Was it morning or still night?  The blackness of the Atlantic sky greeted my eyes as I peeked through the curtains of the dormer bedroom window.  I felt around for my glasses on the end table and grabbed my Bible and journal.  Tiptoeing out of the bedroom, I tried not to disturb my sleeping husband as I turned the 100-year old doorknob.  It scraped as metal rubbed against metal and my stealth departure wasn't so stealth after all!  

Closing the door again, I stepped into the warm hall.  The heat from the woodstove was rising up the stairwell.  Then I slipped into the next bedroom, and settled onto the bed, stealing a few moments for my morning quiet time before we began our day with the Welch's.  I turned to the page where my bookmark saved the spot I was last reading in my Bible.  I read the next Psalm, which seemed so fitting as I set my thoughts on the Lord.  As I glanced out the window, dawn was breaking. Psalm 19:1 "The heavens proclaim the glory of God; the skies display His craftsmanship."

Soon the smell of coffee wafted upstairs and I could hear our hosts in the kitchen.  Walter and I quickly got dressed and went down for breakfast. After a leisurely bowl of oatmeal, we moved into the living room to watch the morning news.  We visited a while and then Gracie suggested we take a walk on the boardwalk.  We bundled up in our parkas and I'm glad we decided to bring our full winter gear!  That Atlantic wind is a different kind of cold.  We drove from the Welch's a few blocks over to the head of the trail.  The four of us walked along the boardwalk, enjoying the sunshine and stopping to read the displays.  There was fauna and flora unique to the region and it was interesting to learn about this area of Canada.  We followed the turns and again found the wind to pierce even our winter coats!  But it was nice to be outside in the fresh air and getting some exercise.  These trips involve a lot of sitting, eating and more sitting...Then we jumped into the warm protection of the truck cab and Phil drove us to the next tourist spot.

We drove past their church, one of the two that Westport boasts, and uphill towards the cemetery.  Then Phil turned left and we were heading along a narrow road with a couple of farms on it.  Hobby farms, actually.  Another mile and we swerved right again, clearly headed for the west shore of the island. Then past some trees, we could see a beautiful red and white lighthouse silhouetted against a pure blue sky.

Walter had brought the drone, of course, and fortunately the wind was not too strong this day.  We wandered around the rocky outcropping where this lighthouse was situated while Walter set up the drone to take some footage.  This was the Bay of Fundy side of the island and it was amazing to think just the day before we had crossed this body of water on a ferry!  

Gracie had lunch planned and I helped prepare the bacon-wrapped scallops as she set out the other items on the menu.  With both Walter and I allergic to fish, we had to specify that we could eat shellfish.  It was delicious!  

After lunch, we hauled in some firewood as some bad weather was due to blow in over the next couple of days.  Phil had a tractor and wagon, so we were just the loading crew!  Then we settled in by the cozy fire and visited and relaxed for the afternoon.

Supper was a roast chicken and all the fixings.  We did up the dishes in time for the 6 pm news. It was nice to visit and hear their many stories of our mission's history and their experiences raising four boys.  Their perspective was much appreciated as we also applied what they learned to our present-day situations.  Our time with the Welch's was rich and restful.

With a full day and full belllies, we slept well.  The next morning, we had to catch the ferry and head back the way we came, to Digby.  And our next stop would be Halifax!

 Walter had booked the ferry the night before so we just had to show up 45 minutes in advance.  Again, we rolled our luggage to the truck in the dark, skipping breakfast at the hotel but grabbing coffee in to-go cups.  The dampness of the Atlantic air chilled us to the bone!  We cranked the truck's heater and joined the early morning traffic of Saint John.

For a Monday morning, we were amazed that the traffic wasn't too heavy.  The signage to the Digby Ferry terminal was easy to find and we were there before we needed to be.  We were second in line!

We sipped our coffee, caught up on emails, watched people as they arrived in vehicles and as walk-on passengers.  The wind was whipping the flags and people were tightening their coats and hats as they dropped off luggage and walked into the terminal to wait for departure time.  I was glad to hunker down in the cab of the truck and not have to brave the winds.

