On The Road Again
You will recall that many of our communities are off the road system and connected only by boat or plane. So you might assume that the other communities which have a road would be like your town. Well…not so much. One of our teammates doing ministry in Canada
has a unique take on this. May his words broaden your perspective and sharpen your prayers for our teams.
“Hi everyone
I want to tell you about the villages on the road system. I know not every village is as far away as mine, but still, it is NOT just a hop, skip, or a jump to get somewhere else.
Yes, it is true we can bring in truckloads of goods. While this is very convenient, it is still not a short ride.
Our next village on the road system is a 45-minute drive away. We have a river to the north of us and another to the south without a bridge to cross either one. In the summer we have access to this village with a ferry. If I miss this ferry, I have to wait up to 45 minutes to get on the next ferry. In winter it is easier since we have ice roads. However, we have one month a year, during the spring river break up, that we have no access to the road system.
The biggest town in our area is a 3 hour trip with the same problem of the ferry in the summer. When using the ferry, you need to closely watch the schedule otherwise one might spend the night in your car. This town has the closest church outside our community. Since their stores have more expensive products than in our village, there is no reason to go there for shopping. The next closest village to the north is a seven hour drive. Right now it is only accessible in the winter on the ice roads, but they are building a permanent road.
If you travel south, the next community is an 8-10 hour drive. All those roads are gravel, and you can easily find yourself stranded since the road can closed for days at a time. You also have to keep in mind that there is only one gas station on the way to this community. We have to time our travels just right to be at the gas station before it closes in the evening. Then you have other small things like no cell phone access anywhere outside the villages or winds that can blow an 18-Wheeler off the road. The big city of Whitehorse is a simple 13-hour drive if all goes well. I usually take two days to make this trip.
My big trip each year is going to Anchorage for our annual conference. I split the journey into four days of travel. I remember the time, on my trip back from a conference, that I got stuck on a closed road for an additional two days. That year it took ten days of travel to attend a 3-day conference, but it was well worth it. If I made this trip in the summer, there is a road that opens up and I can shorten the trip by one day each way. However, if I take this shortcut then I don’t go through Whitehourse which means not being able to stock up on groceries. It is a decision to save time or get groceries.
I don't want to it to sound like I am complaining about the travelling, because the trips are always exiting. Along the way, I see the beautiful country side, scenery I never got tired of. And there are chances to see wildlife, just like in an animal documentary.
So there you have it. Don’t let the knowledge that a village is on the road system lead you to the wrong perception. Not every village is right around the corner from a big town.”
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
