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.

He is Faithful

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Isaiah 9:6

Almost three years ago, I wrote a newsletter after Linnea and I had found out that due to my past history battling cancer, that it would be impossible for us to have children naturally.  That was incredibly difficult to hear, but as we inquired about possible medical treatments we could attempt, the news became worse. 

Some Much Needed Upgrades

 

I’ve been flying now for almost 20 years and it may come as a surprise that, in all that time, I’ve only ever flown one aircraft that was younger than I am. Seeing as I just turned 40 a few weeks ago, that means every airplane I’ve flown, other than one, was built pre-1981.

The current instrument panel in LAMP's 1977 Piper Lance

Flying with LAMP has been no exception as the two aircraft they use were built in 1977 and 1979. As you look around, you may notice that there’s not many vehicles on the road from the seventies, so why are so many smaller airplanes from that era still in use today? 

Giving Thanks for God’s Abundant Provision

 

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:3-6

As we entered 2020, I knew there would be some challenges. We were going to be losing a significant portion of support for our ministry that would leave us with about a $1000 per month deficit, and I wasn’t entirely sure where the additional funds were going to come from. 

When I first felt God calling me into missionary service, I knew that some amount of fundraising would inevitably be necessary to carry on in ministry. However, that concept was probably one of the most frightening things about accepting God’s call on my life. I’m not a naturally gifted public speaker or someone who enjoyed doing that sort of thing. So, I made a deal, so to speak, with God. I agreed to follow His call, wherever it may lead, but when it came to the fundraising, He would need to provide.

Bringing the Good News

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.   

Acts 20:24

Ten years ago at this time, I was in the midst of having to make a very difficult decision. The first term I spent with MAF, I was seconded to an organization called Flying Mission, where I flew on an air ambulance in Botswana. I was coming to the end of my two-year contract, and Flying Mission had asked if I would stay on with them longer.

I knew right away what I wanted to answer: Yes! I loved the work that we were doing, the country, the culture, the people, and even the weather. I was perfectly content living in Botswana, had made some great friends there, and very much enjoyed my two years. However, as I began to pray about it, I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to return home.