Atikokan Experience Continues until the Spring--February 9th to May 19th, 2014

Chapel after heavy snow which I typically shoveled every Sunday before Church

Heavy snow fall looking out from our rental home

10 inches of  snow on top of car for one nights snow fall

Sister Halverson with Sister Leary



Sister Halverson lived in Atikokan virtually all her life--her husband
 served as Branch President for 25 years



Meal time in our little home away from home



Steep Rock Iron Mine with stromatolite algal mounds
showing evidence of life on earth 
as early as 3.5 billion years ago 
(Photo source: Atikokan Reporter Office)



Laminated radial structures in carbonate rock showing evidence of ancient carbonate saturated seas where layered accretionary structures formed in shallow water by the trapping, binding and cementation of sedimentary grains by layers of microorganisms, especially cyanobacteria (commonly known as blue-green algae). (Photo source: Atikokan Reporter Office)

Modern stromatolite reef structures along west coast line of Australia

(Photo source: Hamelin Pool)

 

Greg our neighbour across the street doing snow removal for us. 

This was a way I was able to find out he had an interest in family history.

(Note: This is known as Reverse Missionary Service)

 

Jerry Fisk and his sister Pat performing at the Pioneer Center



Monthy branch luncheon--clockwise, Elizabeth, her mother Sarah,
President Colin Lindsay, Shirley Halverson, Irene Fisk, Alverne Dickson and JJ



Beautiful white tail deer on edge of town

Sparkling snow crystals

Jerry Fisk playing the guitar at the home of Conrad and Irene Fisk with Pat, Conrad and Jerry's sister



Conrad on the accordion and Jerry on the guitar.  They sounded great. 
Amazing family get together's were common with the Fisk's and we were often invited. 
The night before we left Atikokan for Ft. Frances, we taught Pat, on the far right,
who was not active at the time, much of the missionary discussions. 
We taught many spiritual thoughts after dinner, for which we always invited, in this home--
one and sometimes two per week every week we were in Atikokan. 
Conrad commented that we had reawakened their faith
 and for that we felt rewarded for our service to him and his great wife Irene. 

 

 

SPRING TIME IN ATIKOKAN & THUNDER BAY AS NOTED 

(Mid April until we left in mid May)

Spring thaw.  I had a great discussion with a neighbour living in this house about family history.

SPRING TIME IN THUNDER BAY (Mid April)

(Later while in Ft. Francis we returned on an errand for the Mission President in order to obtain computer equipment and a printer for setting up of the family history center in Ft. Frances. I had been here several times previously in my work over the years.)

 

 

 

MULTIDENOMINATIONAL EASTER WALK IN ATIKOKAN

 

We met first as a group at the Freedom Center, a cross carrier was appointed and we started out. 
We went to about 4 or 5 different denominations, not including our church,
and at each the pastor read successive passages from the New Testament
 dealing with Gethsemane, the trials and Calvary
but interestingly avoided any mention of the Resurrection of Christ.



Here we are on the walk approaching a Lutheran chapel, I believe, for the pastor to speak to us.

Out not so pretty neighbours back yard
( A very nice lady lived here that we had conversations with often.)



Beautiful spring sunset



BUENA VISTA LODGE ON LAKE OF THE WOODS
(Many district meetings were held here.  I had an opportunity to talk about the creation to the district leaders and Mission President unexpectedly while standing near the shore just before a district leadership meeting.)

The Lodge overlooking Lake of the Woods

The Lodge Grounds

Melting ice on Lake of the Woods



Melting ice on Lake of the Woods

Melting ice on Lake of the Woods

Red Willow near the lodge--I used this as boy in Northern Alberta
on the farm at Whitecourt to make a bow and arrow.

Lake of the Woods sunset



Lake of the Woods sunset



 

President & Sister Lindsay and their daughter Sarah and
husband Jamie Young with Elizabeth and Alexander. 
Sister Leary on the left.
(We enjoyed several teaching times and visits to this humble home and the Young home next door. 
It was great to teach the children and to participate in their family home evenings sometimes.)



