How do you know if you are in love?

Spring time is often when love stirs.  The birds are singing and calling out for their mates. Something about the bright, warm days and extended daylight into the evenings draws couples together.  But the age-old question is how do I know if this is the real thing, if this love is forever?

I'm not an expert, but I do have some experience.  I've seen what love is not; I've felt when a heart is broken.  I've also been on the receiving end of love that is undeserved.  Wow!  There is nothing more humbling than to be loved when I've behaved in a very un-loveable way! 

Real love is described in the Bible in a few places.  1 Corinthians 13 is the classic passage read at many weddings.  Let's see what the Apostle Paul defined as real love.

"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."  (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)

This kind of description is all about actions, attitudes and sacrifice.  Paul doesn't use emotive terms.  He avoids words that would be about feelings or about how that other person stirs my heart, gives me goose bumps or is all-consuming of my thoughts.   In my teenage years, what I thought might have been love was really feelings that were based on my own thoughts, emotional responses and physical heart-palpitations!  The feelings would come and go.  My own immaturity and self-doubt would affect whether I thought I was in love, or not.  I guess you could say those attractions were not very deep, more aptly identified as a "crush."  At the time, that was all I was capable of and I give myself grace now as I look back.  I've learned what real love looks like and that God is the Author of genuine and lasting love.

I remember being in a Bible study where the leader gave us an exercise:  to replace the word "love" in the 1 Corinthians 13 passage with the name "Jesus."  That was incredible!  Putting Jesus' name in those verses made the description come alive!  I could move the concepts of patience, kindness, trust and hope into a personal relationship that I could hold on to; it became not a definition but a tangible reality.  And to declare "Jesus never fails" transformed my understanding.  I had seen love that failed, human relationships that broke down and family dynamics that felt unstable and unsafe.  But when Jesus promised to never fail me, I began to grow.  I could learn to trust.

John 14:15 and 21 are verses that I've also had to wrestle with in learning about true love.  "If you love Me, keep my commands."  (verse 15)  This seems demanding at first glance.  Jesus sounds like a tyrant, requiring obedience and rule-keeping in order to prove love!  That is the danger of taking one verse and not looking at the context in which Jesus spoke.  Taking Chapter 14 as a whole, we see that Jesus is saying good-bye to His closest companions, the Disciples.  He is giving His most important teachings as He prepares them for His death, His departure from earth.  So His final words are explaining that "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me."  (verse 6)  When Phillip says, " Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us" (verse 8), Jesus must further explain how the relationship with the Father and Jesus, the Son actually works.  "Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father."  (verse 9)  

In essence, Jesus claims to be God, saying that He and the Father are one and the same.  So if He gives us a command, it is with the authority of the Father.  Jesus spoke the very words of His Father.  But here is the catch: Jesus is not asking for obedience-on-demand, Master and slave relationship.  He is saying, "If you love Me..." with the invitation and expectation that the relationship will be based in love.  Now, let's jump down to verse 21 which will shed even more light on this statement:  "Anyone who loves Me will obey my teaching.  My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." Jesus takes the relationship even further; He says the Father will love us as we obey Jesus' teaching.  Not only that, but God Himself, in the form of the Holy Spirit (verses 17, 25 & 26) will make His home in them, in us!  Although the Holy Spirit came upon people (ie, prophets) in the Old Testament, the concept of dwelling right within a person was novel and unbelievable!  

To illustrate, I think of my growing up years and my mom teaching me how to do certain tasks.  She would explain, possibly demonstrate how she wanted me to wipe a counter or chop up vegetables, but then she would also supervise me while I took over the task.  With her watchful eye on me, I would try to perform up to the standard and obey her commands.  Now, 50+ years later, I still hear her voice in my head when I try to do a job too quickly and not be thorough - almost like she is right there with me!  Even moreso is the Holy Spirit in my heart, reminding me of Jesus' instructions and commands.  Beyond just obeying because I feel guilty, I want to obey because I want to show my love and respect. 

Now sometimes I admit, I didn't want to live up to the standard my mom set for cleaning or whatever the task may be.  As an adult, I would feel the burden to keep up with her expectations in my own housekeeping.  But I know that taking pride in a job well done comes with maturity and I soon learned to do the extra things because of my own desire, not just the voice of my mother!  The same is in our relationship with Jesus.  1 John 5:3 expresses my heart's desire in pleasing the Lord.  "In fact, this is love for God:  to keep His commands.  And His commands are not burdensome..." Our Father knows that in our natural selves, we want to take shortcuts, do things the easy way.  We find rules and commands burdensome.  But if we truly want to experience intimacy and closeness with the Father, through Jesus Christ, by His Holy Spirit dwelling in us, then doing what He says will give us that freedom and joy.  

"If you love Me..."  Yes, Lord, I love You!  I will obey Your commands!

 

 

Good-byes are difficult.  As a child, I hated saying good-bye and leaving an event, leaving people behind.  I remember when Walter would come to visit me and then on Sunday evening he would leave for Bible school.  Sadness and loneliness would leave an empty place in my soul. 

Jesus was spending one last Passover meal with His twelve disciples, His closest friends and brothers.  Special arrangements were made and they gathered to celebrate.  Although Jesus had explained to them He would be leaving, these men who had spent three years with Him, didn't understand. 

John, one of the disciples who wrote the Gospel of John, recorded some unique and intimate moments that he and the other eleven men experienced together.  Chapter 13 is the only place in the Bible where we can glimpse a special event just prior to the Passover meal.  

"Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world. and return to His Father.  He had loved them during His ministry on earth, and now He loved them to the very end." (verse 1)

As Jesus is preparing to say good-bye to His disciples and leave them with His final words, it is really without words that He imparts the most meaningful impact.  In seven actions, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, speaks to His followers then and to us as His followers now:

1.  "So He got up..." (verse 4a)  Jesus intentionally got up from the table where they were reclining and eating the Passover.  He was the leader, a rabbi, and should expect to be served and waited upon throughout the meal.  By standing up, Jesus was disrupting the order of things and captured the attention of the twelve.

In Genesis 4:8, we read how Cain and Abel were in the fields together.  With intention, premeditation, Cain got up, rose up and acted violently towards his brother.   "Cain spoke to Abel his brother.^[a] And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him."  While Cain got up with evil in his heart, by contrast, Jesus stood up with pure love.  

2.  "...took off His robe..." (verse 4b)  To our way of thinking, we might wonder if Jesus was too warm in the crowded room.  Or maybe, He wanted  more freedom of movement during the meal.  What is the significance of His removing the robe, His outer garment, while indoors?

