The Arctic is a cold and barren land, but it has a beauty all its own. Someone has described the awesomeness of the northern lights running wild in the land of the midnight sun. I have felt the silence of spending a night in an igloo, alone on the barrens at 50 below zero. The wind-blown snow forms its own patterns and images; an endless sea of white. Yet, as one of our own has said, “The Arctic is teeming with life.” That is, if you consider the arctic fox, the caribou, the ptarmigan, the snowy owl, the polar bear, the arctic hare and other creatures who 267 inhabit this great expanse. The frozen rivers and lakes are inhabited by trout and arctic char that southern fishermen only dream of.

To me, the real beauty is the way God has designed His creation; so intricate in every detail. The arctic summer, though short in comparison to the south, has a rare beauty of its own. The arctic flowers are beyond compare, from the daisy to the miniature orchid, in full bloom before the snow is all gone. Standing on top of a rugged mountain, looking out over the Arctic Ocean leaves you speechless with a sense of awe; and to think, we know the God Who planned it all. Without knowing the Lord of creation, this land is cold and hard and life is only survival. Many are there who in some dark hour of despair have given up and taken their own lives. Without knowing Him Who gave His life for us, life becomes meaningless and loses all purpose.

Christ did not come to make the world more beautiful but to save us from our sin and give us life abundant. It is a fact though, that when we come to know Him and enter into His purpose and plan for our lives, we will have a deeper appreciation for all His creation as we see His hand in it. Getting to know the Inuit people has been an experience I won’t forget. Many of them have shared of their joys and heartaches; some of the older ones, of their struggle for survival. There were the good times with family and friends but also the rigors of making it through another winter, at times near to starvation and freezing.

Many have perished in days gone by not knowing why they lived, and knowing not where they were going. Teaching on creation from Genesis in one of the villages, we were told, “This is the first time we heard where we came from. “

We are thankful for those who have gone ahead, translating the Word of God. It has been only in the last few years that the people are beginning to understand about salvation by faith in Christ alone. I made my first trip to the Arctic in 1980, when Cliff 268 McComb and I went up on a survey trip. The Arctic was considered part of the Eastern Field. It was strange how the trip came about.

Lorne Heron, a Baptist minister, who now lives in Quebec, was in Val O’or at the time. Qualingo, one of the native Inuit men came down from Povungnituk to Val D’or for pilot training. While he was there he got acquainted with Heron and was saved. When he went back to Povungnituk he invited the pastor to come up and preach to his people.

A few came to Christ and Qualingo caught fire. He started witnessing and more of his friends and acquaintances came to Christ. At the same time Noriko, a Japanese woman who is a missionary with NCEM, was in Chisasippi (Fort George). She was accepted by the Inuit in a way that many white missionaries never achieve and was invited to their northern villages. It was almost like she was one of them. She served a number of years in Kuujjuarapik (Great Whale River) and Povungnituk. She has compiled an Inuit grammar book.

Because of her ministry in that Inuit village, Cliff and I went up on a survey trip. When going into a new native village or town, I’ve made it a practice to check with the chief or leaders and let them know what we were doing there. There have been many different responses but mostly positive, when they realize we respect their leadership.

I got to know just about all the native chiefs in the Maritimes. God makes it clear that the powers that be are ordained of God. In this case it would be the mayor and council we would need to contact. While we were there we decided to check out Salluit and the Ungava coast. We got into Salluit and were only supposed to be there over night but the plane that dropped us off didn’t come back for a week. Johnny, the mayor, took us to the hotel where we were given rooms at $40 each, per night. We couldn’t afford to stay there as we didn’t know when the plane was going to come back for us, but several Christians invited us to stay with them.

One woman said, “You can have my house. I’ll 269 move out to my tent.”

It was the end of June but there was still snow on the ground. In fact there was a blizzard while we were there.

We started having meetings every night. During the day we visited, climbed mountains and looked the place over. Cliff was getting excited. He was sure we were marooned and wanted to get out of there. At two o’clock one night a couple of Inuit men came and asked if I wanted to go out to the island. It wasn’t dark yet and I was eager to see as much as I could. We hopped on a ski-doo and went across miles of ice to the island. There was open sea beyond the island.

Most of the village men were there already, killing beluga whales. It was one of the most interesting days I have ever spent as I watched the Inuit shoot the whales, harpoon them and drag them in. I was fascinated by the scene before me and I couldn’t help thinking how God had blessed me. Here I was seeing something many would pay thousands of dollars to see, and it didn’t cost me a penny.

