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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Water was the theme of a five-day summer Bible school offered in Fort Simpson this week.

Gina Hardisty-Isaiah decorates one of the cloth bags that each of the participants in the On Eagle's Wings Bible school in Fort Simpson received to hold their crafts. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

From July 25 to 29 two volunteers with On Eagle's Wings, an ecumenical group based in Edmonton, presented crafts, games and Bible stories all based around the theme of SPLASH, Show People Love and Share Happiness.

On Eagle's Wings was formed 12 years ago with the goal of supporting ministry in the North.

The organization is widely known for its summer Bible schools but also offers year-round ministry.

Volunteers Deanna Valleau from Vermilion, Alta., and Kathryn Scott from Swift Current, Sask., had 18 youths attend the first day of the school and were expecting the number to grow throughout the week.

Every day youths were introduced to one Bible story with a water theme, including the baptism of Jesus by John and the multiplying of the fish.

Daily crafts were also based on the Bible stories.

Valleau and Scott also led the youth in active games and songs during the three-hour afternoon sessions.

"I've enjoyed doing the games and playing with the kids and seeing them understand more about God," said Valleau.

This is Valleau's first year volunteering with On Eagle's Wings but her second time in Fort Simpson.

Last year, Valleau came to the village with a group from her church to help build a shed for the Calvary Pentecostal Chapel. On Eagle's Wings happened to be in the village at the same time, so Valleau helped with the Bible school.

Valleau decided to volunteer with the organization this year because she likes the way it works with churches in the communities and supports ministers and missionaries in the field. The chance to travel and meet new people was also part of her decision.

"There's part of me that liked the adventure of flying in a plane to a place that may not have been easily accessible," she said.

With On Eagle's Wings, Valleau has also travelled to Pine Channel, Sask., as well as Wabasca and Sandy Lake, Alta.

In total, the organization will be leading Bible schools in 30 communities this summer across northern parts of Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta as well as the NWT and Nunavut.

Like Valleau, this is also Scott's first summer volunteering with the organization. Scott, a pre-kindergarten teacher, wanted to fulfil a lifelong dream of coming North, so she took a year's absence from work.

She was already a supporter of On Eagle's Wings and saw the opportunity of volunteering with the organization as a way to visit multiple communities.

"It's just a learning experience," said Scott.

Scott said she's enjoying spending a week in different communities and getting to meet people as well as the youth.

Each Bible school this summer will use the same material, but it's modified in each community as volunteers get to know participants and what works best for them, she said.

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