Finally the vehicles revved up and began advancing onto the ferry.  I am amazed at how the orange-vested workers knew which row to call up and make sure the ferry was loaded evenly.  Probably years of experience taught them how to avoid capsizing these sea vessels.  Within minutes we were parked and then exiting our vehicle.  We followed the ferry employees to the stairs/escalators that took us up to the top level.  A gentle rocking made me aware of being on the water; otherwise, it didn't seem like a boat!  The ferry had restaurants and cafes, a TV room, several washrooms and a lounge at both the front and rear of the vessel.  We ventured to the seating at the front of the boat and settled in.

I had brought reading material, a word search book and a couple of granola bars.  We could have bought a full breakfast on board but I thought I'd eat light just in case the ocean was rough.  As we pulled away, it was amazing to see the sun up and shining over the small white caps.  We were crossing the Bay of Fundy to the Digby port, which is in Nova Scotia.  Within a couple of hours, we'd be in another province. 

Noticing a few people stretching out on the cushioned benches, I felt the urge to catch a nap.  I had eaten a granola bar and had some sips of water.  I scrunched up a make-shift pillow and threw my winter coat over me and soon was nodding off.

I woke to the smell of coffee; Walter had found his second cup while I was sleeping soundly.  I jolted awake, hoping to do some reading before we were docking.  But I could already see the opposite shore and couldn't believe I slept through most of the ferry ride!

We hustled to the exits, only to find we had a line up.  Something I noticed was the faint eastern accent most of the folks had as they talked among themselves.  Fun!  I wondered if we would pick up that accent in the two weeks we would be out here.  We rode down the escalator and quickly found our truck.  First on , first off!

I punched in a restaurant on my phone so we could pick up some lunch.  Two choices:  fast food and then keep driving to catch the next ferry.  Or a more leisurely lunch and catch the ferry an hour later.  Mrs. Welch had advised us of when to leave Digby to time the other two ferries.  So we thought we'd grab a quick lunch and keep driving.  It was best to drive in daylight on these new roads and catch the ferries earlier rather than later.

Subway sandwiches, a quick bathroom break and we were on the highway along the Digby Neck.  

What is the Digby Neck?  The peninsula/highway running the length of it that angles southwest along Nova Scotia proper.  We drove along a two-lane winding paved road, whizzing by houses, little communities, catching a glimpse of the ocean or a bay.  Mostly, the highway ran through the middle of the peninsula with trees on both sides.  Within an hour or so, we saw the sign for Tiverton, a name familiar because the Welch's mentioned it in giving us directions to their home.

Suddenly we saw the ferry sign, rounded a sharp s-curve in the road and were quickly descending towards a dock.  Literally, we came to the end of the road and parked along the side behind a couple of vehicles.  We could see the barge/ferry crossing from the island and knew we had timed our arrival just about right.  The wind was still whipping and the white caps even larger along this channel.  I shivered as I thought about how the workers had to ride in the open air all day long, rain or shine, to serve people's transportation needs.  It made me very appreciative.

We loaded up, along with maybe 7 or 8 other vehicles.  The accents of the workers were even stronger and more pronounced as they signalled to the vehicles and called to each other.  Soon, we were pulling away from the dock.  The pitch of the waves was much more noticeable than on the larger ferry.  But the ride was over before we had any inkling to motion sickness.  And then we exited onto Long Island.  Having no idea how long the next portion of the drive was, we kept going.  Within 15 or 20 minutes maybe, we were at the next ferry at Freeport.  

Across that channel, we saw the dock for Westport.  I knew this address as I mail anniversary and birthday cards to the Welch's, It was special to be visiting in person and see where these folks call home.

Another quick ferry ride and we were on the last island before the Atlantic Ocean opened wide ahead of us.  The brightly painted homes with white trim, the tall buildings/sheds along the wharf, the cute little shops and white wooden-sided churches gave the town a quaint and maritime feel.  We saw lobster traps and boats and ropes coiled along the road.  Having arrived earlier than anticipated, we decided to drive up and down the few streets that comprised the tiny community.  We counted two churches, a post office, no medical or hospital facilities and a cemetery up the hill.  With no idea as to the location of their home - their mailing address was a box number - I called them for the street address.  

