I'll See You Again Soon...

Our 'Seeking Him" group

Making Bannock

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” ~1 Corinthians 12:12

As I look around, typing this post seems surprisingly uncomfortable. The previous posts were typed in the basement of our host’s home in Moose Factory and I am writing to you from my parent’s living room in Irwin. I cannot believe 6 weeks has come and gone so quickly.

After we exited the train last Sunday, we knew the beginning of the end was upon us. We both moved out of Kristen and Josh’s home and began staying with our MTW teams. That also meant Alaina and I were separated for the first time in 5 weeks. She stayed in the basement of a home with the girls from Montreal and I stayed with some of the girls from MCC. The first night, we slept in the church. The second night, we moved into a home on teacher’s row.

Although I am not sure why I am even mentioning our sleeping accommodations because this particular week, I barely slept at all. The week was full of activities and obligations. On Sunday night, the team led worship for the Sunday evening service at the Cree Gospel Chapel. Two young girls gave their powerful testimonies about serious difficulties in their lives. I was encouraged by their bravery and immediately, I was proud to be serving alongside them throughout the week. Pastor Bob gave the sermon and the worship team was certainly a sound that I had missed from home.

Beginning on Monday, the MTW team ran a VBS. At first, we only had one or two students show up that were not already attending our Summer Bible Camp, but as the week progressed, numerous new faces appeared in the crowd. Sara and Sarah directed and prepared the VBS program. Essentially, when planning for the trip, it is best to assume all of your plans will go the exact opposite of what you had planned. However, even with all of the location and time changes, they both maintained composure and ran a tremendous program.

On Wednesday, Creefest/GOOP (Gathering of Our People) started with an early morning breakfast. Several of the team members, including myself, assisted the Tribal Counsel Leaders in cooking breakfast (eggs, pancakes, hash browns, bologna, sausage, bacon, and toast) for over 450 people. The MTW team served breakfast to the community. This continued through Friday. On Friday, a man pulled me aside and said, “Do you there are times when we do not have words that are big enough for what we mean?” Though I agreed with him, I wasn’t exactly sure what he just supposed.  He continued, “We appreciate your group so much that we don’t even know how to tell you thank you. When you come and you serve and help us, it gives us a chance to really spend time with each other and that is something that doesn’t happen often. You allow for us to enjoy our culture because you do the work.”

Throughout the week, we continued VBS, breakfast activities, other service projects around the island (sanding a building, weed-eating/cutting grass, moving/chopping wood, etc). The team learned to make bannock over the fire and experienced other cultural activities while at the gathering. Friday came sooner than desired for most of the team, but especially for both Alaina and myself. I knew that it was going to break my heart to say “goodbye” to the people, teens, and children that I had quickly grown to love. I had become very attached to them. My feelings and emotions were overwhelming throughout the morning; many times, disappearing just to cry for a few minutes without an audience. After VBS, the team needed to eat lunch and pack up. The barge was leaving at 2:30 and it does not wait. Two girls, Tehya and Ashlan, who were regular attendees at Bible camp, attached themselves to my legs (literally) and begged me not to go. After allowing them to adorn me, as if I were a human Christmas tree, it was finally nearing the 2:00 mark. As I gave them one last hug, both girls cried, and there is no point in pretending that I remained in control of my emotions because unfortunately, there are witnesses that would say otherwise.

            While I already looked like I went through the carwash, I wanted to say “goodbye” to Jasmine. I took her by the hands and said, “Do you know how much I love you?” She said “yes” and then began to cry. I assured her that I love Moose Factory and I will miss it there very much, but most of all, I will miss her. Several slightly less emotional goodbyes followed and we were soon on the barge traveling any direction but the direction I wanted to go.

            Now that I have been home for several days, I will admit that my heart is still so broken. If the Lord called, I would leave mid-sentence and drive due north, but until I know exactly what my life holds, I cannot make any decision on the current state of my emotions. Eventually, I will open my eyes in the morning and not look for the island or close my eyes at night without wishing I could hear the sounds of Moose Factory.

            In closing, I want to sincerely thank you for taking the time to read my lengthy and extensive blog posts. I also want to thank you for praying for us because we are confident that the Lord answers prayer. Your earnest prayers were heard and we were blessed to see the Lord working so visibly in the lives of the women of the church, the teenagers at Project George, and the children during Bible camp and VBS. Upon returning home, I've been surprised when people say, "I enjoyed your blog." You make my heart so happy! You are LOVED!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Please continue to pray for the island. Pray for the women’s Bible study they continue to meet each week. Pray that the teenagers would continue to be discipled. Pray that the Lord would protect the children who attended Bible Camp and VBS from the dark, painful, and scary world they live in and that He would provide an all-surpassing peace.
• Please pray for Josh and Kristen as they are starting a youth group on Friday. Pray that the youth would connect and enjoy their company, as well as desire to learn about the Lord.
• Please continue to pray for both Alaina and I, as we attempt to transition back into “normal” life. I know for certain that we are both struggling with returning and waiting for the Lord to clear our next life-path.

Our God is an AWESOME God

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before,
 and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” ~Psalm 139: 1-6

What happens when 5 “adults” and 12 teenagers are thrown off a train into the middle of nowhere? I would love to tell you because we were ever blessed to be a part of how the Lord worked this past weekend. As with any bush experience when taking a large group of people on a ‘vacation,’ (like how I can now act as if I take large groups of people into the bush often?) there is bound to be some amount of chaos. On Thursday morning, while gathering all of the necessary items (bug nets, bug spray, bug zappers, etc), the deputy chief told us that our leader team was too large and we needed to cut 2 leaders ASAP. I’m thankful that I did not draw the short straw in that instance and I did not have to make the phone call. Unfortunately, the phone call led to crying and drama and 5 people backing out of the trip. But, without a doubt, we knew the Lord had hand selected those that He would have on the train. Around the time when the barge was scheduled to arrive for us, we were missing 2 teens. A group made a mad dash to the car and drove around the island, trying several houses to locate Isaiah, all while he was standing at the barge docks wondering where we were. I drew the “phone call short straw” for the other missing teen. I called the girls parents and spent 15 minutes hearing her father angrily scream at me because leaving on the barge at 1:30 was utter ridiculousness in his eyes when the train did not leave until 5. He acted as if HE was the one that was going to have to spend 2.5 hours entertaining a group of 12 teens in another little town with nothing to do after we crossed the water.  After much one sided anger and arguing, I simply told him that is when we were leaving and I would love to have her join us if she could. Click. He hung up. I called back a minute later and her mother answered the phone, in a much less angry state, but still not much easier to speak to. She told me that her daughter would meet us at the train at 4:30.

