"No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is truly in our hearts."

Forgive me for not writing sooner. Spring has finally showed evidence of arriving. The temperature I'm sure was up to 45 (f) today with a warm sun on your face. I've settled into a life here; worship is more exciting than ever with God's leading and a mix of new faces, wanting to see who the new face is in Happy Valley I suspect, but I prefer to think it's the work of the Holy Spirit.

It has been a week of challenge as there were 3 youth from the coast in the hospital for overdose, as well as the death of a dear Inuit servant in the church. She had worked domestically for the missionaries on the coast as a young girl and left school in 4th grade to help her mother raise the other 6 siblings. Her dad attempted to teach her to hunt for the family table, but she always felt that the rabbits she was asked to shoot, looked like they were praying, so she couldn't shoot them. Going home empty-handed meant hunger throughout the evening, so her father waited for the sons to come of age to get hunting assistance.

Keep in mind, that 40-50 years ago, the people lived off the land. Each Innu and Inuit family had their 'own' hunting grounds around their cabin; nothing legal, rather out of honor, respect and survival. An average day for a woman would mean cooking all day; making bread, stewing seal meat and table scraps, bones included, for the sled dogs meal, and making clothing. All parts of the animals hunted were used, if not for the meal, then for clothing, tools, buttons, footwear, or even decoration. The grain bladder on a partridge would make a nice Christmas decoration at the door. Memories of these times are still very fresh in the peoples minds. A pair of sealskin boots would cost $2 forty years ago, where today they're $200. Snow shoes are still a must in hunting. And as I learned, you don't tread to close to the trees, as you will fall to ground level.

The coastal towns have grocery stores. The locally owned store produce section is pictured above. Watermelon is a favorite, but it is quite costly ($3/small slice). These days, the coastal people want for nothing during the winter months. It just means preplanning, some patience, and getting to the store early after the new food arrives by plane.

The pictures are of worship; 1) I was allowed to sing in the Inutitut choir, and 2) Pentecost Sunday serving Holy Communion in a bilingual service. We're wearing the traditional worship silapuk and a cap (white ribbon for a widow, and blue for married). Truly a bless-ed priviledge for me.

As God always desires our unity from the exile period, to Ezekiel, to Pentecost, and to now, may we all come together to welcome the Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit Come . . . dwell among these people, bringing them the Hope of Jesus Christ in all His fullness "

love, glenna