In All Things, Charity

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”  ~1 Corinthians 1: 10-12

When I returned home from Moose Factory last year, I went months talking about an 11 year-old girl that stole my heart. What a joy it was to see her again and interact almost as if I had not been away from her for the last year! Jasmine and her friend Carrington came to dinner on Tuesday evening. As soon as we went into the house, both girls stopped speaking. This is common for their culture and many of them are very shy around unfamiliar people. So, let the interrogation begin. I’m beginning to think that I will gain enough skills to pursue a career in detective work when I return home. Having a conversation is much like a cross-examination: “How was school?” “What have you learned?” “What have you done?” And the list continues.

We were able to spend a little time with the girls at the Youth Center during evening drop-in hours. There is a youth center attached to the gymnasium of the reservation school. The youth center has a pool table, ping-pong, and foosball. They also have a stage for movies and music. The youth centers design is very unique and revolves around the medicine wheel. The medicine wheel represents what they believe to be the 4 qualities of a balanced life:   

• The Spiritual life is represented by the color red.
•  The Emotional life is represented by the color yellow. 
• The Physical life is represented by the color black. 
• The Intellect is represented by the color white.

However, life here is all but balanced. After the youth center, Alaina and I spent time with a woman who is seeking any support possible. This women and her daughter live daily in a state of fear and panic. Her husband and her two sons are abusive alcoholics (much like a high percentage of the men on the island). They come and go during drinking binges. Her pain and feelings of failure as a mother and as a human were overwhelming. How encouraging it is, and how much hope we truly have in a God that saves a wretch like me. It is so beautiful knowing that we can never “out-sin” God’s grace, we can only fail to acknowledge our need for a Savior.

Upon arriving back at our ‘home’ Tuesday evening, we heard word that a black bear spotting occurred on our street several hours earlier. Yes, indeed, there is a bear on the island.

On Wednesday, Alaina and I spent 4 hours traveling the island, knocking on doors, delivering posters, and encouraging the children to attend our camp. The island’s last day of school was yesterday. They do not go to school consistently throughout the year because of the weather and because of scheduled cultural time off for hunting leave. I know many of my PA friends would love it if life stopped for hunting season. No one works, nothing is open, and men leave for the bush, until they return with enough food to survive the year. All of that to say our children’s camp begins this coming Monday. We have decided that in order to spend more quality time with each child, we would divide the ages into 4 groups and run camp for one group at a time. The older two groups will be going through the first 6 chapters of Daniel and the younger two groups will be learning about how much they are loved. Love seems to be what everyone is seeking. Children, who are not receiving love from their parents, are searching just about any where. As we delivered fliers, many young girls (14-16) answered the doors and said yes, they do have children. The ratio between children who have fathers and children who actually have daddies is sickening.

Yesterday evening was greatly encouraging. Like I have said many times, there is a very slow revival occurring in this place. I continuously pray for that little light at the end of the tunnel to shine increasingly brighter. In lieu of the recent suicide wave, the community is seeking unity to fight against it. The deputy chief called a meeting with all of the church leaders and other influential individuals from both Moose Factory and Moosonee. There were about 36 people in attendance. The topic of discussion was “How can we come together to stop young people from taking their own lives?”

Although there is no simple solution, several major items were brought up in conversation. Most importantly, right now, suicide seems to be glamorized among youth. When a teen takes his/her life, there is a recognition and attention that most youth here desperately crave. Immediately, the person becomes a star on Facebook, probably with more friends writing messages and looking at pictures than ever before. A sports jersey is hung in the school, next to classmates who have made similar poor decisions. A public service is held celebrating the life, which unfortunately, should not be celebrated as it ended way before its time and a huge feast is held after the final burial. Suicides and suicide attempts have been prevalent for at least the past 10 years and so the community has just begun to expect them. Instead of speaking out against the act and truly educating the youth, they are waiting in fear for the next one to take his/her life and trying to survive the pain and heartbreak of the last several that succeeded.