As it turns out, the barge runs on island time as well and arrived 40 minutes late. Phew, 40 less minutes of entertaining, little did we realize the entire rest of the weekend was essentially entertaining 12 teenagers. An hour and a half into the train ride, we reached mile 131- Onakawana. The train stopped, two men jumped into the luggage cart and literally threw our baggage onto ground and if possible, probably would have thrown us off too. There we stood. Surrounded by trees, empty train tracks, and the ever-faithful bugs that are always waiting for us. It was a 35-minute walk through the bush to reach camp, but the Lord (and the Tozer family, provided 4-wheelers to carry our luggage). The bush was stunningly beautiful the trail was so much fun to maneuver. Due to my most recent trip the emergency room, I have developed a slight anxiety toward bugs. As we “swam” through wave after wave of black flies and mosquitoes, I sang “These are the bugs, these are the bugs, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made, I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in them.” When we arrived at camp, the view, as you can see from the photo above, was strikingly picturesque.  The girls were given a cabin and the boys were given a cabin. The third cabin belonged specifically to the Tozer family that included: William Tozer, the owner of the camp, his wife Pam, their daughter Autumn Rhayne, their son Ben, and two of their teenage nephews Colby and Keenan. We all chose bunk mates and started preparing dinner right away as it was nearing bedtime. After supper, we gathered the troops and presented the first “session.” All 12 looks on their faces were priceless. They were confused and very uneasy. However, the Spirit working in Josh hit a homerun that night. Despite the rude comments, the joking, the sleeping, throwing things at one another, and literally standing up in the middle of his message to walk out the door, Josh remained calm and focused. We had 3.5 days and we were all determined to really make the most of the time. That night, the girls decided that staying up ALL night sounded like a great idea. When two people (or more) are awake the entire night in a cabin, it means that everyone is awake the entire night.

Friday morning after breakfast was time for session number 2. Partially because at 4:00 am, the girls chose to sing Adele songs as loudly as possible, but mostly because these teenagers (all teenagers) are always plugged into to something electronic. We desired that they would interact with one another and not spend the weekend looking at a 4-inch screen. First, we make them sit and listen, and now we are taking away their I-pods. I won’t go into detail, but I’ll just let you picture the reactions and then multiply whatever you are picturing by 12. The entire weekend was filled with activities: soccer, swimming, running from flies, badminton, volleyball, fishing, preparing Sturgeon, and perhaps 500 games of Spoons. John Carter, the Native Mission Representative from Mission to the World (MTW) accompanied us to the bush. The teens adored him and he was very gracious, participating in at least 498 of the 500 spoon tournaments. Friday, we had 2 additional sessions where Josh taught about Psalm 139. He explained thoroughly that the Lord and Savior love them with an incomparable love. He taught them that He knows their thoughts before they think it and though they think they are hiding things from their parents and “getting away” with how they live their lives, the Lord cares too much about them to ignore it. Since the teens did not spend the day sleeping like usual, they were exhausted by Friday night and went to sleep relatively early.

By Saturday morning, they were becoming quite used to the routine, but they still were not used to the early morning revelry. We felt that wake-up time was the latest in camp history, but at 9:00 every morning we drug them out (most of the time, literally) out of their beds. It was enjoyable to watch what progress was made in just 2 days. When we held them to consistent expectations, they came close to rising to the occasion. During Saturday’s sessions, they were more attentive, less rude, and allowed themselves to drop their guards occasionally. During the afternoon session, we taught them several songs. However, as a group, they enjoyed “Our God is an Awesome God.” At first, they were unwilling to sing or even look at the lyrics pages, but that song had them all clapping. When we sang it twice on Saturday night, I almost didn’t make it through the song emotionally. Here we were, in the middle of the bush, with 12 Cree teens, worshiping the Creator as a group. These were the same teens those 2 days prior were doing just about anything to avoid what we were about (never knew so many young people had such issues with overactive bladders). Saturday evening was testimony night. Alaina, Kristen, Brittany, and Brenden all shared how they came to know Christ. After sharing, Josh asked, “Does anyone see anything that these stories have in common?” And a girl answers, “You all really liked to drink.” She wasn’t exactly wrong. He explained how they all came to the realization that for hope, for love, for peace, and for fulfilling that God shaped void in each of our lives, the only answer is to realize that life with Christ is the answer. Asking every one in the room to close their eyes, he explained how one comes to make that decision. He asked if over the weekend, as they gained knowledge of the truth, anyone felt like they wanted to act upon that new knowledge. 6 of the 12 teens secretly raised their hands and repeated the sinner’s prayer (JASMINE was one of the 6!!!!). Although it will take watching them change, grow, and display the fruit of the spirit, to really know for sure if they accepted Christ that night, it was encouraging that despite the pressure around them, they really are searching for a Savior. As the Bible says, if one sinner repents, the angels in heaven “throw a party.” And that is exactly what we did. At 10:00 p.m., we lit the barbecue (oh, we could not have a fire all weekend because of the Canadian fire-ban), made popcorn and s’mores, sang “Our God is an Awesome God”, played spoons, and had a dance party. That night was incredible. It was a true testament to the fruit that can be seen when you give 100% of yourself to 12 teens for 3 days. I can only imagine the opportunities if we had more time with them. I am so grateful for Josh and Kristen. Their ministry on this island will produce so much growth, in time. Their dedication and heart for the teens here is going to be used in wonderful ways.

