It is a difficult day of the year for me, the day after Christmas break. This is the day the kids go back to school, and work starts again. Most of the lights and Christmas decorations are put away until next season. The walls and rooms look empty and cold. The Christmas cookies are starting to get old, and well . . .I’ve had a few too many. Plus, it is dark, cold and rainy outside.

Christmas was good this year. My family and I enjoyed our time with other family members and friends. We did a lot, and a lot has happened. Despite only a few weeks into winter, I’m already looking forward to spring when signs of new life sprout from the trees and plants around my house.

I shared about my seasonal depression in my blog a year ago and encourage you to hit the back arrow to read the January 2018 post. In it, I offer a few tips on helping with seasonal depression. In this article, I would like to share some recent insights discovered with First Nations people in the North. I know others might have similar feelings and thoughts.

It’s easy to compare and feel as if someone else is living a life we wish we had, wouldn’t you agree? There are a number of studies, and information available about the negative consequences (lower self-esteem, anxiety, depression, etc.) of identifying ourselves with others via social media. And at Christmas time, in particular, comes the reminder of what people might be missing because of the loss of a loved one or not having enough money to buy presents or broken relationships.

Some of the posts I read on Facebook reflected on people’s disappointment with Christmas, that expectations were not met. Others reflected that Christmas is a reminder that they couldn’t be with their family due to separation/divorce. A few other posts shared that, without work, they were unable to travel to be with family or buy presents.

I started to feel a little guilty for two different reasons. First, I sympathize with their pain. It’s hard to go through a time of year when things are meant to be happy and uplifting knowing that others are suffering. Secondly, it is knowing that these people are likely missing the true meaning of what Christmas is about.

God made a promise to Adam and Eve. “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:16) God was talking to the serpent about sending His Son, Jesus, who would die upon the cross for our sins inherited from Adam and Eve because they listened to the serpent. Sin would be taken away so that we could have eternal life with God in heaven. This promise is something we seldom hear much about when the focus in our world during Christmas is on gift deals and places to shop.

The Christmas message is also something that people living in First Nations communities need to hear more often. Even though some have heard this message, it is easily forgotten when surrounded by hurt and hopelessness.  A little over a month from now, I plan to visit most of the communities I serve to offer hope found in Christ and make plans for Spring Fling trips in March when others will be coming with me to share lessons of faith with the children and encourage people in the community.

I’m also starting a new prayer campaign. One of the things that helps me when I travel alone in B.C. is knowing that I have people praying for me. So here is how you can help. I’m planning to send out a biweekly email for prayer requests. If you are like me, you get tired of all the emails, but I promise to keep it short -- just prayer requests.  If you are in need or know someone else in need of prayer, please let me know. I can have the LAMP staff pray for this during our weekly staff meetings online and/or put this on the prayer list. (Be assured that only first names are used.)

During what is often a dark and cold time of the year, both physically and emotionally, be at peace knowing that Jesus sympathizes with our pain; He became like us. But Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that Hope we have in our resurrection brings joy that we can share this Good News with others!

Happy 2020

Here are some highlights of last summer. It's not too late to consider signing up for a mission trip this coming summer, which LAMP celebrates 50 years in ministry.

Here is a video from a first year team in a brand new community. God gets all the glory but these two kids did an amazing job capturing their week through video.

In ministry, we vision, plan and then put a lot of effort into developing ministry programs. Our hope is that people who participate will grow and/or be encouraged in their faith. Often it involves hours and hours of preparation for these programs with much volunteer help. And yet, ministry often happens when you least expect or plan for it, sometimes right in the driveway.

Near the end of my time spent with a team before I headed to another community, ministry took place near the church entrance. A young man walked by. When I greeted him, he paused to ask what was going on.



We had just finished a community dinner. Kids were running around and several of the adults were talking in the rear of the church. There was still food on the table so I invited him in to have a meal. He said he had just eaten and then thanked me for “bringing a positive attitude into the community.”

