So much has been happening this month and I knew November would fly by!
We had a missions conference weekend in Nipawin at the Bible College.  Jason and Anita Boucher represented NCEM while Kelly and Nancy Morton represented Healing Hearts.  So Walter and I could float, connecting with the college staff and other folks we knew, while we had our other reps manning the booths in the gymnasium.  The speaker for the conference was the Canadian director of IJM (International Justice Mission).  His challenge to us was something we have been indirectly involved with (justice issues) and yet our focus has always been on ministering to the emotional and spiritual needs.  In the past year, we have seen a couple move to India to work with IJM in the legal end of bringing charges against brothel owners and child traffickers.  Our eyes were opened much more to the new generation of millenials and their passion for getting involved in missions with a justice component. Really made us think...
With a one-day turnaround, we flew off to Victoria for five days. We participated in the One Hope Canada national conference, where Walter taught a seminar on ministering in camps with a First Nations emphasis.  It was a worthwhile time of encouragement for us, with time to rest and enjoy some downtime.  The Westbay Walkway was a lovely path for walking along the Victoria Harbour. If we crossed the bridge, we were on the Wharf area across the street from the Empress Hotel.  We felt so pampered spending some time there.
Again, Walter had less than a day to repack and fly to Toronto.  We decided I would stay home while he had meetings in Durham with the leadership of Ethnos Canada.  NCEM and Ethnos are partnering in a church planting initiative among First Nations and Walter met with these leaders to solidify the relationship and make some more specific plans.  Many organizations working in Canada are seeing the need to bring the hope of Christ to a people group who have either been overlooked or mistreated when it comes to a genuine and healthy ministry.  We are very excited to see this growing interest and action being taken to reach out thoughtfully and prayerfully in light of the dark past of the Gospel being brought to the indigenous people of Canada.
Oh, that the Lord would bring about a wonderful spiritual healing work to reconcile our nation under Jesus Christ!
This past week, we had five days of meetings with all the coordinators and leaders of NCEM held in Prince Albert.  I mostly took notes, giving input as we met with each leader and then catching up with some Personnel administration.  My brain was mushy by Thursday and Walter still had a meeting with the Board of Directors on Friday!  God gave grace for Walter to engage with the Board.  At the 8 month mark of our journey with NCEM, the Board affirmed us as being the right people for the position and they prayed for us and encouraged us to keep going in this direction.  Although completely spent, we left Prince Albert with full hearts.  The Lord has shown us favour as we have taken on the challenges of two mission organizations and has raised up faithful ones to serve alongside us. 
Looking ahead, we have a short week in Prince Albert with an early Christmas party and a day of administration, then back home to go to Caylea's last oncologist appointment.  She will have the results of her last blood work and CT scan.  We pray for God's healing to be made clear in these test results. 
As the prophet Habakkuk said, "Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation." (3:18)