TEAM Natuashish 2011 Blog

Day 1 and 2.

Hi everyone.

We have arrived safe and sound in the big land, in the town of Goosebay. After 2 days of travel we arrived here around 4:30 pm. It has been a long journey since we left Port de Grave 6 am on Sunday morning. For the entire way up the coast we were all wondering if we would make the ferry in time for the 8 o'clock crossing and thankfully we did. We had a beautiful sunset crossing on the Appollo vessel with ice bergs and whales! We docked in Lans aux loup and travelled a short distance to Forteau where we spent the night in the community centre on the concrete floor! I think everybody was just thankful to get off the bus and lay their head down. We arose at 5:45 am and left Forteau and drove 9 hours on a school bus over an extremely bumpy road. The teams travelling on the other buses had to change buses on 2 occasions because of mechanical issues. But thankfully they all have reached their destinations. Tonight, we get to spend the night at hotel north and our flight leaves at 7:30 am to go to Natuashish. Keep us in our prayers. The team is in good spirits, everybody has had a positive attitude and has dealt with the long and difficult travel extremely well. We just had a good meal at Don Cherrys and there our team was given an opportunity to see some native people who may of been from Natuashish.  Again, pray that we will find a way to speak truth into their lives. For now, that's all and keep checking back for updates.

DAY 3 - August 2, 2011

 
Finally, we have arrived in Natuashish! We got out of bed at 5 am to be left for the airport at 6. However, our flight was delayed until 1pm because of fog. Once we seen our plane, I was in disbelief, it was so small. We jammed in the plane and took off and wow what scenery! Creation is so amazing! Words cannot express the sites we seen from the plane! Once we arrived here it was quite a culture shock for most of the team. It is quite different from where we live, but they are still people who need to see the light. We went around the community after we had a great supper and meet some of the children and invited them out to vbs and the events we are doing. Pray that these children come out and we get a chance to speak into their lives. Tomorrow we will begin by helping Elsie with some things she needs done. We are so excited about what God is going to do. KEEP us in your prayers! Keep checking back daily for updates!

Day 4 -August 3rd, 2011

What a day here in Natuashish, hot and beautiful! We had a busy day here helping Elsie around the parsonage and sunday school. We packed in wood, painted rooms, packed up lumber, Jordan made 2 sets of shelves and we organized and re- packed some clothes that Elsie gives to the children. It was great to be able to serve in this capacity and help her do the things that she needed done. Tomorrow will be a major planning and preparation day for our team for the ministries we will be conducting. Pray that we will be able to get the things we need from the people here to conduct the activities we have planned. We are being fed like kings and queens! Just had char and salmon for supper. Elsie did some burgers for those who didn't like the main course:). The char was delicious, now if I can get a chance to go and try and catch one down to the harbour! That's all for now, will update again tomorrow evening! Prayers are appreciated! 

Day 5 - August 4th

written by Jared Petten

Today was a hot day you can say that. We had an early rise and enjoyed another wonderful breakfast thanks to Elsie. She has been so good to us so far and has shown great hospitality. This morning we continued doing more handywork. Jordan finished the new bridge for the church and the rest of us did odd jobs of painting and cleaning. Come lunch we had a nice tuck of hot dogs, karft dinner and stuffed squid. Boy was it good. After lunch we finished up the rest of our work and then came in for supper. Elsie cooked up some caribou and chicken, with some patotoe and pastry. It was a great tuck. After Supper we went out to the stadium to watch some wrestling. We got to watch some guys from ontario train some fron Youth in Natuashish and then after we got to get in the ring to learn some moves. It was pretty cool. It was also a great opportunity to interact with some Youth and to invite them to our upcoming events. Tomorrow we are gearing up for a carnival with some games and then a movie for the youth. We are hoping for a great turn out. Please keep us in your prayers and continue to stay tunes for more updates.

Thanks,

Jared Petten

Day 6 (August 5)

as written by Kathryn Mercer

So, today was in my opinion, one of the best days yet! This is Kathryn by the way. Firstly, we started off the day by eating cereal for breakfast but that is not too interesting so I'll skip ahead to where we had the carnival for all the children. We had two bouncy castles, games, food, and face painting. The carnival day put smiles on their faces, that opportunity probably doesn't come that often. We gave out many prozes too. After the carnival, around 4 o'clock, a lady named Irene brought us to this amazing swimming spot! It was a huge lake with mountains on both sides and a sandy beach. We weren't long jumping out of the back of the truck and getting in the water! Now it wasn't all good times, we were complaining about flies 99% of the time but you would have been too, trust me, Kayla has 33 fly bites and counting! When we got back to Elsies we had supper and then we had a youth movie night. We watched Soul Surfer. When the movie was over we all stood outside and got eaten alive by nire flies while watching the Northern Lights! Now we are sitting in Elsie's living room having a chat. Pastor Ian is telling us about how Pastor White signs him up for he gets lots of emails about it. Then we were making fun of Jared for using a whole jam jar full of laundry detergent on one wash! Haha so there is day 6 :)

Kathryn Mercer

Day 7 - August 6

What another amazing day here in the big land. Today was a relaxing day in which we had a lot of fun. To start the day, we did some more painting for Elsie and put up a door in the sunday school. After we had a great lunch we went to the dump and seen 3 huge bears. We threw our garbage to them and they begun picking through it. After the dump, we traveled to a lake just outside the town where we went fishing for char. I hooked a couple but couldn't land them. We had a great time and had our supper out there as well. Some of the locals went with us and cooked up some caribou on the open fire, it was really good. Elsie brought some chicken and salads and we had a great supper outdoors by the side of the lake. It was pretty close to heaven! It was so good to see the local children have so much fun and they are starting to bond with the team members. Pray that we will have a powerful Christian influence on them. Tomorrow we begin our vbs and we are expecting great things from this outreach effort. Again, continue to pray for us and our influence in this town. Greater things are yet to be done!

