Joyce Lindsay brought with her a collection of statues, walking sticks, and other pieces that she collected while living overseas in various African countries, when she made a recent appearance at Crestview Manor.
The collection was just a visual aid to spark questions after she had finished her presentation on the missionary work she and her late husband Andy had taken part in throughout their lives.
“I didn't even fill it all in,” said Lindsay after the presentation. “I didn't tell you about bus trips with no windows where you just ate your grapefruit, which were very big, and threw the peels out the window.”
Lindsay lived in several different African countries, working with Christian aid organizations to establish medical resources for those suffering from diseases like leprosy, tuberculosis, and HIV.
Her presentation covered the journey the Lindsays undertook that led them to their first overseas mission in 1986, an opportunity that Lindsay was offered through her work as a receptionist at the Canadian Bible College in Regina and her interest in overseas aid.
“We had talked about going overseas with (non-government organizations) but had never thought of working with a mission as we had no Bible training,” said Lindsay. “(But) World Relief came one day to talk to the students, as they often did. . . and a week later we were offered a position in either Pakistan or Sudan to open an office.”
The opportunity took the Lindsays to a refugee camp on the Sudan border near Ethiopia, where they worked to provide medical aid, rehabilitate water wells, and create sustainable food sources.
They were later able to begin their work to open a leprosy aid office in Sudan, before doing the same in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Uganda from the late 1980s into the mid-1990s.
Lindsay shared a number of experiences, including her husband being briefly arrested in Sudan, how some of those they worked with called them “mom and dad,” and how they eventually left the continent in 1993 after the U.S. declared Sudan a terrorist nation and missionaries were given 48 hours to leave.
Throughout her story, she had residents of Crestview Manor stand to model some of the outfits that Lindsay had worn while she lived in each country.
The Linsdays worked with several different organizations, including The Leprosy Mission from Britain and Germany as well as Mercy Corps. Upon returning to Canada, they also worked with Samaritan's Purse, with the Operation Christmas Child shoebox campaign.
Since returning to Saskatchewan in 2000, Lindsay has given a presentation like this only three times, with the last one occurring in 2008.
“They just wanted to know all the places I've been and what I did there, and they just were very interested in hearing about it,” said Lindsay.
Lindsay was open to any questions that came her way after the presentation, and hoped that her audience understood how satisfying it was to be able to offer whatever help she could in those years.
“We liked working for people and with people,” said Lindsay, of the experience. “I think we've done enough work, and now maybe [my stories can inspire some] or they’ll tell their kids or their grandkids.”
