When we got off the plane in Thunder Bay, the first face we saw was an old friend, D†. He needed a lift back to Longlac, but I was slightly hesitant as I wasn’t sure about whether we had enough space. But after thinking through it, we had a sense of peace that we could and should drive him back… and because we took this opportunity to listen and live it out, we were blessed to hear his testimony and how God was changing him. D was someone that I’d met about 3 years ago on a previous trip to Longlac. At that time he was just starting to get his life back in order and Mike, Dominic and I talked to him about Jesus Christ and what he believed. I remember praying that seeds would be sown through that conversation. And he remembers that conversation vividly as well. It’s hard now to believe that all these years later, he is a transformed person. He is a growing Christian who strives to live in favour with God and man. While he still struggles with issues from his past (actually that’s why he was in Thunderbay, he was dealing with an issue that had been troubling him for years), there is definitely the mark of discipleship in his life. He thinks different. He values different things. And because of these changes… he lives differently. It was such an encouragement to see these marked changes in his life. It’s the knowledge that God is indeed working in Longlac.
It was great rolling into Longlac and seeing familiar faces. We saw Pastor Rolland and his daughter F and it was awesome connecting again. Tonight we reacquainted ourselves with some of the ppl from the reserve and we spent some time together just chatting and fishing off this bridge on #77 reserve. I also talked to Emily for the first time since the passing of Gilbert. I couldn’t help but once again admire her courage and continuing zest for life. She’s such a wonderful lady.
For me, there’s a partnership and relationship that is and has been developing throughout the past year and it is so exciting to be a part of. This is marked by how ppl talk to us, plan with us and even how one lady changed her vacation dates so she’d be back on when we were in town. These are some of the many ways that we’ve been encouraged and shown how God’s plan is unfolding.
Speaking of plans, tomorrow we’ll be meeting with some of our friends from #77 to plan out how our week’s going to look. Looking forward to see how the Summer Kids’ Program and Youth Volleyball Program is going to work out.
Thanks for reading and tracking our week with us… we feel so encouraged to have our church behind us, praying for us, and sending us††.
~ Posted by Daniel
† Just for people’s privacy, we won’t be posting everyone’s complete names
†† Just a special thank you to that family that sent us off with three packs of special homemade premixed cookie batter
Our first meal together on the way up to Longlac
Faith and Wilson share a picture and a BIG fish together
Who knew fishing with the people and kids up here could be used as an awesome tool for ministry?
Longlac
1 comment:
hah that is my mom
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