.

Ice cream, berry picking, barbecues. 

Mosquitoes, forest fires, drought.

Garden produce.

Blessings.

The season of summer is so short in Saskatchewan that we have to pack in so much activity in a small space of time.  We experienced ALL of the above and here it is: September. Walter and I didn't officially take a vacation this summer, just day trips to the beach, the cabin and to the Sukanen Museum Threshing Bee.  But with the beautiful oasis that is our backyard, we didn't have to travel anywhere to feel the cooling breezes on a hot day, to eat a meal under the shade of our tamarack tree or cook "bush pies" over a fire.  

As I see the leaves beginning to turn to orange and gold, I feel that nostalgic twinge that summer is over and did I do all the things I hoped to?  I'm so thankful for the surprise blessing of a ride in a combine last week.  I hadn't ridden in the cab of a wheat-gobbling monster since I was a teenager!  Wow!  The view was amazing and the computerized technology blew my mind.  There is nothing like a sunset at harvest time.  Thanksgiving and praise flooded my heart.  How good it is to have those roots of farming in my family, to appreciate the pioneering spirit of my ancestors who made a living from the land!  

My heart ached as we heard news that our sister-camp, Pineridge Bible Camp, was threatened by wildfires and had to evacuate all campers and staff members.  They were unable to return to hold any camps all summer.  When it was deemed safe, the full time resident staff were in utter disbelief at how close the flames came to the buildings and houses.  Clearly God spared the camp!  Thankfully, the firefighting crews were diligent and kept watch, dousing flames that came within ten feet of the main house.   Only one old barn burned, leaving the tin roof on the ground.  The camp director commented that it saved his crew from having to tear it down anyways!  The upside was that some of the camp volunteers came to serve at the camp our daughter Caylea directs (2 hours away from Pineridge) and so enabled Big River Bible Camp to accept more campers this summer.

Although the calendar may say fall is around the corner, we will soak in these last few days or weeks of heat, flowers and fresh vegetables.  I will be grateful to my God for the beauty and joy of summer and rest in His faithfulness through all seasons. 

 

 

HEAVEN IS A WONDERFUL PLACE - Cindy M. Selke (August 23, 2025)

Sitting in my elementary school desk with the space for books and supplies above my lap and the metal rack under the seat for more storage, I recall discovering the gift of writing. The smell of old textbooks and chalk dust was the backdrop for the creativity about to burst forth. And the comments written in red ink beside my literary composition by a caring school teacher stirred what would become a lifelong desire to express myself through writing.

The first significant piece I remember working on was a short story on “Heaven” and I don’t remember how I came upon that topic. Had someone died recently? Was it chosen randomly from a list of suggested subjects? But once the idea was conceived, I took off with a rudimentary concept of the afterlife and my imagination.

I hadn’t read the Bible and didn’t have any theological understanding of heaven; I just had a desire for paradise. An escape? A home? A longing for peace and love and acceptance? I understand myself a little better now as I look back 45 years to the life experience of a 13-year old girl growing up on the prairies of Saskatchewan. Heaven seemed like a place I wanted to be sure of ending up eventually. So I created in my composition all the “best things” I could think of and put them together into a dream-like experience. On paper.

Now at the age of 58, still living in southern Saskatchewan, I am much closer to actually arriving at my heavenly home! Greying hair, wrinkles around the eyes, a granddaughter that I adore, all prove that I am not that young, idealistic and ambitious girl anymore. As God has seen fit to draw me into a relationship with Himself and open up the Scriptures to my finite - but spiritually renewed comprehension, I want to write what I have learned about that wonderful place called HEAVEN.

Revelation 21:1-5 is a reasonable place to start. The description of the eternal home of the saints was given to John, the Apostle, who was exiled to the Island of Patmos for following Jesus Christ. John received these images and words through visions given by Jesus Christ Himself through an angelic messenger (Revelation 1:1 & 9). He was also the author of the Gospel of John and the three letters entitled 1, 2 and 3 John of the New Testament. We can trust His authorship as the early church leaders approved and included these writings in the canon of Scripture.

