One hundred people milled in the meeting room, voices rising as greetings and conversations grew in number and intensity.  The M.C. of the day attempted to draw their attention but with little affect. Soon, a few caught on and sat down; others stopped talking and quickly followed suit.
Happy sounds of missionaries visiting!
Walter was the M.C., using his loud voice to project over the other ninety-nine equally vocal ministers and preachers.  With a wide grin, Walter addressed the group for the first time as their new General Director.  A little nervousness and a lot of joy filled Walter as he welcomed the NCEM staff from as far as Ft. McPherson, NWT and Whitehorse, YT to Cumberland Bay, NB!  One single woman and her adopted Inuit daughter also joined the gathering from Purvungnituk, PQ!  This was an exciting occasion that only happens once every three years.
To look out over the crowd was an amazing privilege.  To communicate the love for the mission family and the vision for First Nations ministry was the desire both of us had as we met with these dear folks.  The butterflies settled down as we recognized so many faces and were met with smiles of encouragement and support.  The week started off positively.
I was also privileged to be "up front"and lead or co-lead the worship times.  Having practiced with Rollie and Sue at the Headquarters back in June, we had met for a brief warm-up before this session.  I enjoyed making music with the team and was so blessed to hear the folks singing their hearts out and raising their hands in praise!   The rich harmonies and glorious volume filled the room and filled my heart; God was here.
Some of the conference had been pre-planned before we came on the scene of leading NCEM.  So the speaker and some of the schedule was in place.  But clearly God had been pre-planning because the messages by Tim Whatley of Ethnos, Canada, were right on!  He spoke four times on a Servant's Heart and the truths in Scripture of serving in missionary work as sincere and humble servants.  He reminded us of our call, of the sacrifice and of the need to be teachable and correctable as leaders.  With his wife, Kathy also at this conference, we listened raptly to the tales of their missionary service in Indonesia and how Jesus redeemed a village.  It was riveting and inspiring.
We also heard reports from the various Bible camps, Tribal Trails and FirstStory Ministry as only a portion of the missionary outreach strategies to reach First Nations.  I personally felt more connected as we listened to the latest lives being impacted by the Gospel.  That never gets old!
By the closing service, we were becoming tired out and ready to head home.  But again, the Lord gave a special communion time and the opportunity for Walter and myself to show our longing to be servants to the NCEM family.  Walter knew from early on that the Lord was asking us to wash our former director's feet, along with his wife's, as part of the ceremony.  This is not a tradition common to our group, nor to our own ministry experience.  But in John 13,  Jesus powerfully demonstrates His heart to serve and our calling to follow His example.  Through tears, we knelt before them and washed their feet.  I looked up and both of them were also openly weeping.  May this be an impactful moment that inspires our staff to go and do likewise.
There were hard conversations and many side meetings throughout the conference. Some are not thrilled with the new directions Walter and our executive team are introducing.  Some are looking forward to a future of fresh ideas and opportunities.
"By Faith to Establish Strong, Indigenous, Multiplying Churches" ~ may God empower us to be faithful in this calling!

I stifled a yawn while Caylea clicked from one picture to another on her laptop and her cellphone. She was the one with jet lag and I felt exhausted!
With great expression and animation, Caylea described her tour from Germany, to setting foot in Switzerland for about 20 minutes, then on to Paris, France and to London, England.  The tour ended in Ayr, Scotland with a tour of a castle and a walk on the beach.  A train ride back to England and they flew Icelandic Air to Minneapolis.
Although tired and yet confused as to when to go to bed and when to eat, she doesn't seem too worse for the wear.  God blessed her and kept her safe and healthy.  (She did admit to having a couple bad nights and missing the Vimy Ridge afternoon to sleep.)  Tomorrow will be a quiet day around here.
It was a wonderful evening, as Caylea chatted on the phone with her Dad, who was up in Prince Albert; Daniel also dropped by and compared his Paris experience.  I am so thankful for the opportunities they can share.  I am a happy Mom!
I had taken a picture of her today with her souvenirs lined up on the dining room table, but she forbid me from posting it on Facebook.  So I will use another for this blog...