On Sunday morning, it was time to pack up, clean up, debrief, and make our 35-minute trek to the train tracks. We spent most of the morning feeling like puppeteers. Our marionettes needed us to stand behind and above them each step of the way through washing dishes, sweeping, making their beds, and putting the camp back to order. The 7 leaders could have easily done the work in half the time, but it was worth the extra hour to watch them suffer, I mean, to teach them necessary skills. We arrived back at the train tracks around 11:45, expecting the train to arrive between 12:10 and 12:30. In the heat of the day, the options were to bake in the sun or stand in the shade and be eaten alive. Those two choices seemed to be an important theme of the entire weekend. At 12:30, we are all still opting to sit in the sun on our luggage beside the tracks. At 1:20, we were still there, but with slightly less amused facial expressions. At 2:00, I came to realization that I never really matured; I just have more control over my tongue. The teens were whining and complaining about all of the things I was whining and complaining about silently. By 2:15, the train arrived!!!! We used the red flag to signal the conductor. There were over 400 people on the train, including our MTW team! What a joy it was to see so many family faces, and seeing the team was nice too. Haha. Actually, for as excited as we were to see them, they are the beginning of the end to our momentary missionary life. When I think about the past 5.5 weeks, I can barely process a minute of the journey, let alone the experience in its entirety. Alaina and I would not have given this summer up for anything.

This week we will be working with our MTW team, running a VBS program alongside them, attending Creefest/GOOP activities, and emotionally saying goodbye to many friends that mean so much to us. Look for the final, or close to final, blog-post about our trip to be added this coming weekend.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Please pray for continued growth and change in the hearts of the 12 youth that accompanied us into the bush: Jasmine, Sereena, Ashley, Chelsea, Rachel, Faith, Jane, Jimmy, Donovan, Isaiah, Daniel, and Brier. 
• Please pray for strength as Alaina and I first say “goodbye” to the island and then as we say “goodbye” to one another. 
• Please pray that the Lord will give us grace and excitement in returning home. Pray that opportunities will present itself with unsaved family and friends at home while sharing about our summer.  

 

Project George

Our 3-5 year-old class

Front Row: Theryn, Brylan, Khade, Kyrie, Traven; Back Row: Micah, Danielle, Larona, Michelle

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues.” ~Revelation 18:4

With the scripture listed above, I am not eluding to the plagues of black flies, mosquitoes, stray angry dogs, of any of the like, however, I am intensely excited for the opportunity to “come out” and remove ourselves from the “noise” of the island. Though many will tell you that this is a fairly quiet place with not a lot of ‘goings-on,’ the truth is, the youth are constantly being inundated with “noise”- with negative messages, with drama from damaged families, with pressure to be something they are not, with a constant addiction to social media, and with a variety of other meaningless manipulations.

         On Thursday, 10 leaders (Josh, Kristen, Brittany, Brenden,  Frances, John Carter, Chen, Alice, Alaina, and myself) will be taking 15 youth (ages 11-14) into the bush. We will be leaving the island on Thursday afternoon and returning to the island on Sunday evening. During our time away, we will have the opportunity to spend quality time with all 15 teens. Nine times within the course of the weekend, they will hear the messages from scripture and will be presented with the Gospel message. We will be teaching basic Christianity and lessons such as: how to pray, why we pray, and how to use the Bible.

         Because of the communities (and surrounding communities) critical need to address the suicide issues with teens, Charlie Cheechoo, the deputy chief has asked and allowed churches to use Project George, a camp sight in Onakawana designed to teach youth how to live like their ancestors. Not only will we be using the facility similar to that of a church camp, we will also be able to learn and teach some of the traditional ways of living. I am thankful that there are several native leaders attending, because if it was my responsibility to catch, prepare, and cook the fish, all 15 teens would additionally learn what it is like to be famished and in need of food. We will have many opportunities to encourage the teens and love on them in a natural environment and during scheduled recreation activities such as: boating, swimming, canoeing, sports, fishing, etc.

         Intentionally, I made this a separate blog post so that I could ask for some specific, fervent, and earnest prayer for our group as we embark on this adventure. This is an opportunity that the Lord has presented through His providence and we know that this weekend with these teens could produce huge results.

PRAYER REQUEST:

• Please pray that we do not get in the way. Pray that all personal agenda would be put aside. Pray that we are able to demonstrate love unconditionally, even when at times we may be exhausted, uncomfortable, and honestly- maybe annoyed (they ARE teenagers!)  
• Please pray that the teens’ hearts would be opened and that they would be mindful of Josh as he teaches, accepting what is said as truth and not another group attempting to gain “control” over them.  
• Please pray for safety. Pray that the Lord would place a hedge of protection around us as we travel, as we do various activities, and as we are responsible for 15 teens somewhere far into the bush.  
• Please pray that the teens would feel both loved and encouraged as individuals and not as any type of “project” or “mission.”

Better is One Day

“ So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.” 1 Corinthians 3: 7-9

As I stare at this computer screen, 8 days after my last opportunity to blog, I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving for innumerable ways we were blessed this past week. First, and least important, I’ve been much healthier the past several days than I had been previously. God is an amazing healer, according to His time. His time. That was a lesson I was learning while spending a great deal of time in bed for several days. Difficult lessons, but I was unpleasantly reminded time and time again that I am truly nothing. Without Christ through me, I am of no worth and God does not NEED me. Instead, He has graciously provided me with an opportunity to be used, for my benefit, not for His. At our women’s Bible study this week, we discussed humility in depth. Humility is something that we ought to clothe ourselves with daily, but requires a minute-by-minute decision to remain “dressed.”

