We live in a dark world...a world that suffers the affects of sin and evil. Yet this is the world into which God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world. Jesus brought us deliverance from the darkness of sin and evil. He also gives us his Word to light our path, to guide us, and for us to take to the far reaches of the earth. As His word says, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)

Monday, September 11, 2023

Summer of 2023 "For All the Saints"

Wapekeka Church
Students at Cat Lake, ON

For all the Saints 
What a great year for Northern Ministry! LAMP had 27 teams return to their communities in Northern Canada. We still have a way to go to meet our goal of 55 Teams in the North for our 55th anniversary in two years. Yet it is a wonderful change from 2022 when our number of teams consisted of 8, and NO teams in 2021 were personally in the North. 
I certainly wasn’t sure what I was going to find when I went to meet teams in community, some for the first time. The Hymn melody “For all the saints” continued to rattle around in my head as Andrew and I flew into these communities. Since teams had last been in community, we heard of so many soldiers of God’s people who had passed into glory, joining the ranks of the saints. Some past team members were no longer able to travel north for health reasons, becoming home support, praying for the team and community friends they would not see in person. Over the past few years without LAMP Team visits to their adopted Northern community some of the home supporters and team members have themselves been called home by the Lord with a “well done my good and faithful servant”.
 Andrew Anstey (MAF Pilot) and I off to Thompson
Our new Lance Instrument panel
 
Close up of the new GPS & Auto Pilot unit

Reunions across the North
Can you imagine the delight in the words and greetings of friends meeting again after a couple years of separation? One such greeting I experienced was as, for the first time, I met Joan Winter of Wapekeka, ON. I had ever only visited with Joan on the phone since I began my call to LAMP in November of 2019. This summer I was able to join the team as we drove over from Big Trout (Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug) to visit the community. As the team greeted Joan they introduced me, and she squealed with joy, “Is it really you? In person!” She took my hands in hers and with tears thanked me for my thoughts and prayers and for finally coming. The church in Wapekeka had closed as her dad who passed on to the saints of heaven had been the caretaker and Pastor of the community, and Joan was personally struggling with her own health issues having had a stroke last year. Another visit brought mixed emotions and tears as we flew into Sandy Lake, ON. Doreen Fiddler who has a long history with LAMP came to pick us up from the airport and as she came out to greet the red LAMP airplane she was happy to see us, yet missed her beloved sainted Pastor Pilot Steve Dreher who she remembered flew in to visit Sandy Lake many times in that same red plane. 

Meeting Joan Winter (Wapekeka, ON)

Two of the Fiddler Sisters (Sandy Lake)

Darlene (my wife) making a new friend at Cat Lake, ON

Janine Cain reunited with past Bible School Students and the next generation (Little Grand Rapids,MB)

Pastor Jake Sawanis finally able to visit with LAMP Team Pastor Gery Luck (Weagamow, ON)

Meeting with Sucker River Community and past Bible School Students turned supporters & helpers

Overcoming Hurdles to share the Love of God and grace of our Lord Jesus 
Many of our communities struggled to find housing for our teams, as most of the traditional places they stayed were being used by contractors, busy trying to play catch up from 3 years of not being able to work in the communities. But without fail, by the time the team arrived, there was a place for them to stay, and a place for them to hold Bible School for the week. Community leaders were excited to welcome the returning teams as they served the people, bringing a message of hope through the love of God and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
One such community where healing was needed was Little Grand Rapids. Here the team has been coming for over 20 years and many of the young families knew the team members and their work and focus. But due to allegations against the Catholic Priest, who was no longer in the community, many families would not bring their children to Bible School at the church. The anger and struggles of the past collided with the present. Yet thanks be to God, the team soldiered through, joining the Treaty Days celebrations, making their presence known and being welcomed and received with open arms, renewing old relationships, and rebuilding the hope and love they represent. 
After Church Service Weagamow, ON

Little Grand Rapids Team and Nuns serving together with Band Counsellor Clinton Keeper who invited the team to come

Me (Cowboy hat) with the winning team at Little Grand Rapids 5-Legged Race. Two LAMP Team members on the team behind us.

