It's been a good week. 
After a couple days, I was able to slow down and be okay with it.  Slept in and intentionally stayed lying down, not jumping up to "do"...it does take an effort to rest!
A highlight this week was a visit with Lyle and Doreen Fulmore, who live in Milestone, SK.  They've known me since I was a little girl.  I played with their daughter, Sheri, and their younger daughter, Chrissie, was my sister's age.  They lived in Parry, SK, in those days and ran the grocery store and post office. They have retired now and up and moved their house to Milestone.
So it was like deja vu to walk in their back door.  Apart from different paint colours and some new decorative items, the house looked exactly the same.
And they were the same kind, friendly folks I remember, except that I am an adult now and I was actually there to visit with them, not hang out with Sheri!
Our visit was catching up, filling them in on our family and ministry.  They talked about their new church and community.  And their grandson...I was so thankful for their input in my life as a kid, then a teenager.  It was through their prayers and influence that I accepted the Lord.  Sheri invited me to the youth group at their church and I was introduced to Jesus Christ and the Gospel.  I am so filled with praise for how God works! 
Now, Walter is back from Prince Albert and my quiet week is over!  But I'm glad we can be together again and spend the weekend following Daniel's curling in Saskatoon by the online scoreboard.  There's always stuff to do around home and we will putter at a leisurely pace.
"Every day with Jesus, is sweeter than the day before;
Every day with Jesus, I love Him more and more.
Jesus saves and keeps me, and He's the one I'm waiting for;
Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before." 
I wouldn't trade our life for anyone else's because I know we are doing what God has for us.

How did I do on my self-imposed rest duty?
Well, partial success.
I went to prayer meeting at our church, which may seem like work, but I also know prayer is good for my soul.  I am glad I went. 
Then I stopped in at UltraCuts for a shampoo and trim.  I relaxed while the stylist shampooed my hair, massaging my scalp and carefully rinsing with warm and soothing water.  A hair appointment is always a pick-me-up and I left feeling fresh and good about myself.
It was lunch time.  So I stopped at restaurant for a bowl of soup.  Not as good as homemade but it was a treat! 
I confess, I had letters to deliver to churches so I did sneak in some "business".  It didn't feel like work, though, as I chatted with church receptionists and mission pastors.  They were encouraging and caring...just what I needed today.
Finally, I stopped by Walmart and bought a light bulb.  Wow, you say!  Why are you blogging about that incidental?  Because it was one of those errands that I kept getting put off and this unique bulb isn't one we keep on hand at home.  My favourite lamp needed a specific 40W chandelier bulb and I found one!  Yeah me! 
When I got home, I treated myself to a cup of tea and a pecan tart.  I realized I would be cooking just for me, so I made a microwave melt, salad and cooked carrots, broccoli and cauliflower.  I ate in front of the TV.  Really living on the edge :-)
In the spirit of rest, I took out my guitar and played some worship songs.  Special to just spend time with my Saviour.
The phone rang.
It was my husband!  We had a whole day to catch up on and it was good to connect.  We spend everyday together so being apart is strange and lonely.  I was glad he called.  And we prayed together before ending the conversation.  I really miss our nightly prayers before we go to sleep.  It gives me such peace.
The clock said 8:45 pm.  Too early to go to bed.  So I changed into workout clothes and put in my DVD - 15 minute total body workout by Jackie Warner.  A couple of years ago I tried to graduate to her 40 minute workout but it hurt.  A lot.  Back to 15 minutes!
And now, I am sipping water and blogging. 
It was still an active day, but with lots of fun things that I truly enjoy.
So I think I succeeded in "taking it easy" or at least spending some time on myself.
Tomorrow is another day...

