Hallelujah, Your Love Makes Me Sing!

We are so blessed to have another day to serve one another. The kitchen team has been serving us form the kitchen on a daily basis, and we are so thankful for them. 

The Wonderful Kitchen Team

Today, the worship team and 7 other brothers and sisters joined them in "native worship" at the tent meeting. It was a wonderful opportunity to experience and embrace another culture's way of worshipping the same God! They will be serving at the tent meeting this Friday as well.

The Worship Team

Tent meeting worship

Furthermore, the renovation team has continued to install the floor tiles in the main dining hall and common area. As one body, we hope to continue to work together. Please continue to pray for their safety and physical strength as they continue to work on renovating the lodge. 

The Renovation Team

Lastly, the children's ministry has two days left for the children's program. There has been 30 kids who have come consistently on a daily basis. They have been learning 4 songs to sing at the tent meeting this saturday after "Super Saturday" which is a day full of games, snacks, prizes and tons of fun prepared by the team for the kids to partake in. Please continue to pray for the hearts of the children, and for the team as they get ready for the big day!

The Children's Ministry

Blessings,

JSTM 2013

Glory to God Through Works

A short update on what has been going on at the Gabriel Lodge and Mistissini:

The renovation team has been fixing and designing new things around the lodge. We have been blessed with brothers who serve selflessly, always putting others first and themselves last. As you can see in the photos below, they worked on the bathroom today. To see that this group of men would sacrifice time, cleanliness and energy to go down to dirtier places to fix and build facilities for us to use is amazing. Best of all, they do it humbly, in remembrance of who they serve.

Brother Sam Mo renovating the bathroom

Ernest gives a child his jacket while walking in the rain

Secondly, the children's ministry were able to reach 30 children today. Because many of the kids were already familiar with the team, they warmed up quickly when playing games. After games, they followed the leaders to learn new songs, actions and lyrics. Then, they made crafts and recited their daily bible verse. Although it began to rain, we are thankful for the providence of the tent to work under.

The children's ministry

The children watching the skit

Game time

Craft time with the kids!

After a days work, the team came back to the dinner table to enjoy some pork belly soup, curry chicken and pike prepared by the wonderful kitchen team. We are so thankful to have them cook a ready meal for us to come back to each day!






JSTM 2013

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."- Matthew 5:16

God is Good, All the Time

God is good, all the time- and there's no denying that with what we have experienced so far. 

Today after breakfast, Pastor Enoch & Frieda shared stories of God’s works and miracles in their lives during their time in Chibougamou. One of the stories that they shared about truly reflected the grace and provided by God, even when we expect the worst in situations.

There was one day where Frieda was cleaning up the bible school. However, someone had "conveniently" left some garbage (consisting of fish) at the lodge. It left a horrible odour lurking around the lodge, so Frieda decided to light a candle in the living room beside the kitchen at noon. However, after cleaning up, she totally forgot about it and went home at 4pm. She didn’t realize that she lad left the candle burning over night until the next morning  when she woke up! At this point, Frieda had expected the lodge to have burned down. However, when she arrived back at the bible school with Pastor Enoch, they discovered that the candle was still burning with the last bit of wax left! Praise the Lord for his grace, where even when we expected the worst, he still provided the best.

Today, the Children's Ministry had their first day of camp in Mistissini in the afternoon! We are so thankful for the tent that was built yesterday and good weather as well. About 25 children showed up to camp to sing songs, play games, watch skits and participate in small competitions- more children are expected to come throughout the week. The theme for camp this year is "The Armour of God", derived from Ephesians 6:10-20. Hopefully, by the end of the week they will have memorized the theme verse, "Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” - Ephesians 6:11

The children!

Worship & the Skit!

Learning about the armour of God!

Playing games :)

Furthermore, evening worship took place at the very first day of the tent meeting tonight! The worship team consisting of 7 members, a supporting mother and Pastor Enoch went to worship the lord through music and testimonies. The theme of the tent meeting this year is "The Stormbreaker". It presents the difficulties, challenges and brokenness that form "storms" in each of our lives. It reveals that we are all broken people living lives that are not perfect. However, the best part of having faith in Christ is knowing that our God is the Lord Almighty, who is loving and has the authority over all storms. It is Him that ultimately carries us though all storms!

Worship at the tent meeting

The Perch River Tent Meeting

As the week continues, continue to pray for the fruit of the ministry.

1. Praise the Lord for a great day of ministry and the opportunity to build up closer relationships with brothers and sisters.

2. Thank God for healing those who were injured and sick. We also thank God for great weather and safety on the road.

3. The Children's program will drive to Mistissini with 25 people in 5 cars (with some people who are interested in watching how the program is run) to continue today's program. Please pray for safety while driving and when playing with the children. Pray for more children to come and hear the Gospel, suitable weather and teamwork.

4. Worship team has two more times left to share worship music at the tent meeting in Mistissini- Wednesday and Friday night. Pray that God will be the centre of our worship at all times as we share what he has done in our lives through music.

5. Pray for safety and unity for the renovation team who is fixing a lot of stuff around the Gabriel Lodge. They have been installing toilets, fixing slanted floors and more!

6. Pray for the kitchen team who is so dedicated to serve the team in feeding physical bodies while satisfying our taste buds! WIthout them, we wouldn't have the strength carry on with our other ministries!

Blessings,

JSTM 2013
"For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."- Psalm 100:5

Worshipping on the Sabbath

Good morning!

This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it! We are so thankful for another day where we are able to worship God in different ways. Today, our team split into two groups for several reasons.

The first group, which consists of members who have never been on this missions trip will be going to Ouje-Bougoumou to join the worship service in the reserve located in the youth centre. There was a baby dedication and feast as well, which was definitely a great experience! 

