Yet Another Slightly Tortured Metaphor

Time continues along. Suddenly its July, and the heat as I write this is suffocating.

June was a good month for me; the past few months have been challenging, but God has proven Himself faithful. I have been making plenty of calls, connecting with supporters new and old alike, and my monthly support level passed the 50% mark!

As travel opens more and more, and we have more freedom to gather, I have started planning more trips to visit friends and family. If you would like to meet, or even have me come speak at your church or small group, let me know!

The houseboat after her maiden voyage

I've been helping a friend build a small houseboat for some time now, and on Canada Day we launched her. It was a very exciting feeling as the trailer slowly backed into the water and the boat floated away. And as the motor started up and we motored off, I was pretty darn happy to say the least.

But that has nothing to do with my ministry. However as I think about it, I think it makes for a good metaphor.

I've been working towards serving God through aviation for about a decade now, and the excitement as I signed on the dotted line in November was in some ways very similar to the feeling of launching that boat.

But the houseboat isn't done. She isn't much of a houseboat. She's more of a pontoon platform with the shell of a cabin on top. No bed, no table, nothing. I spent the night aboard; sleeping on the wooden floor was not terribly comfortable.

Likewise, though I have joined MAF, I'm not on the field just yet. I still need to finish the preparations. God has been so faithful, bringing people into my life who are comitting to pray for me, and to support financially, I can't wait to see what He does next, and I can't wait to see the house part of that houseboat completed.

All that to say, if you would like to support my ministry, whether through prayer or financially... do get in touch.

And I'm sorry if that metaphor kinda fell apart towards the end.

A Tortured Metaphor Around Racetracks

So I missed my May post. Sorry.

It's been a strange couple of months, and I don't think we're out of the woods yet. Though I have been wrong before.

Sometimes it's hard to see where this is all going. I don't want to wade into the internet debate about what part God has in all this, but we know that He is sovereign, and that He is King.

I've always liked watching Top Gear. A number of years ago, they were doing a challenge that involved racing super cars around the Imola racetrack. It's pretty entertaining. At one point as Jeremy Clarkson comes up a hill he shouts, "The track will be there. Keep it in!" He couldn't see the rest of the track right in front of him, but he had been there before and knew it was there. If he was wrong, he would have gone flying into the bushes. 

In a Lamboghini. 

Going flat out. 

The Lamborhini Aventador Jeremy was driving.
Also eye candy.

There are worse ways to go. 

But of course he had been there before, and the track was still there.

Now, this isn't a racetrack, and I admit that I have never been in this situation before. It's hard to keep going. I don't always know how to proceed. Honestly, it's kinda scary sometimes.

But I know that I have been called to serve with MAF in the DRC, God has blessed this endeavour, and when I have stepped out in faith He has come through every time. This does not aleviate fear, but puts it in context. Jeremy was scared as he came to the top of the hill but he kept his foot down, knowing that the road will be there. I am scared (though for different reasons) as I look at the future and our "new normal". As I look at the challenge of ministry partnership during a time when I can't do it in the way I got used to, I feel scared; unsure how to proceed. But God is there. I just have to keep going.

Whether you think God caused Coronavirus or not, whether you think Jeremiah 29:11 applies to you or not, whether you know what is going to happen next or not, God is sovereign. He will be there. 

Keep it in.

The World Has Somehow Shifted

Let's get this out of the way first, COVID19 has changed pretty much everyone's lives. Many of us are practicing social distancing, some of us are even quarantined, whether by choice, or forced upon us. How we do our jobs has changed as well, and we have to figure out what that looks like now too. Please stay safe, and let's pray that this all ends soon.

MAF's vision is "Isolated people physically and spiritually transformed in Christ's name". Usually that means we serve and fly in small fly-in communities in develloping countries. But now we are all isolated, even in big cities here in North America!

Preparing the Caravan in Kinshasa to go evacuate some
 researchers from the jungle

Though this time of isolation is difficult for many of us, it's also a reminder of the challenges so many others around the world face every day. And even though we can't meet in person, there is still opportunities for ministry. Call a friend, call your neighbour, and just talk and pray together. Go buy groceries for someone who can't leave their house. Transform the lives of isolated people in Christ's name.

Since it would be irresponsible of me to go out and meet with you in person, I have been relying on online communication to keep in touch. Praise God for technology that allows us to continue our work despite such dramatic changes to our every-day life.

I also praise God for all of you who are continuing, and even starting, to support this ministry despite uncertainties in your own life. Your generosity humbles me, and your faith inspires me.

Thank-you.

Dominic

It's March... Already?

Wow, it's already March! When did that happen? I am torn between excited at how quickly things are moving along, and scared at how much I still need to do!

God is good, He has been providing throughout this support raising journey, my outgoing fund is already at almost two thirds raised! Thank-you to everyone who is supporting this ministry!

Praise God, the last Ebola patient in the DRC was discharged this week. Though  there is still a 42 week waiting period before we can officially say that the epidemic is over, this is an encouraging step in the right direction. (Read the WHO article here)

The last Ebola patient in DRC

Though it is exciting to see positive development in the outbreak, there are still many challenges. There are so many preventable diseases that here in North America are non-issues, but in the DRC can prove fatal.