Ultimately, last night’s meeting had one huge victory. The churches have agreed that in order to battle this monster, they will need to be unified. The power of one body, one Savior, one faith, and one baptism is immeasurable and it is time to unleash that power and attempt to make a change. I am greatly looking forward to this month’s prayer meeting with the church members from many congregations in both Moose Factory and Moosonee. As St.Augustine so appropriately stated, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for the deputy chief as he proceeds in his mission to help the youth through various organizations, like Project George, and as he presents the meeting’s topics to the tribal council. 
• Please pray for the youth as they are faced with increased free, unstructured time this summer. Pray for our children’s camp that will begin on Monday and run 4 days a week until the end of July.
• Please pray for the church leaders and for the unification of Christ’s body on the island and in Moosonee.

"I See a Near Revival"

“You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.” 

~Psalm 71:20-21

     Praise God, because just as the above verse says, we see trouble, but we will be revived. There will be comfort in the future. I have sat, looking at this mostly blank word document for quite some time. I am struggling to convey the heaviness of the island. I feel that regardless of how much I write; I will produce nothing more than an inadequate attempt to explain the brokenness and sadness of the community.

     Since I’ve last posted, we have continued to live out our lives each day on the island, looking for and taking advantage of every opportunity given us. On Sunday, we were asked to teach the 4 & 5-year-old Sunday school class. The typical teacher was away from the church that morning, but left no plans in the classroom. Upon entering, with a group of 11 young Cree children with bright eyes starring at the 2 strangers, I noticed a paper with David and Goliath. I said, “Well, look we were are talking about today… David and Goliath!” We even went as far as to sing the “One Little Man Named David” song… 5 times! (It was a favorite!)

     Sunday afternoon, Alaina and I decided to prepare for our Children’s Camp. We walked across the street to the Eco-Lodge to sit in the “library” and read Daniel. After reading for about 10 minutes, a young man walked by and was startled by our presence. He told us that the Eco-Lodge is closed on Sunday and visitors are usually not welcomed. Yet, he allowed us to stay. He was the son of the general manager. Ben, that is his name, was one of the head cooks in the restaurant. About 30 minutes later, he came out with a plate of brownies and said that the baker made extra. He offered us tea and coffee. A little while later, he sat with us and answered every question that we could think to throw at him about himself and his involvement on the island. At one point, he mentioned somewhat randomly that he has not attended church for some time. At the end of our time there, Alaina and I invited him to dinner. I’ll keep you posted :-D

     On Sunday evening, Alaina and I were asked to give our testimonies. I should have expected that Allan would desire that, but every time, I am equally as hesitant and anxious. I know that in the Lord’s eyes, every conversion story is a victory and it is celebrated beyond my wildest imagination. The shepherd who brings home a lost sheep, however, I often feel that my testimony and my conversion lack a certain punch that so many include. In preparing to give a 10-minute speech, I quickly was given a topic: My testimony has yet to end, it is continuous and I am constantly learning and growing in Christ. So, I spoke about my family. Of course, I talked about the night I was saved, but more specifically, I talked about not being understood in the world.  We are not to be understood in the world and even in my home, I am still not be understood when my family does not believe in my God. I confessed my sin to the congregation (and the people watching on island television) and explained that I place an all-powerful, all mighty God in a box. I, all too often, doubt His ability to change the hearts of my family and friends because I want immediate results. I read 2 Peter 3:9 which says “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”  I feel as if many people here have lost hope or are on the verge of losing hope. I understand that feeling of giving up, but it is not because God cannot or will not, it is that I need to be Kingdom focused and leave my worldly timing behind.

      On Sunday evening, we also learned that there was a native suicide earlier that day. A 13-year-old girl, named Alexandrya. At 13-years-old, they do not understand anything about life, and they certainly do not understand the finality of their decisions. This young girl is a friend of many of the girls I know and interact with regularly.  Her family and her friends are devastated. Suicides on the island occur in waves or even worse in pacts. Many tears have been shed and even for those who did not know her, they live in fear that it may be their grandchild, daughter, son, or cousin next.

