My usual waking time is around 7 am - I did wake up then but there was no sound from our host family indicating they were up yet. Fortunately, Walter and I were both able to sleep in until 8:30 am.  The smell of coffee urged us to get dressed and venture out of our room.

Mare was taking a shower and no one else stirred in the house.  I grabbed two mugs and filled them with the steaming coffee.  Taking the opportunity to gaze around the kitchen/dining room and living space, I noted the family photos and scripture plaques on the walls.  It was clear that this household loved the Lord and their family!  Walter and I drank the coffee in our room as we had our morning quiet time.  I journalled as I usually do, then read the "verse of the day"  on the YouVersion phone app.  I barely got through my prayer list of family, friends and missionaries plus praying about the special services this weekend.  Hearing some sounds in the kitchen, we emerged to join the McDougalls.

Ernie was the last to rise, around 10:30 am and Mare had a lovely breakfast of bacon, eggs and hashbrowns waiting for all of us.  We sat around the table and enjoyed the food and fellowship.  (The two grandchildren they raise never did join us for any meals but stayed in their rooms most of the time we were there.)  They told us about their family, the loss of their daughter a few years ago, their lives in the community and some details about how they met.

Plans for the day were vague, so we hung out and enjoyed the slow pace.  Ernie sat in his recliner and put on worship videos on the television. Mare cleaned up the kitchen, turning down my help and insisting that I relax.  

Then Ernie got a text.  Nattie would be by around 2 pm and take me for a ride!  I was hoping to spend some time with her, having tea and a visit.  But she told me she was very busy and wasn't sure she was available.  I guess she was available after all!

I was ready when Nattie arrived and jumped into her truck.  It was a cold but sunny day.  Where would Nattie take me, since Garden Hill was a fly-in community?  Where could we possibly go on this drive?

Well, first off, we drove to where the ice road went across to the airport, RCMP detachment and a few houses on an island.  But Nattie turned right instead of going across the ice and told me we were going to drive up to Wasagamak.  Where?  I'd heard of the community and one of our ministry team, Chris Creasy, is from there.  So as we drove along the cleared track on the ice, Nattie told me about her family, her late husband Arnold and life in Island Lake (Garden Hill and the other nearby communities).   She pointed out certain islands where her Dad would take the family to live for the summers, other places where her family lived during the winters.  Nattie told how she went to residential school from age 7 to mid-teens.

We met several other vehicles along the ice road.  Some maintenance crews were scraping and flooding areas; others were widening the lanes.  We drove to the landing of Wasagamak, then turned around and headed back to Garden Hill.  More stories and then touring around the community of about 3,000 people.  The north side and south side, central and even some new areas that were being cleared and houses being built.  There was a large, new school, health centre, daycare and Headstart program.  The Northern Store with a KFC and Tim Horton's was near the main crossroads of the community. It was special to have Nattie's perspective on the history and current developments of Garden Hill, MB.

We had spent three hours in the truck and I needed to get ready for supper and the evening service.  So Nattie dropped me off at the McDougalls and had a few errands to run herself - mostly picking up grandchildren and dropping off others.  In the meantime, Walter had spent the afternoon visiting with Ernie.  They had discussed all the weighty matters, theological topics and issues of global significance. Ernie had also whipped up his famous chili that was smelling very good as I walked in the door.

After we ate supper, I helped Mare dish up the leftover chili into to-go containers.  She wanted to give it out after the service to anyone who was hungry or could use a meal.  Then we rode over with them to the church for the Saturday evening meeting.  The others had started with music already and we slipped in to the front row and joined in the singing.

Several of us were called up to share our testimonies - and there were many tears as each one told of the life of sin, the lostness and then the miracle of being saved through the Lord Jesus!  Gilbert's testimony of years in jail and the way he regretted leaving his daughters while incarcerated.  He's been living clean and sober, employed and able to be with his girls in Weagamow.  Doug's story of losing a daughter to murder and the journey to forgiveness touched us all deeply.  

Chris and Rochelle ministered in music, a mix of contemporary and country Gospel.  And we sang some hymns in English and Cree, which were becoming very sweet to our ears.  I'd look around, feeling surreal at being so far north among believers and experiencing some of the history of our NCEM missionaries having brought the Gospel to this community.  How great is our God!

By 9:30 or so, Walter was at the podium preaching on Spiritual Warfare and the origins of the devil and his evil schemes.  He preached his heart out and many were impacted by the Word of God.  What a privilege to minister to a church family that was hungry to learn and was longing for God's Word in their lives and their community.  We stood and closed the service in a hymn.  Then Mare distributed the chili and folks stayed to fellowship together.  

