tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58312303746257072512024-03-13T20:01:29.594-07:00Sacred Road MinistriesOur desire is to love God and to love our brothers and sisters in Native America
by living out and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed.Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-45067691865378418442020-09-23T10:29:00.001-07:002020-09-23T10:29:27.614-07:00March 2020 Update during Covid 19<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Friends, Family, Prayer Warriors, & Financial Supporters!</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">March 27, 2020</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c2c56ca4-7fff-86f8-719b-fb68d793dc9a"><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Chris first came to the Yakama reservation in the summer of 2000, he was struck with many emotions. He was so overwhelmed with the needs, he cried out, “Lord, I know you are the answer, but I don’t even know what the question is!”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not too much time passed before the Lord led the Granberrys to move full time to Indian country. It was clear that God had a plan and we were to be there. We did not know what the plan would entail at that time, but we obeyed and decided to do our best to just “</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">be</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” God’s children in this place. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are at a similar season again, a crossroads of overwhelming emotion and few answers. The impact of the covid 19 virus has hit and created more questions than answers. Here again Jesus is the answer; but how do we ask the right questions in times like these? We want to ask, “How long, Oh Lord?” We want to know how we will live in these changing circumstances. Can we direct these questions to our Lord? Can we look and see where God is working and ask to join Him in building the Kingdom, even in these “quarantined” circumstances? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here on the Yakama reservation, all of our spring teams were cancelled; but we did as much outreach with children as we could before the quarantine orders began. We are now having cancellations of our summer teams as well, and of course our Sunday services. We are prepared to help meet the immediate needs in our community, while we are all staying in our own homes. There is an isolation and a strange sort of bonding taking place. I pray that in this time, if “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” the Lord will soften hearts and draw many towards His love and their need for fellowship with believers. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We do not know what ministry on the rez will look like in our immediate future, but there will be plenty to do. We do not know how everyone in our little church plant is doing, but as we live stream a service on Sunday mornings we are being joined by some we haven’t seen in quite some time. Current communication is stretching beyond the congregation we have been in the past. May it move us towards the Gospel community we will be.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Please feel free to join us on Sunday mornings at 10:30 PST on the Sacred Road Facebook page as we live stream our services.</span><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 329px; overflow: hidden; width: 476px;"><img height="329" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/nuzIWCL82L39UjZa5MZdB_RGQVkfAMFkHqmmGqy7RZFwBCRaZ5DPuW60ahjcyyTvOEZMxG8Vny3uAVQRaui69_wnTCjIGGwYHWlFqhOUmLEM1QM4VUjPQk4LFJ8UIIuvE0xuwAa3" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="476" /></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for joining with us, Mary </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 144pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is our quarantine crew. I was once asked if our place was a half-way house. I laughed </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">then and smiled this week as I thought about that again. We are all more aware of our </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">personal journeys during this time. We are all in transition - towards holiness and the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">selves we were created to be. We are blessed to have each other on the journey.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-75008139342162874142014-05-01T14:58:00.000-07:002014-05-01T15:03:04.794-07:00Our New Building is Almost Ready!<div class="MsoNormal">
Hey Everyone!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Well, as you know, we are eagerly
anticipating moving into our new building. All that needs to happen for us to
“gain occupancy” is for the fire sprinkler system to be tested and for the
facility to pass it’s final inspection. If everything goes well we will be able
to have our first worship service on May 18<sup>th</sup>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
There is really no way that I can
think of to adequately thank all of you who helped with this process by giving
financially, praying faithfully, and volunteering to work on the building. Our
general contractor, Dan Schillperoort, says he believes volunteers have saved
us about $200,000 in labor! I also struggle to express how excited our church
family is about having a church “home” of our own. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
In addition to having worship each
week, we will use the new facility for weekly youth group meetings, weekly
discipleship groups, various children’s ministry events, outreach events,
sports camps, etc. Eventually, we hope to have a school, summer day camp, and
more!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Maybe the most exciting part of all
of this is the fact that the teenagers in our youth group have a strong sense
of “ownership” their new church building because they have invested many, many
hours (along with some “blood, sweat, and tears”) in the renovations of the
building. Over the last two summers 55 teenagers from White Swan put in 100
hours per summer per student toward work on the building, working on homes of
elders and single moms, and helping our teams and staff host Kid’s Clubs in the
tribal housing projects. All of us on staff are thrilled with the desire that
the students have to minister to their own community and to be involved in
meaningful opportunities to serve. These young leaders are learning that they
can share the love and truth of Christ even now. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
We would love for you to come visit
us on a Sunday whenever you have an opportunity. Mark May 18<sup>th</sup> on
your calendar if you’d like to be at our first service. We’ll let you know asap
if there is a problem that prevents us from meeting that week. We plan on
having a “Dedication Service” three or four weeks after the first service at
which you would, of course, be welcome. We also hope to have a “Grand Opening”
in July with a bbq, games, etc. and a “Family Field Day” in the fall. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Thanks again for your partnership,
for all of your prayers, and for your love for us and for His Kingdom. God
bless you and yours. We hope to see you soon!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
In Him!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Chris Granberry</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>365</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2083</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Sacred Road</o:Company>
