Summer 2021 Ministry

As another Summer comes to a close I look at the work of LAMP and, as always, find the work we’ve accomplished amazing despite the roadblocks with COVID restrictions keeping our teams home & Forest Fires causing community evacuations. 

Our Sucker River contact, Maurice Ratt, a LAMP VBS kid himself, is now the LaRonge Band’s Fire Protection Co-ordinator and with this new position came south gathering fire suppressing equipment. On one of his trips he stopped by our place in Warman, SK. Where I loaded up his trailer with Baby Layette and Hygiene Kits and blankets that had been prepared by Ladies groups in Southern Saskatchewan. Thank you ladies for all your hard work supporting the North.

Blankets, Baby Layettes and Hygiene packs heading to LaRonge area

Maurice receiving our deliveries in his trailer heading north

My first Solo Cross Country in 30 years

Meeting Andrew and the Lance in Lloydminster

Flight Track from Saskatoon to Lloydminster.

This July I was blessed to complete my Private Pilot’s recertification training. I continue to ask for your prayers as this winter I will begin working toward having instrument flight rating. Yes, it is a process, and patience is necessary, though I am excited to once again be able to take to the air. My first cross country was to Lloydminster where I met our Pilot Andrew who brought me parcels for Grandmother’s Bay, and then I flew back to Saskatoon. This, I say, is one of the easiest routes, as I fly with the Saskatchewan River on one side and Highway 16 on the other, stay between them and I couldn’t get lost. I am so grateful for Ron Ludke’s comment, “once you get some hours under your belt it will be just another form of transportation”. Thanks be to God.

Our greatest ministry accomplishment has been to prepare and deliver over 3800 Vacation Bible School Backpacks to Northern Communities we serve. This was due to the restrictions with Border crossing, as well as being sensitive to the Communities heightened restrictions. Many of the communities were hit hard with COVID19 and suffered with health issues as COVID restrictions limited paramedical work to continue for their elders, and more fragile residents. A history of destruction by our western diseases over the years certainly helps us understand their arms length attitude.

Help preparing Backpacks

Another crew preparing Backpacks

our number one helper preparing Backpacks

These backpacks are mostly being assembled in Canada by Mission staff on behalf of many of our American teams who ordered supplies to be put in the bags. I was tasked with preparing 900 bags for some of my communities. My army of volunteers (Darlene, and wonderful assistants) did the majority of the work.

They won’t be delivered as early as we had hoped. Initially thinking they would be out to community between the last weeks of June and first weeks of July. Instead the majority of the bags were received in the communities in August, some in early September.

A September delivery might co-ordinate well with borders opening and small teams coming up to visit their communities in the fall as the Community’s COVID Response Teams allow and this now “Fourth wave” has run its course. The Mission Team has encouraged volunteers to plan to have a trip even an abbreviated one into to their community as the weather and restrictions allow this fall.

boxed backpacks ready for loading

one load of Backpacks for Northern Sask

I was able to make a trip into La Ronge, SK August 9th where I met with Maurice our contact for Sucker River, and handed off 50 bags for their community with items contributed by their team from Wisconsin. I also met with Fr. Petronilo who will take 150 bags up to Southend when he goes the end of August.

Prayer time with Father Petronilo and a faithful Kokum

Supper with Maurice and Father Petro

As I shared a meal with Fr. Petronilo and Maurice, in walked the Band Counsellor for the community of Grandmother’s Bay, Gerald McKenzie. He happened to be heading north and would take the bags for Grandmother’s Bay to our contact, who happens to be his niece. Always interesting how God works things out. It is His ministry after all.

Our Contact Dora in Lac Brochet

Ruby in Brochet

Sister Bonnie in Lynn Lake

The next morning I drove across to Flin Flon, MB. where I met Andrew and we waited for the skies to clear up so we could fly. Friday we were able to head out and delivered backpacks to Lac Brochet (Dora Antsenen), Brochet (Ruby Inglis), and Lynn Lake (Sister Bonnie Bryson) via airport visits. At each airfield we met our contact and prayed with them for their community and blessings upon the gifts of VBS bags for the children and prayer quilts for the elders, that everyone who received it would be blessed to know that Jesus loves them, and LAMP has not forgotten them.