It is a rare moment that I find myself alone in our house in Regina.
Sitting by our natural gas stove, that looks like an old-fashioned woodburning style, I have my feet up and a cup of flavoured coffee beside me.
Caylea is out for the afternoon.
Kaila, our temporary boarder, is at work.
Walter drove up to Prince Albert for a few days. 
I am determined to rest and take some down time.  We have been going steady for weeks and I am plum worn out! 
Our most recent trip was to Billings, MT for four days.  NCEM has an office there to receive American donations and also mail some communications from the U.S. (cheaper to mail in country than across the border).  We had a nice visit there with the couple who mans the office.  They are nearing retirement and it was good to connect with them to talk about the next steps for succession.
Several situations are going to be in transition in the next couple of years.  With many of our staff nearing retirement age, or at least slowing down from full time commitments, we will have openings in administration, finance, communications not to mention the ongoing need for field missionaries who will live in communities to share the Gospel!
My last blog entry mentioned that we would be interviewing a potential staff couple.  They are accepted as Associate staff with NCEM, hoping to reach out to First Nations south of Edmonton (the former Hobbema Reserve now known as Maskwacis (which actually has four First Nations in the immediate area).  The couple will continue with their current employment and do outreach as they can.  What a huge blessing!
In the past two weeks, I have been corresponding with two German students looking into internship possibilities in Canada.  Part of my role as Personnel Coordinator is to connect and facilitate interns, volunteers and potential full or part time staff, plus Associates.  I have an assistant, Doris, who is able to come in to the office and do the paperwork/computer work and keep up with the files.  She has enabled me to continue travel with Walter and look after more of the "people" part of Personnel.  Another assistant is our Candidate Coordinator, Andrew, who takes in the actual applications and processes the paperwork, calls references and prepares the applicants for a potential interview with us as the Executive.  He lives in Alberta, so is able to do his work from home.  At some point, this position could be under one, or two people again, but for now, three of us serve to make the Personnel Department work!
When Caylea was recently representing NCEM and HHM at Nipawin Bible College's missions weekend, another young couple connected at the booth.  They have submitted their application officially since then; we may have another interview at our next Executive in December!  God has certainly been answering our prayers for more labourers!
In the meantime, I am going to take it easy at home, do things like hair appointment, baking, writing, think about Christmas shopping...fun things! 
"Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."  3 John 2
This Scripture came up on the "Verse of the Day" app on my phone a few days ago.  I have been feeling tired, not recovering as quickly from trips and repacking for another trip anyways.  Couple this with trouble sleeping and some challenges in ministry, I can feel some accumulation of exhaustion that isn't healthy.  But this verse gave me a warning.  John wrote these words as a prayer for Gaius, a servant of the Lord, who had some challenges in his church.  There were contentions and disagreements.  Some did not acknowledge John's authority and therefore also ignored Gaius' authority.  I am sure this church leader felt some stress.
The warning is for me to rest.  And to take time to take care of my soul.  That might mean sleep, exercise and doing fun recreational things.  Maybe I need a personal retreat.  Or time with friends. 
I also take this as permission to take care of myself and be comforted in God's care for me as a whole person.  He doesn't just say, "Buck up, stay tough and keep on truckin'!" He encourages rest, of body and soul. 
I have a book on my Kindle e-reader entitled "Four Gifts" by April Yamasaki.  As I slowly read and digest the concepts in this book, I am encouraged by the balance of taking care of heart, soul, mind and body.  We are not just spiritual creatures, especially those of us in full time ministry.  We have physical needs and limitations, as well as mental, emotional and social components to our beings.  So the author shares her own experiences and her journey through Scripture in discovering what biblical self-care is all about.  Good stuff.  Maybe I will have time this week to finish the book and absorb more of it into my real life!
That's the latest from my Saskatchewan Country Girl perspective.
P.S. - Caylea's oncologist appointment was A-OK!  She went to her family doctor to have a skin check, and then a confirmed appointment with a new dermatologist for this coming week.  So thankful for our health care and the resources we have!  God has been so good to us!

It was an exciting weekend and I am so glad Walter and I could watch all the games Daniel curled in this event in Regina.  It is a rare treat for us to watch our son compete in the Men's division.  Back in his juveniles and junior days, we were at almost ALL his games because we were his ride!  I still get just as nervous for the games and just as disappointed at losses...
Like this weekend.  They made it to the playoffs with a chance to get a berth in the provincial championship in Melville, SK.  So Monday (Remembrance Day) at 9 am we cruise over to the curling rink and settle in our seats.  The competition is intense and the first end we get 3 points!  That's huge at this level. 
But in a few ends, the momentum shifts and the opposition gets a 3-ender.  And then a couple ends later we lose 4 rocks to "picks" - which means the rocks lose direction and either spin the wrong way or slow down and stop too early!  Heart-breaking!  Rocks that will count or guard are now a waste of a throw!  It was so frustrating for the team - and the fans!
The score would have been close against this particular team, but with the picked rocks, it was not close anymore. 
Sadly, Team Howard wasn't able to seal a win and so they were out of the running.
For now.
There will be other events and opportunities to qualify for the Tankard.  And we play to be there when they compete in Melville!
As for our life going on, we will be going with Caylea to her 2 year oncologist check up with Dr. Iqbal.  We are so glad for her health and journey so far.  But we always feel a level of trepidation when we know a check up is near.  We pray that God has completely healed her and that this will be another "all clear"!
Then Wednesday we will drive up to Prince Albert to the NCEM headquarters.  Thursday we have a day-long Executive meeting.  I participate and take minutes for these meetings.  We also have a possible phone interview for folks interested in serving in First Nations ministry.  This gets us excited and motivates us to do the four hour drive and carry on with leadership!  "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few" so we continue to pray, recruit and trust God's leading as people apply to serve.
In the meantime, after the thrill of the curling event and the letdown of a loss, I have the joy of practical ministry.  You know, laundry, food preparation and emails!
God bless you all as the week unfolds!

Daniel and Russ Howard (on the right) deliberating a shot.  The score was tied at this point!  Daniel said, it dawned on him driving home that this weekend would be one he would remember for the rest of his life - curling with Russ Howard as skip and Daniel playing third.  A highlight and an honour.  It was fun to curl and have the on-ice/on-the-job coaching opportunity to learn and excel.  Daniel made some excellent shots throughout the event and felt good physically (after his shoulder surgery back in March, 2019).  He had very nice teammates and we thoroughly enjoyed the comradery with the team families watching along with us!