Verse 1: “Then I saw a ‘new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…” John saw a new heaven and a new earth. The implication is that somehow the original created heaven and earth was gone, destroyed, disappeared. A new reality replaced the old. As Dr. Voddie Bauchum taught in a YouTube sermon, the new doesn’t mean “better or improved” but is the best, supreme, incomparable. The old had to go because of the stains and decay of sin. The heaven and the earth that God created out of nothing was beyond fixing up, repairing or patching somehow. Just as humanity needs a full replacement of heart, so nature, the universe needs to be made new, brand new.

And how could this depraved world be made new? One of the foundational influences that had to be dealt with was the devil, Satan, the deceiver. In Revelation 20:10, John wrote these futuristic words: :And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

But how did God finally end the tyrannical reign of the devil? Backing up sixty years or so before the giving of Revelation, our Lord Jesus Christ died on a Roman cross. His death signalled the fulfillment of the Old Covenant between God and the Jewish nation. Yearly, the sacrifice of the Passover lamb pointed to a once and for all Lamb who would take away the sins of the whole world! In Hebrews 9:12 Jesus served as both the priest offering the sacrifice for sin, and as the sacrifice, the Lamb. “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” The perfect and sinless Man, Jesus, fully satisfied all that God required to pay the price for sin - the sin of humanity all the way from Adam and Eve until the last person born on earth.

Not only that, but Jesus’ death on that cross, and His resurrection three days later, sealed Satan’s fate. He no longer owns nor controls the heavens and the earth. Revelation 1:18 declares, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” One of Satan’s titles is “prince of the power of the air” - after he had been cast out of heaven for leading the rebellion of many angelic beings against the Lord God Almighty. (Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ephesians 2:2) Satan had been allowed to exist and operate on the earth, in the spiritual and unseen realm of the “air.” But Jesus died, descended to the depths and retrieved the keys to death and Hades (hell). Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead, He ascended in the clouds to His place at the right hand of the Father. We see that Jesus reigns as the King…well, His final act is yet to come to take His rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Which is what John the Revelator continues to record in Revelation 21. Let’s look at verse 2. “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” Who is the bride? Why the reference to Jerusalem? What does that have to do with heaven and Jesus?

The city of Jerusalem is prominent in the covenant of God and the Jewish people. Many prophesies yet to be completed involve Israel, Jerusalem and the Hebrew people. It is more than politics or religion. This is God’s promises that He will prove good for throughout history. He promised His dwelling in the Temple of Jerusalem, to be present among His people. Now that promise extends beyond the nation of Israel and those of Hebrew lineage, but all the peoples of the earth have been invited to join in the spiritual vine through Abraham, Moses, David and the fulfillment, Jesus of Nazareth. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The term “world” is from the Greek, “ethnos”, which refers to nations or peoples, not exclusively the nation of Israel. The work of Jesus’ death on the cross is effective and available to all who believe. This forgiveness and redemption comes by faith in Christ alone. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith…” Ephesians 2:8a

Back to the bride and the Holy City…

God promised to dwell on earth through the Temple located in Jerusalem. Now John records the vision of a new Jerusalem - His bride. We know from references in Ephesians 5 and other statements in the book of Revelation, that the Bride is the Church, those who follow Jesus Christ by faith and are called saints. We collectively are known as Christians, Christ-followers and Jesus is the Bridegroom, coming back to take us home.

Home. Heaven. We all as believers in Christ are the betrothed Bride, having been promised to Jesus as our groom but not having been taken to our home with Him yet. We are preparing, being prepared by the Holy Spirit, to join with Christ. There is even a wedding supper being planned and prepared: “Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” (Revelation 19:9)

What a day that will be! The Bride in all her glory, having been made beautiful and perfect by the Blood of Jesus. And the banquet! Our North American weddings cannot hold a candle to the Jewish traditions of week long celebrations. The celebration of God’s Son and His Church being joined forever in eternity will be grander and more glorious than we can fathom!