Gloria supporter from Yorkton, filled up the SUV for Little ones

On the way home from Flin Flon I drove via Yorkton and met with Gloria Rathgeber, a Congregational Leader, praying for her congregation as they enter into a Pastoral Vacancy and having the SUV filled once again as the Ladies of Zion spent time this last year working on infant layettes, toddler sweaters, and knit blankets for the north.

The Buchholz Family in Winnipeg ready and waiting

Loaded Lance heading North

No room even for a mouse. (joking, there are no mice in the north)

Flying in our 'pick up truck' Lance (rear seats removed)

Praying in Shamattawa with Rev. Miles

Meeting Jessalynn in Cat Lake

Praying with our friends in Kingfisher

On August 24th after the wedding of our youngest, and a day delay due to poor flight weather, I began the drive across to deliver backpacks to Dryden, Ontario where I would meet Andrew and the Lance (our Airplane). I made a stop in Winnipeg to leave a delivery for Gord Gilbey (our Manitoba/Eastern Sask Missionary) to drive north and while there picked up other backpacks he has received to be flown north. There were so many, I needed to add a trailer behind the Rental to get them all to our distribution point.

Time together walking the dock in Dryden with Pastor Alex

Andrew and I were blessed to spend the week with Pastor Alex Timm who hosted us and all our backpacks. From his home as our base in Dryden we flew north making deliveries to 9 communities. 

Shamattawa, MB. (our farthest and first stop where I met with and prayed with Pastor Mary Ann Miles whose community was dealing with the recent loss of two young men to tragedy) and Garden Hill, MB. (Island Lake) on Friday (where Pastor Donald Little was unable to meet us as they had 36 positive cases of COVID in their community and were on lockdown until midnight that evening). 

Then weather delays over the weekend afforded me the opportunity to attend service at Faith Lutheran Church in Atikokan where I was fed both spiritually and physically by Pastor Dan and Connie Barr. 

On Monday we were once again able to fly delivering to Wapekeka, Big Trout (Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug) and Cat Lake (where I met Jessalynn Cook, praying with her for the Community of Cat Lake, and the new team from Dryden as they prepare to come next year). 

Tuesday we delivered to Wunnumin Lake, Kingfisher Lake (where the Wycliffe Translator family the Windsors, along with Bishop Lydia and her sister Mary, and Assistant to the Bishop, Ruth, along with OjiCree Translator Henry came out to meet us as we prayed for God’s blessing on the community and LAMP’s work), we then flew over to Muskrat Dam. 

On Wednesday Sachigo's backpacks were delivered by Andrew on his own as there was no room for both me and the boxes.

waiting for our contact

Lunch break

In the end we delivered by air over 1300lbs of backpacks to the north. Let alone the countless deliveries that were made by ground delivery and then by various ministry contacts who took our boxed backpacks as couriers on their journeys. In the end we will have 3800 backpacks delivered to the children of northern Canada, along with a variety of gifts for community youth and elders.

Return trip from Big Trout

Flying into Muskrat Dam

The end of the day from Dryden's Dock

We certainly know that the Lord our God will bless our efforts in His mission to the people of the North. We serve, that one day we will join in singing praises to Jesus the Saviour and Lord of all.

May 2021 L.A.M.P. - Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots

Blog Update: Rev. Randy Heide, Missionary Pastor

Flying over the North Saskatchewan River on our way to meet our contact in La Ronge

Missionary work with LAMP takes a different approach

The winter certainly didn’t slow us down when it came to supporting our communities or our teams and ministry partners. And in the coming year, it looks like more of the same activities hold promise for the ministry in the North. I have the added blessing now of supporting the four Saskatchewan communities that our Executive Director Ron Ludke served prior to his retirement.

