July 14, 2008 - Day THREE

After a night of resting up our muscles from team building, we woke up to another full day. We we're all excited to see what God had in store for us at the Summer Kids' Program. We started off meeting J, L & G and after a speedy planning meeting, we were pleasantly surprised to have "I" join us for lunch. I am overwhelmed by our guest's simple nature and how God has completely met him where he is. Everyday (yes, even in the rain) we see him or his brother riding their bikes back and forth for kilometres, always with a smile & without a care, yet somehow God always provides for them.

Highlights from the first day with the kids:
- met the first group of kids who arrived by following the Youth workers truck to the centre
- went over rules
- batting practice with Ryan - all the boys we're so excited
- weiner roast - more kids joined as they saw the commotion

'What's for dinner?'
- prepared dinner for old and new friends, all 30+ of us
- challenged by a moment of worry for D and his "situation" that was reassured by a time of prayer
- fishing with friends and Ron's guarantee still intact (Ryan guarantees that ANYONE can catch a fish with him when the fish are biting OR it's dinner / lunch on him)

Most challenged
If I'm here to just serve & love the Lord, it means the need to just serve & love the people of Longlac. I often find myself wanting to try and solve the symptoms of their brokeness - health programs that would help with rehab & type 2 diabetes prevalence. The addictions, broken families, poor health & sadness are all symptoms of the brokeness and the suffocating hopelessness. Instead the challenge is to love in order to heal before solutions are of any use.

posted by Nadine


J (summer student) on the right and a few of the youth enjoying a weiner roast


Getting their sticks ready for a roast


Serving the people of Longlac - a few of the 30 guests we had over for dinner


Cheers!


Elaine taking part in the community fishing (and fulfilling the ron gaurantee)

July 13, 2008 - Day TWO

Praise God for another day and for the opportunity to Love the people of Longlac! The day started off with a challenging message from Pastor Roland. It wasn’t like the services at T3C, but experiencing another kind of worship and service with fellow brothers and sisters encouraged and reminded me that there are Christians all over the world just like us who gather and praise the same God we do.

In the afternoon, we had guest “E” join us for lunch. What stuck out on my mind today was the priceless smile on his face when he scored a touchdown while playing football. His face just lit up with such a warm glow that it briefly reminded me of the smiles and good times that is promised ahead of us. We spent the rest of the afternoon buying groceries and preparing for the community BBQ that we will be holding on Tuesday. At dinner time we had a number of guests over for a night of fellowship and planning. It was wonderful to have gotten the chance to connect with a number of new and old friends. I have come to realize that there is still so much we can do for God with our time and lives and I encourage you as well to step out of your comfort zones.

For me, joining the T3C Longlac Missions Team 2008 has become a step in the right direction that God has tugged on my heart for the past few years to serve Him again. I am still uncertain how God will use me during the time up here, but I know that we are all excited for the things that God will be doing in Longlac in the next few weeks. We look forward to this week where we will be working with the kids summer program, working with the youth through a volleyball camp, and praying for people and having spirit lead conversations. Bill Hybels in his book “Just Walk Across the Room” talked about how walking across the room and simply talking to somebody can potentially change their lives forever. He emphasizes the leading of the Holy Spirit and stepping out the “Circle of Comfort” to encounter fruitful conversations. God is challenging us to be bold and to reach out to those we continue to meet.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support! =)

Posted by Ryan


Preparing for the community BBQ


The ladies


Wilson pumping us up with his special "steroids" mix


Tonight's T.E.A.M. building activity including Pastor Roland - Lunges, Squats, Good Mornings and Pushups!

July 12, 2008 - Day ONE

We’ve arrived safe and sound! After flying to Thunder Bay (1.5 hours) and driving (3.5 hours)… we arrived in Longlac at 3:30pm today!! Since the day started for most of us at 4:30am, we’re pretty tired. But we’re filled with a sense of anticipation of what God has in store for us. It’s becoming our team’s method of operation to experience God through listening for His leading and then living it out… to learn what it means to be Christ’s presence.
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

Dear Friends,

Now that summer is here and T3C’s short-term missions trip to Longlac draws near, we would like to take this opportunity to share our hearts for Longlac. This year, Nadine Chang, Wilson Chung, Ada Ho, Helen Kao, Daniel Leung, Taketo Mori, Ryan Ng, Elaine Pang, Dominic Wen and Shirley Wong have been led by God in different ways to follow Him to Longlac. In 2004, T3C answered the call to love the people of Longlac Reserve #58 and encourage the Christians there. Since then, in 2006, God opened doors for T3C to build relationships with Ginoogaming #77, a neighbouring reserve to Longlac #58 within the town of Longlac. This year, we will be going as two teams: Team A (July 12-20) and Team B (July 19-27) and will be primarily with Ginoogaming #77 with a burden and vision to love the TOWN of Longlac. We hope to do this through working with the kids summer program, conducting a volleyball camp with the youth, praying for people and having spirit-led conversations.
Our greatest need remains your prayer and interest and we invite you to join us in lifting up the town of Longlac to the Lord.

Thank you for your continued support, and please join us as your feel led to pray.

With hearts pursuing Him,
T3C Longlac Missions Team 2008


Prayer Requests
OPEN HEARTS – The Lord has sown many seeds in the town of Longlac, please pray that doors continue to open and that we are sensitive and embrace the opportunities that are prepared.
COMPASSION – As Jesus as our example of utmost compassion, please pray that God transforms us each day as such that those we meet see nothing short of the love of God for them.
SPIRIT LED – As we plan, make decisions, act, speak, and pray, beforehand and while we are there, please pray that each step is led and protected by the Holy Spirit.
TEAM UNITY – As we go as two teams united in Christ and purpose, please pray that we will continue to have unity of vision, accountability, and encouragement from one another.

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord His God.
Psalm 146:5