<o:Lines>17</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2444</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3sw21BiKqHSXYTXes4vM7WaG2s72Vg7McFCRlNZF2m1XSgAA2jUgO922uyd9bT87w1GOcDFl5RuGx_7rP7w38usO3mK3k9IqsXY08tKyJDQN2RUy_kaB3h6pmFgDw4P7Q7XbN2BaigXV/s1600/1237353_10151840656400219_1746113568_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3sw21BiKqHSXYTXes4vM7WaG2s72Vg7McFCRlNZF2m1XSgAA2jUgO922uyd9bT87w1GOcDFl5RuGx_7rP7w38usO3mK3k9IqsXY08tKyJDQN2RUy_kaB3h6pmFgDw4P7Q7XbN2BaigXV/s1600/1237353_10151840656400219_1746113568_o.jpg" height="152" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our Youth Group with the Sacred Road Float at the Harrah, WA Fall Parade</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjx5grzkesxgMsRWgjTbSmeP7XElcSqraBQe8PHUeVbDDFxlnjtgPC1imUV1pInEEfcZCI67tBQk8AB9Ds8oTBiT5frfh30IDwX4bZfuKuGqDt_AMZSBW4GClurytuekgQ8kujyseh2GO/s1600/IMG_0893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjx5grzkesxgMsRWgjTbSmeP7XElcSqraBQe8PHUeVbDDFxlnjtgPC1imUV1pInEEfcZCI67tBQk8AB9Ds8oTBiT5frfh30IDwX4bZfuKuGqDt_AMZSBW4GClurytuekgQ8kujyseh2GO/s1600/IMG_0893.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One of the actors in the Bible story/skit at Kid's Club</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kSajJ654XSoaxF4GQkJewMCf8XC5zO1A8IKEMFuHJgHNakdnWsvgnF34QUZSNFfvYx1V05eWHmLYucoKIihFSnW33qHbhrarkDkH52yx6i_AqRHm3cXn5eEze_-AZ9hAqMJfSbFOdoDt/s1600/IMG_0047_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kSajJ654XSoaxF4GQkJewMCf8XC5zO1A8IKEMFuHJgHNakdnWsvgnF34QUZSNFfvYx1V05eWHmLYucoKIihFSnW33qHbhrarkDkH52yx6i_AqRHm3cXn5eEze_-AZ9hAqMJfSbFOdoDt/s1600/IMG_0047_2.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A little friend who stole my heart at the Adam's View Kid's Club</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpheNNaef7sZfcs1Mvjibu1z4zBE4qx4oK3c1Pl8F_4hq4vl3lZjIgucRqhlVSi6tUq7IB5EmD4jMvyZMtIiZsHRvxc3rdvRaaaMyFJj1Byw7dc5OiMYsPSGlVnEh47x0E5cHYWpU8IvT/s1600/yanabaaaaaaah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpheNNaef7sZfcs1Mvjibu1z4zBE4qx4oK3c1Pl8F_4hq4vl3lZjIgucRqhlVSi6tUq7IB5EmD4jMvyZMtIiZsHRvxc3rdvRaaaMyFJj1Byw7dc5OiMYsPSGlVnEh47x0E5cHYWpU8IvT/s1600/yanabaaaaaaah.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Yaanibaah and Ann Marie in Totus Park</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-23136604587229907712013-04-10T17:50:00.000-07:002013-04-10T17:50:09.525-07:00A Kid's Club Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFZZ0zC1dK2cRGpPAvbrlmXkcH3yNDdn0GSU_kFk77W2pA2MOn7agixym1MJx7g9d1KCp9meoC_rcAgY1BE2bFj_cQkTpN6k2vVedNdN3QCBOqjcNXK9GyvRk0J2t3xNqKfNpUM6N36jj/s1600/DSCN5034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFZZ0zC1dK2cRGpPAvbrlmXkcH3yNDdn0GSU_kFk77W2pA2MOn7agixym1MJx7g9d1KCp9meoC_rcAgY1BE2bFj_cQkTpN6k2vVedNdN3QCBOqjcNXK9GyvRk0J2t3xNqKfNpUM6N36jj/s320/DSCN5034.JPG" width="263" /></a></div>
<div style="font: 15.0px Calibri; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Some little girls stole my heart in March. When I drove up on the first day of Kid's Club an eight year old named Chalea came running to greet me. We ran around some, played on the swings, did the craft, and blew some bubbles. Then I asked if she’d like to sit down and read a children’s Bible together. She said “yes”. Pretty soon some more girls came over to listen to the stories we were reading. None of the girls seemed very familiar with any of the most common stories. At the end of the day I gave each of the girls a children’s Bible to keep. They were beaming as we said our “see ya laters”.</span></div>
<div style="font: 15.0px Calibri; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 15.0px Calibri; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">The next day at the beginning of Kids Club, Chalea came running to me with a huge smile on her face. She couldn’t wait to tell me that she had read 115 pages in her new Bible on her own! All she wanted to do, in the midst of all of the fun activities at Kids Club, was find a quiet place to sit and read with me again. Please pray for Chalea and all the other children in Totus Park and Adams View. Pray that the Lord will give all of them a hunger for Him and for His Word like little Chalea’s. Pray that He would protect them, provide for them, bless them, draw them to Himself, fill them with His Spirit, and use them to transform this community for its good and His glory.</span></div>
<div style="font: 15.0px Calibri; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 15.0px Calibri; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Please pray to that all the funds would come in to finish out the work on the new building and that this facility would be a “spring board” or a “launch pad” for even better things for the community of White Swan. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">To give click <a href="http://www.sacredroadministries.com/www/docs/7/giving.htm">here</a>.</span></div>
<div style="font: 15.0px Calibri; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font: 15.0px Calibri; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">-Chris Granberry</span></div>
Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-75496678764928788662012-04-19T13:46:00.005-07:002012-04-25T16:04:40.817-07:00Easter Service<span style="color: black;">Hello Everyone! </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />As many of you know, this is a very exciting time in the life of this ministry. Almost nine years ago the Granberry family moved here with the desire to see the Lord establish a church in the town of White Swan. Over the years a lot has changed. More families and individuals have joined our full time team, hundreds of people have come on one week teams to love and serve, thousands of believers have prayed faithfully and invested generously (including you!). We've also hosted over 400 Bible Studies in the longhouse for hundreds of people from the community. Hundreds move have attended the annual Christmas feast (sometimes 450 at a time). We have also had the joy of baptizing 75 people of all ages! All along the vision and the goal has remained the same: to see a healthy church established in White Swan. Well, on Easter Sunday, April 8th, we had our first official Sunday Worship Service! It took almost 9 years (I predicted it would take at least 12). We gathered in the longhouse for a meal at 6:30, then had worship and concluded with a baptism service.</span><br />
<div style="color: black;">
<div style="color: black;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqqBoqsZ49fSElc-FtB6VoUa_bEd_dPdJSVnJpIqMun-ybtm9ObNOJiLxJ0ai2SpbXbao-IfiGPDhfyO6z2gX0MhKyNvO4oACq5OcEXjSGrt997y-cWcxkR0nynEmQQo6kJU5aXJWbvns/s1600/527958_10150699970113512_701138511_9469621_802427742_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733218000204839378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqqBoqsZ49fSElc-FtB6VoUa_bEd_dPdJSVnJpIqMun-ybtm9ObNOJiLxJ0ai2SpbXbao-IfiGPDhfyO6z2gX0MhKyNvO4oACq5OcEXjSGrt997y-cWcxkR0nynEmQQo6kJU5aXJWbvns/s320/527958_10150699970113512_701138511_9469621_802427742_n.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
<br />