Go, GO, GOOOOO!
Standing behind the glass, we were empowering our son to sweep the opponents' rock out of the rings...and he did it!
We get much too hyped about curling.  But what an awesome way to spend some family time.  Grandma, uncle, auntie, girlfriend...Daniel had quite a crew cheering him on at the Highland Curling Club.  If you count the support from other family and friends, some following the line scores online, it is wonderful thing for our son to be so well loved and encouraged in his passion for the sport of curling. 
Tomorrow, Daniel curls at 9 am in the playoffs for a possible berth in the Saskatchewan Tankard, which is in January, 2020 in Melville.  We aren't booking any trips or planning anything major because we are pretty confident he will make it to Melville with Team Howard.
Can't wait until tomorrow...more cheering and smelling the rink fries and biting our nails!

#curlingrocks  #teamhoward  #lovinglongweekend

     After two full days of interviews with our leaders and taking notes of those meetings, it was nice to jump into a 15-passenger van and drive out to Big River Bible Camp.  From the NCEM office just outside of Prince Albert, it takes about an hour and a half to get to the camp.  Usually the camp is alive with kids and staff running about.  In November, a skiff of snow and the year-round missionaries are all we saw as we drove onto the site.  The warm dining room and smell of fresh cinnamon buns welcomed our little band of leaders.  After we all greeted each other and grabbed a coffee and snack, we sat on the leather couches around the fireplace. 
     And then a friendly guy with a whiteboard and markers stood up to interrupt our relaxation!
     Jason Boucher, the assistant General Director, Walter's right hand man at NCEM, facilitated some brainstorming.  On the blank whiteboard, Jason wrote NCEM on one half and Walter on the other half.  Drawing a line down the middle, he asked for our input.  What do we want to focus on in the next twelve months?  What are the priorities for NCEM?  What do we want our General Director to be doing with all his extra time?
     At first, everyone was quiet.  We need more missionaries.  What about training them?  Develop our website and make online giving easier... Soon the ideas started rolling and Jason was having a hard time keeping up with copying the ideas down! 
    In the comfort of a cozy lodge set on a lake in northern Saskatchewan, it was inspiring to toss around ideas for the future.  The bare aspen trees set on a background of pale blue sky were framed by the large windows of the lodge.  I stared out as everyone contributed to the think tank, wondering what God has in store for us in the coming year.  How can we possibly add more to our plate?
     The white board was filled twice with all the suggestions.  Then Jason's wife, Anita, signalled that lunch was ready so we all stood to line up for a delicious hot meal.  I got caught up in the visiting and eating.  This is where Walter and I really shine: connecting with people.  A group of young adults from Lyons, France was also at Big River for a short term missions trip.  We intermingled with the group, whose English was definitely better than our French! 
     We had met them briefly earlier in the week and one young woman was inquiring about the possibility of an internship.  I gave her my email, thinking she may or may not get in touch once she is back to her homeland.  But at lunch out at the camp, she sat near me and found another teammate to interpret as her English is not as strong as some of the others in the group.  She asked me more about our ministry, and about ourselves.  I shared, through the translator who barely got to eat his lunch, about our 30 year history!  I shared some about NCEM and our recent leadership role.  I tried to find out more about "Elyse" and see what she is interested in as far as service and ministry.  It was an encouraging conversation.
     Then Jason called us all back to the couches. 
     The whiteboard was blank again.  This time, Jason handed out slips of paper and pens.  We were to take the lists of activities for NCEM and Walter, and write out the top four in order of our priorities.  Jason then organized the priorities according to our numbering system and found the group's collective top four. 
     The first top four list for NCEM's priorities was not really a surprise.  Some of the goals could easily be met with one or two staff involved.  But some of them would require more concerted effort, maybe with more staff to be recruited to fulfill the goals set for the next year.  But as we looked at the list, we felt a surge of faith as we knew it had to be by God's Spirit, not by our own strength or wisdom. 
     For Walter's list, Jason asked us to give our top two priorities.  What should Walter (and Cindy!) be focusing on for the next year?  I was both excited and nervous to see what the Lord had in mind through the team of leaders we had gathered.  We had to trust the Lord to lead through them.
     Soon, it became clear a pattern was forming.  The numbers showed that we needed to make some new connections in churches and Bible schools and other public venues.  I smiled.  These priorities were definitely leaning towards our strengths.  This didn't seem like work at all!
    But the discussion soon turned to time management.  And energy levels.  How could we add more without taking something out of the schedule?  Soon it became apparent Jason's role as assistant would kick in and he would have to take on some of Walter's responsibilities in the office.  Jason laughed as he thought this group exercise had backfired!  He made more work for himself!
     So as we drove away from Big River Bible Camp, we left with encouragement and hope for the year ahead.  God was instilling the vision of growth, of expansion, of broadening the reach of NCEM.  The team we have around us is supporting us and caring for our health and well-being.  May the Lord be glorifed and His kingdom come!