CURRENT EVENTS

I have found on the mission field that the missionary has to be everything from a plumber to an IT.  This is apart from being the Church planter first and foremost.  

I have spent the greater part of October under my house on the ground in the cold with very little room to move, preparing for and installing a sewer tank.  The Lord has been gracious in this laborious task.  At the outset, one of my colleagues had asked how they could pray for us, and  I mentioned the scope of the work that needed to be done on our house.  I couldn't see how it was possible to finish this urgent and necessary work before the  “real cold” weather arrived.  The following day, there was a knock at our door.  An acquaintance who does not live in town, and is a carpenter, showed up with a smile on his face and said, “I am here to help you with your house”.  I can report that although the work is still ongoing, the critical part is complete! With his help, the help of my son, and a friend from Inuvik, (who came with a crew of several men on 2 occasions), our house has been raised 14 inches, leveled, new steps built, and a sewer tank installed underneath the house (houses are off the ground because of permafrost).  God was so gracious in not only providing skilled labor but also relatively mild weather during the weeks of the project. 

CHURCH GROWTH

I wish I could report that the Church is growing by leaps and bounds, but frankly, that is not the case.  Growth is, however, happening.  New people are coming to Church, and the core group is stable.   The reality in this field of service is that addictions are a significant struggle.  Soft drugs, which have been legalized, have just opened the door to harder drugs…so it's a scourge and an uphill struggle for most people.  Every home seems to be impacted.  Hearing and understanding the Gospel of Christ is the only Hope people have.  There is also a false narrative in our area that everyone already knows and understands God, so many see no need for a missionary.  John said it best in Revelation 3:17.

SUMMER MINISTRY
Our ministry went well at Kamp Klondike this past summer.  Although the number of campers was lower this year than in previous years, it was still a fruitful season overall.  Gospel centered teaching has been our goal year after year, and that the campers are valued and nurtured in practical ways.  The challenges we face with having camp include staffing, vehicle wear and tear, parents not having the money to pay the $125.00 registration fee, and often fires in the area, which close the road leading to camp.  Those who have participated in this kind of ministry know the level of exhaustion that camp can bring.  Our camp leadership, including myself, have often been sick after camp closes for the season.

PRAYER REQUESTS 

Living in an environment where people are hardened to the Gospel does wear on us.  I know what my job is as a missionary, and I desire not to get jaded but keep graciously presenting the Gospel to the lost.  It is challenging to still be spoon-feeding Christians. Some people in our church we have poured into for years, and we echo the apostle Paul's sentiments that they ” should be teachers.”  

My Dad, who was a faithful prayer warrior, is now gone (he passed away in February). My mom continues in faithful prayer.  We trust God will raise others to stand in the gap for us in place of my prayer warrior Dad.

Pray for our ongoing house repairs.  I am thankful and praise the Lord we have a new roof on the house installed in 2023, and now, after this recent work, a level house with new blocking (very expensive, I might add!) We have yet to put skirting around it to improve the appearance. The next project after the skirting and insulation are added, would be to re-side the house with a bright yellow siding to contrast our dark, cold days of winter.  

Thank you to God's faithful supporters at our sending Churches for your prayers.

Paul and Lynn