Summer 2017 VBS teams

As the calendar year comes to an end, here are highlights from this summer's VBS teams.

I’m a total wimp when it comes to driving in the first snow fall. My Canadian friends and colleagues laughed at me when I mentioned there was about four inches of snow on the ground. I don’t mind driving in snow but the first snow fall puts me on edge. Maybe it’s the fact I’m from Portland and every two to three years we get what we call a snow storm. The three to maybe six inches of snow will normally last for about two days. It’s rare to get any snow over ten inches and it’s rare for snow to last more than five days. During that time there are three types of drivers in Portland. The drivers that are cautious and take their time driving. The drivers that think because they have four wheel drive the can go anywhere and drive as if there was no snow, which most of the time they create the accidents. And there are the third type of drivers that stay home and wait for the roads to clear up before heading out. Or maybe I’m a wimp for driving because once while driving with the entire family in our van, I nearly had a head on collision with a full size SUV while sliding uncontrollably down a mountain pass. Any ways, there I was trying to visit a community, the snow was still falling as was the temperature and the closer I drove in land the deeper the snow got. 

So I turned around, my shoulders were getting too tense and I really wanted to see my wife and kids one more time. Besides all that I really hadn’t made contact with anyone from the areas I was planning to visit. Feeling a bit discouraged and knowing my Canadian friends would laugh at my snow driving skills I headed back, plus after drinking a large double double from Tim Hortons I really had to go to the bathroom. As I got closer to Terrace and in cell range, vicar Chris from Redeemer Lutheran in Kitamatt called. We were going to meet the next day but he could meet with me that evening. This actually worked out perfect as it gave us more time to visit and build a connection. Chris and I had a great visit, found out he was originally from the NW (Kirkland, WA). I was really impressed with Chris’s humble servant attitude and his willingness to serve God where ever He leads.      

We often have a plan but it’s always God leading. I still struggle with this as I do with driving in the snow. I have everything planned out, but really God has it planned out. Proverbs 16:9 has been a favorite verse of mine for some time, “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” I need help in remembering this, especially in the mission field. Despite that day of trying to reach a community in the snow, the next several days were fruitful as I was able to visit with several lay leaders, community leaders and friends from Gitanyow. I was even driving on roads with ice and compact snow at night! When plans change or times get difficult, remember God is still leading through everything, good or bad.

When your van/bus/caravan pulls into a community, your week of VBS has officially started. In some cases, you might be spotted coming down the road. It doesn’t take long before you have a crowd of familiar faces welcoming you back into their community. Kids eager to see who has come back and where so and so is and even though VBS always starts on Monday they still ask, “When does VBS start?” I love it! Often there are a few new faces and nearly every time they say one of my favorite phrases, “What are you guys doing here?” So I explain about LAMP and explain VBS with the Bible stories, crafts and games. This next part happens almost every time, they pause and think. Then say, “Umm I might come tomorrow.” Nearly every time they come to VBS the next day and there starts a new relationship through Christ.

               In John 1 verses 43-51, Jesus comes to town. While he didn’t show up in a church van and no crowds met him, he does find one person Philip and says, “Follow me.” Philip follows Jesus. Knowing that Jesus is the one that Moses and the prophets wrote about, Philip tells his friend Nathanael. Nathanael was a bit doubtful so Philip says, “Come and see.” Once Philip meets Jesus, all doubt goes away and the new life in Christ begins with Philip, for Philip “…will see greater things than these.”

               Through baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are able to “come and see” Jesus. To experience His love and forgiveness in our lives. Through building relationships with people and especially people in Northern British Columbia, they too are able to “come and see” Jesus as God works through each of us to help reach all people. Pray that God can you use you today, to help others come and know that someday they “...will see greater things than these.” 

(For the full effect play the video while you read this blog)

On my way up to serve in northern British Columbia for most of July, I failed to make arrangements for a place to stop the first night.  Normally when I’ve traveled with my church from the Portland area, we would make arrangements to stay in Williams Lake at St. Johns Lutheran. But in my haste to get everything packed and things at home taken care of for the time I will be up north, I had forgotten to call ahead to Maureen Welke the host at St. Johns. Once I crossed the border I called Maureen but got no answer and I left a message. So I thought of a hotel but I would literally be sleeping and going. Then I thought, I could always sleep in the car in the church parking lot or just set my cot up next to the car and sleep outside but then I remembered the mosquitoes are much larger and more aggressive in Canada. Just around dinner, Maureen called. I mentioned that I was traveling by myself, ahead of the mission teams. I asked if the church would be open, there was a pause, “Just come and stay here”, was Maureen’s reply. “You mean at your house?” I asked. “Yes, we have an extra bed just come and stay here. We would love for you to stay with us”. The Welke’s house sat up on the hill with an amazing view of William’s Lake, similar to the view from the dinning hall at camp Lutherhaven in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The Welke's hospitality did not stop there; the next day was the 91^st William’s Lake stampede. Every morning of the stampede there is a cowboy breakfast, bacon is served with a side of eggs, hash browns, pancakes an­­­­­­­­­d coffee. Maureen and her husband Rick invited me to be their guest. 