Since then we have placed missionaries in Wakeham Bay, Salluit and Kuujjuarapik, as well as Povungnituk.

Getting housing was a big project. The villages gave us older homes to renovate. We then had to send all the building supplies in by ship and then send in volunteer teams to do the building. This has led to my sitting at the table with a number of Inuit leaders in more than one village, negotiating with them for property and housing.

I was back in Salluit a few years ago and held a short term Bible school. I did a panorama of the Bible in two one-and-a-half-hour sessions. We had a hundred and fifty out every night and CBC North was there to film it. They put it on their stations right across the north.

I’ve been in at least four different places where people came up and said, “I saw you on TV.”

Salluit is really opening up to the gospel. They’re having souls come to Christ and are holding Bible studies. It’s exciting.

When Cliff McComb and I left that village, we went down to Wakeham Bay and Fort Chimo where we met a lot of Inuit people. That trip was a wonderful experience for me and gave me a real burden for the Inuit people.

A few years later, I had an opportunity to spend the night in an igloo. That’s another experience I’ll never forget. It seemed warm and comfortable compared to the -50 outside.

A couple came to visit me in the evening. Just before they left, they threw in an axe. “You might need this,” they told me.

At first I couldn’t figure why they thought I would need an axe. There wasn’t a bush or a tree within miles. Then I realized the axe was a bit of protection in case the wolves came around. If they stuck their heads in the igloo I could use it. I didn’t see any wolves, but I certainly heard them. The people in the north have houses now, but I’ve talked to the older people who experienced living conditions like they used to be up there. You’ve heard or read of anthropologists saying that the people loved their pagan religion and their old culture, and were happy to be left alone. That’s not the story I got. People starved to death and froze to death. Life was miserable for them. God has given us many friends among the Inuit, including a good number of their leaders. I’ve had the privilege of staying in their homes, travelling on their humatics (sleds), preaching and teaching in their churches and homes and on their TVs and radios. I’ve even been with them on their hunting trips as well as their whale kills. My prayer continues to be that many more will come to Christ and find the joy of sins forgiven. My greatest joy 271 was leading some of these, my Inuit friends, to faith in Christ.

* * *

I always have believed that the way to get things accomplished is to get to the highest authority possible in the area where the problem is. I guess it started when we were at Atikameg. I had written to Premier Manning a year or so earlier when a problem came up. The letter got results. Then we were faced with the problem of getting a bridge repaired. I talked with the engineer in Peace River about it but got no satisfaction. “You’ve got to remember,” he said, “the wheel that squeaks the loudest gets the grease.” “That’s O.K. I’ll do a bit of squeaking on my own.” That night I wrote a letter to Gordon Taylor, the Minister of Highways, and sent him a bill for $50 for repairing the bridge. I knew I wouldn’t get any money, but I thought I might get some action. I did.

He wrote back saying, “You weren’t authorized to make any repairs on the bridge so I can’t pay it, but you will have a bridge and a road to it.” Within two weeks a survey crew came in and did the survey. A day or two later a construction crew started building a new bridge. But it didn’t stop there. They built a new road along the lake to the new bridge. While they were working, the man in charge of the project came up to our door with a large earth mover.

“Do you need a farm pond or anything like that?”

He asked. “If you do, just let us know.” I looked at the hill between us and the road. “It would be nice if that hill was taken down and we had a sloping driveway,” I said.

“No problem. We’ll take care of it.” And they did.

* * *

God led us to meet and share with many men of influence. At Atikameg we had as many as eight government officials at our table at one meal. Just to name a few of the leaders I’ve met or corresponded with over the past thirty-some years: Ernest C. Manning, Preston Manning, Harry Strom, Grant Devine, Brian Mulroney, Richard Hatfield, Hugh John Flemming, Ed Broadbent, Gary Filmon, Don Mazankowski, George Bush and others down the line. I couldn’t begin to name the native chiefs and council men and Inuit leaders I’ve met and come to know. In spite of a few enemies, God has opened many opportunities to meet and make thousands of friends. In the last few years I’ve collected over 1,000 business cards from people I’ve met in travel, and I have had the privilege of sharing the gospel with many of these people. Space could not be found to tell of the hundreds of experiences of sharing Christ on a personal level. The Lord has shown me over the years that there are two kinds of people: either saved or lost. We all may have different positions and responsibilities, but we all have the same basic needs. I’ve seen men of high position weep and repent as well as the proverbial outcast. I’m glad God is no respecter of persons.