Hydoelectric Power Plant north of Atikokan.  Being modified for wood chips.

 

 STEEP ROCK IRON MINE

(Closed in the 1980's.  Conrad Fisk was my guide as he worked at this mine.)

Main Pit



Ore mainly of thinly bedded red earthy hematite rich argillaceous marine sediments.

Low grade breccia Ore



Vegetation kill zone around mine area due to high iron content in soils



Red soil and vegetation  kill zone



OH! YOU JUST CAN'T BEAT THE BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS OF THE WESTERN CANADIAN SHIELD
AND PRAIRIE WHERE THE SUN SETS
(These were taken in Atikokan on May 15, 2014)

ATIKOKAN SPRING SCENES IN MID MAY, 2014

 

Atikokan Community Fellowship Center
(I met with men here each Monday morning for breakfast to listen to
testimonies from members of Christian churches in the region.  I had several missionary moments here.)

Atikokan Hotel

Alverne Dickson Home
(We had many teaching times here with Alverne)

Centennial Museum

Old CN Caboose left behind

Atikokan



Atikokan Main Street looking north

Our last Sunday luncheon with the Atkkokan Branch.  Left to right--Elizabeth Young, Alverne Dickson and Shirley Halverson.

Luncheon after our last Sunday in Atikokan with branch members and district President.  Front center and clockwise: President Bob Olson, JJ, Jaime Young, Alexander, Linda Lindsay, Hanna, Sarah Yound, Elizabeth, Alverne Dickson, Shirley Halverson, Conrad Fisk (Standing), President Colin Lindsay, Irene Fisk , Sister Margaret Leary and councillor in the District Presidency

 

 OUR LITTLE HOUSE NOW EMPTY

 

Kitchen

Kitchen

Bathroom

Living Room



Main Bedroom



Our spare room used for storage mainly.



Our move-out helpers.  We will miss them.
Left to right--Linda Lindsay, Sister Leary, President Lindsay and Alverne Dickson.

 

THE OCTAGON HOUSE IN ATIKOKAN

The Atikokan experience was one we shall never forget.  We made eternal friends here and they will be a part of our hearts forever.  We loved them and served them the best we could.  We tried to visit each family home once every week but with the District President and his daughter and their family it was not always possible but we still visited often.  Others we visited once or sometimes twice each week.  Every visit we shared a spiritual thought/lesson with ample discussion for their learning and edification.  Sister Leary and I prepared these lessons beforehand after discussing the needs of the family.  The Lord helped us immeasurably with this and we always felt His influence as we visited these faithful saints tucked away in Northern Ontario in a forgotten gold and iron mining area.  Our visits usually were 1 hour to sometimes 2 hours or more in length.  We enjoyed dinner at the Fisk's weekly along with our message and at the Lindsay's and Young's perhaps once a month with a message.  Much of our time was also spent visiting a few less actives but other than planting seeds nothing otherwise happened.  We also  spent time downtown "Going Amongst Them" as directed by the Lord.  We would visit while shopping with the merchants and spent time every Friday at the hospital singing in a multi-denominational choir which was a great experience.  We had a great pianist and song books galore and sang for a group of senior patients--old gospel songs and catchy lyrics like "On top of old smoky".  We always shook their hands when we left after two hours of singing.  I also participated for a month before we left with a group of Christian men who met at the Community Fellowship Center every Monday for breakfast and opportunities were provided there to have gospel discussions privately with some.  This could have been more fruitful if I had learned about it earlier. 

 

The crowning statement to us for our visits and teaching in the branch came from Brother Conrad Fisk.  He said we had "Reawakened their faith"---and, this is exactly what we hoped for and felt we were doing as we knew that we had the Lord on our side, for we knew He loved these saints as we laboured amongst them to bless their lives and bring them closer to Christ.