The 5th--Wrapping it up

The rest of the summer went by rather quickly.  After visiting the team in Big Trout Lake and the funeral at Muskrat Dam, visits continued with the teams heading north.

The next visit was to Wapekeka which is a neighboring community to Big Trout Lake.  4 of the team members stay an extra week and conduct a VBS in that community.  They are the only 2 communities  in northern Ontario connected to each other by a local road.  This year, we were able to make a couple of great connections with the band office.  We went over to thank them for the accommodations and gave them quilts.  In exchange, they presented the team with a community flag.  The finance director explained the meaning of it.  We prayed together and then with weather closing in, I departed after lunch.

Team receiving the Wapekeka community flag.

A couple of days later, I flew up to Island Lake, Manitoba on Saturday morning and then caught a water taxi to Garden Hill.  This is a hybrid team from Wisconsin and Texas (family connection).  They do a great job and are well organized.  I met a couple of the new team members and helped with VBS preparations.  Their VBS runs from Sunday to Thursday.

The team preparing VBS crafts

After attending worship Sunday morning, we hurried back to the school where the team stays to to get ready for the first day of VBS.  There were around 30 children in attendance but it usually picks up as the week goes on.  This team has quite a few young members who are a great asset and attract many of the children.

The Wisconsin/Texas team at Garden Hill

Music time in the gym

After VBS, I headed to the airport to fly up to my next team visit at Norway House, Manitoba.  This team has been going to the community for 11 years.  They "divide and conquer" as they conduct 3 VBS sessions simultaneously at 3 different churches.  Norway House is a large community of about 8,000 people and is spread out.  Hence the VBS strategy.  I met new team members who were excited to be able to participate.  I also connected with team members I've known since my first VBS trip there.  For the rest of the evening after supper I assisted the team in preparing crafts for the VBS.

The team preparing for VBS the next day

The accommodations for the team are divided up which makes it easier for the more seasoned members to have a regular bed.  Monday morning saw everyone back together for breakfast and then loading up to head out to their respective churches.  Since it's a challenge to be at all 3 VBS locations, and weather was closing in, I prayed with everyone before they all left.  I flew back to Sioux Lookout before the weather worsened which would last for 48 hours.

The weather cleared in northern Manitoba a few days later and I flew up to Shamattawa to meet the team there.  This team, which comes from the same church as the Norway House team, has also gone to Shamattawa in the winter the last 4 years and for summer VBS 11 years.  The team of 5 (one newbie this year) as usual was ready to go.  The first 2 days of VBS, they had a building to use.  Unfortunately it was not available the rest of the week.  So the team improvised and had VBS outside their accommodations.  They have done this in the past and weren't phased by the change.

Crosses were decorated with grasses and flowers from the field.

I am impressed how this small team manages the large group of children so well.  The children know the team well and look forward to their arrival.

Leon Dawkins entertains the children singing songs

The children line up for snack time.

The Shamattawa team and guest Pastor Nick

After VBS, we packed up the supplies and cleaned up the area.  Then it was time to debrief and make supper.  We relaxed for the rest of the evening.   The next morning, we had breakfast, thanks to Leon who does a lion's share of the cooking.  We prayed together before walking to the airport to fly back to Sioux Lookout.

The next visit on the schedule was to Sandy Lake, Ontario.  Because the weather was going to be  unpredictable, I flew up on the regional airline.  This team since 2012 has conducted a memorial service for all the people who have died in the last year.  The community appreciates it quite a lot.  Part of what the team does is provide food and refreshments after the service.  This year, one of the items would be bannock dogs.  (Think of "pigs in a blanket").  Pastor Zach and his wife came over to the teacherage and showed us how to make them.

Pastor Zack and his wife making bannock

One sad event took place while the team was at Sandy Lake.  A 3 year old boy accidentally drowned just before their arrival.  The tradition is to have the wake at the home.  The wake was held the same evening as the memorial service.  After the service, the team went to the home and brought food for the family.  We were able to pay our respects and support the family.