* * *

Grant Devine invited me to attend a Symposium on Family Life in Regina when he was Premier of Saskatchewan. I phoned that I couldn’t make it but sent him some literature from James Dobson’s Focus on the Family. He wrote and thanked me for it.

I’ve also had a personal letter from former U.S. president, George Bush, but that is a story we will tell later.

* * *

When our Mission Director, L.W. (Bud) Elford, was visiting us in New Brunswick, he invited us out for supper, then informed us he would soon be giving up his position as General Director of NCEM. He then announced that he felt I was the one to replace him.

After we prayed about it we agreed, deciding it was the Lord’s will. In July, 1987 we made the move to Prince Albert and I assumed the position of Assistant General Director for one year, working under Mr. L.W. Elford; the following year we switched positions. It was a humbling experience having my superior become my servant.

At the same time, Cathy became Candidate Secretary, replacing Marge Elford. She later was appointed as Office Manager to direct the women in the main office.

It has been an awesome responsibility for both of us, but by God’s grace we have accepted the challenge. We can see now how God was preparing us over the years for this great task. I’m often reminded of David taken from the sheepfold. My desire too, has been to be a man after God’s own heart.

Going back to our move from New Brunswick to Prince Albert, I need to tell you how the Lord helped us in buying a home.

But, so you can understand what happened next, I have to go back to the time we were in Atikameg. The roads were so terrible there, particularly in the winter and spring, we talked about getting a vehicle with four-wheel drive. The bank manager served on the hospital board with me. I wasn’t trying to borrow any money from him but I happened to mention that Cathy and I were praying about such a move.

“Go ahead and buy the four-wheel drive. I’ll see that you get the money.”

At the time, a Land Cruiser cost around $5,200 new. The guy in High Prairie wanted to sell me a year old model that had been given rough treatment. His price was $4,500.

We drove to Edmonton and found exactly what we wanted in a new four-wheel drive vehicle. The fellow in Edmonton eventually sold us the vehicle for $4,300. I phoned the bank manager who okayed the cheque and we bought this brand new Toyota. At the time our salary was around $300 a month. I went in to the bank a few days later and Phil sent me to the assistant manager.

“How much are you putting down?”

“Nothing.”

“We have principles in this bank, you know.” “I talked with the manager and he said to buy it and we’d work it out.”

“I can’t understand that. We have to have a down payment.”

“Well, I’m planning to sell my car.” “That doesn’t mean a thing to me. It doesn’t make sense to set up a deal like this. We have to start some place.”

“I just trust the Lord,” I told him. “He’s always looked after us before.”

“Okay. What’s your salary?”

“We really don’t have a salary. Last year. . “

The guy about fell apart.

“It’s not quite that bad. Last year we averaged $300 275 a month.”

That was even worse. He was so shook up he didn’t know which way was up. term.”

He stared at me as though I was really stupid and figured out what it would cost each month. “Man, that’s a lot of interest.”

“That’s a lot of money.”

“How much would it be for one year?” By this time he acted as though he knew I was crazy. “For one year?” He echoed. “Do you realize what the payments would be on that?” I knew they would be high and told him so. “They’ll be three hundred and eighty five dollars a month.”

He had just heard me say I only made $300 a month. “I’ll take it.”

“What?”

“It’s no harder for the Lord to supply $385 a month than it is for $300.”

“Where have you had credit?” He asked.

“I haven’t. I’ve always used cash.”

Then he repeated himself. “We have to start somewhere.”

“Well, I’ve heard of people buying cars on a three-year He shook his head and quit arguing with me. He made out the papers and I signed them. The last thing he said was, “You have a month to make your first payment. If you have any problem, let me know. I wouldn’t want to ruin your credit.”

I could have told him I didn’t have any, but I didn’t want to throw that at him, too.

Cathy was sort of surprised with what I had done but we prayed about it. It was amazing. The next four and a half months were a miracle to us. We never sold the car. In fact, we gave it to one of our missionaries later, after the new vehicle was paid off. I’m not sure about the sequence of events but I am about the results. My home church never before had mentioned a ski-doo or anything like that. They wrote and said, “We all have two or three ski-doos in a family. We know you could use one up there. We’ve decided to go together and buy one for you.” We phoned them and asked if they would mind putting the cost of the ski-doo on our Toyota. They said, “Sure, we don’t mind.” They sent us $1,800. My grandmother sent $300 so that came to almost half of the amount we needed.

I’d been trying to get a job for the native people widening the road. The authorities refused but we bucked it. “Why do you want to bring in white guys for the job?”