Everyone loved the meal that the "Hope Fellowship" ladies made for us. The worship service went really well too. About 160 folks came and four were baptized! I was particularly struck by the singing (which resonated through the longhouse) and so many smiling faces. Another great moment was when a friend of ours, Bob, surprised us by singing a song about the resurrection before he prayed during the service. Also, it was really special to listen as Thomas, one of our teenagers, volunteered to read the account of the resurrection from the gospel of John. I had the joy of baptizing a five month old little girl named Ekko. She stole my heart with her big, chubby cheeks, black hair, and "huckleberry" eyes. I also got to baptize two brothers who are about 6 and 8 years old. They were so excited. And finally, a sixteen year old young lady named Amanda, who was beaming! I also had the joy of picking up an elderly couple, Slim and Sally, who had never come to our Bible Study before. They went to a lot of trouble to come because Sally is in a wheelchair and their car is in the shop because the ran into a horse a couple of weeks ago! It was hard for Sally to get in my vehicle, but she made it in. I thought this would be a one time visit to our church but at the end of the night, Slim and Sally were all smiles and said they would start coming every week! They also asked me about baptizing their great granddaughter, Sally Ann.</div>
<div style="color: black;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: black;">
Please pray that all of the 140 (or so) folks who have been coming to Tuesday Night Bible Study will make the transition to coming to church on Sundays and that they will truly take "ownership" and recognize that this is "their" church. Pray too that many would "be added to our number". Pray that the Lord would raise up local leaders and that we would have many opportunities to continue to share the Gospel, disciple new believers, and "equip the saints for ministry" here on the rez.<br />
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;"> As I said above, it is a very exciting time in the life of the ministry and we hope that you share that same sense of excitement. The Lord is good and He is truly "on the move" here in White Swan. He is drawing many people to Himself and we believe the best is yet to come. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">We could not be here without you. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your prayers, love, and generosity. May the Lord "repay" you ten times over. </span><span style="color: black;"><br /><br />Come See Us! </span><span style="color: black;"><br /><br />Rev. Chris Granberry (for all of us)</span>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-86464445211412521342012-01-06T13:56:00.001-08:002012-01-06T14:09:20.462-08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbR7k-orOFBM3H1Z302psLhCwaiNblwI9XxO4aee8vhxmzaokycDLkBU3sANtsD_ZNlwQTKMxK0-IwrxkWHvIL2bqSRfITCOn-WI-hebx9ormTIbou5xwQ2Pq8cD65Geum_RiPZiF-HLY/s1600/IMG_7454.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 449px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbR7k-orOFBM3H1Z302psLhCwaiNblwI9XxO4aee8vhxmzaokycDLkBU3sANtsD_ZNlwQTKMxK0-IwrxkWHvIL2bqSRfITCOn-WI-hebx9ormTIbou5xwQ2Pq8cD65Geum_RiPZiF-HLY/s400/IMG_7454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694643429901262946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">(left to right: Davy, Mary, Chris, Beth, Morgan, Ann Marie, Connie, Marisol)<br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Pt2I7h_MzD4NhVmfUwpdazhMqUU6nsWcSGmTPLwr9-zd2zPzBc0m1dSQx-yi9AdY4RvYlpX1eSLLTGXV4wnfepvkxCoqrbp6v49-1cHflQryWvf2Ofe1NpBVAhCnUetUzNqLNJ80ybAv/s1600/IMG_7454.JPG"><br /></a><br /><meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 14"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 14"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/Veronica/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <link rel="themeData" href="file://localhost/Users/Veronica/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_themedata.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:enableopentypekerning/> <w:dontflipmirrorindents/> <w:overridetablestylehps/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="276"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Papyrus; panose-1:2 11 6 2 4 2 0 2 3 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-2147483549 64 0 0 97 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Apple Chancery"; panose-1:3 2 7 2 4 5 6 6 5 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 2424891 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Arial Narrow"; panose-1:2 11 5 6 2 2 2 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Century Gothic"; panose-1:2 11 5 2 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Colonna MT"; panose-1:4 2 8 5 6 2 2 3 2 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Eurostile; panose-1:2 11 5 4 2 2 2 5 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Gabriola; panose-1:4 4 6 5 5 16 2 2 13 2; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870161 1342185547 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Garamond; panose-1:2 2 4 4 3 3 1 1 8 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Handwriting - Dakota"; panose-1:2 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-2147483609 0 0 0 273 0;} @font-face {font-family:Harrington; panose-1:4 4 5 5 5 10 2 2 7 2; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Perpetua; panose-1:2 2 5 2 6 4 1 2 3 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Arno Pro"; mso-font-alt:Corbel; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1610613383 1 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;} p.MsoNoSpacing, li.MsoNoSpacing, div.MsoNoSpacing {mso-style-priority:1; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-fareast-language:JA;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:27.0pt .5in .5in .5in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language:JA;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Harrington;font-size:13pt;" >Merry Christmas from the Granberrys!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Garamond;font-size:11pt;" >This year the first verse of<span style=""> </span>“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” has really gotten my attention. It tells us to “rest”, to let nothing “dismay” us, as we “remember” that Jesus has come! I can’t think of a more timely message than that! Can you? It goes on to remind us why He came; to “save us from Satan’s power, when we had gone astray”. The song tells us that these are “tidings of comfort and joy” and truly they are! When you think about it, there are no words that come close to providing the comfort and joy that this message contains. The fact that God has loved us enough to send Jesus to save us from the devil and from ourselves is the best news the human ear could ever hear! In light of these “glad tidings” I hope and pray that you too can rest, remember, and rejoice in the amazing love of God the Father and in the finished work of Jesus on our behalf, this Christmas. May the Lord bless you and yours richly this Christmas and throughout this year.