“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people…” (Revelation 21:3 b) That place is described further in chapter 21 and 22. But the thing that John records in these first five verses of chapter 21 are that “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” The significant quality or notable point of heaven is that we will be comforted from all our sorrows and no longer have to deal with death, mourning, crying or pain. With no sin, no evil influences upon us, we will have perfect peace and joy. The “old order” refers to the laws of sin and death. They are gone.

Verse 5 is packed with truths that we can hold on to and fully believe. “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” God himself affirms from His place of authority and power, the throne. He says to write the words down because they are His words, fully trustworthy and true. God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). So when God declares He is making everything new, that includes you and me, the heavens and the earth.

My simple, imagined vision of heaven as a grade school student pales in comparison to the Biblical descriptions. I wrote about angels, clouds, light, a lovely bedroom all my own decorated as a teenaged girl in the 1970’s might envision. I can’t wait for the wonderful mansion God is preparing for me - for all of us - to delight us with pure joy and pleasure and freedom in His everlasting home. His presence will be the absolute delight of our souls!

Heaven is a wonderful place

Filled with glory and grace.

I want to see my Saviour’s face,

Heaven is a wonderful place.

(unknown)

 "A change is as good as a rest."  (anonymous)

Our second full week of camp was a change of pace:  Walter stepped out of his maintenance role and I handed over the kitchen duties.  Instead, Walter became the camp speaker, speaking ten times in five days.  He had prepared five lessons at home and hoped to finish his preparations once at Big River.  We were so busy once we arrived that there was little time to spend in Bible study. The theme Walter chose was to do an overview of the whole Bible, leading up to the death and resurrection of Christ.  A tall order!

I was to lead the worship sessions during the chapel times, choosing three or four songs each session.  I tried to carry over some of the songs Caylea and Campbell (who led worship in the evening chapels and at campfire) had done.  Some of the favourites during the Junior teen camp were:  My Lighthouse, My Redeemer Lives, Awesome God, Glorious Day and How Great is Our God!  I usually had Caylea at the keyboard, Eric on bass guitar and Kervans, a cabin leader from Saskatoon area, on "Cahone" and we sounded pretty good! A Nigerian man played on drums (Daniel?).  I truly enjoyed seeing the kids begin to learn the songs, get into the actions and begin to worship.

The warfare definitely ramped up as Walter and I approach every ministry opportunity very intentionally.  Walter wanted to teach and proclaim the Gospel, giving the foundation for many young people who may not know much about the Bible and why Jesus had to die on the cross.  Each night, we prayed together in our room and every morning, we joined in the staff meeting to pray.  Knowing these kids were often from difficult family situations and did not have consistent Christian input and Bible teaching meant we felt a serious responsibility to feed them truth that would carry them for months or even a year until they returned to the Bible camp!  

How did that warfare show up in real life?  We got sore throats.  Every evening I'd have tea with honey and try to preserve my voice.  And by God's grace I would open my mouth as I stood in front of the microphone and 60+ campers and cabin leaders and songs came out.  There were also some challenging behaviours and relational dynamics in the cabins.  Some kids wanted to go home after the first day!  Eric handled the fights, homesickness and other issues with calmness and kindness.  And we would pray with whoever was handy when the issues arose.  That's our best weapon!

Although at first I missed being in the kitchen and having the satisfaction of preparing and serving three meals a day, plus night snack, it was nice to focus on music and worship.  Walter and I love to minister together, me leading worship and Walter preaching.  We make a good team!

Caylea also assigned us to help her with Tuck at 3 pm each afternoon. Walter took the boys' line up and I took the girls; we crossed off the names of each of our "customers" so they wouldn't double-dip for their daily treats.  This way we did get to know the names, faces and even snack favourites  of each camper.  

