St. Luke's Goes North Again!

St. Luke Anglican Church in Edmonton sent a team to the Northwest Territories this week, to do a week-long vacation bible school through the ministry of On Eagle’s Wings (OEW). St. Luke’s rector, the Ven. Richard King, along with church wardens Cathy Allen and Gail Smith, made their way north to Fort Simpson on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28, crossing the 60th parallel Sunday afternoon and seeing some very photogenic bear and moose along the way.

This is the second year St. Luke’s has done an OEW VBS. Last year, a team of four went to Fort Liard, NWT. They would have loved to go back, but this year were invited to Fort Simpson instead.

At the end of the first day of camp, Richard sent this report:

Things to give thanks for: 

• Kids came! Ten children, with a much lower average age compared to last year.
• Weather - simply perfect. Dry and not too hot.
• Some of the moms stayed at the beginning to help children settle – this was really helpful.
• Father Macleen is participating – which is also helpful. He is taking over from Father Joe this summer. Fr. Joe has served this remote part of the world faithfully for many years, but he's in his 70's now and finally retiring. Fr. Macleen will be responsible for Fort Simpson and Fort Liard from here on in.
• Hardly any mosquitoes compared to last year - no one bitten today: ) ! Woo-hoo!
• Our facilities - the church building is only two-years-old and very big - as you can see in the picture. So different from Fort Liard.
• Our hosts - very kind to take us into their homes.
• Cookies from St. Luke's - they went down a storm! Thanks so much.  : ) 

Things to pray for: 

• Please pray for the children – those who came and those who will come.
• Please pray for building good relationships with the church and community in Fort Simpson.
• Please pray for continued energy for the team through the week.

The camp runs until Friday, then the long trip home again. Stay tuned next week to hear how it all turned out!