<span style=""> </span>~Chris</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=";font-family:Garamond;font-size:11pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" >As a worksite leader, I was put in charge of roofing the house of Rainbow (7) and Adora (5) on the first team week of the summer. Two of their cousins, Odessa (5) and Sharyce (3), live just across the street. On the third team week I was overseeing the roofing of the house next door to Rainbow and Adora’s. Both of these weeks have had a big impact on me. I was shown again and again the effect that so many people have on the children where we work. These four girls have been my special buddies for a long time. It was fun for them to watch me as I worked on these roofs. Each morning they would be roused by the banging of hammers on the roof and know that we had arrived. I would watch as they slowly came outside to observe us as we were pounding away. It became routine to hear them call my name, one after another. They would shout, “Beth!” (Adora and Sharyce had trouble saying my name and it sounded more like, “Bess”) Watching, as I turned to wave, they would grow silent. I started to call them my sheep because when they yelled my name it sounded more like little lambs crying “baaaa”. Gathering at a window, they would share a little pair of red binoculars, with Toy Story characters on both sides, to get a better view. Every two or three minutes I would have to come back into view and reassure that I was there to watch them play on a small and beat up set of swings or chase each other around the dirt yard. All I needed to do was simply stand on the edge of the roof, smiling, waving, and ever so often answering their calls. Just by doing such a small thing, I was able to love on these four girls in a meaningful way. Every time I heard my name I was filled with pride and delight, not because they were so good at swinging or running, but because they were “my girls”. Near the end of the summer, Rainbow and Adora’s dad was released from prison and they moved away to live with him again. Odessa and Sharyce were often not at home and I couldn’t see any of my girls. The longing and need I felt to embrace them reminded me of how much Christ wants to embrace us as his children and the delight He has in us. When you think about it, that’s why he came. He came to be with us, to cleanse us, and to delight in us! <span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>~Beth (16)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Harrington;font-size:10pt;" >I think Christmas is amazing because that is when Jesus was born!<span style=""> </span>It is wonderful that Jesus was born because without Him we wouldn’t be alive! He is awesome.<span style=""> </span>He has brought us all together.<span style=""> </span>If I didn’t know the Granberrys we wouldn’t be a family.<span style=""> </span>I’m excited this year because I get to spend time with my new family (especially my new cousins) as we all gather around.<span style=""> </span>When I think about Jesus being born I’m glad that the shepherds and kings and angels came to see Him. I’m glad that they brought Him gifts, sang new songs to Him, worshiped Him and told everyone about Him! We should be like them too if we love Him!<span style=""> </span>~Connie (9)</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Harrington;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Harrington;font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Harrington;font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:11pt;" >“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men.’” (Luke 2:13-14)<span style=""> </span>I wonder what it was like for the shepherds that night. Getting to hear a choir of Angels, singing praises to God. One minute they’re listening to the bleating of the lambs and the chirping of crickets, the next they’re witnessing the most extraordinary vocal performance of all time.<span style=""> </span>For the last year or so, I have been leading praise and worship for our “baby church”. My favorite part about this time is getting to watch the children. As soon as my guitar is out, there are at least five kids following me around. Once I’m sitting down, they all gather at my feet to watch me. Listening to the kids sing gives me goose bumps. I love the looks on their faces as they watch me play. Not all of them know the words to the songs, most of them can’t even read along, but they love watching and listening as everyone else sings. It fills me with hope. Most of the children knew nothing of Jesus nine years ago, and now they’re singing praises to Him.<span style=""> </span>It says in Revelation, that “every tribe, every tongue, and every nation” will be gathered around the throne. We will cast our crowns at His feet and join the Heavenly Host in singing praises to Him. I look forward to the day when many of “our kids” will sit at Christ’s feet, eyes and hearts fixed on Him, singing with the same angels who sang before the shepherds.<span style=""> </span>~Ann Marie (18)</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /><span style=";font-family:";font-size:11pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Perpetua;">“Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.” John 16:32<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Perpetua;">Our first summer on the reservation I followed my dad as he got pictures and put together a simple slideshow for the teams to take home to share with their family and friends. I wanted to take part in taking the pictures or putting everything together. In a few years the slideshows began to include video clips and became less like a slideshow. Interns took on the job of putting together ten to fifteen minute videos and I helped collect video clips and a few pictures. I loved helping but always wanted to learn how to put everything together. A little less than two years ago I finally got the job. Having taken part in the photography and watching past interns and staff members work on it all on the computer I knew how to do everything. When I first got the job I thought I would still take part in the painting and especially the roofing on the worksites and tried to do what I could while still managing to get the footage I needed. Ann Marie and Marisol helped a lot by taking pictures, but as I tried to do it all I realized I wouldn’t be able to finish the videos on time and get to work with everyone. This last summer I focused only on making videos. Taking pictures and videos. Working on the video. Playing with “my” kids at Totus Park. Taking pictures and videos. Working on the video. Go to sleep early in the morning then wake up and start again. I felt alone. For about seven years I had gotten to know the teams, worked with the teams, interns, and my family, and gotten to hang out with my siblings. In getting the position I had wanted I had been separated from everyone around me as I spent time in the office trailer editing pictures. I have needed constant reminder that God is with me. In making videos the last two summers I have been given the chance to view everything that happens in one week and have seen that God is moving and working in unexpected ways through the people in White Swan and Warm Springs, which is a miracle few get to witness but is brought by the prayers of many and the incredible love of our Sovereign Lord.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>~Morgan (15)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family:Perpetua;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Eurostile;font-size:11pt;" >This year I was sent many places, such as Warm Springs, White Swan, and a three month furlough. I spent most of the summer in Warm Springs in charge of taking photos and making video that Morgan needed. It was a great learning experience for me, and I enjoyed it a lot. By the end of the summer, the children at kids club in Warm Springs all knew my name and would want to play with me. This was really special. Two of the five weeks of the summer I was in Yakima and I worked on the roofs and went to both Adams View and Totus Park housing projects for kids club. I enjoyed playing with multiple children in Yakima this summer each I can’t wait to see them when I return. This fall my whole family was sent on a furlough. It has been such a blessing. I have gone to six national parks and have gotten to spend two months in Florida. It has been a great rest for our family. So, I have been sent many places lately. All of which have been a huge blessing. All of this then makes me consider where Jesus was sent. Not so he could be blessed, but so that we could. He was sent to earth, from his comfortable, heavenly