The retired couple was standing in their sunroom that faced the shoreline.  The sun had broken through the clouds and we saw a classic maritime sight.  Phil's grey beard gave him that fisherman look and Gracie's white hair piled up in a bun, a sweater over her shoulders, seemed to me a picture forever snapped in my mind.  They waved, pointing to the driveway on the far side of the house.  We pulled in at the garage, beside their vehicle, and jumped out.  They waited for us at the back door of the marine blue house, white trim, 1 1/2 storey home that epitomized a fishing village dwelling.  This would be our home for the next couple of days.

An aroma of stew greeted us, the blast of heat from a woodstove in the front room.  They immediately gave us hugs and we shrugged out of our coats and footwear.  Gracie gave me some slippers to wear.  And then we were given the tour of their home, which had been Phil's parents' home.  He grew up on this island, amidst fishing and tides and ocean life.  They had done some renovating so that they had their master bedroom and full bath on the main floor.  Upstairs were four bedrooms, with gable windows.  I loved it!  They had raised four boys themselves but hadn't lived here until retirement.  They had served in the eastern field all their missionary life.  I believe they did a stint in an Arctic community or two, among Inuit and Cree.  And they, like the Dana's, had been field directors for a few years.  

It was nice not to rush but to have opportunity to hear their stories, experience life on their island and share in their routine.  After a cup of coffee, we jumped into their truck and they took us on a partial tour of Brier island.  It is 2 miles by 3 miles.  So we were going to see half the island this afternoon.  We drove up some back trails, through some mudholes and across some rock.  And then, we were at the south point that overlooked the Atlantic ocean.  Next stop is Africa, Phil said!

They had a cute little one room cabin with a deck facing a portion of Nova Scotia.  Something reflected across the way and they said that was Yarmouth.  Wow!  I felt like we were in the middle of nowhere but there was the mainland.  We wandered around their getaway space, with a rocky shore, benches, firepit, fishing buoys and nets.  It was such an "other" world here. 

Then the Welch's drove us through town and up the north side, where the coast guard station was located.  There were two main lighthouses on the island but both were decommissioned now.  With GPS, there is no need for lighthouses to guide the ships in or to warn them of danger.  We learned so much in just a two hour tour of the island.

But Gracie suddenly told us it was time to head back for supper.  The sun was already low in the sky.  And Gracie informed us that on the island, people ate at 8 am, noon and 5 pm.  And we needed to watch the news and then at 7:30 pm, Jeopardy was on.  Walter and I exchanged looks and smiled.  So this is what retired life looked like!

This has been a long episode and I will continue the Brier Island visit in the next blog.

The little suite in the camp's lodge was beginning to feel like home.  We slept well there and enjoyed having space to ourselves. But it wouldn't be "home" for long; we had to repack for our travels away the whole next week.

We were too late for the Sunday School hour but arrived at the church in Chipman (about 20 minutes from the camp) in time for the coffee break before the worship service started.  The building was a one level pre-fabricated structure, with a foyer in the middle of the building, a kitchen to the left and the sanctuary to the right.  There were about 25 people either sitting in the sanctuary chairs, or standing in the foyer with coffee cups in hand.  We entered and saw Grant, Elizabeth and their daughters.  They smiled and welcomed us.  The pastor was away; a guest speaker was taking his place so Grant made sure we were welcomed in a pastor-like way!  He introduced us around a bit to the mostly senior-aged folks.

Singing with these folks, who were strangers to us, was like being anywhere in North America in a Baptist church.  We knew the hymns.  There was a familiarity to worship and the order of service and the feel of the place.  And so we lifted our voices from four provinces away from our home and felt the unity of the body of Christ.

We lingered a while after service, but then excused ourselves for the lunch appointment we had about half an hour away.  Quickly sorting and throwing things into our suitcases, we left only our laundry and a couple items in the suite.  

The Cooks live at Young's Cove in a bi-level home they had renovated.  We arrived to the bleating of goats and saw a small shed and penned area surrounding it.  Goats are such funny creatures; God made their voices hilarious and their antics ridiculous!  We knocked on the front door of the house and walked in as Marcus and Kameron were just finished feeding their three boys their lunch.  Their ages ranged from 2 up to 5 1/2 so it was a noisy greeting!  