If we read Philippians 2:6-8  ^"... who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,^{[b] 7} but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant,^[c] being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled Himself..."  When Jesus submitted Himself to the plan for salvation, this involved Him laying aside and stripping off His divinity to become a man.  He willingly chose to remove and refuse to function with His full divine nature, knowledge and power in order to become a human being.  Taking off the robe was a symbol of His humility and submission to the Father.

Not only did He remove the robe but His garment was gambled for by the Roman soldiers while He hung on the cross.  Truly Jesus allowed Himself to be completely stripped of all self, our greatest human battle, and fully surrender to powerlessness as a lamb. 

3.  "...wrapped a towel around His waist..."  (verse 4c)  To further humble Himself, Jesus took a towel, a symbol of a servant, and wrapped it around His waist.  This action clearly identified Him as the lowest and least among them.  The role of a household servant was to do the most menial and disgusting tasks for the master and his family.  Cooking, cleaning, bathing and bathroom duties were among these tasks.  For Jesus to lower Himself to wash the dirty, smelly, unpleasant feet of the disciples was  not only unacceptable but shocking for these Jewish men to comprehend!

Again in Philippians 2, Paul writes that Jesus..."emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant..." and then proceeded to serve His friends with this simple and humble act.

4.  "...and poured water into a basin."  (verse 5a) Jesus did not symbolically tie the towel around Himself; He actually poured out the water for washing into the appropriate basin.  Jesus did not love with words and speech only, but with actions and truth. (1 John 3:18) His pouring the water showed the extent to which He poured out His very life for the disciples, and for all of us.  

In John 4:14 and later in John 7:37-39, Jesus used the imagery of water as life-giving, eternal, refreshing.  Every human being can relate to thirst and that basic need for water.  We all understand the need for cleansing outwardly but most importantly, inwardly and spiritually.  By this action, Jesus showed that He was willing to pour out His all and get involved in our filth and mess to save us.

5.  "Then He began to wash the disciples' feet..."  (verse 5b) With His own hands, Jesus washed the dry, cracked, dusty and dirty feet of these men, who walked everywhere in the deserts of Israel.  His holy hands touched the flesh of sinful men.  How many others did Jesus touch to bring healing, love, acceptance and freedom?  He touched lepers, adulterers, tax collectors, lame and  blind  to deliver them from their affirmities and afflictions.  

Ephesians 5:26 tells us of the significance of the cleansing work of Christ.  " that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word..."  As Jesus demonstrated with this physical act of washing, He would provide the spiritual cleansing we all need from sin and its effects.  In 1 Corinthians 6:11, we also see this cleansing at work to free us from guilt, shame and condemnation to declare us holy and righteous.  " And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."  

6.  "...drying them with the towel He had around Him..." (verse 5c)  In another version of the Scriptures, the term "wiping" is used, indicating the action of removing the dirt and the water and leaving the objects dry and clean.  Jesus fully removes our sins and the reminder is that " as far as the east is from the west,  so far does He remove our transgressions from us."  (Psalm 103:12)  

Another image is that Jesus will one day " He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  (Revelation 21:4)  The gentle hand of our Saviour will comfort us and wipe our tears, removing sorrow and grieving as we celebrate our salvation with Him in eternity.

7.  "After washing their feet, He put on His robe again and sat down..."  (verse 12a)  As Jesus completed the life lesson of humility and servanthood to His disciples, He put on His robe once again and sat down.  Such a beautiful picture that He is Lord.  That He will once again be exalted and glorified as the King.  The His work would soon be finished. The cross was still ahead of Him but He demonstrated that He would sit at the right hand of His Father and have completed His assignment on earth.  

Revelation 3:21 "The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne."  

What an incredible picture of the gentle and loving Messiah, our Jesus, who would humble Himself and wash our feet?  

Jesus' lesson was that we do the same.  

What will that look like for me to wash others' feet?  Who am I to serve today, this week?

 

 

 

 

 A lot happens in a week!

Last Wednesday and Thursday we were sniffling and sipping tea.  One week later, we are putting up bird feeders and listening to the robins and meadowlarks!  A lot happened in between, as well.

We drove to Edmonton last Friday to celebrate Walter's Mom's 90th birthday.  It was an uneventful drive from Regina through Saskatoon and then a stop in Lloydminster to switch drivers.   As the prairie-born kids of the 1960's, we of course took note of the snow still in fields and ditches, counted coyotes and looked for other wildlife.  We made it to Sherwood Park, where we stayed at the Best Western, a favourite stop when we travel to the Edmonton area.  

There are a few eating establishments near the hotel, and we walked towards the strip mall at the other end of the parking lot.  We discovered a little restaurant that looked reasonable, walked inside and saw just a couple of tables occupied.  As we stepped up to the counter, the older gentleman wearing an apron asked, "What can I get for ya'?"  The menu was posted above the pass-through window to the kitchen, and we stared at the options.  

"What do you recommend?"  Walter replied.  "The dinner plate...and here are your meats to choose from."

I ordered a one meat dinner plate (brisket) with coleslaw and  cornbread.  Walter ordered the brisket, smoked turkey and mashed potatoes with cornbread.  We had barely sat down at one of the empty tables and the man brought us our tray of generously loaded plates.  Wow!  If you are ever in Sherwood Park, look up "That BBQ Place" and you won't be disappointed.  

It was nice to relax at the hotel, watch some World Men's Curling on TV and be sleeping before 11 pm.  The next morning was leisurely, as the birthday party wouldn't start until 12:30 pm.  We had enough time to stop by a store to find flowers and fruit trays for the lunch.  Walter found a carwash for a much needed rinse off of our white vehicle that was showing signs of winter/spring road slush.

We arrived in northwest Edmonton as a few others were pulling up.  Walter's sister Marilee and her husband Robert were the hosts.  They had tables set up and Easter decorations for the occasion.  It was a loud, fun, tasty and busy birthday party with all the 5 children attending, only two grandchildren missing and all 8 great-grands present!  Lasagna, garlic bread and salad was served along with veggie trays, deviled eggs and potato salad. Rachel, one of the grandkids, had made a beautiful white cake with strawberry layers and cream cheese icing!  We all sang "Happy Birthday", with a cute little voice that echoed "and many more!"  Tessa, 4-years old, blushed when everyone laughed.  

Grandma Selke made a nice speech to thank everyone for coming. She quoted the verse from Psalms "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  And she had everyone wiping tears as she mentioned how we never know if we will all be together again but we have the hope of meeting in heaven one day!  

The cake was served and more visiting continued. The sun was shining and kids wanted to play outside.  I volunteered to take Kaira, our 1 1/2 year old granddaughter outside and she had a ball playing with the other little cousins.  Some of the guys visited on the deck.  The parents of the little ones took turns letting Grandma see them and interact one on one.  Special times.