home, so we could be with him forever. The Lord of the universe was placed in a feeding trough, as a baby in rags, so that we could live forever. That is what I consider when I think about Christmas in relation to my past year. – Davy (13)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=";font-family:Eurostile;font-size:11pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Eurostile;font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" >This summer I was on the roof with Beth all summer except the week that I went to Warm Springs for the first time. What was supposed to be a two-day visit ended up being the whole week. It was great to see the different ways God has spread his gospel through Sacred Road. My first day I was there I could not wait to go to kids club. When I arrived a little girl came up to me and played with me all day in the sprinklers and blowing bubbles. I never saw her again but when I was playing with she told me some of the Bible stories she had heard and how she loved hanging out with the previous teams that had come. I think until then I had forgotten how much the kids are processing about the word of God and remembering it even weeks later.<span style=""> </span>When I became a small group leader at the end of the summer I got to see more of the kids on the Yakama Reservation. We were talking about Jesus’ life from his birth through the time where he raised Lazarus from the dead. Another great time this year when I got to see the word of God spreading is when we went to First Baptist Church in Dothan, Alabama. The Sunday we were there the whole service was about missions and how you can help. They showed us videos of people working with the people in Guatemala, Jamaica, and right in their hometown, Dothan.<span style=""> </span>Just seeing other peoples mission work and how the lives of people have been changed through Christians all over the world. This is what God has called us to do in the Great Commission. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Which is why Jesus came into the world. So I hope your Christmas is full of joy and the spreading of Gods Word.<span style=""> </span>~Marisol (14)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:4pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;">At the manger, those who were strangers became family and just like today, “ those who were far off have been brought near.” (Eph 2:13).<span style=""> </span>How astounding it is that a simple couple from Nazareth, rough shepherds, educated wise men, and hosts of angels were all brought near to the newborn Savior that first Christmas.<span style=""> </span>It makes me smile to see myself as part of this odd assortment of folks.<span style=""> </span>It reminds me of my favorite Christmas memory. I was 13 or 14 when my family celebrated our first Christmas as a Christian family.<span style=""> </span>This change caused some dissension among our extended family and we had no one to celebrate Christmas with that year.<span style=""> </span>My parents did something unusual and invited others, who would have been alone on Christmas, to join us for dinner that year.<span style=""> </span>We greeted our newborn Savior and strangers in our home that day and I was forever changed.<span style=""> </span>After all, it is what Jesus would have done and the sort of thing he did do. After a sabbatical rest, I too am looking forward again to opening the doors of our home to our Savior and strangers.<span style=""> </span>My parents’ example that “first” Christmas in the Murphy house has become a pattern for the Granberry family, as we share our joy of being brought near!<span style=""> </span>~Mary</span><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Gabriola;font-size:11pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Harrington;font-size:11pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <!--EndFragment-->Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-16689153514648241742011-10-12T15:20:00.000-07:002011-10-12T15:41:01.641-07:00A story from Tuesday night<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZwskUckShM5JySP_ghl3FDulyqkf9qE0BEZrRleDGxyNb6D42dSAIPgK0Xnb6ivv3D2Ohiz6NJuNpHVozPVmBB6ebbVJEijqjnTjgUs7lSJvnZg4oXYXm8KpQ6S5qQ2Xc1b7ieUAyFnc/s1600/joshua2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZwskUckShM5JySP_ghl3FDulyqkf9qE0BEZrRleDGxyNb6D42dSAIPgK0Xnb6ivv3D2Ohiz6NJuNpHVozPVmBB6ebbVJEijqjnTjgUs7lSJvnZg4oXYXm8KpQ6S5qQ2Xc1b7ieUAyFnc/s200/joshua2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662739293756811714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnTA0lUX00Ti4ILsecb7vNlKh67m3XqhLbJnF_rvB6Z32iNE73li1V3h2WeCMQR1TRJmmVRr4BmIsB5ogX70AUfYvr3oolHVUzxdkur4ynArua0iq-u9UtwkX5tly0cz3m7NcwIhlS1Tf/s1600/joshua2.jpg"></a>by: Joshua Tsavatewa<br />Children's Ministry Director<br /><br />When ‘the troublemaker’ climbed out the van, I immediately thought, “Oh boy. I’ve to keep an eye on him and he’ll be going home soon.” ‘The troublemaker’ doesn’t usually come to Bible Study and when he does, he winds up going home early. He hadn’t been around since April, and he was sent home three of the four weeks he came. I didn’t expect much from him and kept an eye on him, waiting for him to throw rocks, hit a kid, knock stuff over, or cause mayhem. And, it never happened. He played well, ate supper, colored, sang, and eventually joined my small group.<br /><br />Throughout the whole time with the children, ‘the troublemaker’ was exemplary. I ask my boys questions from the lesson, and it got to the point where I said, “Ok, this question is for everyone else,” because ‘the troublemaker’ was answering every single one and I didn’t get to hear from the others. As the evening progressed, I asked the kids, “What’s something that we learn about Jesus?” And he pipes up, “He heals us!” When we did the craft, ‘the troublemaker’ painted a big heart on his page, so I asked if he knew what a heart represented and he did. I asked him, “Who do you love?” And he answered, “I love Jesus.”<br /><br />It’s amazing how God works in the hearts of the children. Even those we don’t see for months. How He convicts us of our lack of faith. How He shows us what He’s doing in the lives of these kids. I don’t know what the future holds for this kid, but when he left he asked me, “Can I be your helper next week?” My heart welled up with tears and I told him: “Yes, you did a great job tonight, and I’m looking forward to next week.”Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-56265538308035677602011-08-31T16:38:00.000-07:002011-08-31T16:39:06.959-07:00Fantastic Summer Update from Our Youth Director, Chuck Clevenger<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); ">Dear Friends and Family
<br />
<br /><i style="line-height: 17px; font-style: italic; ">There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. – Philippians 1:6 (The Message)</i>
<br />
<br />We (the Clevengers) have just finished our third summer of ministry here on the Reservation and it was a wonderful time of growth in the youth group. There are more stories than I could possibly share in an email so I have included links to our blog with stories and pictures from the summer. Thanks to all of you for your prayers, support and encouragement that make our life and ministry on the Yakama Reservation possible.
<br />
<br />I want to tell you about the fifth and last closing ceremonies we had at the end of the last team week. “Say so” is always a powerful end to every team week - we ask everyone if they saw God do something during the week to say so. The idea is based on our responsibility and privilege as believers to witness and then testify to the work of our Savior.
