Made it through!
After we arrived home from our Western Tour, we had only a couple days before our Healing Hearts Staff Conference.  I was so looking forward to this time of "Family Reunion"!  The Lord met with me, with all of us, and through tears and prayer our hearts were drawn closer to each other and to the Lord.  Healing Hearts is going through transition, partly because of our changing role within the ministry.  Also, our staff are on their own personal journeys and so the individual and corporate ministries are always adjusting and going through transitions.  So we press on...
One day only lay in between the conference and a jam-packed weekend where Walter and I were involved in two missions conferences in supporting churches!
We set up our booths representing our mission organizations.  We met dear people, ate too many delicious potluck meals and heard challenging messages on missions.
Saturday night, the speaker gave a message on "Rest", the story of Christ calming the storm.  This was the third sermon or theme on "Rest" in as many days.  Is the Lord telling us something?
Sometimes I feel like my life is like this picture:

Before me lies an intriguing path.  I am drawn to explore and follow wherever it leads.  But I can only see so far down that path, then the branches appear tangled and the way unclear.
I get tangled up in the details, the schedule, the demands of our roles.  The overwhelming task and perceived expectations become a briar patch of activity rather than a pleasant wooded adventure.
I am thankful for my practically-minded husband, who calms my frazzled reactions to busy-ness.  "Just look at Friday - can you set up the booth, greet a few folks and be a participant in the service?"  When it is put that way, sure, I can be part of Friday.  Same with the next day - can I go to a breakfast, meet a few people and pray around the table for missionaries?  Sure, that isn't too overwhelming.  Bite-size pieces of the weekend.
Sunday evening, after the final missions service, we were invited to our friends' for coffee.  Walter, Caylea and I connected with folks and were blessed with refreshments and fellowship.  Yes, we were tired.  But at the same time the Lord had refreshed us.  We were blessed by sincere questions about us and our ministry.  We were encouraged by those who give and pray and support us, and have over almost 30 years in Regina! 
The tangled web of activity became a joyful journey through pleasant spaces in Christ!
But today, we rest...

"Western Tour" 2018
Walter has dubbed our most recent trip the "Western Tour" and we are just completing it as I write.  From Sexsmith to Ft. St. John to Salmon Arm to Merritt to Chilliwack to Cranbrook, we have met with NCEM missionaries to encourage and connect.
Some are honorary members, having retired from formal service to continue praying, supporting and reaching out as they can.  Our visits with these folks left us feeling very humbled and moved by their experiences in First Nations ministry.  Their knowledge of what is happening currently left us astounded.  I feel like we have just lived the Hebrews 12 "great cloud of witnesses" - the testimonies of those who have served before us- and are cheering us on!
Some are active members who are living and serving in Western Canada.  Christian radio, visitation, Bible studies, building relationships, hospitality in their homes and preaching on Sunday mornings are only some of the ways these missionaries fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28.
Some have faced personal loss, some have left their home countries, some have faced rejection and threats for the sake of the Gospel.  The stories we heard on this trip were of bush pilot close calls, prayers for milk money and all manner of hardships that read like the accounts of Paul!
Whenever we tried to express appreciation for their service, each one just looked down and said nothing or refused to take any credit or praise for themselves.  We had NCEM pins and jackets and gifts to give them and they were very humble and gracious but hesitant to receive such tokens.  It was very hard for us to out-give these generous folks who were more accustomed to giving than receiving!
Tonight, I am struggling to find the words to portray my heart.  We are tired after the ten day tour.  But we are energized by the promises of prayer along with warm hugs and affirming words.  In our sincere desire to encourage and listen, we come away not empty or weary but full!  Full of faith and hope and support in carrying on the work of the ministry that these servants have begun before us...
"and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."  (Hebrews 12:1b & 2a)

Like a young child,
wild and free,
our quad raced out of the parking lot
and into the backwoods.
Cool wind whipped our faces and we laughed giddily.
Freedom!
Turning onto a narrower path, we slowed
for the curves and tree roots.
Our freedom matured as hit the bumps of life
on our quad journey.
We took the path more carefully and deliberately.
Then we did that crazy teenage thing:
we went off the beaten path!
"There's a trail," you said and I squinted.
I held on tight as we bounced over the fallen logs
and wound between standing trees.
Ahead, an upturned Rubbermaid container
drew us to itself.
Curiosity.
What was under it?
Nothing.
Cobwebs and damp leaves clung to it.
So we grabbed our treasure and bumped back to the main path.
We dropped the container at the side of the road to retrieve later.
The deeper we went, the narrower the path.
The wind was still.
In slow motion, we glided down the aisle,
like a bride,
over the flower-girl petals of yellow on green carpet.
Silently
more petals joined the others we slid by the aspen witnesses
to our destination ahead.
A huge, steep hill awaited us.
Marriage?
As we topped the rise, we saw more adventures
and some unknown curves.
Life is like a quad ride.
We felt the chill of
sunset
and early evening.
Our hunger led us home.
Home to safety and shelter and warmth and rest.
We parked our vehicle, removed our helmets
and grabbed our Rubbermaid treasure.
Back to reality.
God is good
and He makes our reality an adventure!