For the past several springs, we have been conducting a program called Spring Fling. Except for the years during COVID, we have been going into communities for a one to three-day VBS program since 2018. Each year, we have been going into different communities with different team members and serving a variety of people. Most of the time, we travel north near the end of March. However, due to Easter and people’s schedules, we found ourselves leaving much later this year, from April 15th to 17th. We served in three different communities: Gingolx, Laxgalts’ap, and Hazelton. Like most trips, communication and spreading the word were slow. So…I doubted God, a mistake I shouldn’t have made.

Day One: Gingolx

I advised our Spring Fling team, including volunteer missionary Karen Bergstreiser, missionary deacon Michael Gillingham, Pastor Joel Held, and volunteer missionary Luke Mayan, not to expect a large number of children. I also instructed them to have backup plans ‘B’ and ‘C’ ready in case no kids showed up. However, God demonstrated He was in control, and on the first day in Gingolx, we ended up with seventeen children!  We ran out of craft supplies and snacks, but our amazing team quickly adapted and found ways to make everything work. 

Day Two: Laxgalts’ap

The next day, we arrived in Laxgalts’ap, and the team joked with me about my doubting God, as I explained to them that it had been five years since a team had last visited this community. When we arrived, we found the church doors locked, so we had to wait at the government office until someone came to unlock them.

Although we saw children around the community, no one came when we first started our VBS. However, one girl eventually came in, and soon after, another three children followed. Before we knew it, there were twelve kids in total! This time, we had enough craft supplies and snacks for everyone.

Pastor Joel from Riverside, California, will be taking his church to this community.  He was able to tour the place where his team will stay, prepare meals, and see the church. 

Day Three: Hazelton

The next day, we traveled to Hazelton to support a group of adults attempting to engage with the youth in their community. So far, it has been a struggle. We tried to put on a BB gun shoot with one of the missionaries I know in the area. In the past, he has had good turnouts for these events, but unfortunately, no kids or youth showed up this time. However, we did spend time talking around the campfire with a retired missionary who served among indigenous people in camps close to the northern territories. We also discussed the possibility of organizing another youth event this summer when the team from Yuma is serving in Hazelton. 

We then headed over to Pastor Bart Metcalf’s church, who previously served as the BC missionary to LAMP. Bart conducts a time of gathering on Fridays, featuring music and Bible study. It was great to be with Bart and his congregation.

Since I have been conducting the Spring Fling trip, it accomplishes several purposes. First, it teaches the children about Jesus. Second, it helps the teams prepare their plans and details for their summer ministry, and the children to understand that we will be returning soon. Third, a benefit of these trips is the chance to meet and connect with people in the community. In both Gingolx and Laxgalts’ap, we met adults who wanted to know more about our work and how they could help. Both of these adults offered to help spread the word during the summer and plan to be there to support us. 

As always, I am humbled by God, and I am blessed to serve alongside so many wonderful people. It is also a blessing to serve year after year with volunteer missionaries who make the commitment to serve every summer. I look forward to the summer when all the teams gather to teach about Jesus in each of their communities.

On April 27 -30, I attended the Youth and Family conference at Camp Lutherhaven in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, put on by the LCMS NW District. For the third time in a row, I got a cold before attending, yuck. The presenter was Deaconess Rhoda Schuler, ThD Professor Emerita, of Concordia University, St. Paul. Dr. Schuler did a wonderful job with her presentation on our baptismal identity and exploring interactive Scripture study methods. It was also nice to see so many young DCEs coming into our district. I was one of those old guys who went to bed at 10 pm instead of staying up to 1 am in the morning.