Spring 2022 FINALLY!

So excited. Finally, I took my first team into the community. It was certainly exciting as I was involved in planning a short term winter mission trip into Sucker River with the team from Michigan.  Devin Bernatchez (Band Councillor for Sucker River) was on the news asking for assistance with suicide prevention. I called him to ask how LAMP could be of assistance and he said, “we are so done with COVID restrictions. How soon can you get a team up here?”

Serving Lunch to the children of Sucker River, SK. Anyone for a taco in a bag? (or as Steve calls it "a walking taco")

It took some back and forth to plan, along with a face-to-face visit to meet Devin and be shown the community of Sucker River. Between the team and Devin, we settled on a trip during the school winter break, which enabled us to move into the school. We arrived on Thursday and left on Saturday. We packed a lot into those few days - open gym night Thursday evening and receiving the kids for the full day on Friday - which we determined was too much time for both the team and the kids to spend without a break to rest and refresh. We packed up and left on Saturday morning. Despite the heavy workload, our small team of three Michigan team members, three LAMP Staff (Steve, Darrel, and Randy), along with community member Esther Ratt, worked well to make connections with the kids. We determined that ‘next time’ we would space it out over two days, and do two half days instead of one full day with the kids. So I’m hearing there will be a next time! Yay for next time!

Sucker River Kids during winter Fun Day (Feb. 25, 2022)

Church Connections

Ladies Group at Zion Lutheran in Rosthern, SK and hygiene kits and knitting they collected for the North

I was blessed to spend time visiting many supporting congregations and donors this winter. I made presentations and spoke at the following Congregations:

British Columbia          Trinity Lutheran Church in Abbotsford

Alberta             First Lutheran Church Lloydminster

Zion Lutheran Church in McLaughlin

Faith Lutheran in Vermilion 

Saskatchewan             Faith Lutheran in Coronach

Christ Lutheran Church in Langenburg

Christ Lutheran Church in MacNutt

St. Paul’s Lutheran in Langenburg

St. John’s Lutheran in Warman

Faith Lutheran Church in Saskatoon

Grace Lutheran Church in Saskatoon

Good Shepherd Lutheran in Hudson Bay

Zion Lutheran Church in Rosthern

La Ronge Lutheran Fellowship in La Ronge

Montana         Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Billings

Trinity Lutheran School's Grade 3-4 Classes and Church Staff Meeting in Billings, Montana

Community Connections

DOVE OF PEACE - Symbol of Love and Peace (Carrying an Olive Branch - Gen.8:9-11)

This year Darlene and I made the Dove of Peace for our Christmas gift to team Leads and community contacts. As usual, I asked them to send me pictures with their doves.

Doves across the North and with Team Leads

Pilot Upgrades

Cessna 172RG - Cutlass at Mitchinson's Flight School

Pilot upgrading continued this winter, working at upgrading to the C-172RG Cutlass aircraft which is similar to LAMPs C-182RG. This aircraft includes both Retractable Landing Gear and a Constant Speed Propeller, so two more controls to add to the mix.

Marilyn Witte LWML-C ABC District Executive Member presenting the cheque for Mission Opportunity Grant

I have been blessed to receive dollars of support from LWML-C ABC District in the form of a Mission Opportunity Grant to continue my Flight Training, and have been notified that I will receive the dollars gathered from the LWML-C Central District Mission Walk at their convention at the end of May (at which I will make a presentation) to that purpose as well.

This Summer

I am so excited to get into communities with a few summer VBS teams. I have discovered that with Canada’s continued COVID regulations, many of our teams are not coming from the US and some Canadian teams are planning on rebuilding their volunteer base this year.  I plan to work with both the sending congregations and the communities to ensure our relationships will continue.  Towards this end, I am planning visits to more of our sending congregations and intend to do a northern tour of our communities to meet the contacts and leaders from whom we have been isolated these past two years.

Friend of Jesus from Sucker River who attended Winter Break Fun Day with LAMP

Please pray for God’s guidance as we return to in person ministry. 

• Pray for our teams that the Holy Spirit would move hearts and minds to once again serve our northern Friends with the Gospel of Hope. 
• Pray for our communities that God would open doors and hearts to desire the peace, hope, and love that comes through Jesus Christ alone. 
• And pray for our ministry partners, both congregations and individual donors, that they would be motivated to continue supporting this work both financially and with their prayers.

Devin Bernatchez (Sucker River Band Councillor) & Rev. Dr. Steve Schave (LAMP Executive Director)

May the Blessings of Easter fill your hearts and homes with peace and Joy.

May that great hope that is ours because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ that first Easter Sunday, lead us throughout our days of service in this life.

The Grave in Sandy Lake, ON of Rev. Sanadius Fiddler Servant of Christ and friend of LAMP

In these days of isolation for our Northern Brothers and Sisters may our prayers reach the throne room of God our Heavenly Father.

Picture from 2020 of Rev. Solomon Beardy who served our Lord Jesus Christ. He wears the Butterfly Window hanging I sent that year. The butterfly represents the new life given to all believers through the resurrection (both the first at Easter, and finally when we join Jesus in eternal Heavenly joy). The glass angel as it shimmers in the window reminds us of God's promise to be close to us always, never leaving nor forsaking us. With mourning and yet great joy we celebrate his entrance into glory on April 12th, 2022.

Prayers to send workers into their midst that they may find the Easter hope we have through the Holy Spirit. May His Word be declared boldly that His love shed on the cross may move them to find purpose for each day in His grace.

LAMP Canada: 4966-92 Ave. Edmonton, AB. T6B 2V4
US: LAMP Ministry Inc. Box 480167, New Haven, MI. 48048