Zayne - a small boy from the Big River area, who loved collecting clams during swim time.  He wanted to keep a bucket of them in his cabin and I tried to dissuade him.  He sat in the front row of chapel with his cabin-mates, often commenting on Walter's messages when we thought he wasn't paying attention.

Jake - a tall boy from a community about an hour from the camp, who carried sticks around.  From lovely small pieces of driftwood to long branches that the wind had broken off the trees, Jake gathered quite a collection.  He gave Walter his favourite stick at the end of camp so Walter would always remember him.

Danielle - at the end of chapel one day, she wanted to talk with Walter and her cabin leader brought her over to where we were still sitting when the others had been dismissed.  She lived on a First Nation nearby, and had been to camp once or twice in past years.  With amazing articulation, Danielle expressed her concern about forgiveness.  She believed God would forgive her but she felt she couldn't forgive herself.  My heart broke as I wondered what shame she was carrying and the lies the enemy was feeding her that she was somehow so stained she couldn't forgive herself.  Walter and I listened to her, and Walter counseled her from the Word of God.  She never shared her specific burden but we prayed for her and tearfully she joined her cabin for the next event.  The next evening at campfire, she stood up and shared that she had asked Jesus into her life!  Her smile was bright and she came and gave Walter a hug and thanked him for helping her come to the Lord.  

J., S. and A. - three sisters who were brought to camp by a social worker. They were living in with relatives in a nearby city, separated from their other sister and a younger brother.  The girls were put in a cabin together but their arguments and anger issues began to spill over.  One lunch hour, S. bumped into J., a plate fell and broke and tempers flared.  Eric jumped in to settle one sister; the nurse Juliana, grabbed a broom and began to sweep up the shards.  Finally J. left the dining hall and S. shrugged and continued on to get her food. By the final campfire, two of the three sisters gave testimony that they accepted Christ in their lives.  They were smiling, singing, and hugging one another.  Their fights had made them realize they needed to change or it would end badly.  God did a miracle!

Sh. - one young lady who came with others to say Bible memory verses to me (and I'd reward them with candy).  When the other campers drifted off to swim or play at the playground, Sh. sat at the picnic table across from me and began to share her story.  She had been raped at age 12 and had an abortion.  Her life had been a series of trauma, foster homes and too much sadness for such a young girl.  I listened, asked if she had support and someone to talk to.  She was evasive and I didn't want to pry.  I asked what else she would be doing this summer and it seemed that camp was her only opportunity to get out of a situation where she looked after the younger children in the home.  I was so thankful when Sh. gave her heart to Jesus at the last cabin devotional time.

So many lives, so many precious souls!  The sleepless nights, desperate prayers and extra efforts to teach, lead worship and engage in conversations were worth it to see over 20 junior teens give their hearts to follow Jesus Christ.  The comment was that they hadn't seen this kind of response to the Gospel in a few years at BRBC.  Only the Lord could do that.

By Friday afternoon, we were exhausted, but in a good way.  We helped unload the groceries and I got my mind into the head cook mode once again.  Then we hopped on our quad and rode around the camp property across the road.  The fresh air and change of scenery was rejuvenating.  We went into town for supper at Third & Main, then came back to relax.  

Saturday, I had again volunteered to warm up leftovers for the weekend staff.  I found a couple of cookie recipes and baked several dozen for Sunday night's snack.  I wanted to get a headstart on Week 3.  I think we also watched the Roughrider football game Saturday afternoon that had been delayed from Friday night due to the smoke from the northern forest fires.  (We also had smoke around our camp and one evening the kids had to come inside the chapel for their campfire songs and sharing time.)  Five young people from Pine Ridge Bible Camp (near Beauval, SK), came to BRBC as the fires caused the camp and surrounding communities to be evacuated.  We gained a couple extra staff for the following week but it was sad that our gain was Pine Ridge's loss.

