It has been a while since many of you have heard from me. My apologies as it has been a busy couple of months between family events, daughter graduating and preparing to be in northern BC for most of the summer. 

Here I am in my third week in Canada with my home church in Gitanyow. So far two other teams have come and gone and three more still to go. As always, I am doubly blessed —with what I get to do and with some amazing teams. All teams are well prepared and offer their own unique talents when it comes to teaching VBS. Each team also has their unique ways of ministry to their communities. From sport camps, women’s tea and other events, it’s been fun watching how each team connects with the youth and adults.

In the cross-cultural training LAMP offers, there is a section taught about time in First Nations communities. One of the points stressed is being flexible (something we western people can struggle with).  We knew coming into Gitanyow that the school’s floor was being replaced. What we didn’t know was that they would also be running wires for a new fire alarm system, that there was a health class being taught where we normally keep our supplies, a bingo night on Tuesday and a grad celebration on Friday. 

However, this is the 13th year in Gitanyow for Christ the Vine’s team!  We have learned to be “flexible”. Turns out we could use another classroom for storage. The bingo was cancelled so we could use the gym. Grad night would wait until we are done. And the group has invited the workers to eat meals with them, which has been a great opportunity to witness. 

Days before arriving, we found out there would be a soccer camp for children during VBS. We decided to have some people help with the camp, and we would still run VBS for the kids that did not want to play. As a result of the soccer camp, there are ideas already in mind for next year on considering the creation of a camp for children along with VBS. All things we learn when being flexible.

God calls us all to be flexible. In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul talks about being all things to all people. Meaning — when we are around different groups of people, we act according to their customs but keep our identity in Christ. “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them ...I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” 

Interested in learning more about being flexible in First Nations communities? Contact me, I’d love to share more. Want to experience being flexible? Join me with a group in the spring or summer and/or pray that God puts you in a situation that causes you to be flexible for the gospel.