What An Amazing Winter and Spring!

I got off to a quick start this year in January, and now it's already June!   

This year has been amazing, astounding, incredible, and unbelievable for many reasons.  The main reason is that I've already been up north a total of 6 weeks and the summer season is just getting started.  There is so much to share that I'm not sure you'd want to read a novel.  It would take quite a few pages to tell all the stories and blessings that took place.  And there's a good reason for that too.  I traveled to 7 communities, 5 of them with teams.  I conducted 4 parenting workshops in communities and taught a new marriage workshop at the ministry school.  The ministry to the north has more than doubled this year, especially with 3 teams making their first winter visits.  So let's get the whirlwind started...

From my previous post, you saw what took place in Cross Lake, Manitoba on my first extended weekend of the year.  Two weeks later, I met with the Sachigo Lake, Ontario team in Winnipeg.  This would be the first time since 2014 that the team would be making a winter trip.  I met the team the night before we left to help with weighing cargo.  There were 5 members of the team from Peace Lutheran in Winnipeg who were able to go.  

We arrived on Friday early afternoon and pleasantly surprised to be given the use of the Band Office van for transportation while there.  We deeply appreciated it especially since the high temperature hovered around -26C degrees.   School had been canceled due to the cold weather which meant we couldn't visit the children in the classrooms.  However, we arranged for the use of the gym and multipurpose room for a gym night for the children and for the parenting workshop which was held on Friday and Saturday evenings.  

The team outside the school getting greeted by the children

Attendance for the parenting workshop was light, but it allowed for more in depth  discussion of specific family issues.  During the day on Saturday, the team prepared hot dogs, which the team donated, as a fundraiser for the community during the fishing derby.  I was taken to the radio station and spent 2-1/2 hours speaking about families and parenting using the workshop for the content of my speaking.

Pastor Dennis at the radio station

Sunday, I conducted worship with the team at the church.  In the afternoon, the team conducted an afternoon Bible school that was very well attended (approximately 40).   Sunday evening was a time to relax and regroup.  

Team member Megan reading a Bible story to the children.

Craft time in the church basement

The kids and team at the church for the afternoon mini-VBS

Monday, the team went to the school to visit the classrooms.  The principal had me speak to the students at the morning assembly and offer a prayer.  Then it was off to the classrooms to sing, have a brief devotion, and prayer.  It's a special privilege to have this kind of openness in the school to allow us to speak about Jesus.  

The school assembly in the Gym

Pastor Dennis addressing the children

One of the many classroom visits.

We then stopped by the band office on the way to the airport.   We all received a gift from the band office of a toque embroidered with the Sachigo Lake First Nation logo.  It was a meaningful gesture as they included us a part of the community.  This trip allowed us to make more connections to the community and strengthen the ones we already have.

Nine days later, I was headed back up north, not just for a 3 day weekend, but for 3 weeks.  The first week I traveled to Sioux Lookout, Ontario to fly up to Kingfisher Lake.  I was going to conduct another training session for First Nation pastors and elders at a semi-annual ministry school organized by Bishop Lydia Mamakwa.   This would by my 3^rd time teaching at the school.   For this session, Lydia asked me to present a workshop on marriage.  This would be a brand-new workshop that would be developed for the communities up north.  The workshop was 4-1/2 days long.  Once again, I had a Cree interpreter for the training sessions.  Many of the pastors, deacons, and elders remembered me and I was warmly welcomed by all.  

The ministry school attendees

My Friend Stan from Webequie First Nations in Ontario

The day before I arrived, one of the elders in the community, who was also the church organist, died in Thunder Bay.  He body was flown into the community on Thursday.  We postponed the workshop that afternoon to go meet the body and family at the airport.  I ended up being one of the pallbearers.  

Meeting the body at the airport

The long procession to the church for visitation

The next evening, there was a special communion service for the family and community.  Bishop Lydia asked me to participate as she wasn’t feeling well, which I gladly did.  Overall, It was another learning experience, especially to hear the history of marriage from the attendees and to support the community in a time of grief. 

