I am now in the beginning of never-where. Chateh 14km gravel road north of highway 58 in the North of Alberta, amidst a large wood in the near of lake Zama. High Level, the last bigger town before you come to the border of North West Territories, is 105 boring straight street kilometres away, the next settlement is 58km (also boring and straight) in the west (I am almost every Sunday for mass there). The third place where I have to celebrate mass is Meander River, on the street 176km far away (but a member of the Dené Thá offered me that he will show me a gravel road which is used by the oil-companies – this street supposed to be quite a lot shorter).
I always thought, that I knew a lot of the cold and how to handle it. But now I have to learn something new:
For example:
- To plug in the car for motor heating and charging battery in the wintertime.
- To wear gloves at any time I am outside, even if this time is very short.
- To remember in which of my pockets of my (ultra cool Canada Goose) parka (outside 12! possibilities) I putted in my keys.
- To start the car with a special key about 5 minutes before I get in.
- That there are NO hints as snow poles (as they are in use in Austria) along the streets (no problem on highways – you can see the street rather well, but in the dawn light to see the streets and driveways in Chateh is a little bit more tricky).
The only personal I miss is a secretary; only for chatting sometime – but in fact: The work here is rather limited – but who knows – a good team could perhaps improve even this a little bit sleepy community. But alone, as a foreigner with limited time of presence in this community it would not be proper to start ambitious programs and then to disappear leaving likely disappointed people.
At the end of my little report I wish you all God´s blessings for Christmas and that his blessings will hold on for the whole next year...
God bless you
F. Gerhard
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