Student at Little Grand Rapids holding up her artwork

Summer Ministry was blessed as all visits were completed 
At the end of the Summer, as I returned home, I realized I had been blessed to visit 12 communities and 14 teams. I was supported by Gord Gilbey who came out of retirement to visit three teams, and our Executive Director Steve Schave who I arranged to visit another three teams. It was also the initiation year for our Newly minted Missionary Deacon Michael Gillingham, who came to LAMP with much Mission Trip experience. I was able to arrange 7 community visits for Michael who started with us July 1st (we teamed up on three of those). Our BC Missionary, Nathan Schmidt, had 3 teams he was able to join. That left only 2 very experienced teams that I was unable to connect with this summer, but whom Pilot Andrew Anstey was able to spend time with in Thompson before they headed North to their points of ministry. Andrew shared time with them updating any information they required and encouraging them for their week of service. 
I am with LAMP Executive Director, Chief, Counsellor, and Community contact (Sachigo,ON)

Deacon Michael Gillingham going on his first flight with "Andrew Airlines" (Lac Broche,MB & Wollaston,SK)
One of my supporters (my mom) coming out to see the LAMP Trailer loaded with Community gifts (quilts, baby layettes, hygiene kits, and bibles)

A homebase in Thompson this summer 
This summer Andrew and I set up our homebase in Thompson Manitoba. It was central to the communities we were to serve by aircraft. We were certainly blessed to find a family home where we were gifted the opportunity to house sit while the owners stayed at their cabin at a nearby lake. The home accommodated our needs and the owners were happy to have their home utilized while they were away. The Lord opened a door for us (quite literally) that was an amazing blessing to our summer ministry. Thanks be to God. Support comes in many and various ways.
Sunset at Weagamow, ON (Round Lake)

Thursday, March 30, 2023

The Winter of 2022 -2023 serving with LAMP

 

My First Night Flight in the Cherokee 140

My time has been filled with supporter conversations, congregational visits, team and community connections, pilot training, and two community visits.

Supporter and Volunteer Connections

I have maintained contact with many through Facebook, email, and phone conversations. Most of my conversations with supporters this winter happened through Christmas greetings and distributing my fall “Blogspot” via email, and print. Darlene and I sent snowflake ornaments to encourage and connect with the team leads and community contacts. I was so happy to make those contacts and be able to share with them the work they have enabled to happen.

Our Christmas tree with all the snowflakes we sent out to community leaders and teams

Visit at Waden Bay, SK with Past LAMP Board Member Lynn & Iris

Congregational Visits

I visited churches in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. I preached, led worship, and made presentations to the invested members of Churchbridge, Estevan, Lloydminster/McLaughlin, Vermillion, Abbotsford, La Ronge, Rosthern, and Atikokan. I sat down with the pastors from Chilliwack, Surrey, Langley, and Richmond, British Columbia.

Faith Lutheran Church and Parsonage, Atikokan, ON
Presentation at St. John's, Warman Bible Study Group
Sadly this winter, I had to send off and say goodbye to Pastor Alex Timm and his family, who supported our efforts from Dryden (Alex took a call from Dryden/Vermillion Bay, ON to go to Vancouver Island, B.C.). I also visited to encourage Pastor Glenn Worcester and his family in Winnipeg. Glenn is now a solo pastor at Peace Lutheran Church since his former senior pastor and LAMP advocate’s placement on permanent medical leave (Please keep Pastor Brad and his family in your prayers). Peace has, in the past, sent two teams North with LAMP.