We didn't leave until way after 11 pm!  I wasn't sure why Mare and Ernie were in such a hurry.  That's when we found out that Garden Hill has a curfew...at midnight.  The local police were patrolling but we made it home in good time.  (There is a $250 fee for being out past the curfew; Mare thought we would only get a warning!)

Enjoying a cup of tea and a snack before bed, we ended the day rejoicing and very tired!

  Nattie in her truck - with Todd W.

 Sitting on the tarmac of the Jet Air terminal - where our private Cessna Caravan was revving up - Walter and I were in the back seats.  Ray sat in the single seat in front of me, Chris & Rochelle were in the double seat in front of Walter and the couple who sat in the front were Todd & Krystal.  The Garden Hill Native Evangelical church invited us all to come and share in music, testimonies and preaching.  The pilots, two missionaries with Northern Youth Programs (Dryden, ON), were pressing buttons, flipping switches and conferring with their laptops in preparation for take-off.  

The smooth rising of the 9-passenger plane gave us aerial view of Winnipeg, the main terminal and the Perimeter Road around the city.  In minutes, we were soaring over snow-covered fields and little farmyards surrounded by shelter belts of trees.  We all settled into the next 1 1/2 hours of flying time to Garden Hill, a fly-in community with access by winter road.  It felt like we were leaving civilization and heading into the wilderness of Manitoba's northeast corner.

We had Starlink on board, so I connected my phone.  I checked emails, sent a couple of texts and played some games.  Then I did some reading on my Kindle.  The ride was so smooth in -40 something degrees Celsius.  The air is dense and allows for no heat thermals that cause turbulence.  Going north in January is actually a great time to travel! 

I'm so thankful that my cold was mostly over; with the help of Dristan, my sinuses were cleared and I had very little trouble with the take-off and flight. But as we descended into the bush-covered region of Island Lake, I felt some discomfort as my ears popped.  The scenery was breathtaking - the sun was glowing magenta-red on the western horizon as we slid onto the runway.  We landed on the island across from the mainland where Garden Hill is located.  Dusk was upon us and we were had an adventure ahead of us.

The pilots let us disembark from both the front and back of the plane. The cold northern air was brisk but refreshing as we grabbed our luggage and headed for the small terminal.  We were greeted by the local church folks who were to pick us up.  Saying good-bye to Norm and Charles, we followed the First Nations women who had come in pick-up trucks.  We threw our bags into the backs of the trucks and squeezed into the backseats.   We were being taken to Trevor & Sherry's for supper.  But on the way, Nattie had to stop and pick up some food that was prepared by one of the church members.  Then Nattie made arrangements to give rides to her grandchildren before dropping us off for supper.  

We crowded into the home, where all 9 of us who were invited to minister for this conference, would enjoy a delicious supper. Shepherds pie, meatloaf, potatoes and salad were served.  Gilbert & Doug had also been flown in to the community by our pilots earlier in the day.  They came from Round Lake, ON (Weagamow Lake) to share their testimonies.  We found out that they also played bass guitar and joined in to accompany the musicians during the weekend.  It was special to meet these new folks and share in our common faith in Jesus Christ.  

The couple who hosted us were in a teacherage; it was a spacious home with a large kitchen and dining area.  Their 3 children lived with them, plus a son-in-law and grandson.  We realized that the housing shortage in the community meant most homes consisted of two or three generations under one roof.  Two doors down, one of the pastors who is also a teacher, would be our host for the weekend.  Taking our luggage over to the house, we thought we'd just be there for a few minutes before heading over to the church to prepare for the first meeting of the conference.

Ernie and Mary were just sitting down to their supper, so we waited while they ate and then got themselves ready for service.  We were watching the clock but they seemed unaware of the time.  We decided to relax and wait patiently for them to say it was time to go.

Winding our way through the community in the dark didn't help us figure out where we were.  They pointed out the school,  the Northern Store, the Blue Store and other landmarks.  Within a few minutes, we were in the North side, pulling up to the church building.  It had a cross lit up on the roof, but no other indication it was a place of worship.  Walking up the three steps and entering the building, we saw it needed some updating and repairs. Their senior pastor, Arnold, had passed away a few years ago.  His wife, Nattie and several grandchildren live in the parsonage next to the church.  Two elders, John Charles and Ernie, now serve as pastors and Trevor is an up and coming leader in the church.  

A wood stove was warming the building, and most people kept their coats and boots on during the service.  Ernie tuned up his guitar and chose some Cree hymns to start the service.  Walter had set up a tripod with a Tribal Trails camera to record the services.  Todd & Krystal set out books and other Christian literature for the church folks.  The rest of us sat in the chairs, waiting.

