Isolation

Father Joji and I in front of LAMP's Piper Lance

Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139:7-12

 Isolation is a big part of living in a remote, northern community. With no roads to many of the communities, coming and going is not always easy and people can easily feel cut off from the rest of the world. The current state of the pandemic has not helped matters either, and there are many people that struggle with feelings of seclusion and loneliness throughout the year.

A Season for Everything

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 

… a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.

                                                                                                                    Ecclesiastes 3:1,5

 

It’s been a strange summer. As I write this, I’m sitting in my house, even though it’s the middle of July. In fact, this is the first time in almost a decade that I’ve been home at all during the month of July. Normally, I’d be flying around northern Saskatchewan, Manitoba, or Ontario, helping LAMP with their Vacation Bible School programs.

This Too Shall Pass

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.  

Psalm 30:5

It feels like it’s been ages since I wrote our last newsletter.  That’s not because I wrote it that long ago, but more so just how much the world has changed in those short, few months.  When I wrote the last letter, most of us had never heard of Coronavirus, but now, our lives have been completely altered by this sickness.

Like many of you, our lives have changed drastically in the last few weeks.  In early March, most LAMP staff began working from home instead of the office, other than when necessary.  A number of speaking engagements I had lined up for the spring were cancelled.  For the last few weeks, Linnea and I have been staying at home, other than when we needed groceries or when I’ve had to do work on the airplanes at the hangar.  Any interaction with friends and family has been over the phone or by video chat.  Life has changed dramatically.

Everlasting Father

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  

Isaiah 9:6

This fall, as with other years, I made the rounds with one of our missionaries to many of the communities we serve.  We do this in order to continue to build relationships, as we meet with various friends and contacts.  We also want to find out how people felt things went during the summer and learn other potential ways that we can better serve and love the people of the community.

During our travels, we talked with many Chiefs,  council members, elders, principals and teachers, priests, medical workers, and parents in the communities.  Before we leave, we always ask them, “What can we pray for?” Without fail, the first words out of almost everyone’s mouth are, “Please pray for our children and youth.”

Walking Together in Sorrow

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away                              

                                                                                                                                                            Revelation 21:4

New VBS teams at LAMP are always asked to make at least a five-year commitment. To some, this requirement may seem onerous, but there is purpose behind the request. It’s important because that longer-term commitment allows time for our volunteers to make connections and build relationships in the community that they serve. As the years go by, they become a part of people’s lives as they develop not only relationships, but friendships.

This was the case for Roger and Pam who have been leading a team to South Indian Lake, MB for more than 15 years. Over the years, they have developed many friendships, including a meaningful personal connection with one of the leaders in the community. This summer, due to that friendship, Pam was asked to be a part of a very personal ceremony. Shortly before they arrived in the community to teach VBS, this leader's daughter had lost a baby. With no full-time pastor or minister in the community, Pam was asked to help lead the funeral.

Where My Help Comes From

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

    where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

    the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

I often get asked when Andrew and I go to speak at different churches, “So what do you do?” 

That’s an understandable question because I am not a pilot like Andrew and I do not have the ability to fly missionaries and leaders to the remote northern reserves of Canada. 

God, Our Protector

The Lord will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121:7-8

The one word I would use to describe our flight operations for this past year at LAMP, is tumultuous.  As much as we had prepared and tried to get things ready for our busy flying season throughout the spring, summer, and fall, there were many days where it felt like everything that could go wrong, did.