Since 2018 Matthew and Caitlin Windsor have been living and serving with their family in Kingfisher Lake Nation, a remote fly-in community in northwestern Ontario. Indigenous church leaders there are spearheading a Bible translation into their language, Anihshininiimowin (Oji-Cree). Matthew works under the indigenous church (Mishamikoweesh) to give ongoing training to the translators, advise on the Bible translation, and support the local language committee in keeping their language strong. Caitlin homeschools their four children and builds intentional relationships with local women. Together they aim to serve God faithfully in the community long-term.

Both Caitlin and Matthew grew up in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, B.C., where they met at a local youth program. After his baptism as a young man, Matthew was intensely occupied with the question of how to reorient his passion for knowledge and bring it into the service of God’s kingdom. After a teacher recommended to him the field of linguistics, he learned about the ongoing worldwide need for Bible translation.

In 2014, the community of Kingfisher Lake initiated a Bible translation to fulfill a vision of their elders, who desired to see God Word in their own language. Previously, Christians used a mixture of Cree and English resources to understand the Bible.

From indigenous Bishop Lydia Mamakwa:

“When we were younger, we saw our grandparents reading the prayer books, and we were taught the importance of prayer and doing devotions. To this day we have that because of how we were taught and trained. God speaks to us through his word; he breathes it out. Only God can help us and see us through this work we do.”

From the translators:

“I remember seeing my grandmother get up every morning, sing a hymn, and do her morning prayer in Cree. She would read to me but I couldn’t understand [Cree], even though I understood our language and could even read. I think it would make her proud to know that I am doing this work today.”

The Windsors are thankful to the community members of Kingfisher Lake, who have shown such hospitality and made us feel at home, and to the many people who pray and support this work so that it can continue.