We arrived at Fort Qu’Apelle on Sunday June 17th
and spent our first three days in training at Echo Lake Bible Camp. One of the first lessons that you learn in
ministry to First Nations in “be flexible”.
It is similar to what we experienced in Ensenada, MX in that the event
starts when everyone arrives! We also learned about how many people that we
would meet would think more in concrete fashion than in abstract ways. We also had great teaching on culture and
conscience in decision making as well as learning how to communicate
indirectly. It was while there that Rylan made a serious fishing catch!!
Sleeping IN!
So, we learned that the children aren’t shy and our first
night we were greeted by 9 of them as they joined us for a movie night and
Sharon took care of making great popcorn for all of us. Our second day was “Aboriginal Celebration
Day” here at Kahk and we watched the festivities that included everything from
baseball to the “Strongest Man” competition and go-cart races. They actually first had to make their
go-carts before racing them and that was a timed competition. So we watched as wheels fell off, a few
accidents, but lots of laughs as the night finished with fireworks.
The first thing you are told to do when you come is just
observe. So, we toured through their
local school built in 2004 which is very impressive complete with ‘smart
boards’ in every classroom. The entrance
has a waterfall and the school goes from JK to grade 12. 12 students graduated this year and we were
able to put up posters for our ‘Kids Club’ here. They also had an outdoor hockey rink behind
the school where we would be able to play ball hockey with the kids as well. We also would just show up in a field to play
baseball or at the playground to play volleyball.
On the weekend we took in our first “Pow Wow” at the Sakimay
reserve. There are about four smaller
reserves all pretty closely connected here by roads that map out like a
square. At the event we saw authentic
tee-pees as well as colourful headdresses and outfits as close to 100 people
participated in the grand entry. We
listened as men right in front of us pounded hard on a group drum and cried out
in their native Cree. We also listened
as the leaders spoke of reconciliation and their desire to rediscover their
roots as well as work through the hurt caused by residential schools, the last
of which closed in 1988.
On Sunday, we attended the local church on the reserve,
Jacob Bear, and Sharon upon arrival was asked to play the piano and did a great
job for no practice! After the service
we were asked to lead the following week.
Last Monday we began our ‘Kids Club’ and we have had as many as 22 participate
during the week. I am using ‘A Mighty
Warrior’ curriculum that was given to me by NAIM which tells the stories from
Plains Cree History and ties in stories from the Bible much like what Paul did
in Athens in Acts 17. It has been great
to have the Bibles that Tom Ward gave me from the Gideons so all the children
can be on the same page. They have all
been so excited to receive a ‘Bible’ for themselves…even children who can’t read. 
One thing that we have noticed is that not much happens
around here till after lunch so our kids program runs in the afternoon and then
by Friday our numbers had trailed off and it was disappointing, but then by
9pm, a number of them showed up and we ended up running “Night Club” as one of
the kids called it. So, there we were, wrapping up club at 11pm and sending
them off with their Bibles. One child,
Caydence, forgot his Bible, but at 11:10pm there was a knock at the door and he
was back to pick it up! We take time to
ask for prayer requests as well and we hear stories of an older sister who died
because of alcohol / suicide as well as for family members with broken
bones. A number of the kids tell us that
they get yelled at constantly and we see it as well. We also had one crazy thunderstorm here that
blew out the windows of a number of homes so there were prayers for families
and children who were cut by glass as well.
We also have had a number of children through our new home
during the day as well starting with Eden who we met on the first day. She often comes here hungry. There are some children who do arrive early
and have joined us for family devotions.
One day we had Zeb here and he was playing a video game. I told him that we were going to read the
Bible and pray together and he could join us if he wanted. He didn’t even hesitate to put the game down!
We also have older kids who have come here and bake cookies
or rice krispies squares with Sharon and they are learning to crack eggs for
the first time! Sharon, Bryn and Addi
are braiding their hair and again for the first time. They are learning to play
Mexican Train with us as well as Apples to Apples and we do have a lot of fun
with them. Continue to pray for Jasmine
and Jayden in particular.
We also have prayed for the opportunity to meet adults and
midweek, a guy by the name of Chris saw me outside and asked me if we were
“religious” which lead to a conversation about the difference between religion
and relationship and then he came into the center. We first talked about great
fishing holes and he mapped out the best fishing spots for me. He noticed one
of the New Testaments and asked me about 3:16…He saw that number a lot and
wondered what that verse was. It led to
a conversation about favorite verses and a great opportunity to share the
gospel. He was thrilled to take a Bible
with him as he left.
After 8 days here, we were invited over to Brian and Trish
Fink’s, who serve with NAIM. They lived
just over an hour away and we got our first real showers, an amazing BBQ and an
opportunity to do laundry. While there I
discovered that Jordan has some serious basketball talent as we played three on
three. Brian has two boys similar in age
and we walked off the court with an 11-6 win…woo hoo!
We took a day off on Saturday to visit Yorkton and enjoy a
waterpark there as well as the Yorkton Buffet!
Basically, you take gravel roads called ‘Grid Roads’ here and you head
straight north until you hit pavement.
It was on that trip that our windshield got cracked and I noticed that
my rear wiper may have just been used as a swing by one of the kids on the
reserve so our van is a little worse for wear, but it was so worth it as we had
a blast on the slides, rock climbing wall and wave pool!
Yesterday, we lead the service at Jacob Bear and it was a
family affair as Sharon and the girls led in worship, Rylan and Jordan took up
the offering which Rylan didn’t hesitate to count and I spoke on the Holy
Spirit. Afterwards, we were tipped off
to a local beach in the valley, Bird’s Point for swimming and then we went from
there to the Cowessess First Nations to take in the Canada Day festivities
there for free burgers, watermelon, hot dogs by a campfire and really great ice
cream. We also participated in a
friendship dance which basically is a big circle where you hold hands and
shuffle around putting more weight on one of your feet as you listen to the
drums and chanting. They spared nothing
for the fireworks and then we watched God’s light show light up the sky as the
thunder and lightening came.
This week we are planning to take in Bingo which draws a lot
of people together at the Complex across the road from us. We will continue to run “Kids Club’ at
whatever hour of the day and then we will participate in a Family Camp for a
few days with Jacob Bear church before heading back to Fort Qu’Appelle for our
final debriefing.
Thanks for your prayers and support!
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