            Since I mentioned the women’s study, I am blown away by the way the Lord is working through this small group of women. This week, we had 9 women attend and in a short 4 weeks, so much growth is already evident. The book “Seeking Him” encourages one to step outside of her “comfort zone” and share areas of her life that need to be revived. It is not an easy task and I say that, coming from a contrasting culture that enjoys talking openly, especially as women. However, in the past week, almost every Cree woman shared something personal about her life. We have seen prayer requests from the previous week answered, Cree women praying out loud in front of others, many tears shed as we discuss their pains, and one woman (who has up until this week remained very quiet and closed off) say that this book is really touching her heart. We are only on Lesson 3 of a 12-lesson study. I’m pretty sure I should stick around, you know, so I can go through the next 9 weeks with them.

            Also, this week, the Lord continues to increase the attendance at summer Bible camp. We have had 14 three-to-five year-olds regularly. This group of children pulls every heartstring imaginable. In our 6-8 year-old group, we had 28 students show up!!! Although we were gravely unprepared, their energy and excitement was contagious. We will never claim to have remained in control for the entire session, but overall, we survived with smiles on our faces! Our 9-10 year-olds are learning exactly what it means when we ask them to find a particular chapter and verse in the Bible. They have learned a lot about Daniel’s life and what happened when he was first overtaken by King Nebuchadnezzar, aka “Neba-neba-neba what is his name again?”  It is so much fun to encourage these young boys to desire character like Daniel’s: courageous, intelligent, faithful, and yet, respectful. Similarly, we have encouraged the girls to seek Daniel’s traits in a future husband. Additionally, it has been enjoyable to teach about him because they are still asking if I wrote the book of Daniel and if I am in it. Obviously, “Danielle” is not a popular Cree name. They say “Daniel” in a very similar manner and have been calling me “Daniel” for the last month. Although our 11+ group started out slow, and by slow I mean, non-existent as we could not even bribe the children that age to show up, this week we formed a group! Actually, on Thursday, we had 9 students age 11 or older. Darian, one of our students said, “Do you know why I come here instead of going somewhere else?” Of course we didn’t know, as his answer choices were perhaps endless, but he continued with “At other camps, all they do is play games and eat snacks, they never read the Bible, and that is why I come here.” Truthfully, I wanted to either have the child breathalyzed or I was convinced he was sleep deprived, but nonetheless, he dependably showed up the following session. While we were playing a game, Darian walked around the Chapel with the Bible we had given him and read most of the morning. It is the Lord that makes the plant grow, and He did just that. This morning (Sunday) at the Chapel, Darian gave his life to Christ. What a joy it was to witness his excitement and his smile as he walked around the church telling everyone that he just became a Christian. God is so good!

            On Friday night, Kristen, Alaina, and I, planned a “Girls Night.” Originally, it was going to be a few girls around the ages of 11-13. However, the girls had a bigger, more exciting event planned and they were kind enough to fill us in the day of the “party.” Including the 3 of us, and Brittany (a native young adult living on the island with a beautiful heart and a desire to support the youth of the community) we had a total of 17. Wild, loud, crazy, and wonderful. We made pizzas and cookies and played games (the favorite being “dark-tag”. Dark tag is simply turning all of the lights off in the basement and chasing one another, screaming as shrill as their lungs would allow).  Toward the end of the evening, a vicious thunderstorm came through. It was hilarious and ever sweet to listen to us all scream when the lightning struck and the thunder roared. We all cuddled up on the couches and waited it out, because in Moose Factory, when it rains, it lasts 15 minutes, unlike at home. When I took the girls home that night, I was able to have a very real conversation with one of the older girls. After Liola told me that she is still sad everyday because Alexandrya was one of her best friends, I told her that at home, we do not have a high suicide rate. I asked her for her opinion about what happens on the island. She told me that the youth believe there is a “suicide ghost” that tells them what to do. They hear voices. She also said that she felt the teenagers on the island (those older than 14) are into the wrong things and influence the younger youth. She said, “Alexandrya grew up too fast.” My heart breaks for this community, even when the work of the Lord is very present; they are waiting in the chains of the evil one.

            This evening (Sunday) the Lord moved again through the Chapel. I cannot use adequate words to describe how encouraged I was by tonight’s service (and honestly, by so many of the older believers on the island). Tonight, I sung 3 praise songs, accompanied by Elmer (one of the natives on the guitar). I chose “Better is One Day” because I feel like I’ve learned exactly what the song describes. “Better is one day in Your house and in Your courts than thousands elsewhere,” illustrates how we ought to feel about living in the midst of His will. I understand, more than ever before, that there is a perfect plan for my life and for the lives of anyone willing to surrender and submit their own lives to the Lord. He loves His children and provides for them in ways that we will never understand with our worldly eyes, but I am certain that those He calls, He also equips (and carves out the perfect path). I am living proof that the Lord does not call the equipped, but He equips the called. I also sung “Lead Me to the Cross” and “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.” Allan Jolly spoke this evening and I could not have been more overjoyed in his message. Sometime within the past year, he began typing parts of his testimony, specifically, 4 distinct times in his life that he felt the Lord’s encounter. As our main contact person for the island and as someone who, through the Lord’s guidance, has done such great things for all of Moose Factory (as well as some communities further north), I highly respect and admire this man. As he walked us through his ‘walk’, I could not help but think that if even before I was born, in one of those circumstances, he chose to go his own way instead of surrender to the Lord; I would not currently be serving in Moose Factory.  What an amazing hope we have in Christ.

            Even though, tonight alone, I’ve cried four separate times, knowing that my time of blessing and growth on the island is coming to a rapid end, I am wholly looking forward to continuing in that hope with the knowledge that wherever I am, the Lord has a perfect plan for my life, for Alaina, for Kristen & Josh, and for this island in His time, according to His will.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Please pray for Darian. Praise God for calling another sheep to the shepherd. Also, pray that an elder will step up to disciple this young boy in his brand new faith so that he is able to walk steadily with the Lord, even through the copious trials he will face as a believer on this island.  
• Please pray for Project George. Pray for planning and preparation. We leave on Thursday, July 19^th. An additional, separate blog post will contain specific project information, as well as a description of the way those 4 days will be used.  
• Please pray for Alaina and myself, as we are faced with the emotions of preparing our hearts and minds to leave this incredible island in 12 days. Please pray specifically that we would be filled with His grace when dealing with the team arriving in one week. Pray that we would be filled with an all-surpassing peace about leaving the people here that we have been able to love unreservedly.