Sunday, we went to church in town.  Walter had been asked to preach and I sang a song with Faith, one of the local young ladies who served at camp.  We sang "Jesus, Thank You", a song we did in chapel at camp.  It was great to be encouraged by the family of God as they prayed for all of us serving this summer.  And by 2 pm, we were gearing up for Week 3 - Kids Camp! 

 

 How does one describe the experience of Bible Camp?  Is it a job, a volunteer opportunity, an adventure or a series of calamities and miracles that God somehow directs by His sovereignty?

YES!  It is all of the above. 

Our first week at Big River Bible Camp was Teen Week.  Years ago the camp would start with the youngest age group and end the season with the teens.  But the former leaders/directors found the staff would be worn out by the time Teen Week happened and they were either sick, tired or both!  So they hold Teen Week first; the staff are fresh for the late nights and high energy needed.  The last two weeks are the youngest age group (ages 8-12) and the schedule has an earlier bedtime and an activity known as FOBIC.  This stands for Flat On Back In Cabin - nap time!  Another reason they have Teen Week first is that many of those teenage campers come back to serve as Leaders in Training (LIT's) and help with dishes, cleaning and games with the campers.  This training is also a practical program for discipleship/mentorship of the teens that make decisions to follow Jesus.  

Being head cook for Teen Week proved to be a challenge.  Even with notebooks and helpful hints to prepare meals, there are always questions about how much to cook, how many leftovers to freeze or re-invent for the week.  I made a few boo-boos, like forgetting a roaster full of spaghetti in the oven overnight (it got recycled into The Amazing Race game!)  Some of our toast turned out too dry so it got repurposed into croutons for Caesar salad!  I overestimated the amount of rice for one meal; it showed up as rice pudding the next supper. You get the picture!

My team in the kitchen was wonderful.  Two of the women were friends of ours from Regina/Saskatoon areas.  I appreciated their energy and support and advice.  One fellow was a volunteer from Edmonton who had cooked at a homeless shelter and as a baker so his height, strength and expertise was much-appreciated.  Another woman - whose husband was the speaker for Teen Camp - volunteered in the kitchen and quietly and cheerfully helped wherever needed.

Each morning, one of our kitchen crew went to the 8 am staff meeting with the other camp directors and cabin leaders.  The rest of us would get breakfast started.  Later in the day, we would take a break and the person who was at the meeting would share the gist of the morning devotional and any announcements and prayer requests.  This really proved to keep us in the know of the schedule and how to pray. 

The teens did their own dishes and cleaned bathrooms for Teen Week and so we got to interact with some of these campers.  As we helped coach them in the dish pit and showed them where the clean dishes, pots and pans belonged in the kitchen, we got to know them a bit.  Some had lots of energy and were teachable; some had little experience with work and needed lots of encouragement and reminders. Investing in their practical skills is part of the overall discipling and teaching at Bible Camp.

No one camper stands out from that week...but several of the staff and interns were on my heart.  I got to see them in their behind-the-scenes roles; I looked for opportunities to affirm them.  Telling them "good job" and writing a couple of encouragement cards was one of my other ministries besides cooking.

A third role I had was fill-in worship leader.  Caylea got a nasty cold and I filled in leading the morning chapel worship songs.  I threw off my apron and strapped on my guitar.  "My Redeemer Lives" and "Glorious Day" became very familiar to me and seemed to be favourites among the teenagers.  Then I'd run back up to the kitchen to carry on preparations for lunch. I felt stretched but it was amazing how God gives new strength.  Every. single. day.

Friday lunch of hot dogs, chips and watermelon was simple to cook and easy to clean up.  After the campers left, we all had extra cleaning duties.  I organized the leftovers for either the freezer or for meals on the weekend.  Rearranging the cupboards was another chore was to get the kitchen ready for the next week's cooking crew.  And then the clock struck 2 pm...the grocery delivery arrived!

For the next 15 minutes, all hands were on deck to unload and put away the food order.  The shelves in the cooler, freezer and pantry were overflowing and I was so grateful for the provision of God for another week of camp.

