Are you interested in joining us this summer July 2024?
We are hosting an info session after service at 1pm on Feb 4 at Cornerstone Church.
No commitment needed at the time. This is for people to hear what we do, when we are going, and to consider going with us for the week of July 22-27, 2024
Well, thank you for following along. We come to the end of our mission trip to Northwind Family Ministries in Thunder Bay for 2023. We are truly thankful that you took the time to read and follow, to pray and support us in this journey.
Today is Saturday and we depart Sunday. Please pray for
- team safety as we fly out on two different flights
- 2 people fly out on Tuesday with some time to explore Northern Ontario
- 3 people are driving back, starting Sunday
Today we took some time to tour the city and take in the scenery. We went to the Terry Fox memorial, and Sleeping Giant. Had a picnic lunch at the Giant and spent the afternoon at the beach or taking a hike. With a group this large it's always difficult to get around - but we managed! We were separated at the park once as one group went one way and the others went to a different area. We did manage to find each other eventually though!
After a couple hours we had to make our way back to the city. We wanted a team dinner and to invite the staff who have been serving us all week to enjoy a dinner with us - so we were able to see the offices and space of NWFM in Thunder Bay. We ate dinner at the space where they hold the Gathering, and also Next Steps. NWFM is well known in the area - and when we arrived, those who were street adjacent nearby stopped to see if something was going on. Unfortunately not, but we did let them know about The Gathering which happens Sunday nights.
After dinner we did a quick trip to Kakabeka Falls - it is pretty impressive! One thing I have reflected upon all week is the idea that we come out to nature and we admire the beauty of it all. We did not create it. We did nothing to make it like that - God made all that we see and enjoy. We look for ways to get out of the city and get out to nature. Isn't that amazing.
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
Then sings my soul my Saviour God to Thee
How Great Thou Art!
I learned something new today. First, Fort Hope, which is known as Eabametoong First Nation is twinned with Markham! You can read about it here. What I do not know is what does that actually mean or do for them? This is the community that was evacuated due to their water plant having been damaged in a fire (arson) and the community has no clean water. Imagine if that happened back home. The outcry! The demand for immediate action! Yet the community did not get evacuated for at least 4 days after. They are still moving people now, even after 2 weeks. They are moving people as far away as Niagara Falls! It does not make any sense. If we have a partnership, then what tangible support is happening between the two? How can we as the city of Markham help and support? I'm not sure - but it is something to ponder.
We end with thanksgiving for the work done, and want to remember all that has transpired. We want to pray for each of the children and hope that Northwind is able to be supported by other teams and that these children grow and thrive.
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| Team Photo atop Terry Fox Monument |
Sorry - been a very busy two days!
Every group has 5 stages it goes through - forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning. We were definitely into the performing stage on Thursday. The groups were just going along well. From concerns we had about the boys running all around, girls getting into small fights with each other, kids feeling home sick, and team members figuring out their roles, we have all move into the performing stage where we have kids knowing and following cabin and camp rules, kids all getting along, and every team we have just performing and doing their tasks with speed and energy! We have sorted out the routines and kids are having a blast! We have staff devo's at 7am, with staff breakfast at 7:30. and kids arrive for 8am. Guess what.. the boys' cabin are the first to arrive, usually by 7:45am!! Friday they came at about 7:35am! All the kids have really gelled with their cabin leaders and everyone still seems to be getting along! There are no complaints from the kids!
The Chapel time is also going smoothly with our talking about Jesus on Thursday, followed by redemption on Friday. Kids are engaged. They're asking questions. It's amazing watching them learn and listen. They're singing camp songs with enthusiasm (this is a repeat after me song!) and they're humming/singing the songs throughout the day!
What's really good in all of this is that they're making connections. There is space and time to hear stories and share stories. We know that some have difficult family backgrounds. We know some have trauma. But we are here to support and love on them. You can see that they are more comfortable with these strange people from Markham :-)
In sharing the message of Jesus, and discussions in the cabins, all the boys accepted Jesus as their friend and Saviour. Two of the girls also did this! Some were rededications, and others were first time. It is an honour to be able to share in this way, sowing seeds of the Gospel.
