Friday, August 10, 2007
Final Words
I'm finished on the rez and I thank you all for your prayers. I presented my work last Friday to Sacred Road and its interns in addition to two natives from the community (which I didn't plan for, but was awesome). I think it was encouraging for everyone to hear my findings and hopefully enlightening and thought provoking as well. I'm on my way home as I write, and I'm saddened to leave behind friends I have made, but am excited for what the Lord will do in their lives and mine until we meet again.
"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb...
They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: 'Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!'
Then one of the elders asked me, 'These in white robes- who are they, and where did they come from?'
And he said, 'These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore...never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'" Revelation 7
Amen.
Monday, August 6, 2007
here it goes...
Friday, July 27, 2007
since then
real quick:
- Bruce and Linda Farrant, mentioned earlier, have left us to see other ministries to Native America. They were a real encouragement to myself, and to Sacred Road.
- Mike Williams, a counselor from Birmingham, AL, has been here for the past two weeks to encourage Sacred Road's staff and to help them better process their experiences. He's great.
- My dad stopped by for the weekend and was a real encouragement to me. I love you, pops.
Three churches from across the country-central Florida; Jackson, MS; and eastern Seattle- have come and gone. They continued work up at Camp Chapperal (which is going slower than expected), and were able to clean up around the Longhouse before the annual Huckleberry Feast last Sunday. The team from outside Seattle was also able to begin a Kid's Club at Adams View, a housing project about 10 miles east of White Swan, in addition to the usual Club at the Totus Park project. Sacred Road hopes to continue this for the rest of the summer, and hopefully next year as well. The teams were a real encouragement to Sacred Road and, as always, were able to help us better love the people here.
The Huckleberry Feast was this past Sunday and I was able to attend with the Granberrys and the other interns. Chris was thanked by many for his work around the Longhouse, but also for his continued work in the community. He was thanked publicly by a women in the community and asked to say a few words during the open mic time. The Feast was beautiful (and delicious)and we were able to take home several bag-fulls of fresh berries. It was neat to be welcomed to one of the Yakama people's oldest traditions.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
As of late...
(Stacy and her daughter, Rietta; Joshua is pictured below in the last post)
Thursday, June 28, 2007
...a thousand words (with captions)
Thursday, June 21, 2007
the recent past (real quick-like)
Sacred Road is currently housing its largest short term team ever (55+). A women from California came out here pre Sacred Road (4+ years ago) and promised a young boy that she would return with her family. This week I got to meet her family. So did he.
We were unable to have Bible Study this past week due to a memorial at the Longhouse for a young baby who past away. (Native Americans have one of the highest infant mortality rates of any ehnic group in North America.)
I got to talk with Buffy a lot this week, not just in a researcher/subject or a "I know Chris and Mary Granberry too" context, but as a friend and as a brother in Christ. so great.
Thank you for your prayers as the past week has been kind of rough and I can't really put my finger on why. Please pray that God would renew my love for Him and for His people on a daily basis, and that he would give me grace to trust Him more- about my research, my future, and my role in serving Native America.
Also pray for Moses as his nephew lost a baby yesterday and he lost an extended family member a week ago. (These are just the most significant blows he has been discouraged by in the past month. Poverty seems to kick you when you're down, and once you're down, it'd hard to get back up.) out.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
the good, the bad, and the beautiful
This week's been great. To explain: Moses invited me to lunch as his guest during employee appreciation day at Yakama Forest Products, where he works. We chowed on salmon, elk, and other less traditional munchies. He introduced me to some of his friends and relatives. For once, I really felt like I was accepted. I had been welcomed before, but Moses showed me his appreciation for being here and for helping him. So great.
Moreover, this weekend was Treaty Days- kind of like our Independence Day, only the opposite. (no, it doesn't make sense.) I went to the All Indian Rodeo and the Pow-wow the past two days. It was exciting to see the best of Native America- its tradition, its pride, its beauty- with none of the distractions. My favorite thus far. Later.