In 2014, after serving full time in a Montreal network of churches for 12 years as deacon, director of food bank, men group co-leader, youth festival director, treasurer, president of the finance committee and/or in other capacities, I felt I should visit the mission fields. It is in Costa Rica, in 2014, on an Indian reserve, that I first felt that God had a different plan for my future.

Q: What life experiences prepared you to leave Montreal toward Northern Manitoba, doing Christian programs for kids and youth?

Doing week camps as a young person, directing yearly youth festivals, being a CPA (accountant) for years, doing Master in Theology between 2015 and 2017, doing lots of camping, raising 2 kids, loving renovations, traveling long distances and many other things, that appeared unrelated at the time, were very important life experiences. We never know which experience we live in the present… that will be important in the future.

Q: How would you describe your first year working overseas?

Very busy… just as like it!… But above the “business”, it was simply better/easier than expected!

Meeting communities, churches, cities… for the first time and supervising programs that were new to me were definitely great challenges.  But it was fun challenges without any big problems, troubles…that usually come in a transition between leaders. God is great!

Q: What were some of the surprises at the beginning of ministry?

My biggest great surprise was… the level of support that was provided to us, a new couple arriving from Quebec/Ontario, support from Winnipeg, Moosehorn, Fairford, Winnipeg, Toronto, Grand Rapids… and many more cities (Support in prayers, in volunteers, in finance and more).

Q: What do you wish you would have known prior to serving in this way? 

Nothing more. All the information needed was provided beforehand by my board of directors, the past directors and by my own readings/prayers.

Q:  How have you felt affirmed in this ministry?

On top of the above cited great support and the easiness of it all, there are at least 3 ways I felt “affirmed”:

1. Several elders, board members and pastors gave me constant positive words  about the ministry
2. Seeing some kids grow and some becoming Christians.
3. So many moments of great unbelievable love between kids, between volunteers/staff and between those two groups. I will always remember a comment from a band counselor thanking us for the huge love we gave to their children.

Q: What have been some surprises about the First Nation communities you have had the honor to serve?

When I started, I honestly did not know the culture of the communities Pathway serve. I was surprised to see that the vast majority of the people in these communities are so easy to approach, soft spoken and took time to listen. About listening, I remember a Pastor from Toronto saying that he wished the kids in his church would listen as well!

Q: Why Pathway?

Pathway and I, were a great match in 2017. Through Pathway, I would able to work with First Nations (see my above-cited comment about Costa-Rica) and use lots of the talents/gifts/life experiences I “developed” or “lived” through the years. Above all, I simply felt it was where I should be! From my first phone call with them to my first visit to Manitoba, I felt it was my next home.

And on the other side, I was offering what Pathway seem to be needed in the transition of leadership.

Q: Any advise in in working with First Nations People?

It is an error to think that all Ojibway, Cree, Oji-Cree are the same. Just come, as much as possible, with an attitude of openness, flexibility, patience, peace, love and without preconceptions.

Q: What are some facts you wish to share with our congregation?

We often list all the “errors of the past”, like residential school, when we talk about First Nations. We also talk about the issues of Alcohol, suicide, teen pregnancy… in some of these communities… but we often forget to talk about the great respect for their Elders and many other amazing aspects of their cultures.

Q: When did you first know you were called to work overseas?

When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to go overseas on a short-term trip with my youth group.  While I was there, God opened my eyes to see how lost the people in that area were, and He began to grow in me a passion for reaching that people group.

Q: What life experiences did you have that helped you prepare to go overseas?

I’ve always had a love for languages and learning about other cultures.  All my life I’ve been drawn to people from other countries and have always tried to learn words from their cultures.  My education in teaching English helped prepare me in practical ways for teaching here.  In addition to that, while I was in university, I had an opportunity to do a teaching internship in a similar country to the one I’m now living in, and God used that to confirm that He was leading me to this area of the world.  My experiences there also helped make the transition to living here easier.

Q: How would you describe your first year working overseas?

There were lots of ups and downs.  I expected there to be more culture shock, but my earlier experiences overseas eased a lot of that.  That said, there were definitely times of frustration and confusion when things did not happen the way I expected them to.  I’ve been blessed to have a really close-knit group of fellow workers the whole time I’ve been overseas, and that also really helped in making my first year a positive experience.

Q: What are some of the ways you have been affirmed in following father’s leading?

Seeing the doors He has opened has been a big affirmation.  After working for a couple of years, I felt I needed to spend time studying the local language, and he made a way for me to return to the same country and study here without working full-time.  He has also given me many opportunities to share my faith with local friends, and I even have one friend who I am able to read the Word with regularly.

Q: What is something that would surprise others about work or the people you are called to serve?

I think many people would be surprised at how open the locals here are to talking about faith.  Many people assume that because it’s a strict country, those conversations would be difficult, but the reality is that because their faith dictates so much of their lives, there are many opportunities to share.

Q: What advice would you give to those considering working overseas?

Don’t doubt God’s ability to equip you!  I had no interest in ever leaving Manitoba before I went on my first trip in high school, but God, in his great mercy, changed my heart completely so that when it was time to move overseas, I could hardly wait to go, and now it’s hard to imagine living anywhere else.

Q: How can people support you?

Pray for me!  Sign up for my newsletters!  Connect with me in-person when I’m back in Canada.

Q: When did you first know father was calling you to the field?

N – During the period of 2002-2003, father touched my heart to share the good news to people of other nations through participating in various STM ministries. In particular, He urged me to move forward in this direction at Urbana 2003 conference.