Team Connections

In conjunction with our fall Board Meeting, I met in person for the first time with the team who serves Grandmother’s Bay, one of our Saskatchewan communities. And this February, I met with many of the team leaders for Saskatchewan, Eastern Manitoba, and Ontario in a video meeting. This meeting sets the stage for a busy summer of community visits with Gord’s imminent departure. During this meeting, I provided a heads-up that I would be the only missionary left to serve the prairies (33 active communities) until a new missionary pastor was called, placed, and brought up to speed. In early March, I drove out to spend time with Dryden/Vermillion Bay Leaders planning for a summer team to Cat Lake without their pastor. I also met with leadership from Peace Lutheran in Winnipeg, who decided to reduce their efforts to one community from two. I encouraged them to reach out to other Winnipeg congregations to possibly serve the second community. 

Pilot Training 

This winter, I maintained my currency until the weather took a turn, and I couldn’t fly for six weeks. At that point, I decided to switch flight schools and follow my instructor, who is now the Chief Flight Instructor with Millennium Aviation here in Saskatoon. Their fleet includes two Piper Cherokees (140 & 180) that are low-wing aircraft (little sisters to our Lance). Since I had not yet flown this design of an airplane, it was an added incentive to make the switch. I have completed 10 hours of Instrument Flight Training and will gain the hours necessary to achieve a VFR Night rating. I was blessed to do my cross-country night flight on the evening of March 23rd, which was an amazing night displaying God’s glory in the Aurora Borealis. I thank God for the LWML ABC District and Central District Grants received to help further develop my flight proficiency. I joined LAMP with 51 hours on my log book and currently have over 134 flight hours recorded!

Post First Night Flight

My instructor Randy Kerney (See! Smiling Post-Flight)
Following Highway 16 to North Battleford under the Aurora Borealis (Need a better camera)

Community Visits

Billings, MT Winter Visit to Cross Lake, MB
At the beginning of January, I joined the team out of Billings, MT, while they sadly made their final visit to Cross Lake, MB. Then in February, I was blessed to join the Detroit Team in Sucker River for their second Annual Winter Fun week to support the kids during winter break. It was their best-attended program in the community since this team started serving there seven years ago.
Michigan Team on their way home stop at the Heide's for a bite before the plane


Cross Lake Community Leader Linda with Jonathan from Billings
Cross Lake Community Leaders Dion and Selena (keep Selena in your prayers as she goes through Cancer treatments)
Cross Lake Community Leader Connie with Roger and Jonathan from Billings (keep Connie in your prayers as her husband has been diagnosed with Cancer)
I was asked to share a message on the Cross Lake Radio Station - Epiphany message: God in flesh for all the world
Cross Lake Youth come to visit with their friends from Billings

Gym Night for Youth of Cross Lake
Matt and "Trek" share their journey to the summit with Sucker River Children
Sucker River Children enjoying Taco in a bag

Planning for the Summer

As we move ahead with this year’s summer plans, I have 21 Summer Community Programs going ahead and a few others still to be determined. We additionally have one team that is going in April, but will still be under Gord’s watchful eye (as he remains on call until June 30th). Gord has offered to assist with establishing the team dates and facilitating their arrangements but will not be available during the summer. Our Executive Director has offered to be “back up”, and I have requested Steve’s assistance for two weeks to support two or three communities during that time frame.
Before the busy summer begins, I have seven preaching engagements, a Missionfest presentation, and five support and team visits in Minnesota. May the Lord bless our efforts keeping us safe and healthy as we rebuild and rejuvenate the teams serving the communities of Northern Canada.

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

A Summer of Ups and Downs

From my perspective, the ups and downs are different than they have been over the past two summers. For now, they are happening in the Cessna 182. Hooray!
LAMP's Cessna 182RG Turbo
View from the 182 Returning to Sioux Lookout from Lac Brochet

Janine Cain with friends from Little Grand Rapids, MB
The joy of our mission teams’ presence brings comfort and renewed hope. The communities have expressed gratitude for our teams returning to serve their children, youth, and the community faithful. Out of 21 communities I support, six of them saw their team return.
Sucker River Team
In those six communities, our teams were blessed to be reunited, while some mourn lost friends who now are with their Lord and Saviour Jesus in perfect bliss forever. Others rejoiced to be greeted by children now three years older and BIGGER and for some, taller than the volunteers themselves. And still others welcomed one generation of grown children who are now bringing their children to Vacation Bible School. Some of our teams who haven’t yet been able to return are planning to do so in the fall or winter, so please keep them and their plans in your prayers.

