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."