Friday was the day to get ready to go home. Some did not want to go home. It took longer to get to things because they were tired and I suspect also they wanted to stay longer. The night before we were up to midnight - movie night! With our theme of Living Water, we watched Finding Nemo! We had a fun time!
After breakfast kids had to pack. We loaded them into cars at 10:30 and drove kids back to the housing areas. Having been there before reminded me of last year's trip as well. I am so glad that Cornerstone connects in a long term way with Northwind so that we can connect year after year. It is a testament to Northwind because as we pulled in, and they saw the Northwind van, the workers there asked if we needed an extension cord expecting it was another play day!
Now onto the new adventures...
At 3pm, we had elders from the town of Fort Hope, who were evacuated a week ago, come to spend some time at The Cove. Why were they evacuated? Because their water treatment plant had a fire and there was no safe drinking water there! For a town of about 2000, the first few hundred were evacuated about 4 days after the fire, while others are still waiting almost 2 weeks later. I cannot believe this is happening in Canada! It's shameful that we can give so much attention to something like a football player having a heart attack on the field, yet we seem to ignore the plight of indigenous peoples. So these elders were so cute! A school bus came with about 20 elders from the community. Some had walkers or wheelchairs or cains. We shared stores. We asked them about their lives, what happened and so on. They took boat rides on the lake and came back with beaming smiles! Others sat around the camp fire and enjoyed some tea and bannock. Dinner was a simple spaghetti and salad. Around 6:30 they headed out - imaginging having to live at the motel/hotel for a long time and you have nothing else to do. I heard there were some 400 young children at the hotel, with nothing to do. Come on Canada. We have to do better!
The youth took the opportunity to dive into the lake, while the adults may have had a shower or a rest. At 8pm we gathered for a team debrief. We shared stories from the week. What impressed us the most. One word. We praised God, we laughed and cried. We will remember these children. I hope that we can see reconciliation in our lifetime - reconciliation with the Indigenous, and reconciliation with God. We have an opportunity to restore the intended gospel the way God intended it. We have the opportunity to serve people.
Tomorrow is Saturday and we will take some time to tour and see the beauty of nature here in northern Ontario. See you all soon and thank you for your support.
It's Wednesday and half way through the week! As of writing, we are well past the halfway mark now! Our time moves quickly here during a mission trip - pretty typical because we're so busy all the time!
Plesae continue to pray as one of our team members is still not feeling well. Not COVID but she is not able to participate. We still have a few campers who are homesick and also a few cases of lice to deal with.
What to say.... we have definitely made connections with the kids and are all having a good time. We are into the performing stage of groups. Yes we still have a few logistical things to work out, but for now, we are moving ahead! Kids are kids no matter where you go. You can see the needs in some kids and the way they respond to things definitely is an indicator to how they respond to things in life at home too.
I know that we've made connections because many act just like the kids I have back at work - and you know how I know? They ask me the same questions - like how old am I... but my favourite is... Why are you BALD??
They are walking around singing some camp songs we taught them (and Bethany, if you're reading this, the earworm song you put into our heads has been fully passed along, along with some sily actions) They're walking along singing it and humming it... and so are the team members :-) Tomorrow we will teach them the game we learned too... the one all about science (ask us about it... won't write it here!)
We have had some amazing testimonies from team members. I am proud of each and everyone who has shared so far becuase you've been open, honest, and transparent. The kids looks like they have grown and learned from each of you. It is so good to see they connect with your stories.
Friday a new opportunity has arisen to serve the indigenous elders from a community that had to be evacuated. They do not have clean water and their current location is not livable - so until this can be cleaned up, they have been evacauted and are living in the city at a motel. I cannot believe that we are in Canada and that our First Nations people do not have access to their land and homes and need to be evacuated like this. We would not stand for this back in the GTA... and yet this happens here. Something has to chnage.
Will post some photos later of our adventures today - but for now time to sleep.