      Tonight, our women’s Bible study had its kick-off meeting. What an encouragement!!! I am joyfully looking forward to spending the next 4 weeks with a group of wonderful women. This evening we had 12 women total in attendance, including Alaina, Kristen, and myself. We began with prayer requests because I wanted them to speak so that I could feel their hearts. That time was incredibly powerful and eye-opening, yet again. The hurting and pain is unspeakable. I am confidently anticipating the Lord’s work in and through this group of women with this particular study on “revival.” I know that word can often sound so cheesy and full of fake achievements, but this is what the book says about revival: “Revival is not some emotion or worked up excitement; it is rather an invasion from heaven which brings to man a conscious awareness of God.” Lord, we are praying for a revival!!!

      For as quickly as I will admit that I miss my “home-life” with every ounce of my being, I can boldly say that right now, I am in the midst of God’s will (and far from my own), and that is a place that I never want to leave! So thankful He took me 800 miles from normal and placed me exactly where He wants me to be.

      Oh! And Jasmine and Carrington (both 12-year-old native friends of mine) are coming to dinner tomorrow night! Quick funny story: When I first arrived and we were talking about the people I knew on the island, Kristen asked “Did you make become very close with someone when you were on the island last year? A girl in the youth center asked if I knew you and when I said I knew of you, she responded by saying ‘She is my sister’s best friend.’” That girl was speaking about Jasmine. My 12-year-old BEST FRIEND! I love Moose Factory!

Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for Alexandrya’s family and friends, pray that there would be no “repeat” or “copycat” incidents, pray that an all-surpassing peace would be present in this time of mourning, and that doors would be opened to speak heart to heart with young students about the reality of suicide. 
• Please pray for the women who attended and who will attend the evening study. Pray that as individuals, we would each be revived and in turn, be used to revive and renew this place. 
• Please pray for our various ‘supper’ guests this week and numerous chances to demonstrate through our actions that we love and care for them.

Remember, you are LOVED!

All Nations will Bow and Worship Him

 

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” ~Revelation 7:9-10

Hey ya’ll!  Haha, I am sure in just those words you thought, “What? Where is she?” Before I left, I thought I would come home speaking like a Cree, but I think I’m going to come home as confused as the Tower of Babel. Kristen, Josh’s wife, has the most adorable southern accent (hence, the ya’ll), and Alaina’s first language is French, though she speaks English flawlessly. In the course of the last 2 days, I’ve met Sasha, a mental health nurse at the hospital that speaks 4 languages, two people from Samoa (Afu and Don), a girl from Finland (Katariina), and 3 from New Zealand (Icki, Cheryl, and Angela). In addition to that, I’ve spent time with plenty of Canadians and I am picking up a bit of their vowel pronunciations (Want to go OAT side?)

I am sure you are wondering how so many people from so far away all wind up in Moosonee and Moose Factory, well, it’s a God thing. He truly is bringing encouragement and revival to this place, one tiny baby-step at a time. What a blessing it has been to watch Him work through these places! The team that I described from New Zealand (and company), are a part of Youth With A Mission. They will stay on the island for one week and are currently in Moosonee. They will be leaving Moosonee on Wednesday.

Yesterday, we spent the day in Moosonee with the team and the Community Church there. Though somewhat small in size compared to anything we are used to in the states, they are an incredible group of believers, driven by several very large families.  The taxi ride across the river was breathtakingly beautiful. The breeze, the sun, the air, it was heaven on earth. However, we didn’t know that the boat ride home would also be breathtaking, just in a different use of the word (see Things I’ve Learned). After the team presented activities and a program, we cleaned-up and went to “Tozer-ville” to see the Siberian Sled Dogs. Camren Tozer runs a sled dog team as a past time. The Tozer family owns a small air business. They own 7 planes, 5 of which are seaplanes.  Tim and Elizabeth Tozer were very gracious. They were hosting the YWAM team at their home and invited all 6 of us to stay for dinner. We spent the evening enjoying one another’s company and encouraging one another. Though, originally, in my mind, I intended to spend every waking moment attempting to “reach” people, I am beyond thankful that Lord is teaching me and showing me that ministry is NOT a program or a project, ministry is a way of life, it is the way I LIVE my life. And right now, my life is being lived out on this island.