Q: What life experiences did you have that helped you prepare to go overseas?

N – Since I was sixteen years old, travelling to other countries with backpacker friends became one of my favorite activities. Through communicating with people in different countries and staying at different environments, it broadened my way of thinking, enhanced my acceptability of other ways to do things which are different from mine, as well as improved my ability to cope with different living conditions.

Q: What life experiences did you have that helped you prepare to go overseas?

I – I encourage myself to live out of comfort zone, try new things, meet some people who are not of the same language and culture.

Q: How would you describe your first year on the field?

N – When I look back my first year on Asia field, I would describe it as an “adaption and learning” period of my ministries here.

Adaption: the new physical environment, food, limited amount of genuine information about outside world from public media and limited access of overseas websites/internet

Learning: many survival skills and knowledge, language, getting to know the nationals’ social norms, moral standards, beliefs, worldview, etc

Q: What are some of the ways you have been affirmed in following father’s leading?

N – In July, both Iris and I got a strong burden and feeling that it is time for us to get involved in local c****h ministries. We prayed for His direction. In August, there were several brothers and sisters who “suddenly” approached us and shared the great need in their c****hes. They urged us for our involvement/help. We prayed about this and father touched our hearts to serve in a local c****h. We strongly feel that God is leading us.

I – I got a passion to help female university students and give them advice on education, courtship and relationship issues. Divorce percentage is also very high where we live. New married young couples look for role models, and find out how to keep harmony in the new family with their original families, etc.

I am very thankful that many female students and young couples come to me and share with me their struggles and difficulties. Through listening and giving them advice, I can also witness my faith to them and help them set up a father-like family.

Q: What is something that would surprise others about your work or the people you work with?

I – Father is awesome. I have experienced miracles while working with HIM and for HIM. Working in an environment with unfamiliar language and culture, I face many uncertainties every day. I am unable to lean on my own ability, knowledge and experience. Therefore, I look for HIS presence and guidance. Father is the one to make a way beyond my imagination. Every time when I see how HE opens doors for me and what HE prepares for me, I am experiencing miracles.

Q: What advice would you give to those considering overseas work?

I – I would suggest those who are considering working overseas: (a) to have a mind to keep learning; (b) to be flexible; (c) learn to be patient; and (d) always prepare to give joyfully.

Q: How can people support you?

I – (a) Please p**y that father draws the lost people close to HIM and respond to HIS love. (b) Please p**y that I can learn language better as I cannot memorize the tone and the sound of the words properly. (c) Please p**y that father gives me a clear mind to discern HIS guidance and will.

N – I am so excited to become involved in local c****h ministry here. P**y for His direction, strength and protection.

Q When did you first know God was calling you to the mission’s field?

Even as a small child I was always so interested in the stories told by the missionaries who visited my church.  In my early 20s I started exploring the different possibilities within the NAB Conference.   I even bought a car with a stick-shift to better prepare myself for living overseas one day!  But God confirmed my calling through my participation on 4 short-term mission trips to Mexico, Brazil, India and Belarus.

Q What life experiences did you have that helped you prepare to go overseas?

On a larger scale, I had ministry experience, having worked in three churches.  Right before I left, I was Dean of Students and a professor at Taylor University College so I also had experience teaching in higher education.  I also had a number of friends who were from other cultures.  I made an effort to speak with other long-term missionaries before going.  One missionary really helped me prepare for my role as a Seminary professor in Brazil by giving me on-going advice.   On a smaller scale, the last car I bought in Canada was a stick shift, so I was able to drive the car the mission provided for me in Brazil!

Q How would you describe your first year on the mission field?

I learned for the first time what it really meant to trust in God.  Here are a couple of examples: The mission provided me with a car that broke down around 10 times that first year.  Since I couldn’t speak the language, calling a tow truck was not an option, so I prayed… a lot!  And God sent people to help me.  Several times I got lost – I’d always been good with a map, but when there are no street signs, maps don’t always work so well.  I prayed some more and God oriented my path.  He was an ever-present help in the challenges I faced and I learned to rely on Him because He became my only option.

Q What surprised you the most once you began your work? What did you wish you knew beforehand?

Before leaving for the mission field, it never occurred to me that because I did not know the language, I wasn’t able to be fed at church that first year.  I couldn’t understand the sermons, the words to the music we would sing, the Bible studies, etc.  If I had realized this challenge before going I would have been better prepared.

Q What is something that would surprise others about mission work or the people you are called to serve?

When God calls us to the mission field, often it’s much more about who God wants us to become than what He wants us to do for Him on the field.  I’ve grown so much deeper in my relationship with God by becoming a missionary than I would have if I had stayed in ministry in my home country.  I’ve learned more deeply about what sacrifice really means, especially in the context of truly loving another.  God is so much more concerned with who I am than what I do for Him.

Q What are some of the factors that lead you to become an overseas missionary through the NAB?

NAB has been my family for almost my whole life and so I wanted them to be with me on the mission field, too.

Q What advice would you give to those considering overseas missions?

Be 100% certain of you calling before you go.  Don’t allow yourself to think about quitting for the first 5 years because your service really doesn’t begin until then.  And remember that God put nationals in place before you arrived on the mission field therefore it’s important to learn from them, work with them and submit to their leadership. How can people pray for y u? I would appreciate prayer for my husband, Paulo, and I for continued spiritual growth, for safety, for good health, for a strong marriage and that God would continue to use us as His instruments to reach and train others here in southern Brazil.  Thanks!