Marcus had been serving at Arrowhead as maintenance and Kameron had helped with social media and other things around the camp ministry.  With the three boys, their little family was a real asset to the camp and to follow up visits and kids clubs on the surrounding reserves.  But they felt God's leading into other ministry and wanted to talk with us about their plans.

They put the little ones down for naps and then served us lunch.  We had a great visit, catching up, and then got down to the serious topic at hand.  It is part of our role to listen, coach and sometimes give some input into our missionaries' decision making.  Somehow, it doesn't feel that long ago since we were their age, in our early 30's with small children, trying to follow God's leading in our lives.  We were about the age they are now when we started Healing Hearts, so it is exciting for us to relive our dreams through many of these younger missionaries' dreams and plans!

After a couple of hours, giggles and happy sounds were still coming from the boys' room.  Marcus and Kameron didn't seem too concerned.  We smiled and kept on with our conversation.

Who knows what God has in mind for this family?  We had totally enjoyed ourselves, seated around the huge island in the middle of the great room.  Marcus had done an amazing job refinishing the cupboards, designing the island, that served as work space and table.  He had also redone the fireplace in the living room and we admired his handiwork.  Wherever God will lead them, this talented couple will do very well. 

The afternoon was wearing on and we said our good-byes.  We followed Marcus' directions from there to Saint John, NB, our destination for the night.  By my calculations, we made a wrong turn and found ourselves on a pretty rugged sideroad.  So we turned around and tried to rejoin the TransCanada highway.  It was complicated but after a couple clover-leafs, we were again heading for the turnoff to Saint John.  It was getting dark by 5 pm and we drove through the forested areas and into the city that is along the Saint John River and the Bay of Fundy.  

GPS was our trusty guide to arrive at the Best Western on the north side of the city.  We saw tall buildings, drove over a bridge and saw some ships and cranes but it would have been nice to see these things in daylight.  Another time.  I was tired and hungry and eager to settle in to our quarters for the night.  We found the hotel and rolled our luggage to our room.  I had spied a McDonald's a block away so I volunteered to pick up supper while Walter relaxed.

The highlight of the evening was watching the Grey Cup game while eating our fastfood supper and chilling out.  We were texting with our kids as they also watched the game and the half-time entertainment.  It was good to feel connected with our family over the many miles that separated us.

The football championship was such a close game that we stayed up until past 11 pm to watch it!  But the morning would come soon and we had a timeline for the Digby ferry.  Good night!

 I woke up to the sound of rain pattering on the window.  My eyes peered at the digital numbers on the clock, and I wondered where I was.  Oh, right, in New Brunswick at a hotel...this happens to me when we're on the road a while.  I forget where I am!  

After a light breakfast, I took some time for my morning devotions and then we packed up to head for our next visit.  The hotel was just off the highway and in a few minutes we were on our way.  Soon we saw the signs to turn off onto a side road that led to the Dana's home in the country.  We learned we were mere kilometres from the Maine border.  Mark Dana is from the Penobscot tribe located primarily in the state of Maine and he married Ruth Anna, having met I believe at Three Hills, AB!  God has a way of leading people from anywhere on the globe to meet, marry and serve in His Kingdom's work.

We pulled in to the lovely acreage surrounded by trees, and noted the new house, garage and landscaping.  Five years before, we had visited here when only the foundation and framing had been completed on an unfinished yard.  The Dana's were living in their RV that summer until their house was ready for occupation. When they welcomed us in, we saw the fruit of their labours as we entered the open kitchen, living room and dining area.  A cozy wood stove stood against a wall and beyond that were the two bedrooms and bathroom.  It was a simple floor plan that Ruth Anna had designed and was very functional on one floor, no stairs, and lots of windows.

The Dana's had served in various locations, all in eastern Canada.  They also had been directors of the eastern field of NCEM, and had started the day camp/mobile camp known as Kwayotage in Quebec.  It was great to visit with them and hear the stories of their years of ministry.  We feel overwhelmed at times with the privilege of serving among such faithful missionaries, who have seen their share of challenges in ministry, who have raised their children in communities where they were not always accepted and their message of Christ's Gospel was not always well-received.  Currently, Mark is serving as chaplain for a local prison and they do visitation on local reserves.  With their family all grown and married with children of their own, they also consider "grandparenting" part of their ministry.  It was fun sharing in that new role ourselves as we are now grandparents, as well.

