Thunder Bay: Divine Appointments

I week before I drove here I questioned if I should come, “God, do you have something for me up there or do I just want to go up because I’ve always wanted to visit Tbay and my friends up there?” I really questioned my motives and purpose and wondered if it would be more beneficial to go to Saskatchewan. I told Chris and we prayed about it for 2 days and in the end we both felt the same, I should go to Thunder Bay.

I drove up on Saturday knowing there was a purpose but didn’t know what it was. Every city/town I had visited up until this point I knew what I was doing and who I was meeting with before I went. All I knew this time was that I had 3 friends there: Nick Cotter (from Montreal),Brad Farrish (from Summit College), Brad Doff (a friend I met in Israel a few years ago) and that they found me a place to stay in a house with 3 other girls. On the 8hr drive up I really felt that God was to make the way for me in Thunder Bay, not me… I really didn’t want to start contacting churches and introducing myself to tell people about 24-7 Prayer- there is just something so un-relational and un-natural about that approach and I really wasn’t feeling it… I just felt I needed to show up and see what God had for me and who he wanted me to meet.
I love Starbucks and when I’m in Montreal I spend a good 25hrs a week working from there so I was pretty pleased by the 2 Starbucks in Thunder Bay… BUT I found an even better local coffee shop where I’ve ended up spending most of my time, called Calico’s. Nick and Brad randomly stop in to visit me between classes to hang out, they have free wireless and serve fair-trade organic coffee and lose tea, it’s great!

On Monday Nick came to visit me at the same time that this guy named Sky walked in, so Nick introduced me. Nick hasn’t seen Sky in almost 2 years. Sky and his wife lead an amazing ministry called An Eagles Cry; they reach out to the poor oppressed and abused people of Thunder Bay. Also those bound by drugs, alcohol and prostitution. Sky is Native and most of their ministry is to the Natives. As soon as I met him I heard the Lord say, “give him the copy of Red Moon Rising on the table”… I thought that was a little strange at first, since I just met him, but after a few minutes of hearing what he does and chatting it made sense and was easy. He invited me to come to the centre so I went yesterday for a couple hours with Brad, it blew my mind. I’ll write a blog on that next.

Yesterday, after visiting An Eagles Cry, I went back to Calico’s and sat on the big couch in front of the fire. I was trying to get organized so I had all kinds of stuff sprawled out on the coffee table and couch. There are two chairs creating a U around the fireplace, a guy came and sat down shortly after I got there on one of the chairs. Nick texted me to say he was coming by with some of his favorite Maltese sandwiches for us. He showed up about an hour after I got there and said hi to the guy sitting next to me first… Turns out this guy was Pete, the Pastor of Student Ministries at his church! Nick again introduced me and we all hung out for about an hour. I got to hear what’s been going on at their church and shared a bit about what I’m doing, we exchanged contact info to keep in touch and so that I can send him some prayer resources…

It’s just so amazing because the biggest thing I heard from God when I was coming here was to just let him orchestrate everything… So I’ve just been learning to trust him in that and not try to orchestrate anything on my own… He is totally leading me to meet the people he wants me to meet. Love it! Louise in Sudbury, after praying for me, told me to be discerning with how I spend my time. I understand now more than ever before that God will make my way and open the right doors as I listen to Him.

Also, the 3 girls I’m staying with have been wonderful and so refreshing. I could probably write a whole blog on them too. I think my time with them was also in God’s heart…

I sit here amazing at how God works as we listen to Him and just trust.