In Full Accord

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:1-5

I first met Elma some thirteen years ago. In fact, she was actually one of the first people I met, on my first trip into a northern community with LAMP when I flew into Pelican Narrows, SK. At the time, Elma and her husband ran the Northern grocery store there. 

However, she was originally from Red Sucker Lake, in Manitoba, where she first became familiar with LAMP when we started sending a VBS team to her community 40+ years ago. Her mother really helped take the young couple, John and Sue, that were volunteering with LAMP under her wing and Elma’s children attended LAMP’s VBS. Her children have since gone on to become leaders in their community, churches, and surrounding area with a deep and lasting faith in Jesus Christ.

Last summer, as we were basing in Thompson, Pastor Randy and I received an invitation from Elma to join her and her family in The Pas. Many years ago, Elma’s grandparents had contracted tuberculosis. As they didn’t have sufficient medical resources in the small, isolated community, patients were transported to bigger towns that had hospitals and treatment centers. Records back then were sparse and Elma’s mother never knew where her parents were taken or what happened to them. They just never came back home.

As a spotlight has been shone on these issues as of late, more and more discoveries are being made and through some research, Elma’s family uncovered that her grandparents had been taken to The Pas for treatment where they had unfortunately succumbed to the disease. Since it was too costly to return the bodies to their home village, they were buried in a grave just outside of town.  

Elma’s mother, the last remaining of sixteen siblings and now in her nineties, longed to see where her parents were laid to rest and to find closure, so the whole family made the trip to The Pas to visit the graveyard.

Knowing we were in Thompson, Elma invited us to come and be a part of this special and intimate moment. After arriving in The Pas, we met with the family and one of the town councilors and headed to the graveyard. 

White crosses mark the graves at the graveyard just outside of The Pas, MB

The graveyard, somewhat overrun with foliage, simply consisted of rows of white crosses, placed there some years ago. Any original gravestones or markings have long since been lost, so the actual gravesite of Elma’s grandparents is unknown, but it was a very emotional moment for Elma, her mother, and the rest of the family.

As I stood there, looking out over the graveyard, I wondered why I had been invited and privileged to join this family during such an intimate and personal moment.  If I asked Elma this, I suspect she would say something along the lines of “because you keep coming back.”  

The Cemetery marker; the plaques and inscriptions of which have long since been lost.

A colloquial slang term for a white person in some of the northern British Columbia communities we serve is the word for driftwood. These people drift into town and then once they have what they want, they drift out. This is a stereotype we need to overcome in order to have an effective ministry in the North.

Elma, through the years, knows that we are there, compelled by the love of Christ, wanting to establish deep and lasting relationships, joining people in their journey of life. Year after year, time after time, we continue to come, hoping to share in encouragement, comfort, affection and sympathy, walking with each other in full accord. It is because of this, I am given the honor and privilege to stand with Elma and her family during moments like these. 

As LAMP celebrates their 55th anniversary this year, we will continue to walk alongside Elma and her family, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and others just like them all across the remote communities of Northern Canada. Thank you for your partnership in ministry that makes this possible!