<br />
<br />This summer saw Chis Granberry baptize 11 of the kids in the youth group as well as fifteen of them work side by side with the summer church teams - roofing homes, improving the new church building and playing with kids in Totus Park. A number of them were there at closing ceremonies that last Friday as well, and you could sense the power of God’s Holy Spirit as they testified publicly and privately to the way they, themselves, had seen God changing their hearts and minds. Closing ceremonies can sometimes be a very emotional experience but I have never felt as proud of our youth leadership as I did that night. I thank God for each of them and for the summer he gave us all.
<br />
<br />I’ve spent a lot of time since that night, filled with wonder, thinking about it and trying to remember how it all happened. I’ve written about several key events during the summer and included links below:
<br />
<br /><a href="http://rustlings.com/?p=38" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">Summer Roof Number 2</a> - The second team week started in the middle of June after the school year had ended so it gave me an opportunity to take some of the guys from my D-Group to the work site with me … (<a href="http://rustlings.com/?p=38" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">more)</a>
<br />
<br /><a href="http://rustlings.com/?p=42" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">Promotion Monday</a> - At the very beginning of the summer we had an ice cream party to celebrate our rising sixth graders graduating from the children’s ministry in the youth group … (<a href="http://rustlings.com/?p=42" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">more</a>)
<br />
<br /><a href="http://rustlings.com/?p=39" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">Camp High Rock</a> - The week of Camp High Rock - the week of July 4th - coincided with a team week this summer, so we could only send Heather and myself with the high school junior counselors to camp … (<a href="http://rustlings.com/?p=39" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">more</a>)
<br />
<br /><a href="http://rustlings.com/?p=40" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">A Week in Warm Springs</a> - I spent the fourth team week in Warm Springs with Eric. I had hoped to take my whole D-Group with me for the week but in the ten days leading up everyone but Eric had to cancel … (<a href="http://rustlings.com/?p=40" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">more</a>)
<br />
<br /><a href="http://rustlings.com/?p=41" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">Skateland Trip 3</a> - Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words - or at least several hundred. We took the youth group to Skateland in mid July. It was one of our biggest outing yet with 54 of us on the rink … (<a href="http://rustlings.com/?p=41" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">more</a>)
<br />
<br /><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Family: </b>
<br />
<br />All of the Clevengers are gearing up for Fall after a two-week break at the end of the Summer. It was a sweet time of rest and for us to have a long spell of quality time with each other.
<br />
<br />Asha will start third grade next week which doesn’t seem to be possible. Her teacher is the pastor at one of the churches we work with on the Reservation so we are thankful that we have a friend in her classroom.
<br />
<br />Isaac was moved to a toddler bed a week ago. Neena and I braced ourselves for a long night of him being able to get out of bed on his own, but he never did. The downside - he won’t get up in the morning without one of us getting him. So our mornings usually begin with him calling us over and over again from bed until someone comes.
<br />
<br /><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Prayers and Praises:</b>
<br />
<br />We praise God for the arrival of Bill and Tina Yarbrough and their four daughters to the Sacred Road Team. Bill will be working as mercy ministry coordinator and has already built a bed for one of the children in his first week here.
<br />
<br />As great as the summer was, it felt like it came to a screeching halt in August as we learned about two deaths in our Hope Fellowship family. One was a nine-year-old boy who was killed in a car accident in the closed area of the Reservation. We had just played kickball together the week before, He had been a big part of our Kid’s Club Bible skits and a regular attender on Tuesday nights. Please pray for his family and his little sister.
<br />
<br />The father of three of the kids in the youth group died last week after recently being diagnosed with cancer in the stomach. The family had recently moved next to the Longhouse where he was working as the groundskeeper. He was always very kind to me when we showed up at the Longhouse to decorate for the Christmas feast and various interactions in the community. In a recent talk with Chris, he confessed a saving faith in Jesus and asked Chris to perform a wedding ceremony for him and the kids’ mom. They were married just a couple of weeks before his passing. Please pray for his family, especially his daughter, who has spent a lot of time with Chris and Mary this summer.
<br />
<br />With the frenzy of summer behind us, I have more time to devote to support raising. Please join me in prayer that others might be as excited as you about what God is doing in the hearts of teenagers in White Swan and be moved to give generously so that we can continue to grow this ministry that means so much to us.
<br />
<br />Thank you again and may God Bless you a hundredfold,
<br />
<br />In Him, By Him, For Him
<br />
<br />Chuck, Neena, Asha and Isaac
<br />
<br /><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Address:</b>
<br />The Clevengers (for mail)
<br />155 Kamiakin Avenue
<br />Wapato, Washington 98951
<br />Phone: 509-388-3669
<br />
<br /><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Support:</b>
<br />Sacred Road Ministries
<br />22116 SE 51st Place
<br />Issaquah, WA 98029-9221
<br />
<br /><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Links:</b>
<br /><a href="http://www.rustlings.com/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">http://www.rustlings.com</a> - Clevenger blog
<br /><a href="http://www.sacredroadministries.com/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">http://www.sacredroadministries.com</a>
<br /><a href="http://sacredroadyakama.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">http://sacredroadyakama.blogspot.com/</a>
<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/SacredRoad" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">http://www.youtube.com/user/SacredRoad</a> - videos
<br /></span>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-34922831842405294542011-08-31T14:07:00.000-07:002011-08-31T14:11:35.743-07:00An Excellent August Update from Heather German<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkdB-uZ09yYF6BklTo-uTQOg-juJXIHojbOwiO0DDMFqA3jVp-L9IIyd1WMV8I8hAXzwEKfhy1SyeHk6A58we7nQuJZKSiN2KcwSEBin0ZJadgf7nFN2-J08R8Lj83rMjMj2K0iel9UdG/s1600/sonny.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkdB-uZ09yYF6BklTo-uTQOg-juJXIHojbOwiO0DDMFqA3jVp-L9IIyd1WMV8I8hAXzwEKfhy1SyeHk6A58we7nQuJZKSiN2KcwSEBin0ZJadgf7nFN2-J08R8Lj83rMjMj2K0iel9UdG/s320/sonny.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647130741900472018" /></a>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Hello Family and Friends,<div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">As I reflect over the summer on all of the joys and the sorrows I am reminded of a verse in 1 Peter 5:7 which says, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you." With all the people that come and go in the summer months sometimes it is hard to know what to do with all of the memories- the good and the bad. What a comfort it is to know that the Lord is our friend who bears all our anxieties and cares. <div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">It hardly seems possible that our twelve week summer program has come to an end. We had a very eventful summer. 19 houses were roofed here in Yakama, several hundred kids were loved on and heard the gospel both in Yakama and in Warm Springs, Oregon, and 29 people were baptised. Most of the baptisms were of children and youth who regularly attend our Tuesday night Bible study. Also, we had five full teams serve on the Warm Springs Reservation as well as on the Yakama Reservation. To watch videos of the teams and baptism services visit <a href="http://www.youtube.com/sacredroad#p/u/0/l42yTA5-Woo" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">you tube</a>.