The Winter of COVID-19

Our Winter mode of Transportation

I have truly enjoyed the opportunities afforded me to transition into the mission work of LAMP. The leadership given by Ron Ludke has been a blessing, and the willing mentorship of outgoing Pastor/Pilot Dennis Ouellette has allowed me to better understand the role I am called to carry out.

Cross Lake Team from Billings Montana

My first experience as a missionary with a team was joining Dennis in Cross Lake, Manitoba with the Billings Montana Team. This trip went as planned. I experienced the relationship impact of a long serving team, both for the community and for the team. 

A couple of the Billings Crew enjoying the Gym fun from the sidelines
(You can see why Jake was sitting out)

One of the team members (19 years old) shared her story with the whole group of 80 teens gathered in the gym; and then again on the local radio station as part of our broadcast worship service. She talked about her journey with terminal cancer. She told everyone she wasn’t scared to die, because she knew she would go to be with Jesus. She was sad for her parents, and for the fact she wouldn’t be able to come see her friends in Cross Lake. The doctors don’t like to use the “M” word but that’s what it was. From a Hospice bed given one week to live, to standing before a group of her Cross Lake friends 6 months later was an answer to prayer. It was a Miracle. The group hug that followed was testimony of the love that had developed over the years of service brought to Cross Lake.

Group hug in the gym around our Devotion Time

I was able to have one more trip with Dennis (post-retirement) as we joined the Shamattawa Team from Fergus Falls, Minnesota. However, on this trip nothing went according to plan. We arrived in the community, planning on being there Tuesday thru Friday. The school was closed Tuesday due to a community funeral, Wednesday thru Thursday morning due to extreme cold (the bus wouldn’t run), and Friday Morning due to a power outage. So we got Thursday afternoon with the students. We made the best of it and Organized the Library, visited with staff whenever we could, and on Thursday afternoon made it through half of the classrooms doing a shortened version of what we had planned. As the principal dropped us off at the airport, he told us “You may not have got done what you had planned, but you were here for my staff, visiting and supporting them all week. That means the world to them and to me. Thank you.”

Shamattawa Team from Fergus Falls Minnesota

At the Dr. William Winter School of Ministry held at the Mission Center in Kingfisher I was given the opportunity to observe and even participate with Dennis to get an understanding of how it works with an Oji-Cree translator. I loved getting to know many of the community leaders as there were Church leaders from the entire region gathered there. I also had the opportunity to get to know the Windsor family and visit their tiny house, getting a taste of the work Matthew was doing as Wycliffe Translator developing the written language for the Oji-Cree, with the ultimate goal of giving the gospel in their language.

Dennis with Mary the Oji-Cree Translator

I certainly know the Lord will use LAMP during this odd year to reach into both our volunteer base and the communities we serve in new and unique ways. Because I’m not travelling to visit congregations and communities, I have been given an opportunity to focus on supporters and reach out by giving comfort and encouragement to many of our senior partners who are most vulnerable and therefore fearful of this COVID-19 virus.

My friends Pastor Alex and Marion at Dryden/Vermilion Bay
I preached for the service between Shamattawa & Kingfisher Trips

This is not the transition year I had been planning. Dennis was to introduce me to many of our communities during a two week tour in mid May, and then join me for two weeks this summer as my pilot, when we were to make overnight support visits to our summer teams. His participation cannot happen now, yet I am so grateful for his continued willingness to mentor me as I remain respectful of his retirement after five years of dedicated service.

I am still awaiting the Department of Transportation approval to go ahead with my Pilot Re-certification (so keep that process in your prayers). While I wait, I am refreshing my Ground School Training.

I know God can and will use this COVID-19 pandemic to His glory and the building up of his kingdom. When the door opens to visit the communities once again, I pray we are ready to go.