           

Only in Moose Factory

“And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” ~Jonah 2:1

Moose Factory may not be the belly of a whale, but it certainly is unique. Ever picture yourself caught in the scene of a snow globe? For a significant portion of the year, Moose Factory is just that, caught in a snow globe. However, when winter passes, the snow is simply replaced with dust. Currently, we are living life in a dust-globe. Every time the wind blows, a vehicle drives by, or someone speedily walks past, a cloud of dust puffs up from every angle. Not a paved road in sight. When you walk into the grocery store, every item is covered with a thin dust film (and although you have to check the expiration date on everything you purchase, most of the time, the products were just placed on the shelf, but seem to come with a bonus prize of dust.)

Last night was our first trip of 2012 to Weeneebayko Hospital. One-third of the island belongs to the reservation. One-third of the island belongs to MoCreebec First Nation people, and the remaining third is the hospital grounds. The hospital is run by the Canadian health care system and houses many employees that are not of First Nation decent. When I finally decided that the size and temperature of my ear warranted emergency status, we arrived at the ER around 7:30 p.m. At that time, there was one additional person in the waiting room. Around 8:30 p.m., she was summoned by a nurse and taken to a room. The wait time didn’t seem unusual to that of an ER at home until we still found ourselves sitting in the tiny waiting space at 11:00 p.m. Around 11, a small Indian (not native) resident doctor came and directed us to a very small room, resembling an exam room that you see when watching old war movies. When she directed me to sit on the exam table, the table shook and made several horrible noises. Several times, various staff members entered the room looking for misplaced equipment, such as the thermometer, a staple for any emergency facility. After the resident doctor conducted an exam, she found her assessment to be inconclusive and wanted the doctors opinion. At one point, Alaina, looked at me and said, “Do you feel like this is all pretend? I feel like this is a pretend hospital and that they are playing doctor!” So thankful for her company and for her re-assuring words when I needed them. Haha! Upon seeing the actual doctor, I felt like Alaina and I were the ones completing the evaluation. We were attempting to determine her age, her background, and her demeanor. Finally, they determined I have a fairly severe infection caused by a bug attack. I was given a hand-written pill bottle for the evening, until the pharmacy opened the following day. Only in Moose Factory does one have no choice but to fully trust the health care provided because there are no choices.

Since I mentioned the pharmacy, I will give you a walk through of shopping options on the island. Moose Factory has one large building referred to as the complex. Located in the complex is a post office (which is similar to that of any university mailroom where each student has an individual key accessed mailbox), a pharmacy, a small store that only sells cards and candy, a restaurant, a coffee shop, the hockey arena, a community room, a small hardware store, and a grocery store (The Northern). This complex is the place to be. Similar to the mall atmosphere at home, the youth meet at the complex to stand along the walls and hang out. In addition to the complex, the island has one gas station run by a family from India. The Quick Stop houses an express Pizza Hut and KFC combo. However, the word express takes on an entirely new meaning here, as the wait for food is closer to several hours long. There is one final option for your shopping pleasure: Gi-Gi’s. I am certain that describing this store in words will not come close to actually doing it justice. Gi-Gi’s is a long “L” shaped building that is approximately the size and length of 2.5 double-wide trailers. At Gi-Gi’s you can purchase some food, guitars, ink, Tupperware, fabric (if you like one of the five choices), picture frames, art supplies, clothing, shoes, and a variety of other knick-knack-like items. Gi-Gi’s is to Moose Factory as Walmart is to the USA.

As far as education is concerned, there are 2 schools on the island and one private school managed by the Pentecostal Church. Ministik is a public school for all students from Kindergarten to Grade 6. The Canadian government operates Ministik. Once a student graduates from Grade 6, they are given a choice based on whether or not they live on the reservation. Students that live on the reservation can choose to attend DDECS, which is a school that houses grade 7 through 12 on the reservation, or remain at Ministik for two additional years.  Students that live off the reservation attend Ministik for Grade 7 and 8, but then attend a public school across the bay in Moosonee. Each day, approximately 50 students take the water taxi to and from school, unless it is during break-up, in which case they take helicopter. Sure does change the meaning of “bus stop.”

Communication on the island occurs close to the speed of light. Actually, more accurately would be to say that communication occurs at “facebook-speed.” Surprisingly, the island is not as tight knit, as an outsider would expect. When asking for addresses and information on family dynamics, it is shocking that they really do not know where everyone resides or how everyone is connected. When you live on an island that is 3 miles long and 2 miles wide, it astounds me that you would not know where everyone lives, however, much like at home, they do know what everyone has consumed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; where and when the last drug import occurred; and exactly what time every yard-sale begins.

The weather in Moose Factory has been a mystery since we’ve arrived. One day, the temperature is 89 degrees and the following day, it is 60. It has rained several days since we’ve arrived, but it rarely rains for extended periods of time. In my opinion, I will take the rain and the cold in exchanged for the flesh-eating mosquitoes and flies. It seems that the bug population hides from the cool rainy weather. I’m greatly looking forward to the decrease in the black fly population around mid-July!!!!

The next section of this blog post was written by Alaina from her point of view of the topic “Only in Moose Factory.”

“Hi! Alright, I will try as best I can to describe with words what it’s like to live in Moose Factory. My perspective, of course, only reflects that of a non-native visitor therefore I am shocked by every otherwise mundane occurrence on this island.

Before I delve into the matter let me just say that ever since we arrived in Moose Factory, I feel as though we have been living on Walton’s mountain. For those of you who know “The Waltons”, this will enable you to better use your imagination to conjure up mental pictures of our daily goings-on. Maybe it’s the dirt roads (I do wear shoes unlike those hardcore Walton children) or the ridiculous things that actually get us excited (spotting a bear down at the dump) or just how we sit by the window in the morning and wave to the same people walking to work or to the docks (the fact that we know all those people by name makes it all the more Walton-esque). For all these reasons and more, I LOVE Moose Factory!

