After becoming a Christian, one of my habits became reading the Word of God. For many years it has been my habit to read through the Bible each year. Jesus said, “Come, follow me…” (Matthew 4:19) as He called His disciples. He keeps repeating this call to me. “Come, Lois.” And so I have followed.
There is nothing like growing up on a farm, seeing God in action in the crops and animals, the weather up close, and learning to work in conjunction with nature. It marked my life. There was a sense of God’s presence, but my life was often out of control.
I am told I was in church the Sunday after I was born (March 9, 1951). My mom Eva (Moffat), was a school teacher who came to teach at the country school across the field, and my dad, George Franklin, was a farmer. I have two older brothers and a younger sister. From an early age, I have had a sense of God; the sense things are in His hands, whether or not I understand it.
Life at home was difficult for me, and as much as I spent my younger years attending church convinced there was a God, there was no sense He would personally have anything to do with me. Through some of the difficult times of my childhood, I remember being out in the more wooded areas, wandering around and yelling at God, asking Him to make Himself known. Where are You? I know that You are real. I need You. Why can’t You make Yourself known? I need You to help me.
I finished high school and entered nurse’s training in Bottineau, North Dakota. There I met a couple of girls who became my friends. One asked me questions about God. I said, “Oh yes, I’ve gone to church all of my life.” We talked from time to time, and then she invited me to a Bible study. I went, taking along my Bible given to me by my mom and dad years before.
At the Bible study, God continued His work in my heart. Everyone was pleased I was there. They talked about God and the Bible in ways I had never heard before. As they spoke and prayed, I began to sense God’s presence. Each week as I went back, I questioned what I would do with what I was feeling and learning. Then, one week my friend asked if I wanted to pray. I had no clue what it meant to pray, but I know my life was not the same in the end. From then on, my life began to change. I began to read the Bible. In summer, I went to youth group and was met week after week with a new sense of God’s presence.
Following graduation, I returned to Canada to work at the hospital in Winkler, Manitoba. Church attendance was difficult because I worked a lot of shift work, but I was able to be part of a youth group. It was all new and different, and I somewhat learned a new language, low German.
Moving to Brandon to train to be an ICU nurse, McDiarmid Drive Alliance Church became my home. I joined the choir and was part of a college and career group. God continued to call me closer. I went off to Canadian Bible College (CBC), working with Mrs. Tiessen in student care and graduating in 1979. I knew I was called into ministry, but I was unsure what exactly I would be doing, so I returned to nursing.
I moved to Winnipeg, back to nursing, and attended Central Alliance Church with Rev. Willoughby, my CBC professor. The church moved to a different area through the following years, and I came on to the board as the elder of Christian education. Changes were happening all around. As time went on, I continually remembered my call to ministry; maybe this was it? Or was there more ahead? These were exciting years as the church moved into a new building, and a new pastor came to lead. Then Winnipeg Alliance churches held a city-wide missions event with Arnold Cook. I went forward, knowing this was where God was calling me.
I had a personal mission trip planned to visit Doug and Ann Snowsell, Alliance missionaries to Chile. It was one of those unforgettable trips. As the plane was coming in to land in Santiago, Chile, it was as if God said to me, This will be your new country, take a good look around. I had already planned to travel all the way south and north. Part of my visit was a side trip to Quito, Ecuador, where I met with Dr. Ron Gudarian and his wife Eleanor working in the Radio HCJB hospital. I went, as friends said, “to spy out the hospital there.” With Ron, I travelled to the jungle for a weekend and tested eyes with an Ecuadorian ophthalmologist, helped to fit glasses, took in the environment, and again heard from God. You can do this, but it is not what I have planned for you.
Returning to Chile and then Canada, I knew changes were again coming my way. God also gave me a verse from Scripture, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). God is the only one able to lead me, and the glory is all for Him.
Returning to Regina and Canadian Theological Seminary (CTS), I had no clue how God would organize everything. I was over the age limit for foreign missions, and I had not done a formal home assignment. There were two years of studies ahead, accreditation, and pre-deployment, etc. But I was sure God had me firmly by the hand. What He wills, He does.
The First Church (now The Bridge Church) in Winnipeg was marvellous in providing a shower of needed items for me. They had been my family for ten years. The Church in Pinawa became very special as they invited me to visit even before leaving Canada.