After group pictures and family combinations were taken, some clean up and more chatting ensued.  By 3:30, some folks that had to drive said their good-byes.  I was glad that our kids stayed a while longer as they don't get out to Edmonton often.   We were almost the last to leave.  And it had been a great day.

Back at the hotel, we brought in a few items for a light supper in our room.  We were peopled out, but it had been a wonderful party.

Sunday morning we hit the road by 9:30 in order to get back home.  Mark, Amy and Kaira were staying overnight on their way back to Manitoba.  So we wanted to get there before they did and unload our stuff.  We timed the pizza delivery for their arrival and it worked out perfectly.  It was so fun to have Kaira come to us right away, and lead us by the hand to the toy box downstairs!  

And today, we're packing again for another adventure.  You won't want to miss this!

                                                         Klara Selke's 80th birthday

                                                                     90th birthday

 

 He woke up with a very sore and scratchy throat.  His sinuses pounded and even his eyes felt sore and aching.  Sitting up in bed, he tried to clear away the cobwebs and drowsiness.  He could hear the footsteps of his wife approaching the bedroom door.  What was he going to tell her about their plans for the day?

Having been up since before sunrise, his wife had tried not to disturb her sleeping husband.  Tiptoeing down to the kitchen she prepared her coffee and grabbed a book she had been looking forward to reading.  She watched the sky as it grew lighter.  The reflection of sunlight on the oil refinery made it appear more glorious than it actually was, giving it a glow that belied the often smelly and smokey institution that it is!

The hands of the clock had spun around to 8 am, the time they had planned to leave the house this morning.  In one hour, the World Men's curling draw was beginning in Moose Jaw - a game between Canada's team and China, the two top teams of the championship so far.  The couple loved the game of curling and were quite excited that such an important event was hosted so close to their home.  She laid aside her book and quietly walked to the bedroom to check on her husband.

She could tell with one look that this man had a "man-cold" and he appeared miserable!  "Want a hot drink?"  She stepped to his side of the bed, feeling his forehead for a fever and gathering the used tissues piled on his nightstand.

"Yeah, I guess so."  He moaned, coughing and then reaching for another tissue.  "I don't think I'll be able to go anywhere today."  

"No, I don't think so either!"  And the woman left the room to bring a hot drink and some vitamins for her ailing husband.

Disappointment.

The curling game isn't that important, the wife said to herself.  We can watch it on television.   She leaned on the counter as the Keurig sputtered and gurgled to produce a steaming mug of coffee.  Her heart fought with her mind, recalculating the plans for the day that they had made.  Disappointment settled in and threatened to cast a shadow on her thoughts.

It was a perfect day for a short road trip.  But to be honest, they were going to be driving the following day to Edmonton for Grandma's 90th birthday celebration on the weekend.  Was it worth pushing their health when rest was really the answer?

As she took the mug of coffee, she resolved not to be heavy over this failed outing. She nudged the bedroom door open, smiling and handing the drink to the man.  He smiled weakly.  "Sorry," he croaked.

"Hey, I'll get the TV set up on TSN and we can relax in our recliners.  Prime seats, hot coffee and snacks.  It'll be fun!"

*****

Of course, you know this couple is me and Walter!  We've got a busy weekend ahead of us and don't want to miss his mother's birthday party.  So we'll rest, pump the liquids and vitamins and hope for the best!

As I write, Canada is up 4-2 over China in the 5th end.  God knows our needs, has His divine hand on our plans and will guide us in the big and little things!  I'm so glad we can trust our heavenly Father and even give Him our disappointments.  

There will likely be more curling competitions we can watch in person, more opportunities to enjoy one of our favourite pass times.  God is so good!  We live a blessed life and have so much to be thankful for - why let a "man-cold" rob our joy?

Have a good day, everyone! 

 

This morning I woke really early - before the sun had risen.  I made coffee and prepared for a nice, long stretch of time for reading, praying and writing in my journal.  Who knew that I'd be on a treasure hunt through the Scriptures?

With my tools all set out and ready for searching, digging and retrieving those nuggets of pure gold, I got comfortable in my rocking chair, putting my feet up and setting my coffee mug on a side table.  I started in Psalm 37, then wandered into Isaiah 43 and finally found a vague trail to Isaiah 60!  I was reviewing some precious promises the Lord has used in our journey the past year and some months, and I was thrilled to discover new thoughts and truths as I dug deeper and examined the jewels of His Word.

I spent some time carefully unpacking Isaiah 60:22 - a verse someone mentioned on the weekend but didn't give a reference.  So I did a Google search and finally found this verse in the New International Version:  "The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation.  I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly."  In light of the words of warning and condemnation that Isaiah spoke over and over to the nation of Israel, the prophet wove hope and promise, as well.  These words became true in 1948 when Israel was given portions of the land God had designated for them.  He did this swiftly and defended His people when they were attacked as a vulnerable and weakened new country!  

Today, this word encouraged me that God will take the small, weak and unlikely ones to accomplish His purposes.  The key word is "time" - God will do this in His time and according to His pace.

In my search for this little nugget, I found another similar verse in Habakkuk 2:3 "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end - it will not lie.  If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."   I take heart that God's vision is the one that will prevail.  Humans may attempt to cast vision and set goals but God may override even the most carefully laid out plans!  And again, it is about just the right time or "appointed time." Waiting seems like such a long, slow process; but God's promises will surely come.  What feels like a delay to us is His wisdom and goodness at work!

It is good to enjoy some treasure-hunting on this last Monday in March!

 

 

 

 Family.

I can honestly say that my family - our family - is my greatest joy!  I look forward to special occasions, holidays and random visits with our grown children and now our granddaughter.  The longing to know they are doing well, to see them succeed and to share in their lives is so deep!

From my youngest remembrance, I would play house, make little paper doll families, draw floor plans for houses, make up names for moms, dads and their kids!  A home and family is what I desired more than anything: more than a career, fame or fortune.  Since I grew up after the women's liberation movement and had any opportunities open to me for my future, why did I have such a strong drive for the traditional wife and mother roles?

In Bible times, family meant a secure future.  Having many children, healthy sons and daughters, would guarantee financial provision, care in one's old age, protection from harm.   Family was to be a safe and solid relationship built on love and trust. A widow was often vulnerable to being taken advantage of, and if she had no children, she needed to provide for herself or rely on others' generosity.  The Scriptures required the Jewish people to make sure orphans and widows were well taken care of and God punished people and nations for neglecting or abusing the weak, poor and alone.

God blessed my husband and me with three wonderful and healthy kids.  Raising them was a lot of work and took more wisdom and patience than we had in our natural selves!  Some of our greatest moments were at parent-teacher interviews when our children's teachers would commend us for raising such nice, polite and respectful kids.  Wow!  We knew we couldn't take the credit.  It was with the Lord's help that each of our kids has grown up to be hard working, Jesus-loving adults.  We are just so proud of them!

