2010 Spring Break with Sacred Road
Having just returned from a month on the rez in Yakama I cannot help but be in awe of the blessings God has lavished upon us. We have a nice, secure house to live in. We have a complete family that is free from abuse. We can walk around my neighborhood without fear. We have an income to sustain our daily needs and I have my truck to get me where I want and/or need to go when I want it to. These are all things that most of us take for granted.
Why is it, then, that in this same United States of America, in the little town of White Swan, on the Yakama Indian reservation, there are hundreds of people who do not have all or even any of these things? Most of the homes in White Swan are at some level of disrepair. Most are worse instead of better. We worked on a home during the spring break session in which its only toilet was literally ready to fall through the rotten floor. It was no longer secured to the drainpipe and much of what was flushed went to the ground below the house. Thankfully, a spring break work team was able to put a new floor in this bathroom and a sanitary connection to the drain, giving the young single mother and child living in the house a safe and clean bathroom. Unfortunately, this did not make the home secure. Someone has challenged her family’s ownership of the house and wants to kick her out so they can move in. She and her child are facing possible homelessness.
Most of the families in White Swan are not complete. Many are single parent or no parent homes. Quite often children are being raised by grandparents, aunts and uncles and sometimes even siblings not much older then the children they care for. And 100% of the families are affected by alcohol and/or drug abuse. Vandalism and violence is the norm. Gangs recruit children even at the pre-school level. The unemployment rate is near, if not at, 75%. Only a small income comes from the tribe. It will not sustain a family. Jobs are scarce. During the summer months, children will often come to our afternoon kids club so they can have the snack we hand out. That snack may be the only “meal” they get that day. If you are a Yakama Indian living in White Swan and are fortunate enough to have a car that runs, it is likely that you regularly do not have money to put gas in it or repair it when it breaks down. There is very limited public transportation.
There is very little that you can take for granted in White Swan or even that you will be alive tomorrow. The average life span of a Yakama Indian is reportedly 39 years with some of the leading causes of death being suicide, traffic fatalities and heart disease. And if you wake up in the morning, it is likely that you or someone in your family are dealing with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Reactive Attachment Disorder, alcohol or drug abuse, or sexual abuse just to name a few. It isn’t hard to understand why I feel so blessed but it is even more of a blessing watching how God is working in the lives of many of the people who most of us would describe as “Victims of White Swan”. And they feel blessed.
My plans are to return to White Swan in May to assist with summer teams. Cheryl, along with our grandson, Josiah, will join me there later to conclude the summer before returning to Florida. If you have been a partner with me in this ministry I wish to thank you for enabling me to have the privilege of serving God and His people in this way. If you have not would you consider checking one or more of the boxes on the coupon below?
Thank You.
God Bless,
Dave
Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Hosea 1:5
(Print and send this coupon to : Sacred Road Ministries22116 SE 51st Place, Issaquah, WA 98029-9221
http://sacredroadyakama.blogspot.com
Checks are to be made payable to: Sacred Road Ministries) Yes, I would like to support Dave to serve with Sacred Road Ministries in 2010 ________
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http://sacredroadyakama.blogspot.com
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Dave and Cheryl Koerner
2939 Shepard Dr
Rockledge, FL 32955
321-961-0880
davekoerner@cfl.rr.com