The last thing I did was mop the floor before calling it a wrap.  Walter and I went for supper with Caylea and Eric.  It was nice to relax a bit, take a walk by the dock along Cowan Lake and debrief.  We called it an early night.  

Saturday I volunteered to warm up leftovers for the staff who stayed for the weekend.  I made a homemade soup with some leftovers and some Pilsbury biscuits.  Supper was leftover smokies and pasta and salad.  

Sunday morning we drove a couple of the junior staff to church and it was good to just sit back and receive.  We knew a challenging week lay ahead of us and we needed all our energy and clear mindedness.  The next installment will be about that exciting adventure of Junior Teen week...

 

 Rachel and I met at the kitchen around 9:30 am to prepare lunch.  The menu included hashbrown casserole, ham and veggie sticks.  We divided up the tasks and got to work.  The kitchen is wonderfully equipped with convection oven, 2 natural gas ovens and 6 burners, a grill and walk-in cooler and freezer.  We also had access to a large Hobart mixer and a smaller Kitchen Aid machine.  The newly installed dishwasher in the dish pit was Walter's machine of choice!  It was a delight to cook in such an equipped and efficient kitchen.

Lunch was ready at noon, when the trainees were to arrive.  We fed about 30 of us in total and all went well.  (I had an entire pan of hashbrown casserole leftover but Eric assured me he would help consume any leftovers for breakfast!)  Meal #1 was a success and we began preparing for supper right away.

I went to Caylea's yard site, where she had a patch of rhubarb ready for the picking.  I harvested several long and tasty-looking stalks to make into Rhubarb/apple crisp.  While I baked, Rachel prepared a salad and got things ready for perogies and farmers' sausage for supper.  I loved working with my niece and her obvious skills and experience in the kitchen were a delight! I learned a lot from her.

That evening, we visited, relaxed and got the ground beef out for tomorrow's menu.  Quick story of God's provision for the camp:  Caylea received a call one day this spring from an abattoire about an hour away in the small town of Leoville.  "How would you like your beef cut and wrapped?"  came the voice over the phone.  Caylea had a small panic and many questions.  But calmly she said she didn't have any meat at their slaughter/butcher shop.  The man insisted:  someone has anonymously given a beef for the camp.  The cut and wrap fees are also covered by the donor. " How would you like the meat cut and in what sizes would you like it wrapped?" Caylea conferred with the former kitchen manager and then asked for ground beef.  The butcher offered to cut some steaks as well, since the donor thought it would be nice for the staff to celebrate at the end of camp with a nice barbecue meal!  

So back in May, I accompanied Caylea with the camp van to pick up the meat.  We drove one hour on gravel roads to the abattoire, had a wonderful chat with the Mennonite fellow who owned the business and shared the ministry of BRBC.  He was tinkled pink to be part of the secret/ anonymous donation of meat for such a worthy cause.  He carried the boxes to the van and we thanked him profusely.  What a blessing!

Back to staff training...I woke up and had my coffee and devotions.  Rachel and I set out cold cereal and bagels for the staff to help themselves to before their morning session of training. Walter was teaching on spiritual warfare, the armour of God and prayer.  There were also sessions on leading children to the Lord, how to share your testimony of faith and other items of rules, regulations and child protection policies for camp ministry taught by various other presenters.

One young presenter was a former volunteer at the camp.  She is now married, expecting their first child and looking for ministry opportunities in their future.  That morning, she came to me and the camp nurse to say she was bleeding.  We immediately made arrangements for the nurse to step in and cook, while I took the young woman to the hospital.  I drove her vehicle to Shellbrook, the closest hospital about 1 hour away. We waited for bloodwork and tests, to find out that she would have to go to Prince Albert - another 30 minutes away - for an ultrasound and consult with an ob/gyn.  It was a long day, full of emotion, silent prayer and small talk to fill in the time.

Her husband met us in P.A. and Walter brought her things from the camp to the hospital.  What we thought might be some tests and the assurance that all was well, or maybe that she needed bed rest, turned into a day of waiting, worrying and eventually the sad news that they lost the baby.

