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.