Now, let me take you through a typical day here. In the morning, I like to walk down to the docks across the street from our home and enjoy the spectacular view (it’s indescribable so I won’t even attempt it) while spending time reading God’s word.  It’s a really peaceful spot even with the constant water taxi traffic going by. The Moose River is comparable to a freeway except motorized canoes instead of cars. We are completely surrounded by God’s gift of nature so I am constantly giving thanks to Him for His creation- it never gets old! Danielle and I then get on our heavy-duty mountain bikes and head to church (swatting away mutant black flies all the way there) where we welcome Cree children in hopes that they will actually be amused by our antics. Truly, the Lord does all the work and we try not to interfere too much.  At least a few times a day, we’ll have to refuse entry to or chase away many stray dogs that enter the church. Some of them are so cute but I have definitely learned my lesson: do not approach a random dog expecting “Ooooooh you’re such a cutiiiiiie!” to be well received. Yeah, no.  At the end of the day, we head back home (the bugs are still there- so faithful!) At that point, if we want to know what EVERYONE on the island has been up to all day or what their evening plans are, one quick look at the Facebook news feed will do the trick. Unreal but true.  Sometimes, we’ll go to “Summer’s”- the equivalent of Dairy Queen where a blizzard is called a Razzle. Maybe equivalent is too strong a word, for you see Summer’s is actually the size of a large tool shed. But man do they make a mean Razzle. If we’re in the mood for chips, we head on over to “Bertha’s”- a prison for chips and beverages as I like to call it.  Bertha likes to keep it real; the place has no windows (common practice in these parts) and sells chips right out of the cardboard boxes they were shipped here in. Nothing fancy, you know.  For my Montreal crew, Bertha’s looks like our Christian book stores….

Let’s see, now…I’m trying to think about the craziest parts about Moose Factory but so much comes to mind..! I guess the grocery store (also known as “the place to be”) is in itself crazy. No matter how many times I go, the prices are still shocking. The other day I wanted to make Indian Dal for supper and I needed red lentils. “Northern” does not carry red lentils. Or quinoa. Or balsamic vinegar. Or fresh basil. Fine, I’m a food snob but really are fresh herbs too much to ask for?!? The Lord saw my plight and had mercy upon me because our neighbors happen to be cooks at the Eco-Lodge (a real restaurant resides in this establishment and by real I mean a place where they don’t serve hot-dogs). Since having them over for dinner, they have so graciously and generously offered a supply of the ingredients I need to make the dishes that make me a weird Canadian to my American housemates. Since I have been here, J, K & D have had lentils AND dates for the first time and are about to indulge in some Tofu soon…Mmmmmm!

During our last trip to the Northern, we chatted it up with the store manager. He filled us in on all sorts of interesting facts and details and now I plan to visit the northernmost store way up in Tuktoyaktuk which is right below the arctic circle. Did you know that you can even rent tuxedos at the grocery store?! Yup, right there at the same counter where you put in your order for a new canoe.

All facetiousness aside, Moose Factory truly is one of a kind.  I mean, where else can an entire Canada Day celebration event be pushed back a day (locals being informed via Facebook at 9pm the evening prior) or are store hours posted merely as a suggestion or better yet- enjoy the wonderful fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ who truly depend on Him to sustain them through the unique struggles and immense pain that individuals are faced with here.  The church family at the Cree Gospel Chapel is so in love with the Lord, their lives are the most encouraging testimony to His power. No big frills, just the gathering of His children for His purpose. Thank you, Jesus.”

            Even though we are experiencing life on the island with somewhat of a finality, knowing that from the beginning, God-willing, we would be returning home in 6 weeks, I am to some extent envious of the simple life. Creativity, resourcefulness, and ingenuity all have room to expand when there is not a constant bombardment of activity, stimulation, and choices. Whether it is picking up groceries that arrived on a train or jumping on a bicycle with a basket to travel to the store, this place is inimitably special and the people that reside here are extraordinary.

L.O.V.E.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~Romans 8:37-39

LOVE. You ARE loved. First, by God, then by us! Moose Factory is loved. We LOVE Moose Factory! (Even if it is slowly trying to destroy me…I’ll explain a little later). We have talked a lot about love this week. Truly, we all find ourselves somewhere on the universal love spectrum. Either you are overjoyed because you are surrounded by love and are able to feel its effects on you, or possibly, quite the contrary, and you are desperately searching to feel just a touch of love from anyone or anything willing to grant it to you.  Like most things that cannot be classified as black or white, there are many in that gray area on the love spectrum.

            There were 7 ladies that came out to the study last night. Although due to various, uncontrollable island circumstances, this was only the second time we’ve met together. It was just as much of a joy and encouragement to get together with women, as it was the first time. During the study, we continued to discuss revival. We read several passages of scripture that talked about how the Lord graciously offers rest, hope, healing, and love to entire places that have fallen away from Him. Moose Factory, and especially believers living here desperately need to feel all of those promises. Last night, Chen, a nurse from Toronto (originally from somewhere very Asian), came to dinner before she accompanied us to the study. Immediately upon entering, we could sense how battered and discouraged her spirit was. She is a nurse, working at the hospital on the island. Many times, she explained how difficult her job is and that staying positive has been her biggest challenge. She is not alone in this thinking and often; nurses, teachers, and other hospital staff that move to Moose Factory are quickly disheartened and experience the same type of purposelessness as the natives.