Language Study
My first term (1990) started off with language study. Even before leaving Canada, it was great to meet the folks headed to Costa Rica and language learning at Pre-deployment and Toronto Institute of Linguistics. There were five of us going to Costa Rica in August. There was even a conversation about my name, as it is not a very Spanish name, and I did not like the Spanish translation of Timothy’s grandmother’s name in 2 Timothy 1:5. I decided I would be Luisa going with true Superman, God.
It was a fabulous time learning Spanish, understanding and not understanding all at the same time. The Instituto de la Lengua Española with Elizabeth Alfaro was a special place where no English was spoken, verbs and more verbs, less ‘t,’ and repeat and repeat. But also marvellous! I lived with a family where conversations about God seemed to be daily. It was their first experience with a foreign student in their home, so I was culturally an oddity. I really enjoyed living with them despite two earthquakes, termites in my bed, giving injections morning and night for a week, and G.I. parasites every month. There were also two special dogs, shopping with my Tico mother, going to church across the city, lots of ice cream, and long walks to get anywhere.
I stayed an extra week in Costa Rica to attend an Evangelism Explosion Clinic in Spanish. When I registered, the people at the clinic wondered out loud whether or not I would ever complete the course because of my Spanish, but the person to whom I presented the Gospel received Jesus. It was a palpable God moment!
On the plane from Costa Rica, another passenger, an Argentinian woman, was incensed about my going to a Catholic country as an evangelical missionary. My response was that this was not about church or religion, it was about following Jesus, and even Catholics sometimes need to follow Jesus better.
Chile
I arrived in Chile with most of the missionaries there welcoming me at the airport. A missionary couple invited me to their home where they had a maid who, on my arrival, wanted to talk. One day she prayed with me to receive Jesus. It was awesome to do discipleship with her.
Shortly after I arrived, there was a bit of a kerfuffle between a pastor and some missionaries; my world became chaotic regarding my placement. At the same time, I received a questionnaire from a grad student doing a thesis about why missionaries stay on the field amid difficulties. It was a moving time for me, but through the questions God reminded me, it really was not about me. It was about Him and how He had not changed, He was still in charge, and the results were not up to me. I was called to be faithful and to do the best I could, even in all circumstances. Just as He had called me there, He would take care of me.
In my first term, I worked with a national pastor in the Providencia Church. I was part of the regular women’s program and worked with an Evangelism Explosion group. One request I made was for the opportunity to work with three other younger women to have an outreach event every two or three months, on Saturday afternoons, where some of the working women could come and bring visitors. Each event was different from the next, Christmas stories and songs, to a look at Genesis 1-3 in drama and the significance of the coming of Christ. God blessed us, as each time, at least one woman came to new life. Wow!
Coming back to my first home assignment (HA) after having been away for four years was an experience. There were new people in the lives of family and friends, events I had missed, and anecdotes about which I had no idea. Going on tour to the churches through the fall and spring for eight to ten weeks without a break was an all-new experience. The first church I visited had us go to a school on the afternoon of our arrival to talk about our countries. After my presentation, one of the teachers asked, “Chile would be considered a Catholic country; why are you there?” I had been through this trial by fire previously! “I am there to help people walk better with Jesus no matter who they are.” But, I loved being in the churches and talking about missions. I was also very blessed with The Pas Alliance Church and Pastor Rudy and Priscilla Ruten, as I became their adopted missionary.
My second term in 1995, I was based at the La Florida Church. I took over a discipleship group in the SEAN series from the second Sunday as their teacher had left the church when some misconduct was discovered. About six months later, it was time to talk about church discipline. Real-life lessons are not always easy ones.
Because of the needs of many in the church, I generally had non-perishable grocery hampers in the trunk of my car. Almost every second week, Rosi, a friend, and I visited three or four homes with the hampers and prayed for the people. Many times there were other needs where we could lend a hand or find help. These were fabulous afternoons of helping and praying for people. It was great then to hear of answered prayers.
The La Florida Church was part of the Encounter with God ministries. I was able to attend the first Women’s Encounter at the La Cordillera Church. There I witnessed women hearing the Gospel in a way they could understand, enabling them to make decisions to follow Jesus. It was exciting to see the women get on board, invite friends and take care of all of what was needed to continue it in our church. God provided, moved, brought new life, and healed, continuing after I left Chile.