For those who struggle with infertility, that can be the most difficult journey with the deepest pain.  I've been spared that terrible heartache but I know many who lost little ones or could not conceive.  The loss, blame and guilt can be overwhelming.  

I think of Sarah, Abraham's wife and the many years they were not able to have a child.  God had promised them many descendants and it looked impossible for them to ever see that promise fulfilled.  Miraculously, God answered their prayers and longings.  Isaac was born!

I think of Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, who would cry out to the Lord for a child.  His other wife, Peninah, had several children and would mock and tease Hannah for her barrenness. At the annual feast in Jerusalem, she would pray and seek God in the temple, to the point that the priest thought she was inebriated!  But God heard her cries and gave her a special son, Samuel.  He became a great, godly prophet and priest.  

I think of Elizabeth, whose husband Zechariah was priest in Jerusalem.  They also were barren and had likely given up all hope. They were in their elderly years, past childbearing. What chance was there for this couple to have a family?  In God's graciousness, He granted them the blessing of a son, John the Baptist, who was the last in a line of prophets before the Messiah came.  He ushered in the Lord Jesus Christ, preaching repentance to prepare the way of the Lord.  

Not all who struggle with being single, being childless or being alone, have "happily ever after" endings to their life stories.  God has a unique purpose for each of His created ones and His only promise is that He will never leave us or forsake us.  He provides us with family, His family.  By faith, we can become part of this divine family with our heavenly Father, brothers and sisters who serve Jesus Christ, and extended families with bonds that are deeper than blood.

Our little granddaughter (and her parents!) came to visit us yesterday for an overnight stay.  Seeing her in the arms of our son, waving to us through the living room window, made our hearts leap with joy and our faces plastered with silly smiles!  Her hugs and giggles blessed us beyond measure.  When she would take our hand and want us to follow her and play with her, we experienced such happiness.  

How much more the Father longs for us to be with Him!  Jesus often talked about His joy in us and making our joy full.  Relationship with us is His greatest joy and He loves us so much that He died for us so that we can live forever with Him!

If you don't know that peace, that joy of being part of God's family, reach out to me or someone you know who is a Christian.  We'd love to share our journey with you.

 

 

 

A theme this week has been going through trials and enduring hardships.  I read James 1:2-4 in devotional readings and found that even though those verses are familiar - I memorized them in highschool in preparation for Bible quizzing - new truth seemed to permeate my heart.

"Count it all joy..." is how James 1:2 starts off and it seems like the absolute opposite to what we normally say when we face trials.  How can we consider it a joyful experience to undergo painful and overwhelming circumstances?  James go on to explain how to work it through.  "Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." (verse 3)  Trials are a test.  How can we know if we pass or fail the testing standards of these trials?

God has great things in store for us in following His ways.  They include growth and strength.  He doesn't want us to remain like babies, infants in our faith.  He doesn't want us to be weak, undeveloped and immature.  So God designs, or allows, difficulties to stretch us and determine where our faith and trust really lies.

James continues to teach the benefits of persevering.   "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (verse 4)  Being tested involves enduring through unpleasant, uncomfortable and impossible circumstances.  If we don't endure and quit prematurely before God's work by the Holy Spirit is complete, we circumvent the process.  I think we can agree we all want to be mature and whole, or complete.  We don't want to be lacking anything!  We desire to be spiritual, to be wise, to be strong and healthy.  But it costs.  It takes hard work and resolve.  And it requires us to trust God through these trials and not drop out too soon.

 Listening to a friend's son who is in seminary, speak on this passage of James, really spoke to me.  He explained how the trials we face are "of many kinds."  (verse 1) God doesn't have one-size fits all hardships for His children to work through; we will face trials that are specifically for our individual journeys.  Sometimes the trials may be physical and our health may be in jeopardy.  Or it could be a financial difficulty.  Or a relationship struggle.  Or a family problem.  No matter what the details are, the Lord will give us strength to endure.  His grace is sufficient for all that we must face.  Like a loving father who must discipline his children, our God is always with us and supporting and guiding us even when it feels like He abandons us through tough times.

Be strong, my friends.  Don't give up.  Stand firm and don't quit.  You may be right on the verge of breaking through! And when you have stood the trial and passed the test, God rewards with maturity, completion and the crown of life.  (James 1:12)

May the Lord bless you, whatever you are enduring.  His promises will never fail.

 

 Have you ever made plans, arranged all the details, worked out time, place and menu just to find out that the calendar actually had something else recorded there?

Well, that happened this week.  To me.  Again.

I've done it before, and should have learned from the past.  But at least I realized it before I had a collision of events and people showing up at the same time.  So, with a quick run to the grocery store and a cancellation text for Friday night supper plans, we're good to go!

We'll be hosting some reps for Nipawin Bible College who are part of a  conference this weekend.  I baked some banana muffins and Crackerjack cookies.  I've got a pot of chili simmering in the slow cooker.  They will need bag lunches for Friday and Saturday so I've stocked up on buns, meat, cheese and granola bars!  I had to hunt around for the good ole brown bags.  Safeway doesn't carry them anymore.  But Dollar Store did.  

I do love hosting people and I think one of our spiritual gifts is hospitality.  In our first house, we only had two bedrooms, so we would give up our master bedroom to guests.  A hand-me-down trundle bed served as our extra bed and we would sleep on it in our baby's room back in the day!  We lived in North Central Regina, where our guests would park on the street and take the risk of break-ins.  The wail of sirens would wake those who hadn't gotten used to it.  That was our reality, our ministry.  And we welcomed people for meals, a bed and fellowship.

Now, we are empty-nesters and have extra three beds, two couches and plenty of floor space!  In summer, we can set up a tent for the adventurous ones.  And our wonderful home boasts three full bathrooms so lineups aren't too long! Our master suite is lovely and we don't give it up anymore.  We have our bed and familiar pillows, our own bathroom including a huge walk-in shower.  Even though we love company, it is nice to have a sanctuary where we can rest and then be ready to serve our guests.

 We have a great weekend ahead.  Just need to keep our eyes on our calendar!

 

 Spring is in the air!

I know, just because the temperatures are above zero Celsius does not guarantee spring has arrived; it just feels that way.  Puddles, streams and receding snow banks all add up to spring-like conditions and the very smell is exciting to our frozen nostrils! 

The neighbours are out with picks and shovels, carving drainage trenches in the ice and snow.  Walter was out there joining the trend, and amazing amounts of runoff have disappeared.  I put on a lighter jacket and took my regular walk to the mailboxes down the street.  Although I slipped a couple of times, I managed to stay upright as I navigated the watery ice-covered sidewalks.  Opting for the roadway at times, I also avoided being splashed by oncoming cars.  Winter may make us Canadians a hardy lot, but spring has its dangers, as well.