While eating moose meatballs, rice and veggies, and some Christmas baking for dessert, we shared in fellowship and updated them on some NCEM news, as well.  Sometimes the missionaries that live farther away from the main office can feel a bit isolated and far from the action.  We try to bring them news and information and updates on the other areas of the mission family and hopefully help them feel more connected.

Ruth Anna had a funeral to attend, and we spent some of the afternoon alone with Mark.  We reviewed his job description, talked more mission business and enjoyed the warmth of the woodstove while the rain continued.

By late afternoon, Ruth Anna returned and we visited a bit more before heading back to Fredericton.  What was the rush?  Venus and Merrill were hosting a soup and bannock supper with some of their young adults bible study group and we were invited. Although we knew it wouldn't be the end of the world to be a bit late, we didn't want to drive much in the dark. It was no fun driving through rain and meeting traffic headlights that look like stars!  Both Walter and I must be getting cataracts or something as night driving is becoming more difficult.

Back to the soup and bannock night...we arrived at Venus' apartment on the reserve and Merrill and a young Maliseet man named Niko were already there.  Right off, we noticed how different the culture of Maliseet were from the Cree or Saulteaux of the prairies. Niko stood and extended his hand, introducing himself and shaking our hands firmly.  We were used to young people being more quiet, shy, gentler hand shakes and no eye contact.  Niko seemed very outgoing and confident.  

Then three young ladies knocked and walked into Venus' place.  One was clearly the leader and did most of the talking.  One was quite shy, even by prairie standards and the third was friendly and responded to our questions.  We had fun as we shared the hamburger soup and fresh baked bannock, joking around as is the universal Indigenous language in Canada!  We could tell by looks on Venus and Merrill's faces that they felt real proud of their young people and so pleased that we could meet them.  It was pure joy to connect with the ones that our mission is all about.  

Alas, before the table was cleared and the board games were pulled out, Walter and I bid our farewells, and headed back for Arrowhead Native Bible Centre.  The next day we saw Facebook posts about them going to church together, then pictures at a local restaurant for lunch afterward.  How encouraging to us and to our missionaries to see young people wanting to fellowship together and worship the Lord!

We fell into bed that night, tired but happy with the connections we had made that day.  And the next day, Sunday, would be just as full!

 Winding through the narrow, tree-lined highway, we were beginning to recognize certain landmarks and specific turns in the road.  There were several country churches, painted white with black trim and shingled roofs, along the way that led to the TransCanada highway.  Setting our GPS to Merrill's address, we found our way into a new area of the city of Fredericton. More modern buildings and larger houses appeared as we navigated away from the main drag and downtown.  Some classic Victorian homes had been built over one hundred years ago along the Saint John River, with large sprawling lawns and mature trees.  Although the grass was green, the trees and shrubs were bare of leaves at this time of year. 

The computer-generated voice told us we had arrived at our destination - a multi-floor tiny apartment complex.  We pulled in to visitor parking, strode to the main doors and found Merrill's suite number in the directory.  He was down to greet us in no time and showed us around the common area.  Then he invited us up to check out his living space, having made extra effort to clean it just in case we wanted a tour!

On the second floor, we entered the door and could look straight out the sliding glass patio window.  I'm not good at measurements and dimensions, but it would be about 20 feet by 16 feet maybe?  The bathroom was through a door on the right, a small kitchen also to the right with small appliances and single sink.  A round table with two chairs was opposite the kitchen area on the left, with a couch and end table also on that wall.  Further down on the right was a wall with a desk, chair and TV mounted above that.  Then we were almost to the patio/balcony area, where an opaque floor to ceiling glass partition separated a queen sized bed.  Across from the bed was some built-in storage/closet unit.  By the time we followed Merrill around and turned back, less than two minutes had passed!

But it was just right for a bachelor and would be easy to keep clean and tidy.  We oo'd and aww'd as he had made mention of his housekeeping tasks that morning!