Ernie invited us to stand and opened the service with prayer.  We sang a song in English, with a Cree chorus. About 8 or 10 people were there plus the 9 of us guests.  Our prayer was that God would bring more to hear the Word.  Ernie invited each of us to share an introduction of ourselves.  He invited me and Walter first and I wasn't sure what to expect.  I shared a little of my story and sang a song.  Walter would be speaking later, so he just stood with me to support me.  

Did I mention that the services were advertised from 7 pm to 11 pm nightly?  So with all the guests taking turns sharing the first night, some hymns interspersed and Ernie sharing the theme scriptures and thoughts, Walter wasn't to speak until 9:30 pm!

Did I also mention that the services would be broadcast through the local radio station?  The church had the equipment and simply had to flip a switch so our songs and testimonies and Walter's sermons would be heard in several communities like Red Sucker, God's Lake Narrows and Wasagamak.  We were going to be celebrities!

The time actually flew by and by 11:30 pm we were heading back to our hosts' home. After a snack, a cup of tea and time to visit, we didn't get to bed until almost 1 pm!  We had two more nights so we hoped we could pace ourselves for this weekend.  

Ernie and Mary had gone the extra mile. We were treated royally.  Stay tuned as I write more about the amazing things God did in Garden Hill!

 Yeah!  We're grandparents again!

God has blessed us with a grandson - born on January 19 at 5:42 am. 

So much for us to be thankful for: 

*the weather and roads were okay as Mark & Amy drove to Brandon 

*medical staff who are monitoring little Nathan Christopher Selke after a very quick and distressing birth 

*for the Teichrib grandparents who are caring for big sister, Kaira (2 years old) while Mommy & Daddy are away

*for God's perfect timing

As Walter and I are packing for our trip to Garden Hill, MB this weekend, we hope to meet our new grandson either coming or going.  In the meantime, I am dogsitting for our daughter, Caylea while she participates in Camp Days at Millar College.  Lindy (Bernese Mountain dog) and her 3 month old pup, Wilbur (half Mini-Australian Shepherd) are enjoying our snowy backyard and the frequent visits indoors because I am too soft on them being out in the wind!  They are a fun distraction while I have been housebound, recuperating from a cold.

Adventures with the dogs this morning:  At 7 am, I heard Wilbur give a little yip.  That meant he was awake and needed to be let out of his kennel to do his business outside.  Lindy slept on our back deck, preferring the cooler temperatures.  But during the night, the wind had blown open our gate. Little did I know that I would soon see the neighbour waving through our back window!  What???

Lindy is very loyal and not adventurous at all.  She kept to the deck/backyard all night.  Wilbur, however, went out and escaped onto the road.  Our neighbour was just leaving for work and brought Wilbur back!  Oh, boy!  I could have been in big trouble with my daughter if I lost her puppy.

Pray for us and our upcoming trip!  Walter is preaching on Revelation 12:9-11 "The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray...They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."  He'll be speaking about spiritual warfare and the end times.  Heavy topics but pertinent to the times we are living in now.  I'll take my guitar and maybe share some music if my cold/voice will allow.

Pray also for baby Nathan, as he is being monitored in the NICU.  His oxygen levels and heart rate were somewhat unstable and they want to keep an eye on him.  Amy is resting and recovering.  Mark is keeping us updated.  And Kaira is unaware that her life will never be the same with a new brother added to her world!

 

 

Winds gusting up to 80 km/hour buffeted our vehicle as we drove west on the TransCanada Highway.  Very little snow in the fields and ditches adjacent to the highway indicated just how dry this southwestern part of Saskatchewan can be.  As we turned onto the narrower paved road leading to Millar College of the Bible in Pambrun, SK, we felt the wind die down.  The little prairie town is nestled in a coulee or small valley and is somewhat sheltered from the elements.  

 Walter pulled in along the gymnasium of the college, where the mission booths would be set up; students opened the doors and greeted us.  Some offered to help us with our displays and supplies.  I was thankful to have help as the wind did whip around the corners and tried to snatch the bristol board from my hand! We located our table and met our coworkers, Jordan & Linsey, (with their one year old son, Asher) who were just beginning to unpack their display items.

Almost every January for the past 15+ years, Walter and I have engaged at the college's Mission Weekend.  The staff have become like old friends; the students are new each year but we have appreciated their friendly and open welcome.  It was wonderful to be greeted by hugs and handshakes!