Standing on our front step, I soaked in the rays of sunshine, almost tasting the vitamin D and sensing my soul beginning to thaw.  I hesitated to come inside, not wanting this sensation to end.  Alas, we are working on our latest newsletter and I needed to help in the process.  Walter sets up the printer for labels; I attach the labels to envelopes.  I write the "Family Update" and "Praise & Prayer" portions of the publication; Walter writes the feature story, adds pictures and completes the general format.  I proofread and do a final edit before press time.  Together, we sign, fold and stuff the letters into the prepared envelopes.  We add postage - which has gone up in the new year - and voila!  I usually take the 230+ letters to be mailed by Canada Post.

The postal strike before Christmas delayed our major mailing.  I sent Christmas cards to our financial and prayer support team. And now, we are finally getting to our New Year/Winter update.  We can never express our thanks enough to those who have stood behind us in ministry, some for the entire 36 year journey!  God bless those who pray and give sacrificially so we can serve by sharing the Gospel in the Indigenous communities across Canada.

I hear the printer running.  My eyes are drawn to the windows, longing to be outside playing in the streams and urging the melting process.  But I force myself to stay engaged in this necessary task and get my supplies arranged.

Have a great day!

 

 A post on Facebook has got me pondering this afternoon so I thought I'd share my musings.

"Give us this day our daily bread..."  Matthew 6:11

In the culture of Jesus' day, in Roman occupied Israel, many people lived in poverty or bare bones existence.  There was no refrigeration, no chemical preservatives. Therefore, food production and meal preparation was a daily reality.  Compared to our lifestyles in this modern day, and in the harsh climate of Canada, the concept of needing bread every day is foreign to us.  We must harvest, preserve and store away our food in the proper season for use during the winter!

The economy of this first century, middle eastern country was very short term.  Most people had daily work.  Some had careers, long term job security, or family wealth, but the average Jew lived on daily labour and wages.  I'm thinking of the parable in Matthew 20:1-16, where the landowner went out early in the morning to hire workers for the day.  He hired them at various hours of that day, offering the same wage for each of them, regardless of when they were hired.  The point I see is that it was normal for folks to be paid at the end of each work day, and then to go purchase the needed food items for the next day.

The imagery of daily bread was established in the Old Testament, when Moses was leading the Hebrew people out of Egypt and to the Promised Land of Israel.  They had nowhere to acquire food in the desert.  They were pressed into full reliance on God.  It took them 40 years to learn that lesson, among other lessons of faith.  And the very day they moved into the Promised Land, God stopped providing the manna from heaven.  He instructed the people to harvest the land and work to grow what they needed.  But, they were to continue a life of faith and dependence on God, to acknowledge that He is the One who provides all that they needed.

When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, the Lord's Prayer became something we say by rote.  We often recite it without thinking of the meaning, that Jesus intended it to be a pattern, not a formula.  As we break down the intention of the phrase "Give us this day our daily bread," we can understand that Jesus did mean literal bread, or food.  He also taught that if we worry about tomorrow's bread, or whatever we need, we are not truly trusting Him to provide.  If we ask for our daily needs, we will learn to trust Him and be content and thankful for His faithfulness.

In applying the principle of asking God for what we need on a daily basis, we can also come to Him for other things.  What about strength?  Do we ask the Lord to give us physical, emotional or spiritual strength for whatever our day holds?  Or do we jump into our schedules and only ask for His help when we run into trouble or find ourselves in over our heads?

What about wisdom?  Do we seek God daily for His thoughts and insight for every situation we face?  Or again, do we only call upon the Lord when we are overwhelmed? 

When we need anything, we can ask and trust that out of His goodness, He will grant us what we ask for.  Patience, perseverance, faith, love, self-control...all the fruit of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22 & 23.  In fact, we can ask for the Spirit of God to fill us up and He will give us more of Himself!

 When we are weak, that is when His strength and power is shown to be great!  As Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, God's grace is sufficient in our times of weakness.  (II Corinthians 12:9)  More than daily bread, we have daily mercies and grace that are new every morning.  (Lamentations 3:22 & 23)  It is such a comfort to know our loving Heavenly Father takes such good care of us.  

I hope that today, YOU have everything you need.  If not, remember to ask the Father for your daily bread and see how He lovingly provides.

 

 

 Day in the life of Cindy.

I woke up with no alarm, just the awareness that it was morning.  I squinted at the clock numbers projected on the ceiling above me and surprised myself: 8 am!  Walter was listening to  YouTube preacher with his earbuds next to me and I squawked out a "Good morning!"

Filling the old silver electric percolator coffee machine with cold water, I also measured out the spoons of ground coffee beans.  McDonald's is my bean of choice. Looking up, I noticed the blue, cloudless sky filled the top half of the window, while a huge hill of snow rose up the bottom half. Our bare tamarack tree stood in contrast to the whiteness of the snow.  The empty bird feeder swung gently in the almost still winter air. 

I plugged in the coffee perk and then walked around the counter to the dining room.  Clicking on the natural gas stove, I began to set up my space at the table for my morning devotions.  Usually I watch the sunrise as I wait for the coffee; this morning I had slept in and missed that special time of day, that holy moment.  I do enjoy mornings and today I was eager to see what God had for me.

My ritual for the last couple of years is to play a game or two of Blokus everyday, a game meant for four players but I play all the colours against myself.  (I also play Scrabble against myself - I'm always guaranteed to win this way!)  I listen to a couple of devotionals online while I place the various shaped plastic pieces onto the white grid, interlocking each piece precisely to use up as many or hopefully all the pieces.  My hope is that playing games will keep my aging mind from growing stale and dull.  Too early to tell if it is working! 

Another ritual is to bring Walter a cup of steaming coffee while he listens to sermons online.  He says I spoil him, but it's my way of serving him and stealing a kiss!  Then off I go to leave him to his quiet time and I settle in for mine.

This morning, I listened to Pastor Bill Desnomie, a Cree pastor from Balcarres/Peepeekisis First Nation.  He and his pastoral team share devotionals on the weekdays at 7 am on Facebook.  He is going through I John and today he shared on chapter 5 verses 4 & 5.  "...for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."  Why do we need to overcome the world?  Because the world is not the literal, physical earth or even the people and creatures that exist and call earth home.  In Scripture, the world is a system, a belief or philosophy that is against God, in rebellion to His authority.  The world works against God and the standard of the Bible.  And the only way to win against such a powerful and influential system as the world is by faith.  Faith in what?  Actually faith in who...Jesus, the Son of God.  Jesus lived in the world, but never gave in to the priorities or influence of the world.  He overcame the world by dying on the cross as a substitute for all those of us who deserved to die for our own sins.  He took our place.  His death paid for all our sins; but it is His resurrection that won the final victory!  He overcame death, and that is the very thing that causes fear and dread to those who live according to the world's values.  To die is to have no hope, no future and no plans for success if you only believe this world is all there is. But for the follower of Jesus, death is our gate to eternity with Him!

