Andy has always thought that mission trips were about going somewhere far away.
Probably somewhere hot.
Maybe drilling a well or fixing a roof on a church.
He concluded that mission trips just probably weren’t his thing.
But what if mission trips could include playing hockey and fishing?
About 18 years ago, Andy took his first trip to northern Ontario – a First Nations reservation called Muskrat Dam.
It all started with an invitation to play hockey with the community and then one year when the ice wasn’t frozen enough, the chief invited Andy’s church up to do a children’s program for the community.
For the last 10 years or so, Andy leads mission teams from Forestview Church (Oakville, ON) to Muskrat Dam each winter.
Depending on the group, they might play hockey, do art therapy, puppet shows, visitation, run children’s programs, and pray with people.
Andy has built relationship with this First Nations community over many years, purposefully taking the posture of a learner and a listener.
He has learned about their culture and history.
Residential schools wasn’t part of his education growing up but now he’s aware of the inter-generational trauma related to residential schools, the 60’s Scoop, and the wide spread sexual abuse from previous church connections.
Slow and steady is the approach that Andy advocates for.
Showing up like a faithful friend and loving with the good news of Jesus.
He’s seen the difference the gospel makes in their lives and how faith in Jesus helps his friends in the north cope with everything.
This is learning how to be neighbours, like Jesus says.