Already, in the past week, I’ve learned so much about myself and about the world. Ironic, that one would go to a teeny-tiny island in the James Bay to learn about the world.  Praise God that there are many believers in this world and that each is a member of one body because I am learning that my gifts and my callings are much different than others, and for that, I am grateful!

Things I’ve learned:

-Flies are attracted to black clothing. This would have been a key-learning lesson BEFORE I packed and traveled 800 miles with predominately black clothing.

-When a storm is coming, the river will be choppy. When the river is choppy, a water taxi ride is like asking the Lord to take you home immediately! Our ride across the river last night was at points, terrifying. It was best described as a roller coaster, but the person in charge of controlling the coaster was far more interested in looking CREEPILY at the girls on the boat, rather than attending to the ride. It certainly made for an eventful closure to the day.

-Many United States stereotypes are unquestionably accurate.  At dinner one evening, we were discussing the population of Canada and also the population of the US. Someone from the states said “I think 6 billion people live in the U.S.”  Haha! It was an honest mistake, but it goes to show, in humor, that we do think the U.S. is the entire world. :-D

-When food is so unbelievably expensive, you find yourself eating just about anything that is offered to you.

-Dog sled teams can run about 10 mph on average. At the beginning of the ride or if they were trained to race, they can average between 18-20 mph. That being said, at home, we bike faster than a dog sled team. Huh!

Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for the island this weekend. There is an unimaginable number of drug addicts here. However, due to the Canadian pharmacy law changes, Oxycontin is not prescribed freely. There is a drug supply shortage for the dealers and in turn, the addicts are eager to find something else. Usually, the weekend after a drug supply shortage, there are many that are taken to the hospital for other drug overdoses or binge drinking.
• Please pray for a decrease in suicide pacts. Young teenagers frequently make a suicide pact with a group of friends. They choose a person to start and the pact and then one after another, they will commit suicide. Based on percentage, Moose Factory still has the leading number of suicides in all of Canada.
• Please pray for the women’s Bible study that is to begin tomorrow evening. Pray for God to use the study according to His will, but specifically, that each individual involved will be changed and “revived.” Pray that He would give Alaina and myself the wisdom necessary to facilitate and that our speech would always be gracious so that we may know how we ought to answer each person (Colossians 4:5-6).

Remember, you are LOVED! Your prayers are indispensible and appreciated!

Wachay!

“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” ~Isaiah 40:31

Wachay! Hello! Hola!

Yesterday was an eventful day. I began the morning in the workout room of the Best Western. Mike, one of the staff members has worked at the Best Western for the past 4 years. It was good to see him. During my workout, he actually came downstairs and asked what I would like him to deliver me (to the workout room) for breakfast. So sweet!

Our train ride yesterday took us from Cochrane to Moosonee (it ran from 9:00-2:15). I was thankful to only have to drag my elephants around for one more day. However, it did seem that where we went, there was always someone to say “would you like a random cart for your luggage?” “YES!”

While we were on the train, Alaina and I were reading Colossians to one another. We were not proclaiming the epistle, but were calmly and quietly reading aloud to one another. A Cree gentleman sitting diagonal from us turned and asked, “What are you two doing?” “We are reading Colossians.” He began to ask more and more questions, leading eventually to: “are you born-again Christians?” He then described that he was previously very bitter toward Christians because their message does not align with the traditional culture. He explained that he is a “Healer” or a “medicine man.” He was coming to the hospital in Moose Factory for 5 days to work. He shared his beliefs and gave us great insight on the “new age” spiritual nature culture. 

