Traveling

Yes, the train is really called "The Polar Bear Express" that goes from Cochrane to Moosonee!
I am so thankful for the Lord's trustworthiness throughout my trip. I was so blessed by the people I met and stayed with in Cochrane, Moosonee and Moose Factory! Most exciting is that we are able to send a team of Summer Missionaries to Moosonee this year too! We are also looking into a trip for January to do some training for parents, grandparents and children's ministry workers and maybe even do some children's outreaches further up the coast.

This is the street by the docks. Some interesting things I discovered:

• All the roads are dirt roads, except for a paved sidewalk in a few areas
• Everyone deals with dirt everywhere b/c of the roads, so you have indoor and outdoor shoes, even for church
• Nobody wears their seatbelt "there's no point and no laws about it" they say 

This is from Moosonee looking across to the island of Moose Factory. The only way across is by water taxi (or helicopter if you're trying to get to the hospital)

This is a water taxi! Nothing too fancy, but it worked. The ride is only about 7 min.

 This is the closest I've ever been to Polar Bears (in Cochrane)!

This was my big string of tickets to get from Cochrane to Port Sydney by bus. I left at 7:45 pm and got home at 4 am!!!

I don't want to leave!!!

David knew that I was terrified of going to Moosonee alone and we really didn't want to be apart for 6 days, so he was SO SWEET and made this incredibly amazing breakfast for me the day I had to leave.

On top of that, when we went out to the car I saw the other surprise he had made- a royal carriage ride in our grand pontiac...it felt grand with all the roses at least! =]

Arrival in Moosonee & Moose Factory

After staying overnight with the Gauchers (a French family) in Cochrane and getting acquainted with more of their family, I boarded the Polar Bear Express headed north to Moosonee. The ride was a little over 5 hours and quite bumpy as the frost is coming out of the ground now.

I was SO scared going into this trip- terrified to go alone, to find my way around, try to meet up with the right people, to know what to share in the Bible study I was asked to lead...the one good thing out of my fear is that I finally took it to the Lord and realized I couldn't do this on my own, it would only be in His strength! I am so amazed that He gave me peace before speaking last night. I had to laugh when I was introduced to the all Native church as "the little white lady".

It has been eye opening and heart breaking to see and hear about the problems that these communities face, especially the extremely high suicide rate. There are many young moms around too. I spent the day in Moose Factory with a pastor's family yesterday. Moose Factory is an island that you take a water taxi to and most everyone on the island is Native. I got to hear "How Great Thou Art" song in Cree yesterday! Very Cool!

Keep praying that God will open doors and the children will be eternally changed by Him!

Trillium Takeover

My friend Heather invited me over to see all the Trilliums behind their apartment. It was amazing!!! It was as far as you could see, almost like snow, all the beautiful Trilliums! Yay for the Ontario provincial flower! We were good and legal and didn't pick any either.