The breakfast hit the spot but the atmosphere with live music and local folks was awesome. In the story of Mary and Martha, Mary was spending time talking with Jesus. Martha is busy getting everything ready for the guests that are about to come over. Martha perturbed with Mary for not helping, ask Jesus to make Martha help her. Jesus explains to Mary that Martha is doing the right thing, she is spending time listening and learning from the Savior. For many years, decades really St. Johns has hosted teams coming from the states. Most teams traveling from Oregon and Washington can make the trip in a long day. The church during a remodel, added showers in each of the bathrooms for the teams. I also found out they collect donations for treats for each team, watermelons from Saskatchewan, Dilly Bars from the local DQ, yes they have those up here. There is plenty of room and it’s a way to save money on a place to stay. Maureen and the many others that have hosted teams at St. Johns, are there to help teams to spend time teaching and loving others as Jesus did with Martha. 
         

This past May, I was blessed with my first trip to visit some of the LAMP communities in northern British Columbia. It was very surreal. It reminded me of the first time I learned how to drive a car. For years I sat in the passenger seat, I was familiar with the car and where we were driving. However, when I had to move into the driver’s seat, I was seeing and experiencing things from a new perspective. For years, I have been in the same community at the same time in July but this time I was there in May without my church family. The kids in the communities where in school and plants were still growing, unlike in July when kids have nothing to do and the plants are in full bloom. Another difference with this trip included visiting other communities and community leaders. If I could sum up my first trip with a picture, it would be this one. I love this picture. While visiting a band office, I was admiring the view of the mountains. As I drove around a corner, out of nowhere this carnival appeared. The lights, sounds of a traveling carnival, contrasted the natural beauty of the mountains in the background. I laughed twice and had to take a picture. I wish I had time to go, I think they had deep-fried Twinkies.

There were many highlights of the trip. However, meeting several of the community leaders was one of the main highlights. Nearly all of them have lived their entire lives in the Hazelton area. Their servant hearts humbled me. Some examples of the many ways the host serve in the community are; serving at the local food bank, providing blankets for homeless people near their house, and another minster was instant messaging a person who was trying to break from their past of being a gang member. God is at work in these communities but there is always more people stuck with the consequences of their sins, which is no different from myself. There is good news found Jesus’ death and resurrection. I know my sins are forgiven by the gift of Jesus Christ and because of this, I have hope that comes from God. Many people including those in the north, never get a chance to hear about this hope found in God’s forgiveness. Please continue to pray for all people including those in the north, that their hearts would be open to receive this message. Pray for people to come and serve in these communities. Like my first time driving, I loved visiting the communities and I cannot wait to go back.
        The last picture I would like to leave you with, is my time in Kitamaat Village. While making arrangements for a summer VBS, I asked our host if we could visit the local school. It was a very interesting looking and I wanted to know more about the building. The principle grcious enough to give us a tour and we discovered that the school building was designed in the shape of a salmon!

     As the tour went along, we came upon a language class where the students were learning the Haisla language. The language teacher stopped the class and invited us in to hear the students drum and sing in the Haisla language. We felt very welcomed and were privileged to have had this experience.

Welcome to my first blog. First I must warn you, I'm not gifted with writing. Second, I lack grammar. But I hope I can communicate about my work with LAMP and serving the first nation people of northern British Columbia.       The no lemits comes from my youngest son, Isaac. Like me, the kid can't spell. One night while playing on line video game (Overwatch) myself, my two sons and other friends were all finishing up a game. Isaac in the chat window typed, "no lemits" not only to our team could read it but the people we were playing with, which were from anywhere in the world could read it as well. "Isaac" I said, "what is 'no lemits'?" Isaac paused and realized what that he misspelled. "You know, no limits! Come on I can't spell" was his response. We all laughed and from then on joked with the no lemits phrase. Isaac even made a back ground for our phones with the "no lemits". As a follower of Jesus, I'm a lot like Isaac with his spelling (and mine), I can't quite get it right. My best efforts will always fall short. As much as I try to do my best, I some how mess up. According to Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Notice Paul (the author of Romans) didn't say some, or just the really bad people but all. But if you keep reading there is hope found in Romans 3:24 "grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 (this happens to be one of my favorite Bible verses). While God might not be able to help my spelling, He does free me from my sins. That knowledge of what God has done through his son Jesus and how much He loves me makes me want to share that knowledge and love with others. So here begins my next chapter in life, a missionary.     And I'm sure somewhere in my many blogs to come, I will write another blog and refer to the "no lemits" and how God has "no limits" in His love for us as well as God has "no limit" no how or where He can use us.        So for now, thank-you for being one of the first ones to read this. Or wow, you've made it all the way through my other blogs to read my very first one. No Lemits!