Deer Lake 2018

That’s us by the Cessna in the feature photo above (email readers will need to click through to the blog), ready to take flight for Deer Lake. This is my fourth year of traveling to Deer Lake, a reserve of around a thousand people in northern Ontario, to help with summer Bible school. This year, we had a bigger group than usual. From left to right, that’s Phil, Lonita, Norlene, Elizabeth, Bernard the Caterpillar (yes, he came along, too!) me, Sharla, and Will.

In the photo below, we are preparing for the trip, with me, apparently, directing proceedings.

Shopping in Dryden for food supplies before our journey was stretching, but fun. Who knew how much food seven people could eat in two weeks? Not us, apparently, because we had to do another shopping trip six days later in Deer Lake.

The flight into Deer Lake was mostly smooth and always beautiful.

So what have we been doing since our arrival? Quite a bit, actually.

We held a book sale. 

Prepared for Bible school.

Enjoyed a sunset by the lake.

Walked the dusty roads of Deer Lake until a friend was kind enough to loan us a vehicle.

Now we ride.

We’ve picked berries that grow wild in the North: raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries.

We’ve cooked ourselves meals…yes, even french fries on National Fry Day.

We’ve attended tent meetings at the Pentecostal church.

And enjoyed experiencing a style of worship very different from the Mennonite churches we usually attend.

We ladies hosted a teen girl night where we played games, held a Bible study, and painted rocks and faces.

The guys and a few of the girls have joined in quite a few of Deer Lake’s frequent volleyball games.

We have all enjoyed Deer Lake’s beauty…

…and taken lots of photos.

We’ve hung out with friends and borrowed their Wi-Fi.

And also spent lots of down time with ourselves just chilling and talking.

Let me tell you, this group of white kids has taught me crazy like I didn’t know crazy before!

This week, Bible school started. We had eighty-two kids our first day, and the great thing was that with so many teachers helping, I felt much less exhausted when the day was over than I have previous years.

Also this week, some of my Deer Lake family that had been traveling arrived back home. Now my world is complete.

Deer Lake, home of part of my family and a piece of my heart, I love you.