I had time for a second devotional while I sipped the delicious coffee and played my Blokus game.  I listened to the late Charles Stanley podcast of his message on "The Call."  His focus was on the call on all of us as Christian believers to be servants.  His Scripture reference was I Peter 4:10 "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."  So I considered how I can serve others today.  I sent out a couple of texts to encourage the people God brought to mind.  I shared a Bible verse or asked for a prayer request.  I reached out to make plans with someone later today. 

Then I took some time to pray.  Sometimes I sing some songs or hymns, or maybe I read a psalm aloud.  I try to focus on the Lord and put aside any distracting thoughts.  Then I have a few lists in a notebook with people and needs to pray for each day.  I include my family, our pastor and church, our government leaders and the various missionaries we support.  Then I refer to the NCEM prayer directory that lists 4 or 5 missionaries a day across Canada.  We also have a monthly prayer bulletin with a request for one of our missionaries or departments of NCEM and today was for Jane from New Brunswick.  Jane is a single missionary who lives in Belleisle and visits a First Nation a couple hours drive away to minister.  She has a generous and compassionate heart and loves on people with joy and enthusiasm!  Maybe Jane will read this blog and be blessed to know I prayed for her today!

Next, I checked the clock and saw I had time to do a Bible study series in Romans by Pastor Gary Hamrick on YouTube.  It was on Romans 13, submitting to government leaders. With the current political climate in the U.S. and Canada, plus global wars and manoevering, much prayer is needed for those in government!

I grabbed a quick shower and got ready to record a video for one of our supporting churches.  Walter and I set up his tablet in the dining room and recorded a 5-6 minute update on our ministry and family.  With a brief run-through of who would share what, we pressed record and in one take had our report finished! After 35+ years of public speaking, we've figured out a system that works for us.

Then I made us lunch while Walter edited the video and sent it to the church.  I tidied up the kitchen, threw in a load of laundry and made a phone call to the NCEM office.  Next, I had an email to send for our upcoming Candidate Orientation & Training.  We will expect 3 or 4 participants this year and Walter and I will do most of the teaching.  As I coordinate the details, I get excited about equipping the next crew of servants to work in the harvest field.  It's a highlight of our year - both rewarding and exhausting!

As I write, I am watching more of the Scotties curling event on TV and sipping Honeybush Mandarin tea.  I have tentative plans for supper with my sister and maybe a game of Scrabble with her, too.

I anticipate I'll be in bed by 11 pm and that's the thrilling moment-by-moment breakdown of a day in the life of a missionary!

 

 Family Day - 2025

What is everybody doing on this frigid holiday Monday in February?

Walter and I are taking a lazy, stay-indoors day, putting our feet up and watching the Scotties Women's Canadian Curling on TV.  We are snacking on protein chips, while homemade chicken soup is simmering in the slow cooker.  

The sun is bright, fooling one to think it is warming up this afternoon.  I've lived in Saskatchewan long enough to know that beautiful golden orb is not breaking through the intense cold registering -31 degrees Celsius, not calculating in the wind chill factor!  

All our neighbours had their brown garbage bins out at the curb early this morning.  I noticed we had forgotten to take our bin out last night.  It remains by the side of our house, only half full; we can wait until next garbage day!

I had finished the laundry, vacuumed the whole house and tidied up on Saturday, so today I can afford to relax and enjoy the women's curling competition.  The benefit of being an empty-nester is that we can eat when we want and watch whatever we choose on the TV!  Guilt-free laziness is definitely a bonus!

The down-side is that our kids all live outside of Regina and they have their own plans for this Family Day.  Mark, Amy and Kaira are home in Gladstone, hopefully staying warm and well fed.  Daniel had classes today in Saskatoon, with only 10 more days left in his 4th year apprenticeship for air conditioning.  Michaela is holding down the fort in Weyburn, hopefully also staying warm in -30 degrees temperatures.  And Caylea had plans to visit friends in Prince Albert. We do miss our family on this day!

God is good.  He has made the earth according to His wisdom, every season with its own unique beauty and every creature with habits and instincts for survival.  The special gifts of hibernation or migration always amaze me. Or how certain North American animals change colour and grow thicker fur to blend in and withstand the cold is a miracle! Today I'm thankful for a warm house, plenty of food and clean water.  I have no need to leave the warmth and safety of our home.  

HAVE A BLESSED FAMILY DAY, EVERYONE!

 

 

 What has God been teaching me lately?

Some major themes have been coming up consistently and I'd love to share them with you!

*Faith - the examples of Moses and David as God prepared them both for leadership roles through being shepherds; both of these men faced serious obstacles and opposition in their roles and yet they trusted God and put their faith in Him.

*Waiting - many verses in Psalms and Isaiah have really spoken to me; that waiting is not a waste of time but is actively serving while listening and watching for God's leading.

*Prayer - I've been blessed with some extended opportunities to pray and seek the Lord in between our trips and I've felt so enriched and encouraged during these times. 

*Rebuilding - a Bible study I went through on Nehemiah gave me some good tools and insights on rebuilding, restoration and leadership.  I was impacted by how Nehemiah faced the task and rallied the troops to accomplish the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. More than that, he also led (along with Ezra) in the restoration of the Jewish people and their faith after 70 years of exile.  

*Salvation - I'm currently in a study of the book of Romans.  The depth of our salvation in Jesus Christ is so wonderful!  Our hope is in the Gospel and I was especially encouraged by chapter 8 - the first couple of verses declare how we are no longer under condemnation when we are in Christ!  And the chapter ends with the truth that we can not be separated from God's love  - NOTHING can ever separate us from His everlasting love.  

*Revelation - our church is going through a DVD series on this amazing and sometimes confusing book of the Bible!  The series unpacks the cultural context of each chapter/section and both Walter and I are learning so much.  One take-away is that Jesus is coming soon, just as He promised.  We all need to be ready for His appearing.  And the urgency to share the Gospel is even more compelling as there are still so many who have not heard about Jesus or haven't taken the time to explore who He really is!

THANKS for reading my random thoughts.  I hope this inspires you to study the Word of God and experience your own spiritual journey!  There's really no end to what one can discover when we get into the Bible.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

II Timothy 3:16 and 17 

 

 "You work for Tribal Trails? We love the show!"

"So what does NCEM do?  What is your ministry about?"

"How many missionaries do you have?"