Caylea in Scotland

CAYLEA'S ON HER WAY HOME!
I am waiting at home in Regina for what is taking 3 days for our daughter to leave Europe, fly over the top of the globe, with a layover in Iceland, and then arrive at the Minneapolis International Airport.  Caylea has been traveling with the Root family: Spurgeon, Gina Marie and their two teenaged daughters, Tirzah and Keziah.  They graciously invited her along on their adventure and made all the arrangements.  The best deal was to drive to Minneapolis and fly to Frankfurt from there.  Spurgeon has a relative in the area and left their vehicle with those folks for the two weeks they would be gone.
Caylea messaged once from the Iceland airport and then again from Minneapolis last night.  Tonight they should be in Jamestown, North Dakota, and will drive the rest of the way tomorrow.  Wisely, they decided to break up the 13-hour drive into two days, anticipating that jet lag would be an issue!
On Sunday at the Healing Hearts service in Regina, I shared how we had hoped to greet Caylea on her arrival home, but we had commitments at the NCEM office in Prince Albert this week.  We asked for prayer for God to work things out.  Walter kindly suggested I stay home while he went back to Prince Albert.  He would come home Thursday in order to connect with Caylea before we had to be gone for the big conference next week.  Fortunately, others could look after a couple of details for me at the office so I could be home when our world traveler walks in the front door!
Its been good to attend to some errands and "little things" around home that have been neglected in the past month.  With Daniel having just moved into a place of his own, and Caylea gone over two weeks now, it was time to do some weeding, housecleaning and baking!  My "to do" lists have been long, but I've been able to check the items off quite easily with no one else to worry about in this big old, lonely house!
Tomorrow, I have a couple of appointments and I hope to pick some crabapples that are beginning to ripen and fall off the branches in the backyard.  Before I know it, Caylea will be pulling her luggage up the sidewalk and calling out "Hi Mom!"
God does work things out and helps clear the path before us.  He understands a mom's heart!

We are gearing up for the General Conference of NCEM held at Wilderness Edge in Pinawa, Manitoba.  Since accepting the leadership of NCEM back in March, one of our first responsibilities was to help plan and organize this conference.  Held once every three years, the missionaries from all over Canada gather to worship, fellowship, do business and play together!
Walter has a large part in the week's activities: speaking, teaching a couple workshops and leading a communion service.  I am co-leading the worship times with two very talented musicians in the mission and I am excited to participate in a ministry that "revs" me up!
This will be the first time Walter has addressed the missionary body as a whole to communicate to the entire group the vision and direction he senses God wants to take Northern Canada Evangelical Mission.  Our phrase or motto as a new Executive Team has been "It's a New Day!" and yet it will be a delicate balance of honouring the history and legacy of this almost 75 year old ministry to introducing and affirming the new ideas and strategies to be implemented.
I've been praying about this conference a lot.
In light of the recent history of NCEM and the major changes that have been introduced since we took on directorship, we wonder how this meeting time will go...
Some folks don't adapt well to change; others are gung-ho for fresh vision and new ideas!
As I pray about the time our mission family will dwell together, I pray that the Holy Spirit will set a tone of sweet fellowship, that He will bring healing to those who are wounded and peace to those who have felt turmoil.  I ask the Father to protect us, especially Walter, as he and the Executive Team provide leadership and spiritual covering for the organization.
I pray for the child and youth workers we have invited to minister to the missionary kids.  It is relatively easy to find a venue and cooks and speakers for a big event.  But the availability and capability of quality childcare is a challenge!  So I pray these willing servants will be blessed for their ministry and will impact the MK's with their lives not just their words and activities.
If you think of us, please pray for the conference held August 21-25.  We don't expect it to be a week of relaxing or rejuvenation; we will give our all in participation, conversation and spiritual work the entire time!  So we would covet prayer covering so we will give out of God's abundance, not our weak and scant resources.
THANK YOU!
"How good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell together in unity!"  Psalm 133:1

Rain drops fell softly, gently, silently.
The ashen skies finally released needed moisture for the prairie, for the crops and gardens that are desperately dry.
I, too, needed refreshing this morning.
I met with the Lord before the day turned into activity and He did not fail to meet with me.  Walter and I were both able to do things that are restful and rejuvenating for us.  And we could process the past few days gradually while we did errands or visited  with the neighbours.  Normal things.
We took a lovely walk, modified from last summer when we could power through 5 to 6 kilometres in about an hour.  It felt good to do something active.
I hoped to have grand and praiseworthy reports for this blog.  Rather, we are still processing what we experienced at the wake and funeral.  Losses are difficult and the cultural differences in saying good-bye came into play for the family and our church.
Caylea continues to post pictures from Switzerland and several from a tour of an ancient castle.
Mark & Amy will be getting anxious in anticipating the of their mobile home in two days.
Daniel has news this week but I will let him share first.
Thank You, Father, for the rain, the peace, the provision for us, Your children.
"With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord;
  I will praise Him in the midst of the throng." ~ Psalm 109:30