            In our summer Bible camp, we have also discussed love. On Wednesday morning, we had 10 bright-eyed three-thru-five year-olds wide-awake and ready to play. What a precious group of children. When I think about what these babies have experienced at such a young age and the way they live, my heart breaks. Yet, it is encouraging to know, that even though it appears their lives have been set for them, God does way more than change circumstances, He changes hearts. In particular, in this age group there was one little boy, Brylan, who stole my heart. He is a young 3-year-old but young does not mean easily distracted. When singing songs, I would place him in his chair, and with bullets in his eyes, he would respond with “CHUGGA CHUGGA CHOOO CHOOO!!!!”  I would gently tell him that we are singing now and that he could play with the train at the end. And this pattern continued at least 5 times. We will be spending the next 3 weeks with this age group, loving them and teaching them that there is a God, much greater than anything we know who also wants to love them. This God knows what it is like to lose, because for our sake, He gave us His only son, born of a virgin, who suffered terribly, and was killed in order to make the perfect transfer: He took our punishment and our sin in exchange for His righteousness.

            On Monday and Wednesday afternoons, we are discussing similar lessons, but with 6 to 8 year-olds. This Wednesday, we had 20 students! Praise the Lord for such a large and energetic group! Although, several times throughout the afternoon, I started to rethink my stance against cloning, Alaina and I survived. Despite the fact that, while going over the rules, I took one look at the large group in front of us and specifically told them “Rule #1: You may not band together and tie us up at any point. There is power in numbers, and I am fully aware that there are 20 of you and 2 of us!” Some of the students in this age group have been coming to VBS activities for the past 4 years, and yet, I do not feel like I will ever become apathetic to the fact that some of them know my name before I even remind them. I LOVE Moose Factory and I LOVE these children!

            On Thursday, several other youth programs began and we are somewhat competing for age and time-slots. But, let me assure you that truly, there is no competition. We are aware that the Lord has selected those He will have attend. We welcome as many as come, but truthfully, a smaller more intimate group is beneficial and certainly enjoyable! We had 7 nine-to-ten year-olds. We continued our study on Daniel and taught the importance to take risks, but to trust the Lord for guidance.

            Overall, we had a great week of ministry with some really special children. Frequently, I am reminded of my job at home. Much of the despair and bleakness seen here in Moose Factory is an exact representation of what my co-workers and I face daily in the western edge of Greene County. I certainly did not have to travel 800 miles to find an area on the map that urgently needs to be revived and to start living a purpose-driven, Godly life, nevertheless, each day, I am increasingly grateful that Moose Factory holds a unique place in my heart. I love the people, the creation, the history, and the culture that infiltrates this small island. “OH WE LOVE THE PEOPLE OF MOOSE FACTORY, DEEP DOWN IN OUR HEARTS! <3”

            And finally, I know I mentioned that despite how much I love this place, it is single-handedly trying to destroy me. Praise God for His endless healing and provision, as the last 2 weeks have not been entirely positive. Because I hate admitting weakness, especially my own, I’ve neglected to write about the strange, mysterious “attack” I have been under since our arrival here. Several days after settling, two lymph nodes on my neck decided to produce a look similar to that of Frankenstein. In time, the swelling subsided, just to be replaced with a spider’s bite on the opposite side of my neck. The spider bite swelled and grew and has now been reduced to simply a tiny bite mark. Two days ago, I awoke with white spots over my tonsils, congestion, and a feeling of general achiness. So thankful the Lord works quickly and my throat is back to its original state. And we arrive at my current state. Yesterday, I was bit, by what we are referring to as a “Black Fly with Rabies”. My ear is twice the size it should be and has been cherry red since the little creature stole my blood. Jokingly, I said that I’m sure I could fry an egg on my ear because of the heat, however, I’m not so sure it is a joke. I’ve spent the day resting, filling my system with antihistamines, and praying that this is the end of my assail. Truthfully, I am learning to be content, even when I am spending the day in my bed, listening to sermons from home, instead of spending the day with my 12-year-old friends on the island. Yet, I am beginning to wonder what type of “work” the Lord may have for me at the hospital. If things continue (or if my ear triples), I will quickly be ministering to the staff, as they are mending me. Still, each week of sacrifice spent here this summer pales in comparison to even one second spent nailed to a cross. We are LOVED!

Prayer Requests:

•  Please continue to pray for our summer Bible camp. Pray that the youth would truly receive the message presented. Pray that attendance would stay consistent or increase. Pray that they would feel Christ’s love for them through us. 
• Please pray for Project George as our dates were finalized. I will explain in detail as the trip approaches, but currently, we are attempting to confirm what youth will be in attendance. 
• Please pray for the other camps and organizations running youth programs. Specifically: reading camp, right to play, MoCree Healthy babies, and Nathan Cheechoo’s sports camp.

             

Happy Canada Day...or days....

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” ~Isaiah 6:8

     Be ready for a novel sized blog post. I sure hope you are not thinking that the other posts have been novel length, if so here comes the encyclopedia. Quite a few days have gone by and in each day, I’ve intended to write, but to no avail. Thus, here is a extensive update on the last few days.

    On Friday, Ben (the cook I mentioned in a previous post) came to dinner. He also brought his roommates, Jesse (also works at the Eco-Lodge in the kitchen) and Kota (a graduate student from Tokyo, Japan, working on his research thesis). Zach, a supply teacher (what they call substitute teachers) has also been eating dinner with us and attending church regularly. All in all, there were 8 of us. After dinner, we had a great time playing Catch Phrase. It is so much fun to play that game with such a diverse group of people. At home, I never consider myself an American, nor do I see myself as everything American, however, when placed in a group that includes 1 from Japan, 2 from Ontario, 1 from Montreal, 1 from Philly, and 1 from Atlanta, I quickly realize that I am 100% from Pittsburgh (and am proud of it!) Despite several language barriers, the game was a huge hit.

      On Saturday, the girls (Kristen, Alaina, and myself) baked many desserts for our food booth for Canada Day. Kristen and Alaina, using the most entrepreneurial facebook group called FoodFight, have begun participating with other members on the island. FoodFight is a facebook page that allows people to post home-made foods (dinners, desserts, ect), provide a starting bid price, an ending time for the auction, and whether the item(s) are to be picked up or delivered. Anyone interested, simply bids on the item. This concept is exceptional and has limited localities where it could be successful. Based on the encouraging response to their food posts, they had decided to open a baked good booth for Canada Day. I invited both Jasmine and her friend Mya to come help us bake. Jasmine and I baked several things early on and we played games most of the afternoon. I taught the girls how to play Spoons and they loved it, especially when I lost! We also played Pit.