Nothing prepares you for that.

The young woman and her husband carried on to their home and Walter and I drove back to the camp.  All my concerns about cooking, menus and staff training faded in the light of such loss and feelings of helplessness.  I'm so glad we have the Lord as our strength, our comfort, our hope. I'm so glad this woman has her heart in the Lord's hands.

Rachel and Juliana made delicious food for the trainees - soup & bannock for lunch and then  porcupine meatballs, mashed potatoes and cooked veggies for the evening meal.  Rachel made her famous brownies and they were well-received by all!

The next morning, the young folks finished their training and were sent home.  Some would return for Teen Week as campers in a couple of days.  Some had joined the training via Zoom and were flying in on Sunday (in two days) to serve as cabin leaders.  Others would return to camp in two weeks as LIT's (leaders in training) to serve in practical ways and prepare as future/potential cabin leaders.

I'm glad we had the weekend to recuperate, watch a Roughrider football game and join the Big River Evangelical Free Church for fellowship before the REAL camp ministry began!

 

 The familiar scenery passed by the window as we made our way north.  Blue sky, a few clouds, a breeze coming from the west all accompanied us to Big River Bible Camp.  We planned for 4 weeks at the camp, our daughter Caylea inviting us to help her and the team run staff training and 3 weeks of kids Bible camp program.  

Were we prepared?

Even though you pack, make arrangements for the care of house and yard, and pray, nothing truly prepares you for camp ministry!  We hustled out of the truck when we arrived at the camp.  The NCEM Annual General Meeting was about to start and we made it just in time to join the Zoom gathering.  Following the hour-long formalities, we decided to have supper in town at the famous "Third and Main" restaurant, which is an excellent establishment!  Caylea and Eric joined us and we had a nice visit to start our time off serving at BRBC.

We unloaded our suitcases, electronics, my guitar and a selection of footwear into the main lodge.  Securing our favourite room -  next to the mechanical room - we made ourselves at home.  I also stowed away some food from our own fridge to use up in the next few days.  I was excited and a bit apprehensive about being "head cook" for 3 of the 4 weeks.  Walter was eager to take stock of the boats, sides-by-sides and other areas he would be in charge of as maintenance volunteer.  

But first things first:  Canada Day festivities were our initial order of business.  Early July 1 morning, we joined the BRBC staff to decorate two vehicles and a canoe for the Big River Canada Day parade. Then we drove into town for a pancake breakfast at the town's recreation centre and got arranged in the parade order. By 11 am, we were on our way, about 14 or so of us riding on the back of the truck, on the trailer hauling the old aluminum canoe or walking alongside the camp van.  While other parade participants handed out candy, we gave out kids' sized t-shirts from Big River Bible Camp.  That was a big hit!  The parade route also took us by a senior's home - where the residents and staff were waiting outside for a view and greetings!  All in all, we circled the town in over half an hour and it was a very impressive turn-out of spectators and participants.

We had been given free coupons for the local "Pier 55" ice cream shop and so we headed there as a group.  On the way back to the rec centre, we stopped by the Farmers' Market, buying some items made by local folks.  It was fun to be part of a small-town, rural community again, as both Walter and I grew up in similar communities.  And then it was back to the camp to begin preparations for staff training.

Our niece and nephew, Rachel and Mike, arrived about supper time and so we had food ready for their arrival.  Rachel would be helping me in the kitchen for the next 3 1/2 days; Mike would help Walter with maintenance and lead some worship times with the staff trainees.  The younger folks took off for town again to watch the fireworks, which wouldn't start until 11 pm because of how late sunset and the darkness would be this time of year.  We opted for an early bedtime.

And then the real work began... 

 

 Candidate Training 2025 Part 2...The Sequel!!!