“Because we can’t get the natives to work.” I continued to press them and they finally changed their minds. “You’ve got the job,” I was told. I’d almost forgotten about it and I certainly didn’t want a job for myself. But when they insisted I serve as foreman being paid an hour a day I agreed. I was to get $3.50 an hour for an hour each day. I hired thirteen men and started burning brush. On the way to Gift Lake to visit I’d stop and check on the men. And on the way back I’d check them, too. To make sure they’d be at work I’d go to their homes and get them out of bed so I’d be sure they were on the job. I never lost a man of the 13 for two months straight.

At the end of the first week, the engineer in charge of the project refused to pay me for an hour’s work each day. “I’ve got two white crews 277 south of here,” he said. “Those two together aren’t getting the work done that you are. I don’t know what you’re doing but you’re getting the brush cut. And that’s what we’re after. We’re putting you on full pay.”

So they paid me for nine hours a day. When I finished the job they had paid me $1,200. Four and a half months from the time I bought the vehicle I walked into the bank and said, “How much would I save if I paid off the loan?’

“Did you sell your car?”

“No. “

“You didn’t?” He seemed surprised. “Do you realize how much you owe?”

I didn’t, but he knew. He must have been watching our account closely. I paid off the loan and he put his arm around me as I started for the door. “If you ever need a loan, let me know. “ Then we moved to Pierceland and- we needed a trailer for training camp. We found one for $850. I went into the Grand Centre, Alberta bank and asked if I could get a loan to buy a trailer. “We can’t give you a loan. We don’t know you.”

“Phone the bank at High Prairie. I’ll pay the call.” A few minutes later the fellow came back and said, “How much do you need?”

I told him and we got the trailer.

Four years after we left Atikameg we moved to New Brunswick and were looking for a house there. We had about six thousand dollars in cash, but there was a tight money policy in Newcastle at the time. “We can’t give you a loan,” the officer said, “but how much are you looking for?”

At the time I didn’t know exactly what we would need but I figured we could get a suitable house for $18,000.

When he refused, I told him to phone High Prairie. “It’s been awhile since I was there,” I said, “but they said if I ever needed a loan to check with them.”

He came back with a big smile and asked how much I needed. At that time the local guys couldn’t even borrow $5,000.

We were able to buy a house from Cathy’s cousin for $18,000 and we lived in it for thirteen years.

When we moved to Prince Albert, again I went to the Royal Bank to open an account. We hadn’t sold the house in New Brunswick at that time. The first person I met was our old banker from High Prairie. He was retired but worked as a consultant for the Royal Bank in Prince Albert.

“Hello, Mr. Hill,” he said. “I haven’t seen you for a long time. (Actually it was 17 years.) What’re you doing here?”

“I came in to see about getting a loan.” “Come with me.” He took me into the manager’s office. “Anything he wants, give it to him.” I told him we would need the full amount to buy a house as we had not sold our house in New Brunswick. In half an hour we had the money. He not only gave us a loan for the house, but a loan for the down payment as well.

We had already shopped around for a house, looking at twenty-five homes in three days and we had been praying for peace in the one of God’s choice. The real estate lady showed us a house along the river that suited our needs perfectly. The owner was retiring from his job at the hospital and his wife, who had been a secretary for nineteen 279 years, was also retiring. They were thinking of selling the following summer.

I asked if he would go any lower and he said he couldn’t, so sensing it was the house of God’s choice, we took it.

At the same time we had a van that we wanted to sell. Bob and Darleen Steward knew we wanted to sell it but they-didn’t think they could pay what we were asking for it.

When they were alone that night they decided they wouldn’t say anything to us but if we offered it to them for a certain price they would take it. Cathy and I were also talking about the van. “If we’re going to give it to someone at a lower price, we’d rather give it to them,” I said. “Why don’t we offer it to them for this price?”

The next morning on our way to chapel I told them what we had decided. It was the very price they had set. They gave us a down payment right there and paid off the rest when they got home. We put that toward the mortgage on the house. Three months later our house in New Brunswick sold and we were able to put a sizeable amount toward the payment of our mortgage. Actually our house in New Brunswick sold the day the stock market crashed in 1987. God has a great way of doing things.

* * *

Abbreviations

I am a member of N.C.E.M.

My job is called G.D.

I lectured at E.M.T.C.

And also at M.D.P.

The S.L.C. is part of the team

And soisK.B.I.

The T.V. crew is praying

To be shown on C.K.Y.

The M. and M. are our Minute Men They help on N.M.T.C.

It pays for all F.F. and E.