A Southern Belle Goes North Virgie Mueller A Southern Belle Goes North Virgie Mueller “Let each generation tell its children Of your mighty acts; Let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic splendor And your wonderful miracles Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story Of your wonderful goodness; They will sing with joy about your righteousness.” A SOUTHERN BELLE GOES NORTH Psalm 145:4-7 Copyright © 2014 by Virgie A. Mueller All rights reserved. No part of this publication my be reproduced without permission. Design and layout – Northern Canada Mission Press ISBN: 978-0-9938923 Printed in Canada Dedication To our children: Steven Mueller, Glen Mueller, and Sheryl Mueller Giesbrecht, who have journeyed with us on paths not necessarily of their choosing, I dedicate this book. They say they have no regrets of being raised on the mission field. God has blessed them and kept them and today they are Godly parents and grandparents. They have raised children who also love the Lord. And To our grandchildren: Tyler Mueller, Rashel Giesbrecht Pilon, Stephanie Mueller Baerg, Graeme Mueller, Joel Giesbrecht, Colton Mueller, Hannah Mueller and Caleb Mueller I dedicate this book. “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 Table of Contents Part 1 A Memoir: The Years in Paint Hills, Quebec 1962-1968 The Story of Chapter 1 - The Unknown . .12 Chapter 2 - The Refining. .22 Our Life and Experiences Chapter 3 - The Arrival . 28 Chapter 4 - The Settling In . 34 as Missionaries Chapter 5 - The Message. .38 Chapter 6 - The Adjustments . 44 Chapter 7 - The Learning . 58 in Northern Canada Chapter 8 - The Shortages and Abundance . 65 Chapter 9 - The Note . 70 Chapter 10 - The Ridiculous . .75 Chapter 11 - The Unusual . 81 Chapter 12 - The Fear . 88 Chapter 13 - The Spoiling of Your Goods . 92 Chapter 14 - The Depression. .94 Chapter 15 - The Visit . 97 Chapter 16 - The Furlough. 100 Chapter 17 - The Northern Way . 104 Chapter 18 - The Opportunities . .114 Chapter 19 - The Children . 119 Chapter 20 - The Growing Family . 124 Chapter 21 - The Fun and Funny Times . 131 Chapter 22 - The Opposition Begins. 134 Chapter 23 - The Beginning of the End . 139 Chapter 24 - The End . 143 Chapter 25 - The Rest of the Story . 147 Part 2 The Years in Thicket Portage, Manitoba 1968-1970 Chapter 26 - The Different Way . .152 Chapter 27 - The Ministry . 160 Chapter 28 - The Miserable One. 174 Chapter 29 - The Family and Friends . 179 Chapter 30 - The Pathetic Ones . .184 Chapter 31 - The Black Years . 189 Chapter 32 - The Report . 192 Chapter 33 - The Afterglow . 196 Part 1 Part 3 The Years in Cumberland House, Saskatchewan 1970-1974 Chapter 34 - The Continuing Story . 202 Chapter 35 - The Life On and Off The Reserve . 207 Chapter 36 - The People We Associated With. 213 Chapter 37 - The Camp Work . 221 The years in Chapter 38 - The Schedule. 228 Chapter 39 - The Bigger Picture . .234 Chapter 40 - The Next Phase . 242 PAINT HILLS, QUEBEC Part 4 The Years in Lac La Biche, Alberta 1974 -1992 Chapter 41 - The Bible School . 246 Chapter 42 - The Unexpected . 250 Chapter 43 - The Increase . .254 Chapter 44 - The Outreach . 263 Chapter 45 - The School Year . 275 Chapter 46 - The Miracle . 285 1962 - 1968 Chapter 47 - The Homefront . 287 Chapter 48 - The Principal . 299 The Epilogue . 307 Acknowledgements. 310 Part 1: The Years In Paint Hills, Quebec 13 place for a train to stop. And then finally, at the end of the rail, there had been only the depot stating it was Moosonee. The community was buried away in the bush. And it was now supposedly another 200 miles by float plane up the coast of the Chapter 1 James Bay before I’d be at Paint Hills, Quebec. The Unknown “May I leave these boxes here for the time being?” I gulped. “Sure, just pile them in the “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on corner. No one will bother them,” your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, the station agent replied, trying to be and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5, 6 cheerful as he saw the tears glistening in my eyes. “I’d like to call the airlines to book a flight to Paint Hills,” I told the Stepping out onto the platform man as I stepped toward a dingy counter in the Moosonee, Ontario train between the station and the rails, I station. He pushed a square black rotary telephone toward me without Beginning the journey North, noticed the platform was empty. saying