The DRC has only 1 doctor for every 10,000 people, so getting medical assistance can be nearly impossible. Particularly for those living away from major centers. Due to the distance and poor roads, sick people sometimes can't even physically get to a hospital to get the life saving medical care they need.

Which is where MAF comes in. Though it may take several days of driving on difficult, muddy roads to get to a hospital, MAF can fly a patient to the hospital in an hour; not only saving time, but also the health toll such a journey would otherwise take.

MAF's vision is "isolated people physically and spiritually transformed in Christ's name", and these medivacs demonstrate that vision perfectly. We are able to physically transform the patient's life as we get them the help they need, but we also take the time to pray for and with them, sharing the Gospel, and practically demonstrating Christ's love.

 I am getting more and more excited as I get closer and closer to launch day, and I'm so humbled to see God's provision as He brings in the funds that I need to go.

Thank-you to everyone who has, is, or will partener with my ministry. If you want to know more about MAF and how you can join my team, let me know, and I'd be happy to fill you in!

I will be speaking at Ear Falls Bible Chapel on March 22nd, feel free to come out to see me, and hear more about my ministry!

Back in Red Lake

I am finally back home in Red Lake after over a month away. My brain is slowly catching up.

It was great to spend Christmas and New Years with my family, and then I was off to Nampa to visit the MAFUS headquarters for two weeks.
I was there for candidacy, when they bring in all the MAF candidates and pull back the curtains to show us what MAF is doing around the world. The second week we spend a lot of time learning about what its like working in a cross-cultural environment, as well as practical lessons on how to grow and thrive in such environments.

The January 2020 MAF Candidacy Class

There were about 16 candidates in that class, much more than in my candidate class with MAF Canada! It was a huge answer to prayer for MAF to have so many willing to come and serve, the need is great, but our God is greater! And although I already knew my country of assignment, most of the other candidates did not, so it was during that trip that they found out where they were going. There was excitement all around, even for me; a few of my classmates will be joining me in the DRC.

After those two weeks, I returned to Kamloops where I started off my week of ministry partnership in Kamloops by speaking at Sahali Fellowship Church, the church that I attended when I was young. I spent the rest of the week visiting and sharing my ministry. I also got to talk to the youth group that I used to attend and share about missions with them.
Thank-you everyone who took the time to sit down with me and chat! If you missed me, don't worry, I'll be back in Kamloops later this year. I'll catch you then!

I say this a lot, but I mean it: Thank-you everyone who is supporting my ministry with MAF, you are all a huge encouragement to me.

As always, if you want to hear more from me, you can check out my webpage, or my Facebook, or you can e-mail me at dvilleneuve@maf.org

Have a blessed month!

Dominic

To a New Year

Firstly, Happy New Year!

Or not, if you're reading this later. In which case, happy day!

It's been a good year, but I'm not going to wax poetic about that. I want to talk about this month instead.

I officially started with MAF on December first, and God has been going ahead of me throughout the support raising process. It had been only a month, and I'm already past 25% of my support!

Thank-you to everyone who is supporting my ministry. Seeing this response has been a huge encouragement for me!

Last week I flew back to BC to spend the Holidays with my family. I conveniently "forgot" to tell my parents that I was coming, so they were very happy to see me on Christmas Eve. We then spent a few days in a cabin near Wells Gray Park, where we had no reception or internet (sorry if you tried to get a hold of me). We spent the day snowshoeing, reading, and playing cards.

Our little cabin in the woods

This weekend I will be heading down to the MAFUS base in Nampa for candidacy. I will be there for two weeks learning more about MAF, and about working cross-culturally.

I will then be returning to Kamloops, where I will be speaking briefly at Sahali Fellowship Church on January 18th (feel free to come if you're in the area), and meeting with friends and supporters. If you're in the area and want to have coffee, let me know!

Thank-you (again) to everyone who is supporting my ministry, thank-you to everyone who has been praying for me, and thank-you to you, for reading this.

As always, if you want to hear more, you can check out my webpage here, or my Facebook page here. Or you can e-mail me at dvilleneuve@maf.org.

Thank-you everyone, may the Lord bless you through 2020.

The Beginning

Saturday was my last day at my job here in Red Lake. I am now full-time with Mission Aviation Fellowship, preparing to serve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

As I said in my last post, my first ministry assignment is to build up a ministry partnership team that will pray for me and contribute to the financial needs of my ministry. And so, that is what I have started doing today.

From one of my last flights

I am excited to start this new season, though I am sad to leave the job I have had for the past two and a half years. Looking back, I can see how the Lord has been preparing me for this ministry, and I praise Him for His faithfulness.

From my last day

I am excited to see what God will do in and through me in this next season. Though I am nervous, I have faith that everything will work out for His glory.

Please prayerfully consider whether the Lord is calling you to invest in this MAF ministry; your support can impact so many lives for Christ.

Wherever the Lord leads you, please pray for me as I build my team and share about the calling that God has placed on my life.

You can learn more about my ministry at my webpage by clicking here, or through my Facebook page by clicking here.

Thank-you for reading, thank-you for your support, and God bless!

Dominic