Day 8 - August 7

Time is going so fast here in Natuashish. We thought that we were getting a break with the heat today because the forecast said it would be 14 degrees, however it hit 25 this afternoon. But I guess that is a good complaint to have:). Today we begun the vbs program for the kids and we had a great time with them! They were so excited with the music and all the exciting things we done. We had another great dinner, and I can see a diet in my near future:). This afternoon, we walked around the town and handed out treats to the children and inviting them out to vbs for tomorrow morning. At 7 pm we meet in the church building to sing some songs with the locals and shared a lunch with them after. It was great to fellowship with them and meet some of the teenagers who are going to travel with Elsie to YC Labrador. Pray that God will do an amazing work in their lives. This town needs a supernatural visit from God. We start everyday with prayer and please pray for us daily! God answers prayer! Please pray for Elsie and Calvin as they continue to minister to the people here. We are expecting great things from God this week, believe with us!

Day 9 August 8th 
written by Pastor Ian

Today was an amazing day in Natuashish. Every day that we are here I am increasingly amazing at how good God is and become more overcomed with His love for the people of this community. Today was our second day of VBS and we had 21 children. These 21 children are the sweetest thing that you can see. They love all the songs and actions, crafts and games. It brings a smile to my face when I see them everyday. Today we learned that God listens to us and the children made prayer journals. When they were leaving I saw them writing in the front pages of the books. "I pray for my family..I pray for my friends". It brought tears to my eyes when I thought about these children and their child like faith. They have seen so much in their limited years, but yet I know that God has greatness instore for each of their lives. Please continue to pray for each of them. Pray that God will protect them. That He will put people in their lives that will show them that He loves them and cares for them.

This evening we had a ladies night. The guys served the food while the ladies enjoyed a meal with the 20 ladies that came. After the meal Jennifer shared a powerful testimony about God's love and then Kathryn, Allie, Kayla, Jennifer, and Rebecca did pedicures and manicures for all the ladies that came. The girls did an amazing job. I know that the women enjoyed it. It was an amazing night that I know God will use for His glory. These women are not saved and tonight they were shown and told of the love of God.

I know that God is breaking through in this town. Please pray that His presence will continue to penetrate the darkness and the hearts of the people. He is up to good things in this place and it is exciting.

Ian

P.S. Jared dropped his iphone in the toilet today....tidy...that is all I can say.

Day 10 - August 9

Today we learned in VBS that God watches over us which is a very important lesson to learn for these kids. It is quite evident that many of them aren't being looked after properly, so I am sure it was very encouraging for them to learn that God cares about them. We received an email from one of the girl's mother saying thank you and that she is so happy because her girls are going around singing our VBS songs all day. One of her daughter's names is Debbie. Little Debbie I call her, because she is as sweet as one of those little Debbie snacks! It's really nice to know that God is using the members of our team to bring some positivity into these kids lives. In the night we had a movie at the church for the teens and they seemed to enjoy it. Its feels good that we were able to provide someplace where the kids can go and be entertained without drugs or alcohol.  The sprirtual darkness can feel thick at times and weigh heavy on our hearts and  it's somthing that all of us have had to push through at one time or another. BUT we know that, as we heard Pastor White preach about recently, that those who are with us are more than those who are against us! I have to say that I am very proud of each of the members of our team. They are all doing very well and they have all gone outside they're comfort zones at one point or another. I cannot believe how much growth I have seen in such a short period of time! Please continue to pray for our team, that we would continue to be unified, because divided we would accomplish nothing. Please pray for Elsie and Calvin as they prepare for another year of ministry in Natuashish. Please pray for strength, for the days they feel defeated and for courage to continue to push forward. Pray for the Men, Women, Boys and Girls of Natuashish, that  they would realize that there is so much that GOd has in store for them in they would only turn to Him. Pray for Spiritual awakening and healing and for supernatural release from addiction! All things are possible with God!

by: Jennifer Austin

Day 11 - August 10

Sadly, our time here in natuashish is coming to an end. This has been amazing experience, one that none of us will forget very soon. Today, we did another day of vbs and served the kids grilled cheese sandwhiches for lunch. After dinner, we went to work. I cut up some char and salmon and begun frying it for the elders supper that we hosted. We served them caribou stew, pudding, char, salmon and potatoes! What a feed! They enjoyed it so much and it was so good to see them smile. Jordan painted, some of the girls went around town putting up posters and others helped Elsie peel some vegtables. After we cleaned up from the supper we took a walk around town and also went to the dump to see the bears again. It is cold here tonight, a drastic change from the weather the last few days! Today was also Allie's birthday and Elsie made some cheesecake and we surprised her with a little party after we got back from seeing the bears at the dump! Tomorrow is our last day of ministry here and we will clue up with a community BBQ! We are expecting many people to come out tomorrow! That's all for now, more to come tomorrow night!

Day 12 - August 11

Our last day of ministry is done! My prayer is that something we said,sung or done will bring eternal benefits to someone in this town. The darkness is deep, but Christ has defeated darkness and can bring the glorious light of the gospel to this community. We had over 20 kids out to our last day of vbs and they all really loved the things we taught them, especially the songs! They were siging them all day! At 5pm we did a community bbq, and served so many people hamburgers and hotdogs! It was so good to see these people enjoying the food we prepared for them. Tomorrow, we are heading to Goose Bay for yc Lab! Elsie is taking a group from here and that is such great news. We are expecting to see God to great things at this event. PRAY that God will do something amazing in these people and a generation will rise up in Natuashish who will strive to live for God and change the way they live. 

http://www.extremedream.ca/yclabrador/