Video sermon “Thank the Lord and Sing His Praise” prepared

This Fall, as the season of Thanksgiving coincided with the end of our Year of Jubilee (50th Anniversary), I prepared a sermon based on the Nunc Dimittis or Song of Simeon. I shared the hope that the gospel brings for all people amidst both good times and bad. You can find it on our Youtube page. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o_A5_qW3xE&t=4s

Blankets from the prairies delivered and more to come

The CLWR Warehouse in Winnipeg, which sent baby layettes, sanitary kits, blankets, dresses, and clothing overseas to refugee camps has closed its operations. Our Canadian Ladies Aid and the LWML are looking for new avenues to share their accumulated handmade gifts. I have accepted blankets and layettes from Langenburg, Swift Current, Hudson Bay and Estevan, and more such treasures are yet to come from Fort Qu’Appelle (just to name those that have contacted me to this point). In December, Andrew and I delivered the first load to La Ronge where the priest, destined for Southend, took to dropping off quilts along his path. Sister Una of Norway House told me that blankets are very helpful as there are many house fires in the North and the need for them is high.

LAMP Lights sent to team leads and communities



This Christmas, Darlene and I prepared LAMP Light Kits that would be easily mailed to both our Northern community contacts and to our team leads, connecting the two as family at this traditional time of peace and good will. We ran into a bit of a snag since one of our main components, a nativity sticker, took over a month to arrive, and so they weren’t shipped out until New Years Eve.

Medical kits delivered to Northern Ontario

Faith Lutheran Church in Kitchener, ON regularly ships basic Medical/First aid supplies to our overseas missionaries. With the current world wide pandemic, the countries are not allowing the packages in and they are being redirected back to Canada. I was contacted to see if any of our Northern communities could use these supplies as they were bundled and ready to be shipped. A couple of our communities were happy to receive them. Six kits were shipped free of charge via Sky Care to Sioux Lookout, and then our friend and owner of Weagamow Air took them on their journey North.

The provider of the bundles said: Currently we have a significant supply of sterile bandages in many sizes and shapes, knitted pneumonia vests in various sizes up to adults that could be used for winter wear for warmth as well. We have a large supply of baby layettes that contain the following:
· 2 cotton knit undershirts ( 3-12 months)
· 2 cotton broadcloth or light weight flannelette nighties (sleepers or onesies can be substituted)
· 2 flannelette receiving blankets
· 2 washcloths
· 4 diapers 26”to 27” square
· 1 flannelette baby jacket or lightweight knitted or crocheted sweater
· 2 large diaper or safety pins
We also gather bar soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, PPE, gently used sheets, towels and pillowcases, pain meds such as Tylenol and Advil as well as pain creams and antibiotic creams and vitamins for adults and children. At times we receive various sizes of blankets.

LWML-C Exhibit Prepared

I have worked closely with our Technical Support to prepare the video exhibit for the online LWML-C (Lutheran Women’s Missionary League - Canada) convention being held this summer. I am deeply honoured to help keep the work of LAMP before them, both for prayers, volunteers, and continued financial support.

This video isn’t available yet but a cool Music Video recorded for the 50th Anniversary is wonderfully done and now available. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hds4gZJpsU

Preaching, serving congregations and spreading the message about LAMP


Even during these unprecedented times, I have been afforded many opportunities to preach and serve at various congregations. While there, I lead informal presentations and meet with pastors about the important mission work of LAMP. Conversations with area pastors also happen while I am “on the road”.

Continue to connect with various partners

It is an honour to support our partners in mission, and to acknowledge their work with us. I have taken the opportunity to call, send an email, or a card. I take the opportunity to connect with them, asking how they are doing, if they have any prayer requests, and share with them the work their LAMP Family continues to carry out during these Pandemic times.

Transport Canada final approval given


After a year and a half delay (Pandemic Shutdown and bureaucratic work), Transport Canada finally has given me medical approval to return to the air as a pilot! That means now I need to take time to fly with an instructor at Mitchinson’s Flight School here in Saskatoon who eventually will certify me as airworthy. I am discovering this memory doesn’t quite hold as much as it did back when I was 17 years old and received my flight training the first time through Air Cadets. To date I have been up for 5 flights and even though a bit overwhelmed am becoming more and more confident in the Pilots seat with each flight.

Backpack program set to roll out this summer

Due to Continued Pandemic lock-downs, in lieu of in-person VBS this summer, we are working to assist our teams to coordinate the sending of backpacks for the children of their community. It is planned to stuff them full of Christian Education, and Summertime activities, along with a goodie or two. These deliveries will once again afford Andrew Anstey (lead pilot) and I access to the local airports to see community contacts face to face, if only for a short time. Where we will have opportunity to pray with them, and give them these gifts from their teams.