When we arrived, Allan Jolly (the head elder at the Cree Gospel Chapel) met us at the station. He had arranged for Kevin, one of the elders in a church on Moosonee to drive us to the docks. The temperature was around 11*C, which for us, is like 52F. Brrrrrr! I was not nearly dressed well enough and it was freezing! Thankfully, the cold temperatures calmed the bug population for the day and I did not feel thrown into the midst of the fly plague.

For the time being, we will be staying with Josh and Kristen. Josh, and his wife Kristen, have committed to 2 years as the youth pastor for the Cree Gospel Chapel. They are a great blessing and a joy to be around. They are very gracious hosts and have already made the transition easier.

We went to the Northern (one of the 2 stores on the island). Prices are outrageous! $15 for a box of cereal, $8.94 for a bag of apples, $3.19 for a loaf a bread, and $20 for toilet paper. Yikes!

We also had the opportunity to attend the Cree Gospel Chapel Wednesday night study. It was the first time I’ve heard Allan preach. The message was excellent and filled with humor. He spoke on Luke 13:21. In the world, we ought to be yeast. As he pulled out a small yeast packet, he illustrated that if the yeast remains in it’s package; it is inactive. In order for they yeast to become active, it needs to be mixed in with the “dough.” The yeast never becomes the flour or the dough, but the flour is forever influenced by the yeast.  He also illustrated that he has never made home-made bread and that with Loraine, his wife, out of town, he had no one to ask specific questions about yeast. “It sounds like a powder or maybe little crystals. I’ve never really seen yeast. I just  see a little bread in the pan and then poof.”

After church, I decided, thankfully, to unpack. What should have been a 20-minute job, turned into a 90 minute unpacking extravaganza. My shampoo bottle exploded in my large luggage bag. It did not just leak, it blew UP!!!! Everything in my bag was covered in blue, sticky, smelly shampoo. After I “bathed” all of my luggage, I can assure you that even my bug spray, as well as everything else in that bag, is clean, fresh smelling, and dandruff free!!!

Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for planning and preparations taking place to work out a schedule of events and activities for children’s ministry, as well as the women’s study. 
• Please pray for Harry, the medicine man on the train that will be working in Moose Factory for the next 5 days. 
• Please pray for Allan, and his wife, as they are both struggling with some health difficulties and as Allan has many responsibilities on and off the island.

Train Conductor or Bus Driver... How About Both

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” ~Matthew 6:25-26

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” ~Matthew 6:34

     This morning, we left the home of our most hospitable hosts, Sandra and Joe, at 6:45 a.m. We arrived at Union Station construction nightmare in Toronto. After circling the train station several times, we pretended to be a taxi and parked just outside of large mud-pit with noisy machines. We drug all 8 of our luggage bags packed with baby elephants to the first set of stairs. Thankfully, Joe helped us carry everything or we would never have made it. Then, it was the next set of stairs, and a third set, and finally, the ticket counter. However, while carrying enough supplies to feed and clothe an army for a year, we noticed that EVERYONE else had only one of two very small luggage pieces. It was an easy deduction: they simply were not going to Moose Factory for 6 weeks.

     Once in the ticket booth, we said goodbye to our “man muscles” and Joe left. There we were, standing in the middle of a busy train station, just looking at one another trying to think of any effective method to move our luggage to our gate. At the ticket counter, the kind Ontario Northland clerk calmly informed us that the train no longer carries luggage and that should have been arranged and shipped by a bus to Cochrane. I quickly and politely informed her that someone ought to do a website revision and the information listed is far beyond incorrect.  She was so gracious and asked us not to make this mistake again, at which point, I wanted to ask her how crazy she thought we were to plan another adventure in which it could happen AGAIN, but I simply thanked her over and over. She found a gentleman with a cart to drag our luggage across the gates, over the tracks, behind the scenes of the railroad station, and to our train. We made it, luggage and all!

