Surreal.
I have most likely used this word to describe my recent travel experiences.
I just can't express how I am feeling any other way as I gaze at the surrounding landscape and unfamiliar faces at the new communities we have visited in the past year.
Our latest travel adventure took us to Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador.  We left Regina early Friday morning.  Air Canada took us to Toronto, Halifax and then Goose Bay.  Dark, starry skies and cold air greeted us as we descended the metal steps and walked across the tarmac of the small airport.  Our friends from Missionary Development Program (Class of 1990) greeted us and immediately whisked us to their cozy home about 15 minutes away.  After about a 12 hour travel day, I am always amazed at the energy that is revived when we visit with people. At least for a time.  We didn't argue when Carl and Laura suggested we all head to bed at 10 pm Atlantic time (it was only 8 pm back home).
The next morning Walter and Carl went to a Men's breakfast at their church, so I rolled over and went back to sleep.  The next thing I remember, I checked my phone and saw it was 10:30 am.  The guys would be coming back from breakfast and I was still in bed!  Boy, I must have needed those extra ZZZ's!  I got up, found a cup of coffee and hit the shower. 
Our next order of business was to drive up to Northwest River, a community about half an hour from Goose Bay, across a river (?).  This community was inhabited by Innu, Inuit, Metis and local Labradorians.  We had tea at friends of our hosts: a Metis man from Black Tickle who married a Dutch gal!  Very friendly folks.  Then we drove to a little gift shop to see if we could find some carvings or other souvenirs made by local people.  Walter found some "seals" made of seal skin and I purchased some Inuit Parka dolls.  For the kids, you know.
We crossed the bridge again and they showed us the Reserve "Shesheshie".  As in the city, huge snowbanks were evident everywhere, and all driveways had been blown out by snowblowers.  They'd had 11 feet of snow already this winter and even more was expected in March and April!  We saw the school, arena and band offices.  Similar and yet different from the prairie First Nations communities. 
Laura had a pot roast in the oven, so we headed back to their home.  We made another stop at a gift shop and Walter found a carving by an Inuit artist that caught his eye.  I found a "Tea Doll", made by the Innu people.  The story of the tea dolls is that whenever the people were on the move, everyone had to help by carrying items.  Little girls were given cloth dolls filled with loose tea.  They would use the tea as they journeyed, but the girls would still have a doll, that could be refilled and played with.  It is a nice story and cute momento of the trip.
After a tasty moose roast supper, complete with chocolate cake and strawberries, Carl built a fire in his backyard firepit.  With paths and a little area cleared in the yard, the snowbanks were taller than me!  From the back window, we couldn't even see the fire-just the glow. They had invited their pastor and his wife over to meet us, but it was cool with the wind blowing in the evening, so we stayed indoors with warm mugs of tea.
Sunday morning dawned sunny and cool again.  I helped Laura prepare a hearty soup for lunch; we left for church and picked up a young gal they knew who was in town for her Dad's medical trip to Goose Bay.  They were from a more distant reserve and so she was staying in a motel.
Walter preached on the "Great Commission" and encouraged the believers to reach out with the Gospel, even when doubts come.  The disciples doubted but Jesus still entrusted the ministry of His kingdom to them!
Stay tuned for more of our eastern excursion...