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.

The sounds of Christmas are now quieted and the activities are all over.  The fridge is emptier and leftovers are gone.  It is New Year's Eve.

Unfortunately, Walter and I have caught cold bugs and we are sniffling and whining around!  Our plans to join friends for a fondue tonight are now cancelled; tomorrow's plans may not happen either if we aren't back to reasonable health.  What a disappointing way to bring in the New Year...

As I was tidying up today, putting away the Christmas tree and the season's decorations, I found a particular mason jar.  One year ago, I started a new tradition.  With a pretty pink bow around the neck of the jar and a label on the side, I began a "Thankful Jar" - an idea I saw on Facebook.  For the past 365 days, I have been reminded to be thankful.  

Now I wasn't home everyday last year to write an item on the small slip of paper and drop it in the jar.  But the jar is full.  To be honest, not every entry in that jar was easy to write.  Some days it was difficult to feel grateful.  The ultimate lesson I learned over this past year is that gratitude is an attitude - not original with me!  It is a choice, not an emotion.  

My plan on this last day of 2024 was to read those slips of papers and review all that God had done for me.  But being sick and dragging through the past couple of days didn't motivate me to do so.  I did scribble one final thought on a narrow strip of paper, folded it and stuffed it into the almost overflowing glass container.  And this is what I wrote:

OUR GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL ALL YEAR LONG.  WE ARE BLESSED.  GOD IS GOOD.  HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.  DECEMBER 31.

I wouldn't want to live my life without the Lord in it!  This past year held some huge changes and unexpected events for Walter and myself.  I'm so glad God was with us through everything.  He is a good, good Father and His plans are good.  My faith has been tested but I've seen how God is completely trustworthy.  When the days were rough, digging deep to put something in that "Thankful Jar" was what the Bible calls a "sacrifice of praise."  

Maybe some of you have done a similar exercise; maybe you have a Gratitude Journal or another method of expressing thankfulness.  I would highly encourage you to make a habit of giving God the praise He deserves and practicing thankfulness to Him and to others. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR MY FAMILY & FRIENDS!

 

 I have a feeling I won't have time on the 4th Sunday of Advent for a fresh and inspiring blog entry.  Why, you may ask?  Because we will be knee deep in family by then!

Christmas baking:  check!

Gifts bought and wrapped:  check! 

Groceries purchased and tucked away:  check!

Menu planned:  mostly check!  (Meal options are available but what day and exact combinations are yet to be determined!  Turkey for sure on Christmas Day.

House cleaned:  half-check!  Why clean too thoroughly when there will be six extra adults, a toddler and canine guest added to our quiet home?  Beds are made with fresh linens, laundry is caught up and the bathrooms are cleaned and stocked with plenty of T.P.!  Good enough.

As I sit just now, staring at my wooden nativity scene, I quiet the mental list and still my soul.  Most mornings I have had the luxury to spend a couple of hours in Bible study, journaling and prayer this past week.  Special verses have stood out to me about peace, joy, patience, the Holy Spirit as Counselor and Teacher, and much, much more.  I've also read a few chapters of a book entitled "The Way of Agape" that has focused my attention on love, God's perfect and divine love.  It has been a rich week for me.

Walter has had lunch and coffee appointments, made finishing touches on wooden Christmas projects and planned other outings...could he be out searching for the perfect gift for his wife perchance?  I'll know in 5 more sleeps!

Tomorrow - Saturday - is a Sunday School program practice at our church.  I'll be playing guitar and helping the kids with their musical numbers.  Sunday morning is the big program!  So I also squeezed in my own practice and preparation of the words and chords for the computer projection person.  

Also tomorrow is when most of our kids will arrive in time for supper.  Our Weyburn kids will celebrate Christmas with our daughter-in-law's family this weekend and come to Regina for December 24.  Then the party will start in earnest!

A string of lights draped over the stable adds a special twinkly glow over the delicately carved figures of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, wisemen, an angel and some barnyard animals.  The baby Jesus, in a wooden manger, lies small and ordinary in the centre of this ancient scene.  I'm reminded that even with the Advent activities, preparations and plans, it all means nothing without that tiny Babe.

 

This past week has been busy...connections with friends before the holidays, supper at Olive Garden, delivering Christmas cards to churches in person (with the postal strike impacting our usual practice of mailing cards and newsletters) and a special turkey dinner and celebration of our church's 60th anniversary. 

Also, some new developments.  Walter is now officially pre-diabetic.  So he picked up some prescriptions and a glucose meter to begin tracking and managing the blood sugar count!  That meant I needed to do some more diabetic-friendly Christmas baking - using keto recipes I have.  The freezer is overflowing with goodies!

Before we knew it, Sunday rolled around again...the 3rd Sunday of Advent.  How nice to attend our own church service for a second Sunday in a row.  A grandmother with her two granddaughters led the Christmas carols this morning.  They didn't seem too nervous although it was their debut as worship singers!  Another mom and her three kids did the Advent scripture reading and lit the candles.  Today was the theme of JOY.  It blesses our hearts to see families and especially young kids getting involved in the happenings of church life and worship activities!

Another new item around our home is a digital picture frame that our family can send pictures to from our phones!  Walter loves gadgets, but this one we can all enjoy!  So this afternoon as we relax at home, pictures from Big River, Gladstone and hopefully Weyburn will come rolling in!  

Have a wonderful day, family and friends!  Be blessed.