DEH CHO - A personal connection with the Deh Cho gave youth in Fort Simpson and Wrigley the chance to attend a summer bible school last week.

Rev. David Lehmann and seven members of St. George's Anglican Church from Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., offered the On Eagle's Wings bible school program in both communities. For Lehmann the trip to the Deh Cho was a type of homecoming.

Volunteer Sue Wilson, right, gives Esmeralda Antoine some encouragement during a craft session at the On Eagle's Wings summer bible school that was held in Fort Simpson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Lehmann was the minster at St. David's Anglican Church in Fort Simpson from 1994 to 2000.

"It was my first parish as rector so it will always be home," he said.

When members of his current parish said they were interested in doing a project in the North, Lehmann said his thoughts immediately turned to the village and On Eagle's Wings, a multi-denominational Christian ministry that serves in northern Canada. Lehmann was on the organization's inaugural board of directors.

"It had been almost a decade since I'd been back so I thought it was time to come back and do something," he said.

Lehmann and three volunteers drove to Wrigley where they offered four days of bible school from July 20 to 23. A total of 29 youth participated in the program.

"They were all absolutely delightful," Lehmann said.

It had been a few years since On Eagle's Wings had been in the community so the children there were excited to have someone come back, he said.

The other four volunteers stayed in Fort Simpson and offered a six-day program. Approximately 12 youth came every day, said Susan Hample, the group leader.

"I think they had fun," she said.

Activities at the program included songs, games, action plays and lots of crafts. The kids really got into the plays, Hample said.

Acting out the story of the Good Samaritan the youth took turns wrapping bandages around the person playing the injured man.

In the story of Jesus calming the storm, half of the youth pretended to be the disciples in the boat while the other half provided the storm sound effects.

The boat scene was fun to re-enact, said Grace-Lee Arbeau, one of the participants.

For Arbeau, however, the crafts were the best part of the program.

For all of the group members this was their first time volunteering with On Eagle's Wings.

"I just wanted to see the Northwest Territories," said Sue Wilson.

"I wanted to share my love of Jesus with the children."

The group drove to the village in a rented 15-passenger van.

"We took out the back seat and were loaded up to the roof," said Hample.

Both women agreed the experience was a positive one. Everyone was very friendly, Hample said.

"We had a good time being able to experience a different place and different people and a different culture," she said.