Grandmother's Bay Bible School Crew
I have been excited to join four of those teams in community as they returned, as well as meet and enjoy a visit with the Lac Brochet team during their VBS. 
Here are some of the ministry moments this summer:
  • Listening and praying for the concerns of a pastor who has in the past kept the work of LAMP at arms length, but now understands we are also there to support the Christians already in the community.
  • Standing with an excited team lead who has been in the community over the last 16 years. 
  • Rejoicing with a team who received recognition for their community service at a celebration with the Chief.
  • Working with an enthusiastic “small but mighty” new team in Cat Lake, Ontario as they enter a community who has not had a team since 2018.
  • Hearing the passion from a team, who despite their aging, want to do everything they can to share Jesus’ love as they continue to minister and walk with the community.
Cat Lake Team with our Float Plane
Thankfully this summer, we have LAMP teams going into communities across the North. This is taking place despite continued Canadian border restrictions and northern community outbreaks of COVID-19, where at times visitor access is limited in an attempt to stop the spread and impact on their elders. Thanks be to God, those who do get into their community have had a chance to renew relationships that have not been in person since 2019!
Pastor Timm walking with kids after Bible School
Sucker River, Southend, Cat Lake, Little Grand Rapids, Grandmother's Bay, Hall Lake, and Lac Brochet teams all have something in common – servants for Jesus’ sake.
Little Grand Rapids Team delivering Tim Horton's to RCMP
I ask you to please pray for our teams of volunteers, who after these years of separation are in need of new recruits. LAMP is in need of replacement volunteers for those who are no longer able to go North for a variety of reasons.
Hall Lake Team
We accept new volunteers, who through the Lord’s calling, step up and are willing to serve Jesus by taking His message to Northern Canada. As the doors re-open and communities call for our teams to return, please consider taking the opportunity to walk alongside our Northern Christian neighbours.
Lac Brochet Team Ready for another day
Melissa, for instance, serves with the Southend team and lives in southern Saskatchewan. She heard of LAMP through a longtime supporter, past volunteer, and lay Pastor, Hans Zoller. Melissa contacted our LAMP office to ask where she could help. And I would say, after spending time with the team, she was a wonderful asset, as I’m certain you could be too.
Southend Team
First time volunteer with Southend LAMP Team
Our northern friends are so grateful for the gifts of handmade quilts, toques, slippers, and scarves. But they want people to accompany those gifts, to join them in their Christian walk and build their faith, to bring that treasure of hope to their community, and a Christ-centered identity to their children.
Visiting with Shaeden at Lac Brochet
I was blessed to be able to deliver parcelled gifts of prayer blankets to community leaders to give to those who have lost loved ones, and baby layettes and hygiene kits to a number of our communities who have not been able to have teams visit this summer. Andrew Anstey and I delivered to 3 of our communities during these times together that I am able to look them in the eye with care and offer prayers for them and the work of faith in their community, as they in turn pray for me and the work of LAMP.
Eliezar at Wunnumin Lake
Henry at Kingfisher
Gary & Pastor Sawanis at Weagamow
The next day another storm system was moving in that was going to ground us for the rest of the week, so I loaded Andrew and the Cessna 182RG up and sent him off to drop at 4 more communities on his way around the north end of the storm system off towards Alberta. Each community drop sent me a message thankful for the delivery, as I drove our vehicle back to the prairies.
Andrew Loaded down for deliveries to Cat Lake, Sandy Lake, Sachigo, & Cross Lake
Since coming back to Warman, Andrew and I have also been able to do a LAMP Sunday in Regina, where we also arranged for interested people to go for a ride in the airplane. A great opportunity
Prospective Volunteers Regina
And so, I ask you to also keep our flights, airplanes, Andrew Anstey (MAF Pilot seconded to LAMP), and myself in your prayers, that we may continue to make our ups and downs into communities safely.