August 2025: Fires, Festivals, Friends, and Family

 August 2025 represented a continuation of the problem with forest fires that I discussed in last month's blog. Three LAMP trips to the communities of Lynn Lake, Brochet, and Marcel Columb needed to be cancelled due to forest fire evacuations and related problems. There were two churches in Winnipeg who were able to pivot and host their evacuated communities in Winnipeg instead of going north to visit. Children evacuated from Leaf Rapids, Manitoba were hosted by the LAMP team and some friends at St. Aidan's Anglican Church for some learning and fun. Children evacuated from Cormorant, Manitoba were hosted by the LAMP team at Nassau Street Church for some learning and fun as well. Here's some pictures from St. Aidan's and Nassau Street.

My last LAMP trip of the summer was way up north in Lac Brochet, Manitoba. Here's some pictures of the plane that I flew on to get there (Perimeter Air), the LAMP team and their local helpers, a group photo, and some other pictures. It was a wonderful week despite the cooler weather and a few rainy days. At a supper with the local volunteers, the LAMP team also got a chance to try caribou burgers!! We also appreciated Father Ravi hosting us at the local Catholic church's house there. A great last trip for summer 2025!!

I flew back to Winnipeg from Lac Brochet and then to Edmonton. I was able to do a LAMP presentation at St Peter Lutheran Church in Stettler, Alberta that Sunday. In addition to a warm welcome, I was sent away with a large stack of quilts made by their quilting group. Very kind...these quilts are appreciated by the people in the communities where we serve! 

August was also a special time as I was able to volunteer once again at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. I help with the tent at the festival where musical artists can bring their merchandise (shirts, CDS, LPS, etc) to be sold to the patrons attending the event. The weather was an interesting mix of sun and rain and clouds...along with some muddy sections thrown in for good measure. The music, however, was great as always. Here's a few pictures of our tent and some concert pictures.

After my visit to Stettler, I headed out to help out at Hastings Lake Bible Camp east of Edmonton. I've been good friends with Andrew Carlson, the camp director of Hastings, for a number of years. It was good to see him and his family and it was fun to do a little speaking at the morning chapels and evening campfires. As you can see from these pictures, I seem to wave my hands around a fair bit when I talk. 

Andrew and his wife finished their summer at camp by welcoming a new little baby boy to their family! Very exciting!

Other important events that happened for my friends this summer included the installation of Samantha Neeb as Associate Director - Family Ministries for Lutheran Church - Canada. I was able to tune in and watch Samantha's installation service online. Here's a picture of Samantha and the view from my place...

Another important event was the ordination celebration for my friend and LAMP coworker Nathan. My wife Lynne and I were able to travel down to Damascus, Oregon to attend the celebration at Christ the Vine Lutheran Church. It was good see Nathan and his wife Tina there...it was also good to see Steve Schave (Executive Director of LAMP) and Randy Heide (Missionary Pastor and Director of Ministry at LAMP) and his wife Darlene. Some LAMP volunteers also made the trip to be there...very special! I was able to help with a fun puppet skit! Here's some pictures!

Let me end this blog posts with some personal notes about time with family. One of the big concerns for this month was my mother's health problems. She went to the hospital on August 1st and needed to stay there till August 22 (!) The diagnosis that was eventually given was an enlarged heart and some leakage in the heart valves. We're waiting to hear if there needs to be surgery or other interventions. It was good to be able to adjust my schedule so I could visit Mom in the hospital during this time...and it also worked out that I could pick her up from the hospital and bring her home. She and her husband Clay were so glad to have her home!

My wife Lynne and I were happy to celebrate our 36th (!) wedding anniversary a little late on Vancouver Island. We had some great wiener schnitzel at a pub in Nanaimo. We were also spend some time with our son Josh and his family for a few days. So much fun!! 

As I look back on a very busy and somewhat unusual summer, I'm thankful for the opportunity to work with LAMP and help support the work that our volunteers do both in northern communities and also at home. I'm also very thankful for my wife Lynne, my mom, and our family! Such a blessing!!