Community members looking at the memorial cards and candles

Because the funeral would be held the next day on Friday, the last day of VBS was cancelled as the funeral would be at the church where they held VBS.  The team once again volunteered to prepare and serve food after the funeral.  Because of my flight schedule, I had to leave before the funeral.  We prayed together and then I went back to the airport to get my flight back to Sioux Lookout.

The next week, two teams were in communities.  The first was at Cross Lake, Manitoba.  This is the team of 35 people that comes from Billings, Montana on a charter bus.  It's one of only 2 drive-in communities, the other being Norway House.   We found out just days before they left that the schools would not be available for accommodations or for VBS due to major remodeling.  Thankfully, one of the contacts arranged for the team to stay at a church and another home.  VBS was held at the school, but all activities were held outside.

Most of the team stayed at one of the churches

VBS registration at the school

Bible story time at the school entrance alcove

Surprisingly, VBS worked out well with stations set up around the outside of the school.  This team has always had a "can do" attitude and would let nothing stop them from serving the community.

In the evening, the team got the use of the Cadet building for games and hanging out with the older youth.  To close out the evening, I did a devotion on dealing with tragedy, especially since there had been a recent young death in the community. 

The next morning, I headed out early since another batch of stormy weather was moving in from the west.  I stopped for fuel at Island Lake and then flew to Kingfisher Lake, Ontario to visit the team and community.   I arrived near Noon and in time to help with the VBS.   We had a small turnout that day but the kids were eager to come. 

I helped with necklace making during craft

We headed back to the mission house after VBS where the team was staying to rest and debrief.  We had also been invited to Big Beaver House, an island where Kingfisher and Wunnumin Lake got their start, which was a 10 minute boat ride.  It was the last day of a mission festival including a huge feast of food.  The team was invited to sing.  I taught the group a VBS song, "The Little Red Box."  Laura Ells, one of the team members sang "Where You There".   The singing was greatly appreciated by all those in attendance.

Laura sang a solo for the mission festival

The Kingfisher Lake team at Sioux Lookout

After the festival started to wind up in the late evening, we rode back to Kingfisher to recoup and head to bed for the night.   The next morning, we had breakfast and prayed together and then I got a ride back to the airport to fly back to Sioux Lookout.

We had a couple of weather fronts move through which delayed flying into the communities the following week.  Unfortunately I was not able to get to Little Grand Rapids, Manitoba or to Red Sucker Lake, Manitoba.  I was, however, able to fly to Muskrat Dam, Ontario to meet up with the team there.  They have the use of the elementary school for both accommodations and VBS which is held in the gym.  We did have a little glitch as the power in the community was shut off for about 20 minutes to change some electrical equipment.  But that just added to the fun factor.

The kids gathered for VBS opening

Crafts were done by flashlight with the power out

The kids lined up for snack and sang "Grace" with the team

As VBS ended, the rain came but didn't dampen anyone's spirits.  We all gathered for supper and a movie to relax for the evening.   The next morning, the weather cleared off but was forecast to get worse as the day went on.  We all said our goodbyes and had a parting prayer.  I left mid morning to fly back to Sioux Lookout.

The end of the week on Friday took me back to Sandy Lake, Ontario.  A friend of the team and mine,Gordon Fiddler, had flown out to Thunder Bay for treatment for advanced diabetes the day I was there for VBS.  Unfortunately, he died of complications the next week.  Gordon was a gifted musician and singer but also a dedicated Christian and loved to sing hymns.  His funeral would be on Saturday, but I couldn't attend due to meeting the next round of teams coming through.  So I went up for the day to attend the wake.  I was able to meet with Gordon's wife and family.  His sister, Rosie and brother David took great care of me providing food and transportation.  Praying with the family was a privilege and brought them some comfort in this sad occasion.   David gave me a ride back to the airport and I returned to Sioux Lookout in time to meet the team heading to Weagamow Lake, Ontario that evening.