a word. September, 1962 Just minutes before there had been a The one room train depot was empty now except for me and my two group of Indians and a few whites year son, Steven. I had piled my ‘checked baggage’ of four or five cardboard gathered to await the tri-weekly train arrive from North Bay, Ontario but boxes of various sizes in the middle of the room when I had entered. they had left by now. All I could see was a muddy path leading into the The phone conversation was frustrating. The voice at the other end of heavy bush. Taking my son by the hand we started walking down the trail. the line said, “Tell us where you’re staying and we’ll pick you up in time for It was September, 1962. The weather was overcast with a light rain the next flight up the coast.” falling. We walked past a few houses, a Hudson’s Bay store, a Canadian “But I don’t know where I’ll be staying,” I replied. “Just tell me when Imperial Bank of Commerce and a post office. The houses all looked alike the next flight is and I’ll come there,” I tried to explain. as they were all covered with gray asphalt rolled-siding. As I walked, the “Well, Ma’am, there was a flight yesterday, but with this weather tears ran down my cheeks. No one, absolutely no one, knew where I was. setting in, it could be a week before we have another.” My husband, Russell and two other missionary men plus a teenage I felt a big lump forming in my throat. What should I do? Where missionary kid had traveled from Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, by car and should I go? Why hadn’t Russell told me what to do when I arrived here at trailer; then train, six weeks earlier, enroute to the James Bay where the the end of the rail line? Northern Canada Evangelical Mission (NCEM) was planning to open two Steve and I had traveled by train for three days from Enid, Oklahoma new mission stations, in addition to the three they already had, among the to Moosonee, Ontario. The last 200 miles beyond the road was remote Cree Indians on the east coast of the James Bay. One of the men, Marshall wilderness of stunted spruce, muskeg, and bush. The Polar Bear Express Calverley, had formerly been a Hudson’s Bay Co. fur trader at Eastmain, was the sole means of transportation, and stopped at frequent intervals to Quebec on the coast. He had been burdened to reach these people for let people off and others onto the train. There wasn’t the sight of a town Christ. anywhere. There wasn’t even a house, trail or anything that resembled a Marshall knew of some abandoned Hudson Bay Co. trading post 12 14 A Southern Belle Goes North Part 1: The Years In Paint Hills, Quebec 15 buildings at Old Factory. The community of Old Factory was located on an prayed begging God to save the boat. For three days they baled water island and was surrounded by sea water brought in by the tide every 12 without stopping. Marshall considered renting a Canso plane to transport hours. Indian Affairs had relocated the entire community up the coast the lumber, but that would have cost thousands of dollars. another 40 miles north and inland on the Maquatua River in 1958, where Eventually the planks started to swell and the water coming in was fresh water was readily available. The new village was named Paint Hills. less and less. After loading their equipment and food, the men thought they NCEM could buy the Old Factory buildings for one dollar. However were ready to go. With anticipation and excitement they headed out into these buildings would have to be dismantled and the lumber they were able the waters of the James Bay. Eventually land disappeared as they headed to salvage, moved up coast to build houses at Paint Hills (later named out to sea. The men fortunately had been able to hire a Native man, Jacob Wemindji) and at Fort George, Quebec for two missionary families. Kitchikappo, who Someone had given NCEM an old 40 foot lobster fishing boat no longer in was familiar with use. They shipped it on a 50 foot flatbed by rail from the state of Maine to travel on the huge Moosonee, Ontario at the southernmost tip of the James Bay. The lobster body of water they boat had a small cabin with two bunk beds and a small table between. It would have to travel. would be used to transport the lumber from Old Factory to Paint Hills and Later that day Fort George. the boat began leak- It was no small ing again as the feat for these four planks shifted in the prairie born men rough water.