Then we jumped in to the truck to take Merrill out for the promised lunch.  Just as Venus, the First Nations woman wanted to get off the reserve to go out for a meal, Merrill took us back over that bridge to St. Mary's to the main complex.  Several vehicles were parked there and we walked in to a spacious building with casino/vlt's and some other administrative offices, besides a large licensed restaurant.  We were seated by a local waitress and offered beverages.  Then we opened the menus.

I wanted to be a bit adventurous so I ordered bison burger sliders.  And tea.  I don't remember what the guys ordered and that's okay - its not really about them lol!  The waitress brought our drinks and took our orders, while others began filling up the tables and booths.  A popular place!

We had a great visit with Merrill, finding out about his life and ministry in the Maritimes.  He started out volunteering at Arrowhead Native Bible Centre, then did a one year internship there.  Towards the end of his internship, he felt God nudging him to apply to be a full time missionary with NCEM!  More recently, he had moved to Fredericton to be closer to the reserve and help out with the kids, youth and young adults.  He works closely with Venus and the local believers at St. Mary's, helping them get some paperwork and other details together to open an official church.  As the Roman Catholic is the primary existing church there, those who would follow protestant beliefs wanted to establish something for the children and young people of the community.  And then it naturally led to the families being impacted by the ministry and a fellowship group meeting in homes.  Merrill helped give that extra push to formalize a church.

Sipping my tea from the glass carafe (shaped like a lightbulb with black plastic on the neck), I hadn't bothered to ask for a cup.  "Hey, Merrill, do I just drink out of the glass thingy?"  Merrill shrugged and said, "I guess so."  He and Walter were absorbed in their dialogue and I kept on sipping the King Cole brand tea (we usually have Red Rose or Tetley out west).  

The waitress brought our food and asked if we needed anything else.  She noticed I was drinking straight from the tea carafe and apologized profusely!  "I'm so sorry!  I forgot to bring you a cup.  My apologies!"  And she hustled away to bring me a mug.  Merrill, Walter and I about busted a gut!  It became a running joke during our visit.

Following lunch, Merrill directed us around the reserve, which we were getting somewhat familiar with, but it was different to see things through a young, new missionary who grew up very caucasian.  He pointed out where certain youth and families lived that he reached out to.  He shared some of the stories - many tragic - but some of how Jesus was making a difference in some lives.  

Merrill also took us to the "rez mall" where a grocery store and other businesses operated.  We entered a lovely gift store and I wanted to buy lots of items there that might be suitable for Christmas gifts.  But I refrained, knowing we had limited space in our luggage.  There was jewelry and crafts, mugs and t-shirts and lovely aboriginal print fleece blankets and jackets.  Very tough to resist temptation!

Then we drove to the Greens, which Merrill wasn't aware of, and we tried to do an interview with him, like we had done with Venus.  Again, cool and windy by the river, so we sat in the camp truck.  Very special for us to hear what God is doing across Canada and how different the missionaries and their approaches to ministry can be.  By late afternoon, we dropped Merrill off as he had other plans for the evening.  He teaches Introduction to Greek and some other seminary classes at two different Christian colleges in the area, as well a doing ministry.  

Before it got dark, we drove west and north towards Woodstock, NB, where we had booked a hotel for the night.  We had a visit with a veteran missionary couple and thought it wise not to backtrack to the camp just to go past Fredericton and beyond.  It was good to relax and get a good night's sleep.  Believe it or not, traveling, sitting and visiting is tiring work!  People ministry does drain a person's emotional and mental resources, so we wanted to pace ourselves.  

It was rainy so perfect for curling up in a cozy hotel room and sleep!

 

 Only our second morning and we were mostly adjusted to the Atlantic time zone - which is two hours different from Saskatchewan.  So we were up and at 'em in plenty of time to join the Fawcett family setting up for their Christmas event and fundraiser for Arrowhead Native Bible Centre.  Elizabeth and her 3 young daughters walked over from their home across the road.  They had baking and other sale items in their wagon and we helped bring the parcels and packages into the camp's dining hall/lodge.  Grant and other volunteers had set up long tables in three rows, ready for the dozen or so vendors who would sell their wares on Saturday.