Why do we risk life and limb, through winter driving conditions, to set up a booth in this out of the way Bible College?  Because God has called us.  Because the college invites us.  Because the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few (Luke 10:2)  We have the incredible opportunity to speak about the ministry on North American soil to share the hope of the Gospel with the Indigenous people of Canada.  Surprisingly, many are not aware that remote communities may not have any church and many have not heard about who Jesus Christ is.  That is the very definition of a harvest field, with seeds planted but no one to bring in the harvest!

So we say "yes" to being on panel discussions about "Healthy Engagements in Cross-Cultural Settings".  We agree to leading a child care session where 12-20 kids listen to our missionary stories and learn to sing "O, How I Love Jesus" in Cree.  We also get up early for prayer meetings and stay up late to talk with students who want to know what our ministry is about!  We give out toques, lanyards, books and pens to bless these people and to keep the ministry of NCEM in their minds so they can pray.  (We also give out Tribal Trails & Generation Hope t-shirts, which we jokingly say is a way for the students to delay laundry for one more day!)

In case it sounds like I'm boasting about how great we are...let me tell you that anyone could do what we do.  We aren't special or extraordinary.  We get discouraged at times; we get tired and overwhelmed with the task.  It is clear we aren't getting any younger and need to recruit those who have the energy and vision of youth!  But we come away from a busy weekend like this so blessed and reminded that it is an honour to serve the Lord in this way.

Three highlights stick out to me: 

*The staff member who chatted with me at our booth and then took a moment to pray for us and our ministry.

*The engaged couple who wanted to talk about their vision for ministry

*The staff kid who loved our childcare session and wanted to "go to the Tribal Trails booth and chat with the guy" (Walter!)

We may never know the impact on others that God is stirring, but I know we always come home encouraged by some interaction He directed.  As we pray for those God-ordained moments, we trust that some will follow the Lord's calling and find great joy in obedience.

Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." 

 

 

 Here it is - second week of January!  We had a nice break from travels and now we're getting ready to hit the road again.  The next two months will be filled with Bible College missions conferences and Winnipeg MissionFest. I'm dusting off the suitcase and getting back to our regular routines!

In the midst of scheduling, we are also awaiting the arrival of our grandbaby.  On one of our trips to Manitoba, we plan to meet the baby and play with big sister, Kaira.  So as we prepare for a busy season of ministry, we want to squeeze in our grandparent calling.  Sometimes our life pulls us in different directions. I'm glad we can have peace in the midst of unpredictable circumstances - even if that unpredictable event is the blessing of a grandchild!

Another thing I am grateful for is the privileged to serve the Lord.  I've never regretted following the Lord's call into full time ministry.  Even though there have been many disappointments, losses, sacrifices and difficulties, I know our work in the ministry has never been in vain.  (1 Corinthians 15:58) "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain."

There are some experiences I'd never want to live through again!  I want to learn lessons from hard times and not have to re-run those challenges because I refused to learn the first time.  Several times in Scripture, the Biblical writers teach that we endure hard times in order to develop character.  God's purposes often involve our growth and our increase in character qualities to be like Christ. We shouldn't be surprised when we ask God for patience and then He brings trials into our lives to teach us that very thing!  How do we learn to put our hope and trust in the Lord unless our faith is put to the test?  

But for me, the real highlight of ministry is meeting all the people!  Walter and I are both "people" persons and enjoy relationships with others.  We love hearing people's life stories, coming alongside folks who have struggles and pointing them to Jesus.  Lately, our focus has been on young adults who are searching for God's will for their futures.  Our greatest joy is helping them explore the opportunities that missions can open up for them.  The Lord has continued to fill us with vision and passion for First Nations/Indigenous ministry in Canada and nothing fulfills us more than talking about and praying for"labourers" to be sent to the harvest field.

 As I reorganize our mission merchandise, supplies and displays for the next season on the road, I'm so thankful for those who support us.  We know that we couldn't do what we do without our prayer and financial support team.  Believing God has divine appointments set for us on our travels, I get excited about who we will meet and how God will lead in our conversations.

See ya' later!

 

 

 

 

 BIBLE CHALLENGE

How is your new year going so far?  Are you feeling tired, uncomfortable after eating too much and exercising too little?  Are your Christmas decorations drooping and your spirits, as well?

To perk up my jam and get out of any post-holiday doldrums, I am challenging myself to a Bible reading goal for January.  Since the book of Proverbs has 31 chapters and January has 31 days, I'm reading one chapter of Proverbs a day this month!

So far, I'm on track.  A couple of verses have really stuck out to me in the first four chapters that I'll share with you.