Our team of 7 fielded questions such as these from hundreds of people at Winnipeg MissionsFest 2025.  The booth was in the main auditorium of Church of the Rock and we had a great spot for maximum exposure to the guests.   Seniors who are familiar with our TV show were encouraging us to continue the good work.  We gave out many Tribal Trails t-shirts and other items to our fans!

Young people from the local Bible college (Millar College Winnipeg) also stopped by and it was great to chat about their studies and potential plans for the future.  We gave them pens and toques, practical items for college students.

Families with small children came by and we introduced them to NCEM and showed our Prayer Directory, where our missionaries are located across Canada.  We gave their kids a frisbee and rulers and gave the parents pamphlets or books.

We met people from various countries and ethnic backgrounds.  We also met other mission representatives and learned about their ministries and experiences on the mission field.  

A highlight for me was the music!   Local church or Bible college worship bands shared their gifts with us in leading excellent sessions of worship. There is nothing more inspiring than hundreds of believers lifting voices in praise of the Lord Most High!  I sang with all my heart but had to conserve my voice.  Just recovering from a cold and speaking to many people at the booth, I needed to hold back on the vocals.

 Our initial plan was to visit our granddaughter (and her parents!) on the way to Winnipeg before the weekend.  With the blizzard and my illness, we adjusted the plan.  So Sunday afternoon, we left our faithful representative team to pack up what remained of our PR materials and merchandise items.  There was not much to pack up as we had given out most of the t-shirts and many books and pamphlets.  We took down our NCEM/Tribal Trails banners and hugged our team good-bye.

With our heads buzzing and our hearts full, we were thankful for the many to whom we shared the vision of missions among Canada's Indigenous peoples. Only God knows how our conversations will impact others and the Kingdom of God.

 

 Second cold of 2025!

Here I sit, bundled under fleece blankets and nursing a head cold that I contracted somewhere in my travels!  Where have we been since my last blog entry?  Well, grab a coffee or whatever beverage fits the weather, and I will tell of our adventures...

Following our trip to BC, we spent a couple of days relaxing at home.  It's always good to attend our home church and yes, they tease us about missing church quite often!  That week, we took a day trip to Saskatoon to visit Cokum Grace (Walter's adopted mom), who was in hospital for pneumonia.  Although she is also going through chemo treatments, she looked well and was in good spirits.  Our visit was brief, in between nurses checking IV's and then lunch being delivered.  We dropped off some reading material (Council Fire Vol. 1) and she was so pleased to receive it.  She had Volume 3 and was looking forward to more of the testimonies and daily devotions from various Indigenous Christians. 

Our next trip was to Pambrun, SK to the missions conference at Millar College of the Bible. We arrived to the welcoming smiles of college students who directed us to our table in the gymnasium.  We greeted many familiar faces of staff and fellow mission representatives.  One student, Cameron, helped us carry our display and materials, also offering us water bottles and anything else we might need.  We happened to know Cameron's older brother from Nipawin Bible College and again, found Saskatchewan to be a very small world!

If you have never been to Pambrun, the notable thing about it is...it is in the middle of nowhere!  The prairies spread in all directions and the wind blows in all seasons.  But the warmth of Christian fellowship and the enthusiasm of young Bible college students keeps us coming back almost every year to share about First Nations ministry!

Following supper, there was an orientation for the mission reps, then several were sent to meet with student in their "hall meetings" in the dorms.  Walter and I have experienced these before, but this year, the organizers had us assigned to different opportunities.  So we took the time to settle in our room in the guesthouse and get to bed early.

I woke before 7 am and made it to breakfast!  I brought my husband a cup of coffee, and we had our quiet time before a busy day began.  We joined in a class later in the morning, hearing about Rock Solid Refuge.  Dallas Block, director and founder of the ministry,  runs a group home for boys 13-18 who need guidance and love.  We always enjoy hearing from Dallas the vision and the work God is doing as we can relate to many of the stories of these young guys.  

Lunch was a rotating affair.  The mission reps sat at tables, while the students rotated for each course of the meal.  Salad and bread was served and I met several students.  I answered questions and interacted with them.  Then they moved on and a new crew brought their plates to my table.  Pad Thai was the entree and we talked about missions and my experiences.  For dessert, a third group shared different kinds of fruit while I again shared and asked them questions, as well.  It was a whirlwind but a creative way to get us mingling with different students!

At 1:45 pm, I was slated to share a 15 minute presentation on what God is doing in my part of the world.  I shared how I was called into missions, where Walter and I have focused for the past 35 years and a brief story of Dimitri, who came to the Lord through the internet!  I also spoke on the uniqueness of First Nations ministry and the need to be relational, building trust and living among the people.  My challenge to the group was that we need fresh vision by the younger people to reach this generation.  That's where I brought Dimitri's testimony in, how he had a grandfather who took him and his siblings to Sunday School when he was a boy.  When his family moved further north to Stanley Mission, there was no evangelical church there.  He began searching for truth on the internet and was led to Christ.  He continued listening to sermons and studies to grow in his faith.  

Dimitri contacted NCEM to see how he could volunteer.  He did an internship at the NCEM office, assisting in the IT department.  After a few months, he felt God leading him to enroll in Bible College and he is now at the Millar College campus in Winnipeg.  God is at work in First Nations ministry!

I joined Walter at our booth and we met and connected with many people.  Supper was served and we joined the very long line up.  We ate with more students then made our way to the gym for the evening session.  Singing with a couple hundred other voices is always a joy to my soul!  The speaker was from Newfoundland/Labrador and shared his vision for church planting.  That's our heart, as well.  More conversations and handing out toques and stickers and materials...then to bed by 10:30!

Breakfast was at 8 am and I easily made it on time.  Walter grabbed his own coffee and chatted with various folks before the morning service.  More connecting with students...I had to restock our supplies as the toques were especially popular with the staff children!  Many green and grey toques with pompoms on top were seen bobbing around the campus.

Lunch was quick, and Walter was mentally preparing for his back-to-back workshops on First Nations Ministry.  I followed him to the classroom where he set up and gathered his thoughts.  The first session had 35 or so students.  We noticed Josh, a fellow mission rep for a sister organization working with Indigenous people. Josh had been an intern with us in Regina ten years before.  During Walter's session, he called on Josh's input on different questions. The time flew by as Walter talked on traditional religion, unmarked graves and Truth and Reconciliation.

I chatted with Josh and some others between sessions.  A new group entered the classroom, approximately another 35-40 people.  We were amazed at the interest and praised God!  Once Walter got rolling on his second session, he looked up and noticed Josh was still there.  "Did you forget to leave?"  Walter joked, to which Josh replied, "No, I wanted to stay to hear what else you had to say.  I figured you wouldn't stick to the same script!"  Truer words have never been spoken.  I am never bored when Walter speaks as no two sermons or messages are ever alike!

