I must say I do miss blogging.
I love to write and usually journal everyday.  I haven't been doing as much writing of any kind lately.  But I'm back!
Our lives have been full.
Travel.  Visiting all the NCEM missionaries, which took two years to connect with as many of the full time staff in their homes and communities of ministry as we were able.
Meetings.  Administrative necessities.  Conferences, both for staff and for our own networking and professional development.
Taking time to rest.  At home.  At our cabin.  In Florida. 
And then there are the mundane tasks.  Laundry.  Grocery shopping.  Maintenance repair. Taking out the garbage. 
But one of the exciting new things I have been trying is to volunteer on the Tribal Trails Spiritual Help Line.  The first day I had twenty callers, with a variety of needs and calling from Newfoundland to British Columbia!  It is amazing that the Tribal Trails television program reaches so many First Nations folks and non-Native, as well.  Connecting with people and praying for them is a refreshing ministry that reminds me why we do what we do.  People need the Lord.
Another new discovery in my life is YouVersion.  One of my friends and coworkers in ministry recommended this App for my phone.  I can access Bible reading plans, Bible studies and devotionals on  any subject or simply the Scriptures to read or listen to.  The Verse of the Day has often been God's way of encouraging me when I've really needed Him.  And it keeps me on track no matter where we are or if I only have a few minutes to focus on the Lord. 
Our next prayer letter will be coming out soon.  We have a few days of leadership and board meetings this week.  A trip to our NCEM US office in November. 
We have so many people standing behind us, supporting our ministry, praying for our needs and being friends to us just to listen to us vent.  When we held the 25th anniversary celebration for Healing Hearts Ministry in September, over 150 people came to join us and celebrate with us! I couldn't believe the folks who made the effort to show us that kind of support.  It was so humbling and made me realize we have been blessed beyond the sacrifices and hardships.  If nothing else

has been accomplished in 30 years of ministry, we have been given the gift of rich friendships in Christ.  And that is more than I would have hoped for...
I hope to keep up with blogging more faithfully in the next weeks.  Our lives are full and expressing what God is doing is good for my heart and maybe will bless others.
Have a good week, family and friends.

"This has been one of the best conferences I've been at in years!"
"I loved having the Healing Hearts missionaries here with us."
"What a relaxing and fun conference!  It's been good to laugh together."
At the beginning of the week, I felt such nervousness and trepidation to have this Joint Conference.  So many details to remember and coordinate. So many people coming together from both our mission organizations.  Walter and I both wondered why we thought this was a good idea!
But once the first day was over and the event was rolling, we could get into the groove.  All the details I had worried about fell into place.  Everyone who were asked to help out did!  Each session got better and better.
This may seem shallow but the highlight to me was the Talent Show on the final night.
You know why?
Because it was two hours of folks from both NCEM and Healing Hearts who stepped forward to sing, share a joke, do a goofy skit or show a Powerpoint of nature and landscape scenes.  There was laughter, fun, joy and vulnerability.  To me it was the true testimony that we were having fellowship with each other.
Oh, don't think I didn't see the treasure of worship together.  Or value the prayer times in small groups.  I was ministered to by my husband's messages on Equip, Empower, Encourage and Establish - our 4 E's theme of vision for the ministry.  But seeing folks enjoying one another meant the foundation of faith and fellowship had been laid and now they were moving to the next level of intimacy in Christ.
To be honest, before the conference started, I was looking forward to it being over!  But Friday afternoon, as we pulled away, I felt a genuine sadness as I knew we wouldn't see some of these folks for a year.  All the work in planning and preparation had produced a wonderful gathering and God did meet us. 
The next such event will be in 2021 when we celebrate NCEM's 75th anniversary.  This was just a practice run for what will be even bigger!

I can't believe I haven't written since April!
But God has been faithful as the busy spring turned into summer and we have not been idle.
We have continued to travel, but the last blog entry with our trip to Manitoba to visit NCEM missionaries marks the last of our staff visits. It took two years to see each missionary (that we were able to connect with) across Canada.  What a privilege! 
The biggest take-away from connecting with our staff face-to-face is that these are modern-day heroes of the faith.  They were so excited to show us their communities, to meet some of their First Nations friends and to worship with them if schedule worked out that way!  And their perseverance through trials, sometimes opposition to sharing the Gospel, gave Walter and myself inspiration that everything we face is also worth it to serve alongside these warriors of Christ!
In May, we met with other ministry leaders serving/directing  in First Nations mission fields across Canada and the U.S.  The fellowship, the discussions, the sharing and prayer and the worship through music were rich times that we treasure each year.  Again, these leaders face pressures, opposition and discouragement and yet press on!  We are blessed to have such friends and colleagues to share the burden of leadership with in Christ.
June was very busy for us...we had a week of interviews, reports and meetings with NCEM and a joint board meeting with Healing Hearts, as well.  God sustained us and continues to affirm our leadership role leading two organizations.  We need WISDOM and God has provided great support around us. 
Then we took a much-needed break out at our cabin.  Sigh!  It was glorious.  Hot temperatures, fresh saskatoon berries, demolishing our old deck and rebuilding bigger and better.  It was a wonderful two weeks of rest, relaxation, working on a project together and campfire, lots of staring into flames. 
Our next big event is the Joint General Conference in Pinawa, MB, where both our NCEM and HHM mission families will meet for fellowship and encouragement.  It is both exciting and exhausting to plan and prepare.  I'm sure God will meet with us in a special way and we desire to glorify Him!
Have a great day!