Some highlights from our two weeks together are:

*The Band - Michael, from Pine Ridge Bible Camp, had a very understated way about him.  The first day of classes, I led in a song to open our time with worship.  No one else had stepped up or offered to help with worship leading/music so I didn't pursue.  But at the first coffee break, Michael was strumming on one of the camp guitars and I said, "Hey!  I didn't know you were musical.  Wanna play for our next chapel time?"

Next thing you know, Jordan was banging on the drum kit and seemed to know what he was doing!  So by the evening of Day 1, we had a 3-piece band!  Linsey joined with vocals between feeding and keeping baby Asher happy, and by Day 3, we also had a keyboard player!  We never found a name for our musical group, but we enjoyed playing and singing together songs like "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High", "Come, Now is the Time to Worship" and "Holy Forever". When the group was leading, there was just Walter, Emmanuel & Chalsie sitting in our audience!  On Sunday evening, we had a worship night and "The Band" led in a wonderful time with folks from the church in Big River as well as our candidates.

* Walks - The first evening that we were at the camp, we saw the mother bear and twin cubs.  The next day we saw a bear down by the waterfront of the camp!  So I wasn't so keen on taking walks by myself.  When the opportunity to stroll with others came, I jumped at the chance!  Caylea, her Bernese Mountain dog Lindy and I took a lovely walk with baby Asher in the stroller.  We wound our way along the Philips Grove resort/subdivision area next to the camp.  We gazed longingly at lovely cabins, some very big and modern, some quaint and humble.  The early green of spring was appearing on the trees and the cool spring air was refreshing.  I also took a couple walks with Walter in between our busy teaching schedule.  And Linsey, Asher and I enjoyed a short jaunt to the stop sign and back, just to get some fresh air and exercise.  (No bears accompanied us on said walks!)

*One afternoon, Walter took Ade & Emmanuel (our Nigerian trainees) to the Big River First Nation, at the invitation of a man from church who works in construction on the reserve.  They met a couple of people who work for our friend, Ed, and had a nice visit.  Then someone suggested that Walter and his friends from Nigeria meet another lady who is from Africa, as well.  Turns out Sister Rose Marie is from Kenya and assists the Catholic priest, who serves several reserves and towns in the area.  They had a wonderful time of fellowship with this woman who felt a definite call to reach First Nations people in Canada.  Then Walter, Ade & Emmanuel also had opportunity to pray for a man who recently had a stroke, and then for another relative who wanted prayer!  The doors seemed wide open to share about Jesus and comfort folks through a ministry of visiting and prayer.  

*For us personally, it was a joy to visit with Tony & Janet Ens from Whitehorse.  They are great listeners!  But we were able to connect on both nights they were at Big River Bible Camp, catching up on family, grandchildren, ministry stories and personal stuff.  Lifelong friends are a treasure and we felt cared for even though we aren't officially under their "Candidate Care" portfolio!

On the last Friday morning, we had a wonderful time of worship together, a  final debrief of the overall courses and topics.  It was helpful for us to hear some of their take-aways and what impacted them most.  We could easily have had another full day of class just debriefing and unpacking the many deep areas that we only covered in a general way.  We gave each one a gift card to Subway and a little personal note of thanks and blessing to these folks whom we grew to love and feel close to in the past 14 days. Linsey gave us a thoughtful gift of fresh ground coffee (roasted locally) and bath salts, also SK made on behalf of the class of 2025. Before we dismissed, we handed them a "Feedback" sheet to fill out and give us some suggestions for improvement for the next training.

 What an honour and privilege to help train and prepare new missionaries/volunteers for ministry!  Even though we know much more could have been taught, more discussions facilitated and more hands-on experience offered, we trust the Holy Spirit will finish the real-life training and equip each one for their service beyond what we could provide!  

As each of us packed our vehicles and grabbed a bag lunch for the road, we felt like we were launching our own kids.  We felt proud, excited and a little nervous for them!  We prayed for them as if they were our own, and will check in with them in the coming weeks to see how they're doing.  

"Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations..."  Matthew 28:19

"Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation..."  Mark 16: 15