I flew back to Sioux Lookout and then drove back to Winnipeg to meet the team going to Shamattawa, Manitoba  the next week.  4 members of the team were able to go.  This was the 4th winter trip there for the team.  We arrived on Monday and went to the school where the staff and teachers were glad to see us come again.  

The preschool class with their new knitted hats

We basically followed the same plan from the previous trips.  We used one of the empty classrooms as our dormitory.  We visited the classrooms, handed out booklets from LHM on the first Christmas, sang songs and handed out hats that were knitted by ladies at the church.  

Some of the team helping to organize the hats... others are just playing around!!!

On Tuesday afternoon, we visited more classrooms and did craft activities with the children after school.  

Craft time after school

A visit wouldn't be complete without a hug from Mylee who I met on my first winter visit in 2016.

On Wednesday, We again visited classrooms and then held a staff event after school with a light meal.  The team put together another “Saran ball” game that was a huge success.  

The school staff playing "Saran ball"

Before we left for the airport, on Thursday, the staff again presented us with a homemade card with their signatures and notes of thanks.   

The "thank you" card the team got from the entire school staff.

This community really appreciates what the team does and, in reality, they really need it with the difficulties they face.

My next trip would be to Weagamow Lake, Ontario February 24-28.  After my flight to Winnipeg from Shamattawa, I drove back to Sioux Lookout to meet the team the night before we flew out.  We made last minute plans including grocery shopping and the activities to do in the community over supper.   

We flew out on Sunday afternoon from Sioux Lookout to Weagamow Lake during a blizzard!.  Our flight was the only one to make it out that afternoon.  The Lord's hand was definitely on our travels!

Boarding our flight in a blizzard!

That evening, we joined Pastor Jake at the radio station and sang songs and read Scripture for an hour.  On Monday morning, we went to the New Horizon Treatment center to be a support to clients who are being treated for substance addiction.  We made ourselves available to talk with the people and let them share their stories with us.

Outside the New Horizon Treatment Center

Hanging out to support some of the clients

That afternoon, we were given a van to use by the nurses station which made getting around much easier.  We went to the public school in the afternoon and visited the younger grade classrooms singing songs and talking about bullying using booklets available through Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Pastor Gery Luck doing Bible stories with the children

On Tuesday, we returned to the New Horizon center and met with clients again.  Some of the women clients gravitated to Linda who is a nurse.  Some of the men connected with the men on the team to talk about various topics.   A couple of us went to the band office to see Chief Dinah and the counsillors who were there.   She appreciated the visit and the prayer by Pastor Gery Luck, the team leader.  In the afternoon, we returned to the school and visited the upper grades.  

In the evening, we went to the arena where I conducted the first night of the family and parenting workshop.  It was the first time to present it at Weagamow Lake.   

Getting ready for the parenting workshop

Other team members watched the children during the workshop.  We retired for the night after the workshop.  Wednesday morning was back at the New Horizion center.  In the afternoon, we visited the small Christian school classrooms.  

Spending time with the children in the Christian school.

That evening was the 2^nd night for the family and parenting workshop.  The overall turnout was very good with 15 people getting certificates of completion.  

Family and parenting workshop "graduates"

Thursday morning, we packed and headed to the airport for our flight back to Sioux Lookout.  Overall, the trip was a huge success.  The team really enjoyed the experience of an “off season” trip and made connections that wouldn’t have been possible during a VBS week which is really true for all the teams that make trips like this.

The team and Pastor Dennis before boarding the plane to Sioux Lookout.

The team and I reluctantly parted company as they headed back to the Mitchell and Kitchener, Ontario area.  I was heading home after 3 weeks up north.  I drove back to Winnipeg for my overnight before my "red eye" morning flight.   

Upon my arrival at Winnipeg, I went over to friends of mine to see her dad who was in cancer treatment and staying at their house.  Gordon Disbrowe was one of the first people I met up north in the community of Red Sucker Lake, Manitoba.  He was a wonderful Christian man and a friend.   

Gordon is on my right (I'm in the middle if you didn't notice!)