This prompted me to say, “Well, that’s part of what we do. It’s where that positive attitude comes from that gives us a positive attitude.” He paused for a bit and commented something about him not having attended church in a while, that he was a pot smoker. His rationale was that “it was better than drinking.” I don’t remember exactly what he said next, but it was typical of a person when confessing that he/she has a drinking or drug problem -- the need to get “cleaned” up before going to church. Now, bear with me as I try to explain this next part.

I replied to his comment that I knew of several Christians who had smoked marijuana. I then shared that (if he had the time to hear our stories) he might be surprised how messed up some of us are, well, maybe I’m talking just about myself. When talking with anyone that has the idea he or she needs to “cleanup” their lifestyle before they can go to church, it’s easy to share that we are all in that same situation. We need Jesus to forgive our sins and be restored back to a relationship with God, knowing that the next day we might go back to our sinful ways. I explained to this young man that knowing what Christ did for me is what brings me that “positive attitude”!

This time, the young man paused longer to think. I asked if he wanted to come in, but he mentioned that it was too much noise. So I suggested he come back next year in the mornings or early afternoons when the group is usually hanging out and getting ready for the day. I know he will be back because he made a point to ask me my name. As I said, ministry happens when we don't expect it. Yet, God uses those times to create some of our most memorable moments.

That one person...

Each community has that one special person. Often, it’s an older gentleman that comes and visits our LAMP team around meal times, particularly in the evenings. Most of our older visitors share a story of how they ended up where they are today. Some have or are struggling with alcoholism. Others are aging and experiencing memory loss.

Nearly all of our visitors retell their stories over and over again. The members of the teams are very considerate and listen to our visitors’ stories, again and again. Without fail, the team members offer to share food or a meal and pray with their visitor, much like Braban is doing here.

 It’s hard. The team members want to help in some tangible way.  Often there is not much we can do except to pray and listen.

Several of our visitors speak about the “bad” that they have done.  Some of these people apologize for the choices they’ve made.  It’s a humbling reminder of the sinful world we live in and the consequences of our sinful decisions. I remind our visitors that we all have sinned and struggle with temptations and choices we’ve made.

I am grateful to be able to share the hope that we all have, that God loves us despite our sinfulness and forgives our sins when we ask Him.  “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NIV)

I am thankful for our teams of volunteer missionaries who show compassionate love and understanding towards our visitors that share his/her life story with us.  I also appreciate all of your prayers for us in the mission field as we, in turn, offer encouragement and pray for those in need.

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. 

Spring Fling 2019 Week 3

The final and last week of Spring Fling 2019, was awesome! One of the main reasons for such an amazing week is Catherine from the Edmonton LAMP office joined Kathleen and I for the week. Catherine combined with Kathleen as if they were a team of four people. Everything ran very smoothly, and there was a ton of energy in the room. We also stayed at Vicar Travis’s place with his cat Astrid.

Since school was back in session, we held VBS at the church from 3:30 -5:30 pm. We averaged around ten kids which was due, in part, to Catherine and Kathleen inviting a homework club playing at the playground on Monday. Many of the kids weren’t familiar with the Bible, so we had to take extra time to explain things.

We had assistance from Redeemer Lutheran in Kitimat through Vicar Travis and a member, Carol, who helped at VBS and another member, Ellen, who made cookies for the kids. It was wonderful to have their help and support. After a dinner break, the ladies held a women’s tea on Monday and Tuesday night. Each night there were different and new ladies that had not attended from previous years.

“But wait, there is more” -- Because of my time volunteering at JANT, I recognized most of the ladies that attended. The last two nights of our time in Kitamaat Village, we were invited to help prepare vegetables for the stew on Wednesday for a healing feast held on Thursday.

Back in October, a young man had a major accident working on the new board walk around part of the bay. As a way to get rid of his bad luck, the community held a cleansing feast. After the meal, one of the men from the village performed a smudging ceremony for this young man and his family. At the end of the ceremony, a prayer was offered. I was glad to hear the prayer was to Jesus thanking Him for life and His love. Everyone in attendance observed and received a bath towel as a way to wipe away our tears. The next morning, the three of us left early to fly back to our respective homes.

There is already talk of the next spring fling. I am hoping most everyone will return and hopefully the new groups serving in B.C. will join us.