"These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel.  Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.  Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just and fair." (Proverbs 1:1-3) New Living Translation

This version of the Scriptures gave a clear and succinct purpose for Solomon's writings.  He acknowledged later in the book that his own father and mother were personally involved in his own learning and training; he encouraged his own son to follow these teachings because they were so valuable.  It is good to consider the wisdom and instruction of our parents, not just for spiritual insights but for everyday, practical advice for life.

In chapter 2, Solomon makes another clear statement: "For the Lord grants wisdom!" (verse 6a)  True wisdom is from above, not from human origin.  Back in the first chapter, the basis for godly wisdom is also stated: "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge..." (verse 7a)  To truly understand and apply God's wisdom requires that we fear Him, honour Him and have a relationship with Him.  

By chapter 3, we can learn the many benefits of living by God's wisdom.  Protection, success, long life, safety, peace, blessing...just to name a few. And in the fourth chapter, Solomon repeats the principle that wisdom can come through parents' instruction and we all are challenged to follow and obey.  There is no special honour given to people who are independent, self-taught or lone rangers.  Credit is given to those who pay attention to a father's teaching and a mother's training.  Living a life that honours our parents, elders and the Lord is highly praised!

If you haven't got back into a rhythm of daily devotions, start today.  Proverbs is a great place to start - one chapter a day for January.  But other suggestions are the Gospel of John (21 chapters) or Joshua (24 chapters) that you could easily read in one month from now.  

"Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding." (Proverbs 3:13)

 

 

 

When you get to my age, HAPPY NEW YEAR is a state of mind, not an event!  My husband and I don't often make it until midnight.  We celebrate with whichever province and time zone corresponds with our bedtime!  

Rather than focusing on New Years' Resolutions, or plans and adventures for the upcoming year, I tend to be a bit more reflective on the year just past.  I recall highlights, remember adventures and meditate on the goodness of God.  I also lean towards evaluating my life and choices, wanting to learn from the past and apply wisdom to the future.  Sounds heavy, doesn't it?

This year, I scrolled through some verses of the Bible as potential themes for the upcoming year.  The ones that captured my attention are Philippians 3:12-14:  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But ONE THING I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

The Apostle Paul was a missionary, like me.  He gave His life to serve Jesus Christ in full-time ministry to bring the Gospel to people who had not heard.  Ever since I accept Christ as my Saviour (July 1981) I felt a tugging on my heart to go into ministry/church work.  I've traveled and taught the Bible and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ as a missionary to the inner city of Regina and to Indigenous people in Canada.

But the similarities end there! Paul was a strong, courageous, intelligent and learned man.  His life journey took him to dangerous and dark places.  He was beaten, imprisoned, taken to trial and left for dead because of his preaching.  He sacrificed religious status and financial success, even giving up any rights to a wife or family. From prison, he wrote several letters to new churches and those became part of the canon of Scripture.  Because of him and the other Apostles of the 1st century, we all have been able to hear and accept the Gospel.  Huge impact.

Many of us look up to Paul as a super-Christian.  His spiritual life, insights and impact seem beyond what any of us could ever reach.  And yet, this verse in the letter to the church in Philippi expresses Paul's humble opinion of himself.  "Not that I have already obtained all this...I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it..."  What is Paul referring to that he still lacks?

Perfection.  Holiness. Fullness.  Christlikeness.

This coming year, I want to press on, to forget what is behind and to strain toward seeking and knowing Jesus better.

Simple.  But not easy.

I can look back at the past year and see where I've grown and what I've accomplished.  I can see how God carried me through some difficult and impossible challenges.  I can fall on my knees in gratitude and praise for how the Lord graciously helped me and my family.  

I can also reflect on where I still need to grow: patience, humility, forgiveness, generosity, prayerfulness, thankfulness, grace, discipline, love... I need to"forget" what is behind: the offenses I've experienced in relationship with others, the mistakes and sins I've committed. I must let go of things that I can't change.  Paul had learned the art of forgetting what happened before and moving on by faith to embrace the pursuit of God.  It wasn't about setting goals for his next missionary journeys, how many cities he would visit or how many churches he would establish.  His "pressing on" was personal, not career-minded.  

His "one thing" was putting all his effort into pleasing the Lord, becoming more like Jesus and winning the prize of the high calling of being a child of God, a citizen of heaven!  Nothing else matters.

So this new year, I challenge myself - and you - to let go of the regrets and even the points of pride from the last 12 months.  Forgive those who trespassed against you.  Deal with your past and don't try to run from it.  And strain forward to pursue the knowledge and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, Who is worth it all! Get into the Bible; study and memorize it. Pray, without ceasing.  Join a Bible study, get involved in church.  Share your testimony and what God is teaching you with someone else who needs to be encouraged in things of the faith.  

1 Chronicles 16:11 "Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!"