One of the girls was selling some Avon at her table; the other girl had baked cookies to sell.  The youngest, who is three years old, was mostly there to play and taste test cookies when needed! Elizabeth and I were going to prepare the turkey for soup and "Christmas Poutine", both which sounded delicious!  So I got busy peeling, chopping and slicing, while Walter was deboning the cooked turkeys.  Soon, the aroma of the soup was making us hungry!

After a lunch break, the girls decorated some gingerbread cookies while a Veggie Tales video played in the background.  Then Walter entertained them with his drone antics outdoors.  Elizabeth and I did dishes and cleaned up while the soup continued to simmer.  

The next project was to decorate the tree and the dining room.  Walter and the oldest girl got creative in decorating the fresh evergreen tree chosen from a friend's Christmas tree farm.  Soon giggling could be heard and we peeked out from the kitchen to see what was so funny!  The decorating crew had strung tinsel and hung a huge red ornament on the nose of the stuffed deer head!  Rudolph was all set for Saturday!

In the meantime, Grant had gone to pick up his mother, who was lending a hand for the craft sale on the weekend.  When Grandma arrived, Walter was no longer the star of the show! Grant had picked up some food for supper (stuffed peppers and salad from Costco) and we were allowed to sample some of the cookies!  

The Fawcett family retired to their home and Walter and I went downstairs in the lodge to our little suite.  We were exhausted from being on our feet all day and interacting with little ones who were super fun!  It was a productive day but we needed to be ready for the next day's visit with Merrill Greene in Fredericton.

 

 The GPS guided us through Fredericton, New Brunswick, and towards the Saint John River. We were headed decidedly downhill to the river's edge and as we followed the verbal directions, suddenly we found ourselves along a riverside road that led to a major bridge. On the other side of the bridge looked like more of the city, and we again, followed the voice of our trusty GPS!  There was no specific sign or noticeable change in scenery or neighbourhood - but soon we were on First Nation land.

Venus Cote lives on St. Mary's Reserve - a Maliseet First Nation that is basically part of the city of Fredericton.  As we pulled in front of the address, a two story house with Christmas decorations and a nativity scene already in place, we stepped out onto the sidewalk.  We knew from our visit five years ago, Venus lived above the garage in an apartment.  We wound our way among vehicles and a hockey net to the side entrance of the garage and rang the buzzer.  As in most First Nations homes, you often just knock and walk in, calling in the greetings as you go!  Sure enough, the door was open and we heard Venus telling us to come in.

Hugs and greetings ensued, and I assumed we would be heading out right away to have lunch.  Venus was already in her warm jacket and hat, purse slung across her shoulders, but she plunked herself onto the couch and said "Business first!"  So we seated ourselves and got down to business.

It was good to hear Venus' heart, giving her ample opportunity to share her burdens, her vision for the eastern field work of NCEM.  Venus graduated from the Bible school our mission had run for many years, Key-Way-Tin Bible Institute, and then joined as a full time missionary back in the mid-1980's.  She served in the Maritimes since then, working at Arrowhead and serving in the community where she now resides.  Her heart for children, youth and adults means this Saulteaux woman from the prairies is kept busy sharing the Lord Jesus with everyone she meets!

After over an hour of talking about her concerns and her joys, my stomach was growling pretty aggressively!  We descended the stairs and got into the camp truck to drive back over the bridge to the city.  Venus pointed out various buildings, the school and band office, homes of some of her friends and then just as suddenly, we were on the bridge and off the reserve.

One change we noticed in five years was that there was a "pot shop" on every corner it seemed!  Since the legalization of marijuana, many First Nations opened dispensaries and stores and St. Mary's had several.  On the upside, we saw some construction of much-needed housing, and the person Venus rents the apartment from was one of the local men working with the crews.  It was good to see positive things happening.

Over our pasta and salads at East Side Mario's, we continued our conversation and learned what new developments were happening in the ministry.  Another NCEM missionary was helping the small group of believers set up an official church on the reserve.  Two main families serve as pastors and Venus and the other single young man, Merrill, help with children and youth ministries each week.  The weekly Bible study group will soon begin worship services once a building can be secured for Sunday mornings.  Very exciting!