Fall 2021 plans for teams to visit North as communities and borders open

Many of our community teams can’t wait to visit their Northern friends and are planning to go in person this fall if the borders open and the communities are willing to have us. They won’t be able to do a full VBS program or have all of their team join them, as many work or are in school, but they want to be there as soon as they are able.

Please pray for the people of the North who have lost many of their members to the Pandemic and as a result of not being able to get the Para-Medical Support they normally had, during this year of lock-down. May the Lord Jesus Christ give them hope during these additionally difficult days, and may we soon be able to attend and support their spiritual needs in person. Amen.

 Here is the History of LAMP in Song and Pictures. Celebrating the 50+ years of serving Northern Canada.

https://youtu.be/8hds4gZJpsU

Giving Thanks

 I am attaching the link to my sermon "Thank the Lord and Sing His Praise" for you to watch. I have had a couple opportunities to share it in person, but now I have had it recorded and uploaded as a video. May you find opportunity to be uplifted and find prayer petitions to lift before the Lord for our work in the North. https://youtu.be/8o_A5_qW3xE

I have had the opportunity to make a trip to Langenburg, SK to meet Mrs. Sholz (94yrs.old)

This year alone she has made 70 blankets for us to deliver to Northern Saskatchewan. This congregation has a number of other knitters and quilters who also prepared donations for the north, which were gladly gathered. It was wonderful to meet such a dedicated servant of others who prepared these blankets over which we prayed, packed, and then I delivered their donations to LaRonge, from where they would be taken north to Sucker River, and the majority going further north to Southend, SK. 

I am so grateful for the continued support and encouragement given as I work from a distance to support our communities in such difficult times. Many of the isolated communities I serve who were untouched by the first wave of the Pandemic are struggling to control it this time. We need to pray that the young people take it seriously and that the elders remain safe from an illness that may cause further physical struggles and could even lead to death. 

May the message of hope that is ours through Jesus our Lord and Saviour bring light to their darkness and peace in the midst of strife and struggle.

God bless each of you this Christmas season as you remember the reason for the season, Jesus the Light of the World, born into our world.

Philippians 2: ¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling or disputing, ¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Community visits

 I made two trips out to Sioux Lookout one Mid August for two weeks, and then one the first week of September. My first trip found me without a pilot and plane, as Andrew was grounded in Edmonton before he left. My second trip had Andrew pick me up in the Lance on his way by and we flew out and back together. Both trips served a purpose and allowed me time to get to know the community of Sioux Lookout and make many community connections as people moved through this Hub of the north. Our September trip was blessed by the Lord with great flying weather and we were able to visit 6 communities in three days.

During my first trip I met with one of our volunteer pilots of the past, who now works for Sky Care in Sioux Lookout. We shared some time together talking about adjusting to life in Sioux compared to Vancouver Island. He shared of the effects of COVID19 restrictions, as he and his team of pilots were making more medical transports. This is directly caused by the community lock-downs, which kept Medical support teams from come in to help as they had been prior to the lock-down. And so now minor issues that had been previously cared for in community, are escalating in to major issues that now require evacuation to southern hospitals.  

I met the Larsh Family on their way back to Cat Lake where Jon serves as Principal to the Christian School located there. I visited Dryden and Vermilion Bay congregations during Sunday worship, and following service outside at proper social distance visited with members encouraging them as they prepare to join our LAMP team and serve Cat Lake.

I also met and had a (socially Distant coffee) with Caitlyn Windsor from Kingfisher who flew down for appointments. Caitlin is the wife of Matthew who serves Wycliffe Bible Translators, working to translate the scriptures into the Oji Cree Language.  I was also honoured to meet and offer prayers and encouragement to Doreen and Peter from Sandy Lake, as Peter was in Sioux Lookout Hospital recovering from a stroke, and Doreen now was at his side (after he’d been alone for 3 months). During my time there I also arranged for parcels of children’s packs (a cookie, craft, colouring sheet, and book) along with prayer blankets to be delivered to some of our communities.

During my September visit Andrew and I were able to fly into Little Grand Rapids where I met Fr. Arull, who was with Sydney and Gerald who had come across the lake by boat to the airport from their community.