</div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">I enjoyed spending more time with several of the girls from our youth group. We spent several weeks this summer building and priming 21 picnic tables for our new church facility. It was fun to learn how to use the power tools with them and to share a feeling of accomplishment. I enjoyed seeing how proud they were of their own work. To read more about the tables and to see a picture visit my blog <a href="http://heathergerman.blogspot.com/2011/06/time-for-picnic.html" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">here</a>. </div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">I was also able to spend a week at summer camp with our youth director, Chuck Clevenger. Camp High Rock is the work of four churches coming together to serve kids 4th though 8th grade. This year there were about 80 kids. The high schoolers worked as junior counselors. We had about 10 of our youth who worked as junior counselors. They did an amazing job of serving the kids by helping them with their crafts, leading small groups based on the Bible lessons, and helping serve and clean up all of the meals. Chuck and I led the evening Bible lessons and we were able to use the youth to help us retell the stories to the kids. To watch a video of camp click <a href="http://www.youtube.com/sacredroad#p/u/2/jBgNPNePbXU" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">here</a>. </div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">Also, I was able to spend a week with one of our youth, Felicia, serving with a team down in Warm Springs. It was good to watch Felicia serve Native America not only on her home reservation, but also on another reservation. We worked with the tribe on several projects which included: painting planters in their community garden, painting and posting house markers for the fire department, and cleaning the community center. It was good to see our youth group find their role in the church this summer through working with the teams here in Yakama, helping at Camp High Rock, and serving down on the Warm Springs Reservation. </div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">As a team we continue to taste the pain and sadness in the community. A couple of weeks ago a 9 year old boy, Sonny (pictured above), who has been a part of kids club in Totus Park and has attended Tuesday night Bible study off and on was killed in a car accident. It is hard to know why the Lord would take Sonny at this time in his life, but we know the Lord is good and just. Pray for his family, especially his younger sister sissy who has also been a part of kid's club and Bible study. Pray that we would have good interactions with his family over the coming months. </div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">I just received word today that the recent caretaker of the Long house, Jesse Gomez, past away. He was diagnosed with untreatable stomach cancer at the beginning of the summer. His wife Leah, one of his three daughters Thelma, and two of his three sons, Sam and Manny, have been a part of our Bible study. Chris Granberry had a few chances to talk to Jesse before he passed away and he did confess Jesus as his Savior. Pray for his family as they go through the several day funeral process. Pray for comfort and strength for them over the coming months and that they would cast there sorrows onto Jesus. </div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">I continue to be so thankful to be living and working and the Yakama Reservation. Thank you for all of your prayers and support for me and for the community of White Swan. </div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">Heather German</div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">PO Box 218 </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">Harrah, WA- 98933</div><div style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0068CF;">
<br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">my blog: <a href="http://heathergerman.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">heathergerman.blogspot.com</a></div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">Sacred Road website: <a href="http://sacredroadministries.com/www" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">http://sacredroadministries.com/www</a></div></div></span>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-71426463559584800502011-08-31T14:02:00.000-07:002011-08-31T14:03:10.893-07:00August Update from Our Children's Director, Joshua Tsavatewa<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Family and Friends,</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The summer is nearly over and looking back, it’s been a good summer. Lots of work has been done, kids have been loved, and the love and truth of Christ has been proclaimed and demonstrated. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">My favorite story of the summer is about a little 6 or 7 year old boy named Asha. I met Asha two years ago, and he had a tendency to be angry and/or disrespectful. This summer, he’s been much friendlier and openly affectionate, at times holding my hand or giving me hugs – this from a boy who two years ago would kick me in the shins. I noticed his increasing affection and openness and have thought God is working in his heart. A few Tuesdays back, we were sitting on the bench, waiting for the vans to pull around to give him a ride home, and I said “Asha, do you want to hear a story?” He said, “Yes,” and I asked “What kind of story do you want to hear?” Asha said, “Jesus.” Of all the stories in the world, he wanted to hear about Jesus. Of all the superheroes or dragons or monsters that captivate a child’s mind, Asha wanted to know more about Jesus. That’s why we are here and it makes everything else worth it. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The most amazing part of the summer has been being a part of 29 baptisms. It was a true blessing to be a part of the services and see adults, teenagers, and children publicly profess faith in Jesus. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> During the summer, the youth took a greater leadership role at the work sites and kid’s club. Several went to Warm Springs, getting to share Jesus on the Warm Springs Reservation. I wasn’t at camp, but I heard our youth did a great job serving as junior counselors and also had a great time! It’s been really exciting to see the youth grow into leaders and minister to others. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> Kid’s Club has gone really well, which is amazing considering we’ve been stretched thin most of the summer. The skits have been on the life of Jesus, from birth to Ascension, and the kids love dressing up and acting. We had to cancel several times due to wind, but it’s been good ministry this summer.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> Although the summer has gone well, there have been some hard times in the community. A Christian man who has two youth regularly involved in Bible Study, and a third who comes occasionally has terminal cancer. His name is Jesse and his family needs prayer. A man and his son who come to Bible Study were in a rough car accident. I saw a woman arrested for a DUI while her 4 daughters watched. The girls have at times have regularly come to Bible Study and Kid’s Club and I got to spend 40 minutes with them, waiting for their grandmother and giving them ice cream. It was good that I was there to be with the girls and help them in a small way, but it broke my heart. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Throughout the summer and the year, we see many families in turmoil, and it’s hard because there’s often little we can do, but try to love people well and point them to Jesus. A key verse for Sacred Road is “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love” Galatians 5:6. I know I’m often not very loving and my faith is weak, but I pray that God gives me His love and give me faith for the situations we encounter. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Please pray for the families out here and the dysfunction that hurts the children. Please pray for those we see inconsistently – we see many kids for a month, then they are gone for three, then they are back. It’s really hard to build a relationship and then have to restart. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">I’ll be back in Macon on August 13, speaking at North Macon Presbyterian Church on August 14 at 5:30, and at Fitzgerald First Presbyterian Church on August 17 at 6:30. I’d love to catch up with everyone, so call or email me if you’d like to talk. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Grace and Peace to you all,</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Joshua Tsavatewa</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span>www.sacredroadministries.com</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span>youtube.com/sacredroad</span> – see Sacred Road’s videos</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span>jtsavatewa.blogspot.com</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">jtsavatewa2002@yahoo.com</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Address (mail)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">PO Box 223</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Harrah, WA 98933</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Cell 509-930-0100</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Address (support)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Sacred Road Ministries</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">22116 SE 51st Place</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Issaquah WA 98029-9221</p><div>