     Or, so we thought. The train departed at 8:40 a.m.  During breakfast, Alaina and I were discussing how happy we were that we were travel ling by train. She said, “I would never travel all day in a bus. I hate the bus. Its cramped and I am not a fan.” Well, it just so happened that before we left the breakfast table, our train broke down. We were told that we would be leaving the train at 1:30 p.m. Originally scheduled to be a 12 hour train ride, we were concerned when suddenly we were asked to exit 7 hours earlier, all while knowing that we were not traveling at any unusually high rate of speed.  They moved us from the train to a BUS. Moral of the story is: do not say NEVER, because you just NEVER know! Thankfully, they also found a cart (with only 3 wheels that needed to be held up on one side) and we also moved our luggage. There was approximately a 20-minute wait for the bus to arrive. Ironically, we broke down in North Bay.  Each year, our team stops at the mall in North Bay for lunch. On Sunday, at church, I was talking with some previous Moose Factory servants and they asked how the trip would possibly feel normal without stopping at the mall (assuming then that the train would be traveling past it). We took our 20-minute detour and ran to the mall at North Bay.  We didn’t miss it after-all.

     We had both a train conductor (who was supposed to be driving the broken train) and a bus driver leading the journey. At one point, we stopped, one bus driver got off, the other got on, and we continued. We arrived in Cochrane at 8:15 p.m. That happened to be 15 minutes earlier than the train was scheduled to arrive. WIN!  In addition, the train station attendant, Gerard, bent the station rules slightly and allowed us to store our baby elephants in the station to avoid dragging them across the street to the hotel and back the next morning. Alaina and I spent the entire day blessed by the many people that broke rules, asked questions, and assisted whenever we needed someone. I won’t get used to being treated like a princess, I know I have to go back home to my friends at some point. ;-D

     Tomorrow is destination 3 of 3. Lord-willing, by this time tomorrow I will be asleep. I mean, we will be in Moose Factory! In the morning, we have a 5-hour train, a walk across the town of Moosonee, and a water-taxi ride to the island.

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!!!!

Prayer requests:

• Please give God glory and praise for the MANY MANY MANY (many much moosen!) ways He acted on our behalves today. Praise Him for the gracious individuals that assisted us, for a perfect execution of His traveling plans, and for bumps in the road causing us to draw near to Him so that He may draw nearer to us.

Stay the Course

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”  ~Psalm 91:14-17

   Whoa.

I should just stop with that and leave you wondering, but that is just about the best explanation of my day. After I kissed both my bed and my bicycle goodbye, (do NOT judge me! I have my priorities in line… I said goodbye to my family too!) I left the house around 8:52 a.m. OR maybe it was exactly at 8:52 a.m. (I am uncanny with numbers).  I started my journey by hand-delivering my signed lease for a townhouse to be rented beginning in August. I am overwhelmed, but incredibly grateful for the challenges I will face and the lessons I will learn this entire summer. After stopping for coffee, I was turn-pike bound.  Although the caffeine did wonders for my attention span, it also did wonders to “other” things. ;0) I was disappointed in myself when pit-stop number one came only 2 hours after my departure. It was suggested that I save some time and invest in Depends, but it wasn’t until that first creepy rest stop that I finally agreed with the recommendation- too late. 

After the turn-pike, came I-90. (And for those of you who know me well, at this point, you are impressed that I remember what interstates were traveled, just don’t ask me if I went north, south, east, or west, because I still couldn’t’ answer that one). My GPS said something that she has never said before… she said, “Continue on this road for 99 miles.” I would have to circle the circumference of the island 15 times to reach 99 miles.  

Thankfully, the trip was mostly uneventful. I spent much of the time thinking about the previous week, anticipating the next 6 weeks, and occasionally wondering if I was completely out of my mind and looking for the next U-turn to take me home.  It was the open road, my worship music, my GPS, and the Lord keeping me company. However, notice that I said the trip was MOSTLY uneventful.