New member visit Ouje-Bougoumou!

New Members outside the Youth Centre for the Baby Dedication

Inside the Youth Centre

The mother and her child

The family of the baby!

The feast at the baby dedication

Checking out the interior of one of the lodges in Ouje

The second group, which consists of members who have been to Ouje-Bougoumou in the past years, stayed at the Gabriel Lodge for worship. During this time, Peter Lui gave a brief talk on JSTM and a current update on the missions trip. 

Peter Lui

Morning Worship

Peter speaks to the team

In the afternoon, the renovation team and some younger brothers went to Mistissini to help the natives to set up a tent for this week’s children program. Originally, the renovation team intended to install the floors of the big tent used for the tent meeting. However, Pastor Harry noticed that the trailer from the previous year used for the children's ministry was too small. As a result, he deliberately bought in 60" tent for the children's program, and so the renovation team ended up setting that up instead. Praise the Lord for providing resources for the ministry!

Setting up the tent

Continuing set up....

... almost done!

All done! :)

In addition, some sisters took several flyers to invite the children of Misitissini to join our full week of children's' program beginning monday. We are thankful for the opportunity to freely reach out to the community that is receptive to what we have to share with them!

The Children's Ministry prepares for the following week!

As the week continues, please continue to pray for us! Please pray for:

1. Safety, health & healing- there are a few minor injuries that happened before the trip and during the trip, lots of bad mosquito bites, and some members began to feel ill.

2. Protection- the renovation team will be doing plenty of physical labour, so please pray for safety and protection over them!

3. Safe driving and transportation- the worship team and children's ministry will be going to Mistissini at night, and the travel for one round trip is about 2 hours. Please pray for safety and fruitful use of the time spent in the car

4. Physical and mental strength- although we are serving, we realize that we cannot solely reply on our own strength. We are dependant on his mercy and grace to give us the passion and strength to continue to serve Him!

5. Fruitful relationships- as we bond as a team, may we spur one another in love and patience. May the Lord open up the hearts on the native people as we begin to develop connections with them.

6. Appropriate weather- it has been raining since the afternoon. Pray that the Lord will provide us with weather that each ministry may work effectively in. There is also some leaking in the lodge and small houses. May we have faith in the Lord's providence for the weather on this missions trip!

7. Pastor Enoch just got a call this morning that his father's 6th sister passed away in HK. Pray for his children and this opportunity for Pastor Enoch's cousin (children of his aunt) to return to Christ.

Samuel holds a fish caught by Paul Siu!

Prepared for a bonfire, but it began to rain :(

Blessings,

JSTM 2013

"Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.  He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak.  Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up.  But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:28-31

Thankful for a Safe Arrival

Praise the Lord! 

JSTM 2013 has safely arrived at the Gabriel Lodge on Saturday, July 27th. The team left SCAC on Friday around 9pm. After 1200 km, 3 stops and 15 hours of driving, we arrived in Chibougamau and were greeted with open arms by Rev. Enoch Hall and Mrs. Frieda Hall. 

The Gabriel Lodge

We are so thankful for each member of the team- everyone was either cooking, setting up tables or moving baggage, equipment and materials into the Gabriel Lodge! The kitchen team made fried udon for the whole team, and it was delicious! We were able to fellowship with one another during lunch, getting to know one another a bit more than before.

Un-Packing the Trailer

Dining Hall

Kitchen Team Cooking

The team enjoying a meal together!

Moreover, we are so thankful for the beautiful weather! As you can see, there are clear skies and a bright sun. It is perfect weather for each team to prepare for the following week. 

The renovation team has gone to buy materials for fixing windows at the Gabriel Lodge and exterior houses (Saturday). They have started to work on several areas of the lodge already. The Children & Worship Ministry have begun to prepare for the following as well. 

Children's Ministry preparing for the week

On Sunday, a part of the team will be visiting Ouje-Bougoumou for worship service with Rev. Hall. The children's ministry will be there to hold a program for the kids during this time as well. 

Please continue to pray for the team as the week has only begun. Please keep the following in your prayers:

1. Praise God for great weather, protection and guidance 
2. Pray for safety for the entire team, especially the Renovation team who will perform many physical tasks
3. Pray for the hearts of the native people as we prepare for the week
4. Unity within our team and fellowship with one another 
5. Please pray for wisdom and patience for each member of our team
6. Pray that in all that we do, it will be used to glorify God!

Blessings,

JSTM 2013

JSTM 2013 Departs Friday!

Hello!

JSTM has recently had another full team meeting this past Monday on July 15^th. We are so excited to have gotten together to update and bond with one another.  As discussed, we will be leaving SCAC this Friday and arrive around 11am on july 27^th in Chibougamau. We will depart on August 4^th, arriving home around 1-2am in the morning.

We thank you for taking the time to pray for us and support God's ministry in the native community. Please stay tuned for updates in the following week. We encourage you to continue to pray for us as we share with you all the great things God will do!

Prayer Requests

1. Praise the Lord! Transportation has been organized, which is a huge blessing. We are so thankful for the designated drivers who will be driving (and sacrificing hours of sleep!) during the 15 hours up to Chibougamau. Please pray for a smooth and efficient car pick-up between the main drivers and the rental company.

2. Pray for each team member, that they may prepare their hearts to serve on this STM. May they dig deeper into the word and find a stronger relationship with the Lord each day.

3. Pray for the hearts of the people we will meet. We pray that they experience the Lord in an intimate way! We are excited to connect with them.

4.  Pray for the spiritual and physical health of the team. May we learn, know and live a life where we treat our bodies as a temple of the Lord. May the Lord protect us in all that we do in preparation for this mission.

Thank you so much for your prayers.

Blessings,

JSTM 2013