Supper was a formal affair in the gym.  During the afternoon, the gym had been transformed into a lovely gala venue.  Our mission displays had been moved to the dining hall for a final event.  Delicious Mediterranean cuisine was served, and we enjoyed worship music, choir performances and the speaker's final message.  It was a truly delightful evening.

But that's not all!  At 9 pm, the mission reps were geared up back in the dining hall to give out food samples from the countries they serve in, and students flocked in to get a taste of the international experience.  "For God so loved the world" was played out with smells, sounds, flavours and noise, replicating a marketplace.  We gave out countless pieces of baked bannock, with butter or jam, and had many conversations during that hour.  By 10 o'clock, we were exhausted!  I gave the last of the bannock and jam to one of the guys to take and share in the dorm.  He was happy to oblige!

Our student came to help us haul our display to the vehicle.  We said some good-byes and collapsed in bed by 11.  Early Sunday morning, we loaded up and hit the highway.  We weren't sure what condition the roads were in as a winter storm had hit parts of southern Saskatchewan.  Walter navigated some icy and drifting patches but we made it to Balgonie Baptist with 3 minutes to spare!

And thus ended our adventures for now...

 Three weeks have cruised by as our new year jump started!

We recovered from our colds and embarked on our first trip of 2025.  It began with a trip to Loon Lake, SK for the funeral of a dear lady who battled cancer.  The local rec centre was full and more chairs were brought out as family and friends streamed into the building.  The Lord was glorified as tributes and songs were sung.  We shook hands with many and stood visiting until the chairs were being stacked.  

While at the funeral lunch, Walter was asked by the local missionary/pastor of the Loon Lake Native Fellowship to speak at the church the next morning.  Not being afraid of a last-minute invitation to preach, Walter said YES!  So the next morning, we took part in the worship service, where the missionary's wife played guitar and the congregation asked for favourites from the song book.  The pastor read some Scripture and prayed, then invited Walter to speak.  He got fired up as usual and preached on "Storms of Life", which was a very encouraging message.  Afterwards, everyone stayed for lunch (leftovers donated from the funeral service) and then we were asked if we wanted to stop by the missionaries' home to use the bathroom before leaving town.  You may wonder why they would offer that...we had noticed the outhouse behind the church and knew from previous visits that there is no indoor plumbing in the church!

We drove to Sherwood Park, AB that afternoon and spent the night.  The next day we hoped to visit Walter's mom in Edmonton but she had a follow-up appointment after her cataract procedure.  Unfortunately, she had some issues that needed attention right away and so we didn't get to see her.  At 89 years old, Walter's mom is doing pretty well although cataracts, a case of shingles and other aches and pains are fairly common at her age.

Then we journeyed to BC, enjoying some spectacular scenery through the Rockies and the Kooteneys.  The roads were in great shape and the weather was relatively mild and pleasant.  It was like driving through a Christmas card as we wound through the forests covered in snow and marveled at the white-capped mountains!  Even the little mushroom caps of snow on the fence posts through the national parks was a beautiful sight.  In Saskatchewan, snow blows off any post or tree!

We made it to the Okanagan a bit early, so we enjoyed a treat at "Dairy World", which is a Dutch dairy with ice cream, cheeses and all manner of treats and gifts.  We picked up some goodies for ourselves and a thank you gift for our neighbour, who is amazing at checking on our house when we are away!

Settling in to our favourite Best Western hotel in Salmon Arm, we relaxed and took it easy for the evening.  The hot tub was open and we had a brief soak before turning in early for the night.  We had skipped through 2 time zones and going to bed at 9 pm was really 11 pm back home.  Don't laugh!  The struggle is real!

Wednesday morning we were up and at 'em!  I grabbed a yogurt and coffee for a quick breakfast, then we drove the half hour or so to Sunnybrae Bible Camp where Millar College of the Bible has a campus.  We had plenty of time to wind our way through construction - the TransCanada highway is being twinned from Calgary to Vancouver so they are working on that particular stretch currently.  Arriving just after 9 am, we met the staff person who showed us where to set up our booth and also where the coffee machine was.  We chatted with a few staff who came through the dining hall/chapel area.  Then students poured in, laughing and talking as they found seats.  We sat near our booth and greeted whoever came by.  

A small worship team led in some contemporary songs and then Walter was introduced.  He spoke  15-20 minutes about what NCEM is, where our missionaries serve and highlighted the "Generation Hope" YouTube/Social Media ministry being launched.  Afterwards, several students came by to pick up a free toque or "Gen H" sticker.  When the buzzer went to signal the start of the next class, we had only a couple students linger to talk more.  We enjoyed some great conversations.

Then we had a few minutes to sit down and grab a coffee while classes were on.  After lunch, we had three Metis students lined up to interview for the "Gen H" program.  We set up the cameras, lights and a simple backdrop and chair in one of the camp's cabins.  Very rustic and no frills.  The three young ladies all shared their stories, growing up in their communities and what it means to be Metis and a Christian. It was very special to hear these stories and to encourage and show our appreciation for their willingness to be interviewed!  (In a couple of months, the programs should be edited and available to watch on the YouTube channel - type in Generationhope@ncem and hopefully it will come up right away).

It was almost 4 pm when we packed up and left the campus.  We wanted to get down the road before dark and find our night's lodging.  As we drove eastward, the sun set quickly and even moreso in the  mountains!  Following semis through the winding, slushy and often single-lane stretches of the highway made for a very tense drive.  We got to Revelstoke and booked into the first hotel we found - part of the Best Western chain but more economy version.  We had some snacks and leftovers from a previous grocery store run, so we stayed in for our supper and again, called it a day super early.

Daylight found us already packed and loaded in the truck.  With travel cups of coffee, we hit the TransCanada.  I'm so thankful for Walter's skill and experience driving through the mountains.  To my shame or maybe my lack of courage, I've never driven through this part of our great country!  Walter navigated the traffic, marveling at the improved roads and passing lanes and bridges through the Roger's Pass and Golden, BC!  Apart from pitstops for fuel and bathroom and coffee refills, we motored our way through BC, Alberta and then into Saskatchewan.  

Dusk found us just outside Medicine Hat, AB and by then we could sense our own bed calling our names!  I jumped behind the wheel and drove four hours without stopping.  We had been listening to the audiobook "Left Behind" - a very exciting and inspiring fictional account of the Rapture and Tribulation events foretold in the Book of Revelation in the Bible.  The miles went by quickly as we covered the 12 hours from Revelstoke to Regina.

God is good!  Although tired and spent, we had again traveled safely and with God's presence going before us.  We'd had good visits along the way and opportunities to share about our ministry and our passion to reach Indigenous people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.