Here is what I learned:

            Even if you miss the last rest stop on I-90, you should, under NO circumstances, EVER stop in the ghetto of Buffalo. Did I realize before exiting the highway that Buffalo has overly persistent and aggressive homeless people, NO. Do I know that now, unfortunately, I do. At first, Buffalo appeared much like the western edge of Greene County, no big deal, I was used to that. But, in Buffalo, they want to make friends with the girl who still has all of her original teeth and does not have bullet holes in the sides of her car. I quickly realized that straying from the path is a terrible idea.

            I also learned that one who is traveling to Toronto (and beyond) should have some basic knowledge of how to convert mph to kmph. I had NO idea what the speed limit was when I crossed the border, but I knew I didn’t want to meet a Mounty. (And yes, I know most cars have both options, but my car is apparently technologically advanced. Technologically advanced simply means extra frustration. After many attempts pushing all of the setting buttons, I found the right combination to turn my car over to metric.)  

            Furthermore, I’ve learned that in Toronto, they can do just about anything on a bicycle (and here I thought my skills were impressive). On a bicycle, you carry many groceries, you wear dresses and skirts, and you breast-feed your infant.

After 7 hours of travel, I arrived at my destination, or so I thought. A very nice girl answers the door and I said, “I am looking for Alaina, I was told to meet her here.” She replied with “Alaina was here earlier, but she is not coming back.” I felt it was necessary to ask several more questions, hoping that she did not have the same ‘MAKE A U-TURN’ thoughts that I did. As it turns out, I was informed there was a new location, but it was after I turned off the Internet on my phone.  At last, after 8 hours of travel, I arrived to a lovely little house in suburban Toronto. The hosts were generous, kind, friendly, and an absolute blessing after a long day.

I wonder if at any point, I will find ‘normalcy’ in all of this. I am pretty sure, that even after day #1 of my adventure, it has not yet sunk in. I am living in the moment and taking life as it comes, no expectations, no personal agenda, just living in the midst of His will. I have been going about ordinary things, such as helping with the dishes after dinner, and all of a sudden it hits… I am not going home for a while. I am going to live in Moose Factory for the next 6 weeks. I certainly never expected this 4 years ago when I signed up for my first MCC mission trip. God is SO good!!!!

Prayer Requests: 

• Please pray for the ghetto in Buffalo. I feel like I do not even have to go into detail, the area needs prayer. 
• Please pray for our diligence. Pray that we would use our time wisely and stay focused, even amongst getting to know one another.  
• Please pray for continued peace as the closer we get to ministry, the more adversity we will face.

One "go-er" and MANY "senders"

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” ~Hebrews 10:24-25

            Let me preface this post by saying that all good things come from God. Every relationship, every material possession, every skill or ability, EVERY THING! Praise God because He is the giver of all good things.

            As I have been preparing to bid my “normal” life goodbye for 6 weeks, I have been overwhelmingly blessed by the outpouring of love.  So, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who decided it was a great idea to be so kind and caring this week to make it even harder for me to leave! I am beginning to think all of this “Rah! Rah! We are supporting you” is really just a way of saying, “YES! She is leaving! Get out NOW!”  I’m completely joking. I always know that I am loved, but the last week has been exceedingly encouraging. So, truly, thank you! Specifically, thank you for your words of support, your prayers, your messages, your questions, your well wishes, and your quality time. Specificallier (haha!), thank you for the time you’ve spent with me reading scripture, memorizing scripture, canceling golf-outings to take me to Erie for the day, cooking the most delicious Korean dinner/praying with me, gifting me with the cutest reminders of why I am going, and writing me cards/letters that I cannot wait to read on my 12-hour train journey. Truly, I am aware that I have the best friends anyone could ever dream of having. I am blessed to have each of you in my life! You are loved!!!

