Early Friday morning, August 5th, Genie and I left Beaver Lake and headed for Bearskin Lake, Ontario, Canada, to teach Vacation Bible School. Bearskin Lake is a First Nation of about 500 people in Northern Ontario. This was arranged through LAMP (Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots.)
We drove to Dryden, Ontario the first day, staying overnight at the Comfort Inn. From Dryden, we drove to Sioux Lookout, Ontario to fly to Bearskin Lake on a 15-passenger plane. The plane was owned by Wasaya Airways, a native-owned airline, which flies to about 25 locations in Ontario. While at the airport, we met another LAMP team from Northfield, MN flying to another Ontario First Nation village.
We met Tamara Alkema from Grimsby, Ontario, our team leader, at Sioux Lookout. The three of us were the team at Bearskin Lake. We taught Vacation Bible School from 10 a.m. - noon, and 2-3 in the afternoon, Monday through Friday for one week. The kids ranged in ages from 5-13.
We were housed in a two bedroom duplex with all the modern conveniences except no radio, phone or newspaper. (Cell phone reception is non-existent).
Grocery shopping was a real eye opener. For example: $15.49 for a gallon of milk; $14.99 for a 12 pack of Coke; $7.29 for a box of Rice Krispies; $13.99 for a pizza; $14.99 for a small container of ice cream; and $1.78 for an envelope and stamp mailed to the U. S. The above prices are payment in Canadian currency. If you paid in U. S. currency, it was 10 percent more as the rate of exchange is: 90 cents Canadian for every American dollar. The cost of freight to get supplies into Bearskin is about $1 U.S. per pound. The minimum wage is $10.25 per hour in Canada; $9.60 per hour minimum for persons under 18. With the exchange rate, freight cost, plus minimum wage, you can see why prices are high.
It was very dry in Northern Ontario with the lakes and rivers being two to three feet below normal. They had a dry lightning storm (no rain with lots of lightning) which caused about 100 forest fires. Some of the First Nation settlements were evacuated because of the smoke and potential danger.
No matter where, kids are all the same. Some are curious. Some learn fast. Some learn slow. Some just don’t learn. Bearskin kids weren’t any different. The kids found out it was Genie’s birthday August 12th and gave her many handmade birthday cards. (It was the seventh time Genie has had a ninth birthday.)
I tried to find an adult who didn’t know the meaning of the word “nice.” No such person did I find. For examples of nice: Junior took me on a very plentiful walleye fishing trip. Mel, the projects coordinator, explained his job as anything to do with building, he was involved. Vivian, the manager of the Northern Bay General Store is a great lady. Reverend Alex Fox is one savvy preacher. Evelyn, in the Band Office, is a very helpful computer person.
Our team mission statement was, “God has a plan, and He will work it, not you!”
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. This is the Hanson’s 36th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of Wisdom: There is always room for God.