Spring 2014 25 Years and still going strong!!

Sitting in the outer office of the mission headquarters, I nervously waited for Walter’s interview to be done.  I was staring at the map of Canada with pins stuck into the various communities where missionaries were currently serving in First Nations ministry.  On another wall was a display of the prayer cards of the missionary families and I stood to get a closer look.  I glanced at the clock.  What was taking Walter so long in his interview? I had been called in first to a boardroom full of mission leaders, supervisors and the candidate secretary who had been coaching us in the application process.  Now I would be grilled on questions of education, ministry experience, Bible and theology in addition to my testimony and call to ministry.  I thought I was prepared but with all the serious-faced, grey-haired elders greeting me, I wasn’t so sure.  I sat at the end of the long table.  It wasn’t as bad as I anticipated. Being only 22 with little job interview experience, I think they had mercy on me!  I was shaking and stammering a bit so they smiled at me occasionally and   asked me to start with my testimony.  Whew!  I couldn’t get that wrong!  From there, they eased me into the other heavier questions and within half an hour, I was dismissed.  Then they called Walter in… As an engaged couple, Walter and I were applying to be full time missionaries.  It was February of 1989 and our wedding was to be May 21 of this same year.  My mind raced to the list of things yet to be done in preparation for our big day plus my nerves were on edge because Walter’s interview was taking much long that mine had been! I paced awhile, then sat down again. I fidgeted with the envelope in my hand.  We had brought a photograph of us taken a few months before.  If all went well, we hoped to have a prayer card printed at the mission so we could begin our fundraising.  I hoped our picture would join the many up on that wall.  The boardroom door opened. The candidate secretary emerged first and winked at me.  “We thought of telling Walter that we have accepted you as a missionary, but weren’t sure about him!”  The look of shock and terror on my innocent face must have changed her mind! “No, no!  It’s fine!”  She stepped forward to let Walter through the doorway.  “We want to welcome you both on board!”   ~~~  (By the way, the guy in the print shop gave Walter some good-natured ribbing about printing a prayer card with “Walter & Cindy Selke” on it before we were officially married!  “You must be pretty sure she’s going through with it!” And I did!) Twenty-five years ago, we began our career as missionaries to reach First Nations living in the city of Regina.  So much has happened since then… May 1989-married and began ministry March, 1990-bought our first house on Elphinstone St. April-August, 1990-cross-cultural mission training (AB) and practicum in northern SK September, 1990- first child, Mark was born April 21, 1992-Daniel was born September 24, 1993-Caylea was born September 4, 1994-started Healing Hearts Ministry in a community centre September 1999- our family moved to east end of Regina June, 2007-HHM acquired own building 2010-Walter’s role transitioned from Pastor to Director of HHM, Inc. This year marks not only our 25th year of ministry and marriage, but the 20th anniversary of Healing Hearts Ministry.  We may not be the nervous young couple we once were, but through God’s faithfulness and grace, we are still awaiting new adventures that God has for us. As the ministry grows in Regina and beyond to points in Alberta, northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, we are being stretched and challenged to give encouragement and direction to our staff members.  Our little car travels many miles to visit and participate in whatever our missionaries are doing.  Our phone, e-mail and Facebook communications are constant as we try to stay connected over the distance.  THANK YOU for standing behind us over these years.  Our family has grown, our ministry has expanded and our hair has greyed (or gone!) since that first prayer card we printed!  But the Lord has been good.  Your prayers and financial support and friendship have kept us on the mission field and we do not take that lightly.  God bless you for your faithfulness, as well. FAMILY UPDATE With sadness, we announce the passing of Cindy’s Dad, Ron Sanders, on January 30, 2014.  Our whole family got to spend time with him at Christmas.  The memorial was held on April 14,at the Tartan Curling Club.  We’ve been blessed with loving support and prayers throughout Dad’s illness and after his passing.  Cindy has taken some time for grieving and healing, with opportunity to write as an outlet.   She’s thankful for curling & Curves to keep active, as well as getting involved with travel and ministry as God gives ability. Walter is plugging away on his 1928 Dodge Bros. car, scavenging parts from another car and fabricating some parts with his ingenuity.  He hopes to get it started and running very soon…and the in-floor heating in the garage is almost ready to go. Daniel has started a new job with a plumbing and heating company, with opportunity for apprenticeship.  His curling team (Team Mike Armstrong) made it to the Men’s Curling Provincial Tankard but were not able to advance to the Brier!  Caylea is finishing her 3rd year at Nipawin Bible College.  She has summer employment plans which include Strasbourg Bible Camp.  Next year?  Stay tuned… Mark continues to work in construction in Steinbach, while Amy is teaching piano to young students and providing nanny care to a preschool boy part-time.  We don’t get to see them often enough but are blessed to see them establish their home in the Lord.