In January 1997, the Chilean National Church celebrated one hundred years of the Alliance in Chile. It was a great time as people from the Alliance churches from north to south joined together in Temuco, where the Alliance has its head offices. They gathered together to celebrate in a soccer stadium, several retired missionaries returning to join in, and held a march through the city’s centre. The Chilean post office put out a stamp to celebrate.
About six months before the end of this term, I received the news; Canada would not be sending missionaries to Chile anymore as it was considered a reached country. But, I had made a home for myself there. As I began to assimilate this change, God gave me much calmness, and, as before, He brought me again a word of Scripture, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121:1-2, 7-8). This was not just a word for me but for all of those with whom I had worked closely.
Mexico
As I returned for my second home assignment in 1999, the program was still tours. Now I was promoting the change currently in progress in my ministry, which was a great way to have relationships with the churches and talk about the needs in my new assignment, Mexico.
For my third term starting in 2000, I moved to Mexico City, the largest metropolitan city in the world. My assignment was to a church that had been through great difficulty. I worked where I could, with women, new believers in discipleship, the music ministry, and prayer times. I learned to drive and find routes for getting around a metropolitan city. Time in traffic was always a factor. I had a book of seventy maps where I had to turn pages, and I needed a magnifying glass to read it. I had to rely on memory and God’s voice to guide me.
After about two and a half years, I moved to Guadalajara to work with Steve and Andrea Scarrow to organize the Women’s Encounter. God again provided not only women from Guadalajara, but women from Mexico City, Janice (and Tim) Greenfield, who had just moved from Chile, as well as women from one of the churches in Peru. God brought it all together for women to hear about Jesus and to see how He loved them. These events continued through the following years, even as I went to home assignment.
As I returned to Canada in 2004, I was given permission to study. Having spent much of my time talking to people about life, I felt I needed more aids. I entered the counselling program at Providence Theological Seminary. While studying, I visited all of my churches, as most of them were within a couple of hours’ distance.
Guadalajara
In my fourth term in Guadalajara, I continued with the Women’s Encounter as well as teaching, preaching, and evangelism ministries. Conversations became commonplace for me. As the church grew, I was very busy in all areas of ministry.
In my fourth home assignment, I continued studying at Providence Seminary, finishing my counselling degree in 2010. Now, after so many years of visiting the churches, it was like returning to visit friends.
Return to Mexico City
Returning again to Mexico City for my fifth term, I ministered in the Atizapán Church located in the north of the city. My time there coincided with the construction of a second floor on the main thoroughfare through the city. Travel, particularly back to Del Valle where I lived, was often three hours during the week. I had lots of time talking to myself and God, singing, and wondering what was happening up ahead. Praise God for safety!
Norma Van Dalen and I began to work on the Women’s Encounter. We revamped it and called it EVA with monologues by Eve. First, we had an event in Del Valle where we lived in 2012, and the next year we had another in Del Valle and Atizapán. God touched women’s lives and the churches.
The year 2012 was one of those crazy years. As several missionary couples left for home assignment, retirement, etc., there was a void in office administration. A bookkeeper, Laura, was hired, and she and I learned QuickBooks together. God’s presence was very evident as we learned about each other and the affairs of the mission. Working with the architect and finishing up the ministry centre while keeping up with the visitors staying at the centre were part of every day. I wore so many hats for a while, it was tough to keep life straight. God showed me much mercy, strength, and peace.
Norma and I took some courses from Entrust about teaching adults, and one called Developing a Discerning Heart. We went to Cuba to teach with Gaileen Warden. In 2013, we taught a course to leaders in Atizapán about teaching adults. We also worked with the women of the Shekinah Church using the principles for conducting Bible studies. It was a great time together around the Word. Norma and I also team-taught Emotionally Healthy Women in Atizapan.