We flew to Wunnumin, Kingfisher and Weagamow (Round Lake) on one loop, meeting Bishop Lydia Mamakwa, and Ruth Kitchekesic, along with Pastor Jake Sawanis, and Gary Kakekayash. 

The weather held and so on Friday we made two more delivery stops at Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake) and Cat Lake. Where we met Melanie and Joselyn in K.I. and in Cat Lake I met Edith who brought Deputy Chief Ellen out to the airport to meet the plane.

It was wonderful to put faces to the contacts I have only had via Facebook Messenger, email and phone conversations up to now. What a wonderful tour. This year I have been blessed to see 11 of the communities I am called to serve as a mission mobilizer. I certainly wish we could have planned to make it to all 15 communities, but God willing we plan some more visits for next spring. Even though I haven’t made it to Muskrat Dam, Sachigo, Wapekeka, and Garden Hill, I certainly keep them in my prayers, and support the teams that are called to serve them. On Saturday I was blessed to have one more prayer visit with Doreen who took me to meet her Uncle Ennis, an elder from Sandy Lake who was living just outside of Sioux Lookout. It was great to hear from him of his support for our work, and get a little more perspective on the communities history and Christian faith. What a blessing.

Thank you for your prayers and your support of our work. allowing us to encourage, uplift and support the faith of our Northern Brothers and Sisters in the faith. Despite the odd summer. It certainly continues to be blessed by the hand of God. May you find joy in your day as you serve the Lord of all, and rejoice in the hope given by our saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

LAMP Sunday Message Vidoe

I had planned to visit a number of supporting congregations and share this LAMP Message. But with COVID-19 those visits were cancelled. So I video recorded and had our Tech specialist do a few upgrades during the editing. I think it turned out with a clear message.
May it be a blessing and encouragement as you think of ways you can be "Jesus with Skin on" during this unsettled time.
click the link below and it will take you YouTube.
https://youtu.be/ZIy9kvtBwoE

The Call Came!

The Call Came!

When we think about our current situation and the fear that comes with it for many of our more vulnerable people we pray for peace of mind and for a turning to God for aid. We pray in the Lord’s Prayer, Deliver us from Evil. And here is a new evil, a result of the corruption caused by sin in this world.

I have talked to one elderly friend who said she prayed for the Angel of death to pass over if it is God’s will. But if not, she was prepared to go to heaven with great hope to an eternity of peace, and joy. What a great faith! I pray this same faith for each and everyone reading this Blog post. Romans 8 says “If God is for us who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? …Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? …No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure than neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom.8:31-32, 35, 37-39)

This time of isolation has kept me at arms length from the communities and teams I am called to work alongside. As a Missionary Pastor with LAMP I have been waiting for the opportunity to visit communities of the North. Finally, the call came, as Samaritan’s Purse had 10 PPE Kits (Personal Protective Equipment) to deliver to our isolated communities who had not yet received these kits. My LAMP ministry team had kits delivered to driveable communities, but that left four kits to go to Fly-in Communities. YIPEE!

Pilot Andrew Anstey and the Piper Lance

Andrew Anstey, our MAF Pilot, and me were allowed to fly-in and make deliveries to communities under lock down. We flew to Wollaston Lake, SK., Shamattawa, MB., Norway House, MB. & Red Sucker Lake, MB. What beautiful country this time of year. 

Island Lake Airport, MB.

Though I have been told we need to pray for the rain to stop, as God promised never to flood the world again. But up here at our base in Flin Flon, with docks underwater or floating away, and gardens flooded, the people are not so sure he’s remembering his promise. 😉

Red Sucker Lake, MB.

Shamattawa, MB.

Norway House, MB.

Wollaston, SK.

The people that I have been in communication with over this first winter with LAMP, in these communities were right there in front of me. And I was honoured to meet with them and pray with them even for these short airport visits.

Ready for another day of Flying

I look forward to seeing what God does next using this COVID-19 isolation to His favour. For His word is clear, “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Rom.8:28

Garden Hill, MB.

I pray that God be with you and keep you safe this summer. For he holds you close to his heart through the power of the Holy Spirit in the precious name of our saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Blessings from Missionary Pastor Randy Heide & Pilot Andrew Anstey