The team drove in from southern Ontairo arriving late Friday afternoon.  We met and had supper and one of the restaurants in Sioux Lookout and talked about their plans for the week.  The next morning, I met the team at their hotel and picked up most of their food to take with me in the LAMP airplane.  Cargo costs are very expensive ($2.70/pound) and I was planning on flying up that same day anyway.  Their flight was delayed and I ended up beating them to Weagamow Lake by an hour.

One of the community members and a good friend, Gary Kakakash, graciously loaned us his pickup truck.  When the team arrived, we loaded up all our cargo and went to the teacherage the team has been using the past 3 summers.  The day was spent unpacking, doing VBS planning, and meeting with one of our other friends, Marsceline,  to schedule other activities for the week.  We made a trip to the dump to look for 2 liter pop bottles to use for the compressed air rocket launcher one of the team members made to entertain the kids.  After a successful search, the rest of the evening was spent talking and sharing about life, faith, and challenges we all face.

Searching the dump for 2 liter pop bottles.  No bears were sighted!

The next morning, we grabbed breakfast and went to church.  Pastor Gery Luck, who leads the VBS team conducted the service.  It is always special to be with the people of the community and worship with them.  Afterwards, we gathered blueberries that grew next to the church to make come cobbler later in the day.

Picking blueberrys after church

When we finished picking blueberries, we went back to the teacherage for lunch and to plan our songs for singing at the radio station that evening.  Pastor Jake invites the team each year to sing at the station.  We had a couple of surprise requests but were able to accommodate them all.

Singing at the radio station.  Pastor Luck on the left and Pastor Jake on the right.

With tired fingers from guitar playing for 2 hours, we headed back to our digs for the night.  The next morning, I helped as I could to get the VBS supplies ready for the first day.  Then I was taken back to the airport to fly over to Sachigo Lake, Ontario to meet the team that flies up from Winnipeg where their church is located.

I've made some really good friends on the Sachigo Lake team, especially with the winter trip we did together.  This is a young team and is seriously dedicated to the community.  Pastor Brad who leads the team wrote about why they go in an article you can read here.  Their VBS runs from Sunday to Wednesday to accommodate everyone's schedule.  I arrived late Monday morning for day 2 of VBS.  This group is also very talented with music, creative ways to tell the Bible story, and with crafts.

Singing kicks off each day of VBS

Megan tells the VBS Bible story for the day using a science experiment

After VBS was over, we headed back to the teacherage for debriefing and supper.  After supper, we walked to the ball field and watched the local young men play fast-pitch softball.  It's a great way to meet with people and share in their fun.

The one noticeable trait, as is evident with many of the teams, is the compassion they show.  The one-on-one time they spend with members of the community is a sign of the trust that the team and community have with each other.  This included a visit to Edna Beardy who runs a small store in the community.  She is also the principal of the school.  While there, we got into a deep discussion with her cousin, Louis, about faith and life.  These conversations are priceless and a way for us to build relationships in the communities.  We got back to the teacherage rather late and headed to bed.

The next morning, we all met for breakfast and a devotion.  Afterwards, I got a ride to the airport for my last flight of the VBS season back to Sioux Lookout.

The Sachigo Lake Team from Winnipeg.

All-in-all, 2019 has been one of the best seasons to serve up north.  I was able to visit 11 teams of which 9 of them were overnight stays.  The importance of those extended visits gives me the opportunity to spend more time with both the teams and communities.  Relationships are crucial to be able to carry out the ministry of LAMP.   This summer was the explanation point on growing those relationships and opening doors for more ministry to take place, not just during VBS, but during other times of need in the communities.

For these northern communities, they anxiously await the team's return next year.  The work these volunteers do is making lives better and stronger in their faith.  They are living examples of being the hands, feet, voice, eyes, and ears of Jesus exhibiting His compassion and love.

As the fall weather approaches, please pray for the following needs:

* That the Lord will provide encouragement to the communities especially as daylight  grow shorter.
* That more volunteers would be willing to serve communities in the north.
* That the people in the communities will remain strong in their faith, especially during difficult time.
* That the Lord will continue to bless the ministry of LAMP for years to come.

Until the next time....

Pastor Dennis