Whatever He Says

We left for the flight from Toronto Pearson Airport    to Thunder Bay, early on Saturday morning. Finally being on the way at last felt good. It was time to let go of preparing and focus forward.  Below us, the city of Toronto, and then its suburbs, fell away, and we glimpsed fields and farming communities as the plane's powerful engines lifted us high above the clouds.  In less than two hours we were descending again, and looking down on a beautifully rugged landscape. A river shimmered silver in the sunlight, reflecting the clouds above as it snaked its way through the green and forested landscape. I was excited at the thought of reconnecting with the rest of the team, but was also looking forward to seeing Harriet Visitor, the grade 8 teacher whom we got to know when she brought her graduates  from Mish  to visit the south for a week in June. Harriet was going to be away on vacation when we'd be in Mish, and we were disappointed that we wouldn't ...

The Friday before leaving for Mish was a flurry of final preparations. I was in a state of low level panic but trying to give the impression that I had a semblance of control as time was running out before leaving. Lindsay, 17, came to spend the night so that she could leave with us for the airport early the next morning. She and Tippy spent the evening overflowing with giggles and energy as only teenage girls can. :) There were 6 more young people besides Lindsay on the team: Lizzie-11 Sarah-12 Eliana-13 Matthew-14 Mikey-16 and Ethan-16 And 8 adults: Kevin and Jamie in Kevin's truck that pulled a trailer, Susan S. in a car also towing a trailer, Susan B. (Sarah's mom) driving a van generously loaned by Christian Horizons , an agency that several of us have close ties with, Christy (Eliana and Lizzie's mom) Paul and I, Holly (a teacher with boundless energy--that's her on the right in the photo at the airport) Some of us were meeting for the ...

By Belinda Our house, which has been tense with a gradually cresting wave of anxiety all week, was suddenly empty this morning.  The tension was about the details that needed to come together for Paul's latest trip north to the  Mishkeegogamang First Nation . As of Thursday he had a van (a bit beaten up in appearance, but in running order) and a camper trailer (fully equipped with everything the tiny team would need and generously loaned by Susan and Ron Stewart,) but no hitch; the one he had ordered hadn't arrived and he worried that it might not arrive on Friday. It came first thing in the morning on Friday, and by 8.30 a.m. was on the van to Paul's huge relief. In the afternoon, Ron came over to give Paul a quick tutorial on how to work the hook up and other trailer details and then the anxiety turned to anticipation. Each trip north has been unique. The difference this time is that Paul is leading a group of four females, three of them between 14 and 20. Th...

By Belinda My friend and coworker, Karen Lubbers a.k.a. Karebear, posted this video on her blog Riding in God’s Palm  where she shares her journey of preparation and longing to return to Uganda.  She has to raise a certain amount of money to get back there with International Teams  . The video shows the work that is to be done. We may be unable to be the hands, feet and heart to go there, but Karen is ready to go with our help. If God so moves on your heart, you can donate to her support on her blog.

By Belinda I have so much to write but no time to do it. I am so busy getting as much as I can done before leaving for England on Tuesday, but God is so on the move all over the place. I want to tell the world about this and that and everything else--but it will have to wait until I get to England on Wednesday, when I hope to catch up. I'm taking a list with me so that I don't forget a thing! But...in the car coming home from church on Sunday, I told my mother in law how much people had contributed to be sent the pastor in India I wrote about recently (see sidebar and click on the link for the story.) Mum said passionately, "If only people would see how God works miraculously." We talked to Uncle John in England on Sunday afternoon on Skype, and I told him that I was bringing a blessing with me for the pastor in India  Uncle John said that he had been in touch with the him by email and this is some of what has been happening: The pastor used to...

A few days ago I sat on the couch in our green room, with two of my granddaughters, discussing the reflections at the end of a story from Parables from the Pond. Some creatures from the pond had shown courage and kindness, extending their circle of friendship and trust. It wasn't hard for them to relate the story to their grandfather's winter trip north to a reservation to help a people in desperate need of both help and friendship. Last November, Dave our pastor, and Fernando, a Trinidadian friend, drove with Paul, 20 hours north through blinding snow to Mishkeegogamang, an hour from Pickle Lake. They went to take food, winter coats for the children, and toys and sports equipment.When they all arrived home safely, I heaved a sigh of relief. But Paul was already planning the next trip in August.The months since November have flown by. Other pressures consumed Paul's energy and time, he had little time or ability to focus on the logistics of a larger missions trip. Honestly,...

Isaiah 32:2 (New International Version) 2 Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. The weather is nasty and the roads are dangerous tonight. I hear the wind against the skylights in my loft room, and it is comforting to be at home. Downstairs a Christmas tree stands twinkling with coloured lights in our large hallway. It is hung with all manner of glass balls, an assortment of ornaments, and little stuffed animals clad in scarves and hats. Our Burston grandchildren came for a family dinner after church yesterday, and they stared in wonder at the tree, as it was the first time they were seeing it this year. They circled it, studying all of the ornaments and it was fun watching them. Emily, who is experiencing only the second Christmas of her life, had fun taking things off the tree, and the angel fell from the top at least three times. But amid the family time, my hear...

I sat quietly last sabbath- so desperately needing a touch from the Master's hand. I was worn from a week of busyness...my heart dry,my soul thirsting...I willed my mind to empty of the grime and find, amid the chaos of my thoughts... a place of rest. I wanted to trade my agitation for His peace. To this place of worship, I brought my burdens and laid them down. I allowed my voice to lift up His praise in song with that of the others. All week God had prepared my heart for what I was about to hear. There was a small space of stillness before Kayla was introduced to share her experiences from her summer's mission trip. A second-year, mechanical engineering student, she went to Tanzania, Africa with Campus Crusade For Christ. Kayla spoke quietly yet she spoke with conviction and an intensity that moved me. She shared how her trip to Africa changed her life. Kayla learned to speak Swahili and to assimilate into their culture. Kayla described how in North America, our culture focus...