Now where are you headed?
This week we are off to Manitoba. 
Last winter we had travelled to destinations such as Puvirnituq, Quebec , Happy Valley/Goose Bay, Labrador and Ft. McPherson, NWT.  The flying adventures to extreme locations really stretched this Saskatchewan prairie girl's perspective!  Walter and I both felt so blessed to visit the missionaries who live in such remote places and serve Christ to share His Gospel.
So when I say Manitoba, no one gasps or asks, where?  But to us, this trip is as important and adventurous as any other we have gone on thus far in our NCEM and HHM travels.  Why? Because God has called the missionaries we will visit to just as challenging and interesting communities as any other.
John - has served in various locations within NCEM's regions.  He has been in maintenance of camps and headquarters facilities for over twenty-five years.  Now, he has some health challenges and is playing more of a support role to a local camp in his home area of Ashern, MB.  He is hardworking and faithful.
Fran - has served in her home area at the very Bible Camp she attended as a child.  She lives year round at Fisher Bay, a Metis/ non-status community.  She has filled many roles at the camp from cabin leader, cook, craft director to "Tuck Lady" (runs the canteen). In the off-season, she leads AWANA (kids Bible club) and is involved in the local church (Riverbend Community Church) that is located between two First Nations reserves, north of Winnipeg about two hours.  Fran has served for over thirty years.
Dennis & Amanda - have been married for forty years and been in ministry that entire time.  Dennis began ministry at The Pas, MB as a single man and brought a wife into the picture sometime after.  They have served in churchplanting and have a wonderful church called Riverside Bible Church.  They now have running water and flush toilet but only in the last fifteen years.  Wow! 
Ed & Karen - are originally from the United States and have been in Norway House, MB their entire missionary career.  They raised four kids in this northern Cree community.  Walter will be able to preach on Palm Sunday in the church they pastor.  They have served the Lord in this place for over thirty years, as well.
Peter & Charlene - have been married for ten years or so.  She is a Mennonite from southern MB and Peter is Cree from The Pas.  They met in The Pas and were involved in a Christian Gospel Band in music ministry for a season.  As they had been serving in Riverside Bible Church,  they felt called to Bible School.  After moving away for school, they returned to their home community and have been co-pastoring with Dennis and Amanda.  Holding down jobs right now, they eventually plan to go more full-time in ministry.  But for now, their jobs open doors into the community and into homes on the reserve that enable them to be well-connected.
Our prayer is that we will encourage these faithful servants.  We desire to listen well, to hear their hearts, to offer hope and support.  We want to tour their communities, sit at their kitchen tables, take them out for a meal and be part of their lives for an afternoon or a day or a weekend. 
THANK YOU for praying for us as we seek to serve the servants.  These folks are the lifeblood of NCEM and are on the frontlines of the battle for souls.  Each one matters to us, whether we fly in to their villages or drive only a few hours from our home in Regina.
See ya' in a week!

