There and Back Again: Leaf Rapids, Summer 2022
Thanks, Covid -- we waited two-plus years for our mission trip to Leaf Rapids via LAMP (Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots). St Aidan’s generously donated food, clothes, and money, and we are grateful to the Diocese for the $3500 burse for this trip.
On August 6, 2022, our team: two families, one with a trio of young’uns, the other triplet teenagers, and four other adults piled into three SUVs along with food, bbq necessities, VBS materials, sports equipment, crochet wool, books and Bibles and clothes (ours, and to distribute). The 10-hour drive meant biffy breaks, leg stretches, and meal stops, so we overnighted in Thompson before heading to Leaf, wanting to be there!
Four whirlwind days of meeting people, sports activities with the youth, meals, Sunday service with Pastor Abbey at the Pentecostal church, Bible lessons with videos and crafts with the children, evening Bible study and tea with the ladies (and crochet lessons), fishing excursions for the men, and suddenly we hit the last day with a bbq and clothing distribution. We debriefed and prayed each evening for the children we ministered to, the community and its challenges, growing in the Spirit as a team. Pastor Abbey, who knows and loves the people, brought valuable insights regarding the community and taught us much. We learned much about ourselves, too.
And suddenly, back along Highway 6, with much to consider, and with a desire to return, summer of 2023.