The waitress continued to offer us coffee and water while we occupied a booth most of the afternoon.  By 3:30 the sun was already dipping down. Walter wanted to interview Venus and take some drone shots of the river and the reserve so she directed us to "The Greens", a park along the Saint John River.  It was too cold and breezy there to interview outside, so we sat in the truck and Walter asked Venus about her testimony of coming to Christ and the journey that led her to becoming a missionary.

Venus came from a very traumatic past and has taken years to heal and overcome what she experienced in her childhood.  Hearing her testimony, we marveled at God's work of grace and her faithfulness in following and serving Him. (Venus has been a guest on Tribal Trails so you can look her up at tribaltrails.org).  As the sun set over the river, we sensed the presence of the Lord with us and we left our time encouraged and inspired.

We drove back to the camp in the dark - arriving by 6 pm - and rummaged in the kitchen of the suite for a light supper.  The next day didn't involve any travel; we were going to spend it at the camp helping the Fawcetts prepare for the big annual craft sale.  Our Maritime adventure continues...

 The wind whipping off the ocean left a salty taste on our lips.  Gentle waves lifted the ferry up and down, not enough to make me seasick but to give a little butterfly sensation in the tummy!  Walter and I sat looking out the front of the ferry's lounge area, pointing out other ships and noting the sea birds dipping and diving for their breakfast.

We left Regina on Sunday, November 12 and drove as far as Brandon the first night.  With going to church, packing and all that goes with being away from home for a couple of weeks, we decided not to push the first day.  Monday morning we got an oil change in Brandon, then drove the one hour to Gladstone, MB (well, to Mark and Amy's country home).  Kaira had grown in the two weeks since we had last seen her!  So glad we could see her and Amy - Mark was still working some hours as the weather was mild enough for concrete pouring.  After some wonderful snuggles with baby Kaira and a nice visit with Amy, we reluctantly left for Winnipeg.

Best Western has been our hotel of choice and we are Diamond members now!  So we drove to the hotel and made arrangements for leaving our vehicle there for the duration of our trip.  They offer a deal for parking and a night's stay which is definitely cheaper than leaving the vehicle at the airport Park N Fly.  After a decent supper at the restaurant, we relaxed in the suite before getting to bed early.  The 4 am alarm/wake-up call would come way too soon...

Standing in the dark, chilly, pre-dawn hours waiting for the shuttle to the airport made me wish for the warm and comfy bed again!  But we endured the cold, thankful for the comforts of modern travel.  By that evening, we would be sleeping in a warm bed at Arrowhead Native Bible Centre in New Brunswick.  

The first leg of our journey went from Winnipeg to Calgary.  What????? Yes, you read that correctly!  We flew to Calgary, with a short layover, then a direct flight to Moncton, NB.  The flights were both smooth and uneventful.  Since we hadn't flown since February, 2020, we wondered how the airlines and connections would work out.  Thankfully, we had no issues and all our luggage arrived.  

Grant Fawcett greeted us in the Moncton airport, and drove us to the camp (Arrowhead) which is about an hour and a half.  We stopped first at the Irving restaurant (in Salisbury, NB) on the way back as we were good and hungry!  Grant gave us the keys for the camp truck - a Dodge Laramie - that would be for our use during the next couple weeks.  After settling us in the suite in the camp's lodge, we turned in early for a good night's sleep.

The Fawcett family have been directing the camp and bible centre ministry for 11 or 12 years, I believe.  Their three young daughters are sweet and love to be involved in camp life, as well.  They had just completed a chapel building project that they were able to use this past summer.  We arrived just as they were preparing for the annual "Christmas Craft Sale" to be held on the Saturday.  More about that later.

On Wednesday, November 15, we had a lunch meeting with our first missionary, Venus Cote.  By the time we got up, had our showers and coffee, it was time to drive the hour or so to Fredericton.  Venus lives on the St. Mary's Reserve (Wolastoqiyik - Maliseet nation).  She is a Saulteaux woman from Cote's First Nation near Kamsack, SK.  Stay tuned for our adventures with Venus!