Gordon and me at his daughter's home in Winnipeg

    We were both glad to see each other and had a good time talking, especially about fishing which Gordon loved to do.  He even drew a sketch out of a "jigger" and how it's used to put a net under the ice for winter fishing.  We got to read Scripture together and pray together.  I needed to leave because Gordon was getting tired and I had a 4:30 AM wake up call for my flight home.  I was so grateful to stop and visit.  Gordon went to be home with the Lord just 10 days later.  I will miss him as a true friend and brother in the Lord.

     I was home for almost a month when I returned again to the north.  The first trip was a 3 day stop in Red Sucker Lake, Manitoba.  This is my 3rd visit to conduct a parenting workshop for the community.  It was the best attended so far with 22 attending!

     As a token of appreciation, I was given an original oil painting.  The artist is David Disbrowe who happens to be Gordon's cousin.  That gave a double special meaning to this painting that's a perfect addition to all the other native artwork I've been collecting over the past 30 years.  

    I flew back to Winnipeg and drove to Sioux Lookout to meet the team going to Big Trout Lake, also called "K.I." which are initials for it's native name.  This would be their first off-season visit.  Unfortunately their arrival was delayed due to the "Bomb Cyclone" winter storm that they ended up driving through.  Thankfully they made it to Sioux Lookout safely, but tired.   

When we arrived, we had a surprise waiting for us at the airport.  The Band Office let us use the community van!   We had transportation for our time in the community.  Because our arrival was delayed about 4 hours, we were not able to visit the school class rooms on Friday morning and afternoon.  However, the principal, Jemima Cutfeet was gracious and opened the gym after school for us for a couple of hours.   Afterwards, we headed to our home-away-from-home for supper, planning, and rest.

    Saturday, we were given the use of the community early education center to use for activities with the children and the first parenting class to be held in K.I.  

    The parenting class was done with the two sessions in one day with lunch being served by some of the women in the community.  I finished up mid-afternoon.  We transported some of the women and their children home, hence the use of the Band van.  

    That evening, we had some of our friends in the community stop by and visit us.  It was nice to be able to relax and chat, something that isn't always possible with teams working on getting ready for VBS the next day.  That is what makes winter trips so different yet productive in other ways.

On Sunday, we planned to go to the Anglican church in the morning and the Freedom to Worship church in the afternoon.  But as in all plans, they changed a little.   At the 10 AM service, I was asked to introduce the team and myself.  Since I'm a pastor, I was soon pressed into service by assisting with the baptism of an infant.  The little one was not a happy camper and cried through most of it.  However, when Pastor Steward handed her to me and asked me to go pray at the altar, my grandfather touch brought silence!   After the prayer, I handed her back and the crying started.  I had to chuckle a little about that.  I continued at Pastor Steward's request to assist in the rest of the service.   As we were leaving church, he said, "I'll see you at 3 this afternoon."   The 10 AM service was the Cree service and the 3 PM service was in English.   So our plans changed.  The team decided to open the early education center for kids activities and I went back to the church.  It was a virtual repeat including a baptism.   

After church was over, I headed over to the center with the rest of the team.  We took a break for supper and then returned for the evening with the children.  We did crafts and had devotion time.  However, when it came time to leave, one of the younger adults was dealing with a personal crisis.  A couple of team members stayed, talked and prayed with him while the others took the children home.  Returning to the center, the 2 team members were still involved with the young man.   The Lord provided the means to help bring comfort and peace to him through His Spirit and the team members.   By the time we got back to our digs, it was almost 1 AM.  The Lord blessed us with a Northern Lights show, the first I've ever seen in all my time in the north!

We all went to bed after a long day.   The next morning was spent eating breakfast and packing up for our flight back to Sioux Lookout.  It had been a busy non-stop 2-1/2 days in K.I., but the Lord blessed us to be a blessing to others.

As you can see, this has been one amazing start to 2019!  The ministry is growing beyond expectations and the communities in the north are being blessed with the teams sharing and living their faith in Jesus to encourage and support them in their own faith walk.

Without support from donors and partners, there would be no way for the ministry of LAMP to continue serving the people in northern communities.  If you have given to LAMP in the past, thank you for your support.  I pray it will continue.  If you haven't given to LAMP in the past, please consider supporting this critical ministry need to the northern indigenous communities of Canada.

Peace of Christ be with you all.