A Decade in the North

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:13-15

 

One of my very first flights with LAMP into South Indian Lake, MB in 2012

This past year I celebrated my tenth year being seconded to and serving alongside LAMP in Northern Canada. It’s been a blessing to be a small part of such a great ministry to the First Nations peoples of this country. 

When I first started serving with LAMP back in 2012, I wasn’t sure what God had in store or where He was leading me. With that in the back of my mind, I agreed to do one year. I couldn’t imagine what He would do over the next decade.  In that time, I met Linnea and now God has blessed us with Ethan.

Moreover, my time serving up north has given me the chance to learn more about my own country’s history, to learn about First Nations culture and to make some great friends along the way. It’s allowed me to travel to places I never thought I would go. Places I had known about, such as Churchill, and places that I had never even heard of, such as Wapakeka, ON or Shamattawa, MB. 

Most importantly though, it’s allowed me to help facilitate the preaching of the Gospel to people that otherwise may never hear it; to bring hope to some people who may otherwise feel hopeless; to see children’s faces light up when they’re told that God loves them. This is why I have continued in this role for 10 years.

However, all of this has only been possible because of people like you who have believed in, prayed for, and supported this ministry during the past decade. Some of you have been giving for all ten years of my time here (some even longer, during my time in Botswana). Others have joined us at some point along the way, while others have just recently started. 

Regardless, you have been an integral part of this ministry and we could not continue in this work without you.  Thank you for making this ministry possible for the last ten years.

Much like when I first started with LAMP, I’m not sure what God has in store for the future. However, I know that I’m looking forward to seeing what He does over the next decade and I hope you are too.

 

Beautiful Feet

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”.

Isaiah 52:7

 It’s been three years since I have landed at an airport in a northern community, and then actually left the airport on foot. For the past couple of summers, every time we arrived at a community it was to drop off supplies, be it medical protective equipment, or donations of knitted winter gear and quilts, or gifts of crafts and school supplies for the children. 

However, we would only be able to meet our contacts beside our airplane, standing out on the apron of the airport. We’d unload our boxes and chat for a few minutes, then it was back in the plane to fire up the engine and head off to the next community. COVID outbreaks and lockdowns had prevented us from doing much else.

Arrival

 

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
With my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.
 
I will declare that your love stands firm forever, 

That you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

Psalm 89:1-2

 

It was a long time coming, but the day finally arrived.    Early in the morning, Linnea and I rushed to the hospital, filled with excitement. We had waited a long time for this moment; a moment that we weren’t quite sure was ever going to happen. 

The doctors had essentially told us no; that there realistically was no chance.  That we should look into other options.  But we tried our best to remember that God is faithful and He will keep the promises that He makes.