     A lot has happened since I have taken time to sit down and type a blog.
     Walter and I, along with the Executive  members of NCEM, went to Phoenix for a 4-day series of workshops on leadership.  The couple who facilitated the workshops have been in First Nations ministry over 25 years and have excelled in personality profiles and team dynamics.  The four couples met and discussed 7 different topics, beginning with our DISC personality assessments. 
     Wow, are we all created uniquely!
     As we put up sticky notes on the diagram to identify our specific personality traits, we saw how well-rounded we are as a team.  Those with dominant and strong personalities balanced those with quiet and sensitive characteristics.
     Then we looked at team roles and found again, we had a wide variety of gifts.  I had scored strong in one area -  teambuilding - whereas others were stronger in initiative, completion or organization roles.  So I was dubbed the cheerleader! 
     Each evening, we spent time as a group debriefing the days' topics.  Many of us voiced how we had wondered why we were part of the team and felt levels of doubt as to our usefulness or purpose.  My husband and I had such a clear call that we don't doubt His purposes, but I know I wondered what I could contribute besides making coffee and taking minutes for meetings.  These times of learning and discussing really helped confirm to me that I am unique and can offer specific and necessary skills to the team!
     The last couple of workshops were geared for goal-setting and big picture vision-casting.  This is probably my weakest area and I felt overwhelmed. Our facilitator brought out a huge arrow, with many small spaces for writing in the steps to accomplishing our mission statement as an organization.  Walter was excited when he saw this and could hardly wait to tackle it!  With the time we had available, we began to scratch the surface of a much longer and more detailed journey for the future. 
    We stayed in a dormitory-style facility, with the use of a kitchen and lounge for preparing and eating our own breakfasts and lunches.  Then for our evening meals, we chose restaurants in the area.  One day we had Mexican food, another day a buffet at the Golden Corral.  The local folks recommended a great barbecue place close by, Dillon's.  And we all enjoyed the southern home-cooking restaurant called Cracker Barrel, with a country store to browse in and fresh biscuits and cornbread with every meal. 
     With the teaching times being indoors, we were disappointed not to be outside much more in the Arizona sunshine.  Fortunately, the weather was cool, cloudy and rainy for a couple days so we didn't miss much heat and sun.  On Friday of that week, our Executive team went to the Desert Botanical Gardens.  It was a beautiful day and we wandered the paths and admired the amazing cactus and succulent gardens, plus other displays all outdoors.  We enjoyed snacks in the outdoor cafe and fed the local ground squirrels and quail that scurried or waddled through the patio.  What a glorious day!
     Our hearts and minds were full and we definitely agreed we wanted to return to Phoenix next year.  More teaching, more fellowship, more fun times and yes, more sunshine in February!

Back row:  Robert Laird, Deanna and Dan Woodard, Walter, Anita and Jason Boucher, Huron Claus (director of CHIEF ministry in Phoenix)  Front row:  Doris Laird, me.

Tonight I am a proud parent.
As my husband and I sit watching Christian comedy on YouTube, Caylea and Daniel are at the Healing Hearts Youth night.  Caylea has been taking the lead for the youth ministry and its been neat to see her grow through this.  There were a couple of boys attending last year and not necessarily a regular guy to hang out with the guys.  So Caylea conscripted her brother, Daniel.  And he seems to be thriving in his role as "cool youth sponsor guy"!  Without trying too hard, the guys seem to be drawn to Daniel. 
But what makes me feel so thankful and a little proud is when I overhear their planning meetings, along with Daniel's girlfriend, Danae and our Healing Hearts intern, Carolyn (from Millar College of the Bible).  I hear them discussing fun activities and scheduling who is leading which Wednesday.
And then to hear them discussing their Bible study topics.  Going through the book of Genesis.  And to sometimes get the privilege of hearing their debriefs after a youth night, when they talk about who prayed out loud.  Or who had offered to pray for them as leaders!
I'm excited to see Caylea and Daniel, Danae and Carolyn bring their enthusiasm and love for God and impart it to the youth!
From a humble start in the fall with 4 church kids to sometimes up to 9 or 10 by Christmas, we are witnessing how God can use the up and coming young adults to minister the Gospel to the next generation.
Lord, bless them tonight as they clean the church and then study Scriptures and pray together.  May revival start with our youth!

At first, I felt like a double-agent. 
Healing Hearts or Northern Canada Evangelical Mission?
But lately, we are seeing our worlds overlap.  When we are in Prince Albert, some of our Healing Hearts Ministry team stops by the office.  And in a couple weeks, we have an NCEM couple spending the night in our home in Regina.  Our hearts want to bring the best of both worlds to bless the other!
The reality that our two different lives are becoming more unified was apparent last weekend.  We arrived at the Pambrun campus of Millar College of the Bible.  Caylea had the booth set up with both Healing Hearts Ministry and NCEM.  We brought some items to add to the display.  The fun part was we were set up beside the NAIM display (North America Indigenous Ministries - our former mission) and two tables away from Interact (another ministry focused on First Nations)!
We had lots of laughs and meaningful conversations with our fellow mission representatives.  But more importantly, we had lots of students coming by.  Caylea roomed in the dorm and her hosting student may be interested in an internship with Healing Hearts in Regina.  We also met a young lady who feels called to inner city work and wondered how to apply!  Another couple connected with us who would like to explore NCEM's options.  God is at work and He isn't worried about organizational divisions.  His Kingdom is ONE kingdom.
I love how the Lord brought our life to intersect with so many missionaries serving in Native ministry.  Next year, we are planning to work with NAIM and Interact for the Saturday night Marketplace at the missions conference.  Our joint project?  Indian Tacos!