Saturday evening, we celebrated Lorraine’s birthday with the entire Jolly Family. Allan Jolly, the head of the family, has been our Moose Factory contact person since we have begun ministering on the island. It has been a wonderful privilege and opportunity to spend quality time with him, Lorraine, their children, and their many grandchildren. Besides that, dinner was most excellent! The Jolly family knows how to throw a party, even on an island that seems somewhat limited. (Just for a fun fact, two Butterball turkeys on the island come to $140!!!)

      Sunday was my first official Canada Day! But, just like in Pittsburgh, when events are planned, the rain attempts to thwart them. Unlike Pittsburgh, on the island, they can literally postpone a HUGE event until the following day because of a stormy weather report. So, my first official Canada Day was postponed…

     One of the many reasons I was looking forward to additional time on the island was to experience a typical church service at the Cree Gospel Chapel (without 30 white Americans running the show, like we do when our team is here). However, for the past two weeks that I have attended church at the chapel, I have taught Sunday school and have not been able to sit through a service. I love it when my plans are altered and I have the opportunity to serve.

     I was able to sit through the Sunday evening service at the church; unfortunately, I do not have the gift of speaking in tongues and did not understand one word of the service. Occasionally, they hold a Sunday evening service entirely in Cree. The ladies behind us were kind enough to tell us exactly where Allan was teaching in Scripture because when he said, “Hebrews niche bipishonpisn”, it just didn’t help.

      Monday was actually my first un-official Canada Day celebration. First, we offered to help an organization cook, serve, and clean up a breakfast for the island. Alone, I toasted 10 loaves of “brown” or wheat bread. We washed over 300 plates. But, this was just the beginning of the day’s adventure. After setting up our booth, it was time to get involved. Alaina and I ran the foot races for the youth. Canada Day has such a great turnout on the island and the youth seem to really look forward to the celebration. It is so exciting to see that even in the midst of facing endless trials and heartaches, the community unites to celebrate a random day. My goal for the day was this: “If I do not have a valid reason NOT to attempt something, I am going for it.” This mind-frame led me to participate in the following: 

• While being timed, I put on a fireman’s suit from head to toe (actually, literally from toe to head), crawled through a long black tunnel, put on a heavy oxygen tank, carried a wound house from one end of the field to the other, drug the water hose, and sprayed a target. Once the target was knocked down, the clock was stopped. My time was 2.02 minutes. Although I was not in the top 5 places, I feel that I could have gone significantly faster IF I had a helmet that fit. I ran the course with my helmet in front of my face and my eyes entirely covered. But, who is making excuses? Haha. 
• Again, while being timed, I was given 3 long nails, a hammer, and a round log. Seeing as how my first nail was driven into the wood almost sideways, I didn’t bother even asking for my time. Carpentry is not in my near future. And I am certainly NOT fireman material. 
• At the end of the day, I signed up to pull a vehicle with a towrope. After watching several women fall to the ground after the vehicle began moving, my nerves slowly, but surely increased. Honestly, I was questioning whether or not I could even MOVE the vehicle, let alone pull it 100 meters. “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.” Slowly, I was able to pull the 3,845 pound Kia Sorento 100 meters in 37 seconds. I was 9 seconds behind the first place winner (and I do not feel the need to mention how many other people came within those 9 seconds. Besides, they had experience with pulling cars last year, but again, who is making excuses?) Overall, Canada Day was so much fun and I was blessed with getting to spend the entire day with a 14-year-old Cree boy, Drayton, who loves hanging out with our team. I was thankful to introduce him to Josh and Kristen. Drayton is a Christian and has a solid, strong faith, but for a 14 year-old boy, it is a lonely journey to stand for something so far removed from the norm. I love being here to encourage him to stay strong and to fight the island “idols.”

      Even though the fireworks display (which I listened to from my bedroom) did not end until 11:00p.m., we decided to go forth with our first day of summer camp! 90 minutes after the start time, our first two youth arrived! Hallelujah! Arianna and Sereena came to check out camp and then, they never left. They stayed with us the entire day, helping with the younger age groups after their session. We taught them and the 9/10 year olds to play Fax Machine. Some of the end results were hysterical. Somehow, the first fax was a picture of Poutine (oh, if you are not familiar with Canada, poutine is French fries with gravy and cheese… how can that possibly go wrong?) But, by the end, the fax turned into an “angry person.” I LOVE the way children think!!!! With our Tuesday and Thursday class, we are studying, in depth, the book of Daniel. Daniel portrays the characteristics that are needed for survival in such as place as this. Daniel was steadfast, courageous, trusting, wise, and fully relied on the true God for his every move. In the next month, I want to strongly encourage our students to “Dare to be a Daniel.”

      Now can you see why I have not written to you since Thursday? I appreciate your faithfulness in reading about the way God is blessing us each day on this journey. And even more so, I appreciate our “pray-ers” and your diligence in remembering our requests. Thank you for being senders, as we are the goers. I will be the first to say that there are many moments that are far from enjoyable or positive, but just as we are teaching that God provided for those who trusted in Him, He is providing abundantly for us in ways that we would never expect.

Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for continued attendance at summer camp. Pray for our energy and thoroughness as the groups increase in size and liveliness. Pray for our wisdom as we address behavior needs while ultimately showing them love. Pray that we would be attentive to those needing extra encouragement and support. 
• Please pray for our general health as several things have come up more recently. Our systems are being taxed as our schedules vary and we are removed from “normal” life. 
• Please pray specifically for Alexandrya’s older sister, Allison. (Alexandrya is the young girl that took her life one week ago). Her older sister gave her life to Christ and is just beginning her walk with the Lord through many tough trials ahead. Pray that she would be open to receiving our care and affection.