It is a difficult thought to know that I am leaving tomorrow, but as soon as I make it beyond “I am really going to miss this,” I move directly to “I cannot wait to be on the island!” I’ve experienced almost every emotion possible: fear, anxiety, excitement, anticipation, stress, sadness, hesitation, and doubt; and those have all come in the course of the last few hours ;0) Of course, the most important emotion within the last several hours has been peace. When I am not flipping out, I have a peace that surpasses my understanding. I know that I am in His hands and in the midst of His will, and though I could think of a million places in this world that I would like to be, there is NO better place than right where I am when I am being led. So, whether I am packing up luggage that weighs far more than I could ever bench on the leg press, or whether I am hanging my “best friend” upside-down in the garage for 6 weeks, I am going to remain in each moment and enjoy this in its entirety.

Lord-willing, I’ll be in the car and out of the driveway in less than 12 hours… Etobicoke, look out, because here I come!!!!

Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for safe and SANE travel for the next three days. Traveling first by car, a 12-hour train ride, a 5 hour train ride, a 1-mile stroll across the town of Moosonee, and a 20 minute water-taxi ride to the island.

• Please pray that the Lord will work in powerful ways, beyond all of my desires and expectations. I desire nothing more than to be His vessel and to be used as He would direct my path.

• Please pray for strength, endurance, and energy to drag the elephant that I obviously packed in my luggage to and from trains, hotels, vehicles, and boats. (Feel free to paraphrase this specific request while you pray… I wouldn’t want you to pray said elephant into actual existence… our God is all-powerful and He has no bounds!)

Officially a Missionary

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” ~Matthew 28:19-20

            Today, I was commissioned for mission work, not once, but twice. Apparently, my true character shines through much clearer than I prefer and the church knew I needed some EXTRA prayers! However, I am glad we do not have 3 services at MCC because if I had to answer the questions one more time, I may have started to re-think my commitment…

            Of course, I am kidding, but I am not hesitant to admit that in the last few weeks, I have experienced a wide range of emotions. I cannot wait to be in Moose Factory and to be reunited with so many incredible people and children on the island, but while I am still here, I cannot help but continuously recognize how much I will miss my ordinary, normal, but amazing life here. What a blessing it has been to be reminded each day, as I remove one number from my mental countdown, that I truly love my life and am overjoyed by waking up to live each day right where the Lord has placed me.

            This morning, after each service, I answered the question, “When do you leave?” more times that I can recount, so I’m more than happy to answer it one more time. Lord-willing, I am leaving for Moose Factory in 15 days, aka June 18^th!!! I will travel first to Toronto and meet up with my missionary counter-part, Alaina. Alaina is coming from Montreal and we will be spending the 6 weeks serving alongside one another. Yes, she is from Montreal, but no, do not expect me to return knowing any more of the French language than I do now. Actually, she may return home with a new appreciation for music in Spanish (my new playlist), or a stronger dislike of it! ;0) It will take 2.5 days of travel so we expect to be on the island by Wednesday, June 20^th.  I will be using this blog to keep you informed, as often as possible, on how the Lord is working on the island through our various ministries and how you can be praying for the Cree people, as well as the two of us as we are sure to face some, if not frequent adversity.

            Although I feel this caution is unnecessary for those that speak with me on a regular basis and already know my love language is sarcasm, nevertheless, please know that I prefer using a great deal of wit in my writing, because let’s be real, there are plenty of entertaining readings online, and I will be spending 6 weeks on an island that is 3 miles long and 2 miles wide…. enough said :0)

            I will be ending each post with several specific prayer requests so that you know how to best pray for us. Please feel free to e-mail me any specific prayer requests from home so that I know how to best be praying for you. You are loved! <3

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” ~Romans 12:12

Please pray:

• For the hearts of the children to be opened and willing to participate in our daily activities.
• For diligence and steadfastness, as we continue to prepare our hearts and minds for our calling as missionaries.
• For peace and strength, as we temporarily leave what is recognizable and comfortable to travel outside of our familiar lives.