As I write this, it is actually now Wed morning. It has been a busy day and also a very eventful evening. First full day with campers. Up at 7am and breakfast at 8. Tomorrow we will start with team devotions at 7am and staff breakfast at 7:30 with campers at 8. As always, the food is amazing - even if we are also keeping it simple for the campers
We have 3 activity blocks daily. Today we had arts and crafts, water sports and swimming, and rock climbing. It was fun for everyone! Campers were excited and there was a great buzz around the camp - and I don't mean the mosquitoes! We can't share many photos as we do not have permission to post pictures of campers. We can share more when we are home.
We did a fun game for a group activity tonight - cabin leaders and our youth LIT went to hide in the forest and around the property. Campers had to go find them! Points were awarded for each cabin leader or LIT they found! There will be a prize at the end of the week - and points can be earned for many things such as being on time, being helpful etc.
In the morning we did chapel with the kids. The theme today, still based on living water, was based on creation in Genesis 1 and 2. Sang a couple of songs and just had a good time. This tied in nicely with two team testimonies shared - and they were also based on their experiences in life and connected to Gen 1 & 2! Amazing!
We finished off with a camp fire (yes! fire ban was lifted here!) and kids were off to bed around 9pm. It was still very bright out. We are seeing campers who are feeling home sick and so trying to help them process as best as possible and keep striving to make it through the week. We are seeing a couple kids not feeling well - are they sick or is this also anxiety and home sickness? We have found a couple cases of lice and also one of our team (youth) is not feeling well. Please pray for the health of the team and campers. Lice can be very sensitive to deal with - and so if they would like us to help with that we can, but we cannot force that upon any child; and given residential schools we would not want to separate, isolate and take away kids from others. Pray for our team members as sometimes just the busy-ness of the work can get us out of routine and feeling sick too. We've tested for COVID and all negative. But feeling sick is never good.
Tomorrow will be a new day. We have more adventures in store and maybe even something different on Friday! Stay tuned! Thank you for reading and praying.
It's here! It is Monday and today the campers arrive. It's been a long day and we are a little confused as we do not have a clear schedule of what to do and expectations.
So for some, we move into alternate sleeping arrangements. We are clearing out one of the cabins so that the boys arriving today will have a space to be. Bera and Bonita have opened up their home to allow 5 of us to sleep in their living room. The other house where their son and daughter in law are renting, will also have a few sleepers in the living room - but as they have cats, some of us (myself included) needed an alternate sleeping arrangement. Everything is a little up in the air as it also depends on how many campers we have. We are expecting about 2 girls cabins worth and one boys cabin. It will depend on how many decided to come. We already heard some were sick and so they are rescheduling to the next camp.
It's an amazing testimony of how Northwind has built relationships with the parents and community. These families trust them so much that they are willing to let their kids go for a week of camp; especially with the past history of the church and residential schools.
Perhaps what has been most difficult is scheduling all the team members into jobs and knowing what to do. Without clear direction we lose focus and don't know what is coming up. So tonight Gen and Denise were able to carve out a schedule for the days to come.
The campers arrived and they looked excited! Please pray that they do have a good time, and that they also get to experience Jesus through their interactions with us and one another. We have many activities they can participate in - Archery, Crafts, Rock Wall Climbing, Paintball, and water sports. We were hoping and praying for a lifeguard for the week; they managed to secure someone just for Tuesday; so all water sports will take place only on Tuesday. We all went through some basic safety and discussions about each of the activities.
At night we had our first chapel session. An opportunity to share the theme for the week, which was on living water (John 4). Shared some simple worship and camp songs, which many knew. We had a "campfire" (there is a fire ban on here in Northern Ontario and so you can see how we managed a fire in this ban)
We have much more in store for the days to come. Hoping that everyone gets a good night's rest and enjoys their time here at camp!
We have made it! Our team is at the Cove. We are settling in and making temporary sleeping arrangements as we get ready for the campers.
The team that flew in got oriented today and enjoyed the land and all that is here. Today we did our safe people and places training. Highly important when working with vulnerable people. Essential for running the camp.
We had a bit of a rain storm to end the day. The mosquitos are out in full force tonight. Pray for tomorrow as it’s our first day with the kids. Expecting at least 20 campers. Maybe more. Always ensuring at least 2 adults are with kids at all times. We are here to serve and be a blessing.
Hope to update more tomorrow!!
