By Julie Golding Page.  HUDSON BAY & ARBORFIELD (Sask) - Twenty members of two local Anglican churches, St. Patrick’s (Hudson Bay) and Church of the Ascension (Arborfield), recently spent an entire day exploring their place in God’s mission. Each mission day’s programming ran from 10 am to 4 pm, with an enthusiastically received international supper afterwards.

Each day began with an opening time of welcome that included praise & worship singing, and that essential ingredient for all successful events – good coffee! The Rev’d Steve Page then led the group through an interactive Bible study session to answer the question “What does God have to say about mission?”

Next, several people shared their experiences of overseas mission on the ground, through dynamic presentations filled with personal anecdotes and pictures of local colour, flora and fauna. The Rev’d Chris Harper (Anglican - Birch Hills) spoke about his short-term mission to Kenya, Africa, the Rev’d Fred Buhler (Hudson Bay’s Pineridge Fellowship) talked about the years that he and his family spent in Paraguay, South America, and the Rev’d Julie Golding Page spoke of the short-term mission that she and her husband (who is co-priest-in-charge) spent in Guatemala, Central America.

Then it was time for lunch – and what an adventure it was! We were treated to a taste of what it’s like to be a refugee – literally – by eating a simple yet nutritious and surprisingly filling cornmeal porridge that is served in refugee camps. Lunch for the entire group cost an amazing $2, and the would-be refugees gave the money that they would have spent on their usual lunch to mission. Their generous donation of $265 will help underprivileged children around the world, by buying toys and books for children overseas and sending a child to Camp Okema here at home.

After lunch, the Rev’d Steve led a prayer time, asking God how he would have our churches be involved in his mission. The Rev’d Julie then led a brainstorming session to answer the question “What is God asking us to do, both overseas and here at home?” A long list of ideas resulted and are being referred to each Vestry and congregation for further prayer, thought and action. Both churches have already turned their commitment to mission into action by each beginning to sponsor a child in an underprivileged country through the Arms of Jesus children’s mission.

Like all good events, the mission day ended with a potluck supper – but with a twist! Each person brought a dish from a different country. If variety is the spice of life, then we had a very “spicy” supper indeed, as dishes included Persian chicken, Italian pizza, Latin American casserole, Ukrainian perogies, Thai coconut green curry, and German spaetzle. Who knew that engaging in God’s mission could be so much fun?

Would you like more information on how you can get involved? If so, please contact the Rev’ds Julie and Steve at 865-3488 or HudsonBayArborfield@sasktel.net .