In the summer of 2013, Chris Smith wrote to me as he had just become the new pastor at The Bridge Church in Winnipeg, my home church. He had asked Shauna Archer, the missions consultant, what he needed to do regarding signing our Seamless Link Agreement. So, we talked about how we would get the signatures over Skype. About ten days before the signing, I asked, “What would you say if I came for the signing?” He said it would be fantastic, so we made plans for my visit and kept it a secret. I arrived, and Sunday morning, I went to the office to begin the service on Skype. When we started the part about the Seamless Link, there were some “transmission difficulties,” and I ran into the sanctuary. It was an unforgettable moment! The church was excellent support for me in ministry in Mexico, with video updates every few months.
Back in Mexico, counselling started to move forward. There was an empty space at the ministry centre where I set up a counselling room. One pastor approached me to say he was sending me all those who needed help. Many young people from the church came to me as they lacked orientation on how to go forward in their lives. It was amazing to be with them and encourage them. They have continued to contact me.
In December 2014, I went on home assignment, staying late to hand off the administration. I decided to live in Winnipeg and spend time with my home church. From there, I visited the churches inviting me. It was again great to be able to visit with so many friends through the years. During one of my church visits, a young woman came up to me saying she had come specially to see me as she had grown up in The Pas and remembered my visits when I was their adopted missionary. We don’t always know how our lives have touched others. Before my return, I had spoken with my District Superintendent, Al Fedoruk, about ordination. God again confirmed His call on my life as I was ordained at The Bridge Church in May 2015.
In late July of 2015, I returned to Mexico for what turned out to be my last term. With my counselling room ready, and people in waiting, I quickly became quite busy. I continued to visit and encourage in the Atizapán Church. One thing I need to do was to figure out how to hand off my counselling. I looked at so many possibilities, but none seemed to work. It is probably one of the laments of my time in Mexico.
People need encouragement many times in their lives, but they do not always talk with someone. My life revolved around conversations with them in the counselling room and elsewhere. I came to measure Sundays by the number of conversations of substance about how to walk with God amid life’s interruptions.
Back in Canada
In 2017, I left Mexico. Leaving can be complicated, but again it was amazing to watch God organize and orchestrate the time. There was much loss, as Mexico had been my life for so long. God reminded me of the verses from Ephesians and the Psalms, “Now to him who is able…“ God is the one who is able, not me. And God “… will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Life goes on, and it shows where my confidence really is!
Living on the Prairies has brought back fond memories of my favourite recreation spots in Mexico. One is a hot spring spa, Balneario San Juan Cosalá, on Lake Chapala, south of Guadalajara. The other is a beach, Rincón de Guayabitos. A friend, my poodle Babe, and I would drive four hours from Guadalajara or ten to eleven hours from Mexico City. We generally arrived in the late afternoon. We usually had a hotel with a kitchen, so we often took care of many of our own meals. Fish and shrimp could be bought at the beach every morning. We would rest under the umbrella, go for walks along the beach, read, do Sudoku, eat ceviche and other goodies brought to us. Also, playing in the ocean was absolutely beautiful!!
Coming back to Canada, I began to remodel our family home. It has been hard work, and it has taught me a lot. There is a tearing apart and a building up. God provided it all. It is great to see things fall into place.
A trip to Chile in January 2019 was a great time to renew friendships; it was beautiful to see them walking with God! And then a visit to Guadalajara early in 2020, where I ministered with Norma Van Dalen, Gaileen Warden, and Janice Greenfield.
How beautiful to see women receiving healing and direction from God.
Soul Care
After retiring to Canada, I have had the opportunity to be part of several Soul Care Conferences, experiencing God’s healing and care, receiving ministry, and being a part of ministering to others. I am constantly amazed at the rest God can give us through Jesus. God so wants to raise up a strong church in Canada.
I am not sure what retirement is supposed to be. Via Zoom, I have been able to continue counselling with some from Mexico. I have used my meagre guitar playing in the music ministry at the church I attend. The pandemic has been a great time for philosophizing about God, time, and pandemics in the light of all of the conspiracy theories. How great is our God!
My newest ministry is with a retired pastoral couple in our lodge who have no family nearby. It has been great to minister to them in presence, song, and conversation. They have also ministered to me.
How could I not follow God when He called? I looked for Him, and He allowed me to come to know Him. Then He gave me new life, calling, and purpose. He has done “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine… to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus.”
How great it has been to follow Him, and it’s not over yet!
This is an excerpt from the book, On Mission Volume 3. Download your free copy today.