<br /></div></span>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-24560262897069805692011-08-31T13:59:00.000-07:002011-08-31T14:01:41.406-07:00Summer 2011 in Review<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Wow! What an amazing summer we had! When I try to figure out how too effectively communicate what we've seen the Lord doing I am at a loss for words. There is much more to the story than "numbers" but they may help tell the story. The first number I think of is "29". We had 29 of our regular attenders (of Tuesday Night Bible Study) get baptized! In my mind's eye I can still see the face of each as I had the honor of baptizing them. 29 people amounts to about 25% of our regular attenders! On top of that, about ten more people are planning on being baptized in September! The Lord is on the move.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Another number that comes to mind is "2". As I write this, two families are moving to the reservation to join our team full time! The Yarbroughs are currently driving through Montana on their way here. They should arrive on August 15th. The Dempsens are moving out in September! That is four adults and six children ages infant through 16. A total of ten new people will be added to our team over the next month! That brings the total number of our full time team (including children, who contribute in various ways from leading roofing crews, making team week and promotional videos, working with slightly younger children and youth, to being cute/adorable) to 24 people! Amazing!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Another number that gets my attention is "8". Our family (the Granberrys) moved to the Yakama reservation with the desire to be used by the Lord to plant a healthy church 8 years ago. The experts said we wouldn't last two years on the reservation (apparently most pastors don't) but by God's grace we are still here, still reasonably sane, and the church and our team are still growing. Praise God.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Another exciting number is "387". That is how many believers came to serve here in White Swan and on the reservation in Warm Springs, OR combine! The people of God are responding to the needs and the opportunities to love our "first neighbors" well in record numbers (in spite of the lousy economy). We are so encouraged by the overwhelming response (we had to turn about ten churches/team who wanted to come because we simply didn't have the space to put them).</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">"19" is a special number because that is how many new roofs were completed by teams working in White Swan. The most we have ever done before in one summer was 10! Another great worksite related number is "0". That's the number of serious injuries we have had on worksite over the last nine summers! Can you imagine that?! Literally thousands of people on roofs, ladders, hauling trash, etc. and no significant injuries! The Lord has faithfully watched over all of us.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">"Six" is the number of couples who expressed interest in joining our team full time with the desire to move to Warm Springs and facilitate ministry there year round! (I was hoping/praying for one significant conversation with one couple!)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Finally, a number that I am very happy about is "250". That is the approximate number of children who came to one of the Kid's Clubs that we host here on the Yakama Reservation or in Warm Springs. I believe that each and every one of those children experienced the love of Jesus and heard the truth of Jesus (the Gospel) through our teams (the kids call us and our teams "the church people"). One little boy touched my heart last week in Warm Springs. He is about 7 and loves to participate in rodeos (yes, he is an "Indian cowboy"). He is proud to let you know that he has moved up from "mutton busting" (riding sheep) to "calf riding". He is a bull rider in the making. After story time, the story teller asked the children, "What do we learn about Jesus through this story?" Our future bull rider began shouting out various attributes of Christ like: "He is strong! He is faithful! He will never leave us! He does miracles! He is good! He loves us!" and more! None of those answers were exactly what the story teller was after that day, but those answers are exactly what we are after year in year out!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">May the Lord raise us a generation of bull riders and teachers, loggers and nurses, fishermen and homemakers, hunters and ranchers, gatherers and preachers, who are above all else lovers and followers of Jesus on this reservation and in Warm Springs, OR and all over the northwest and throughout Native America. And may His Kingdom Come on the Reservation as it is in Heaven. Amen.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The last special number that I'll mention is "20". That's how many years Mary and I have been married (as of August 10th)! What a blessing she is to me and to so many others. What an honor and a privilege to serve together.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Thank you for praying, giving and coming. Thank you for joining us as we join the Lord in what He is doing on the reservations. We could not do it without you.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">In Him and for His Kingdom,</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Chris</p><div>
<br /></div></span>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-88327061475339656432011-02-13T15:11:00.000-08:002011-02-13T15:41:42.348-08:00White Swan Fire<p class="MsoNormal">(written by Joshua Tsavatewa)</p><p class="MsoNormal">Chris and I drove around White Swan and visited people this morning/afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I made a map that shows which areas were damaged.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Most of the town and <st1:place><st1:placename>Totus</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Park</st1:placetype></st1:place> were spared. The fire fortunately missed the Cougar Den with their above ground propane tanks. Seventeen houses burned down, of which sixteen were occupied.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The town has water and parts have electricity.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The parts that don't have power should have power by this evening.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Everyone can get back into town except for the Coburn Loop neighborhood which has lots of downed power lines.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&vps=1&jsv=314b&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=200792361764919427169.00049c30f0e6d0f7a2e98">Click Here to see the map. </a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The fire spread quickly because of the high winds: winds from 50-60 miles an hour with gusts up to 70.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The wind also tore shingles and tar paper off of lots of buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Probably half of the houses around White Swan have roof damage.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some were missing half the shingles.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Chris and I spoke with one lady who told us she saw the fire heading straight to her house. She started praying in Jesus' name and as she prayed the wind changed direction and the fire turned northeast and missed her house. She was crying and very encouraging to us.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>The immediate needs in the community are not as severe as we had feared, but lots of homes need roofing and there's also a need for homes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Chris is in talks with the Tribal Emergency Group and with <st1:city><st1:place>Mission</st1:place></st1:city> to <st1:place>North America</st1:place> about what work needs to be done and what needs we can meet.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Thankfully, most of the town was spared and we have heard of no major injuries or fatalities.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thanks for your prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> If you'd like to make a donation to help those displaced by the fire/wind, send a tax-deductible donation marked "Mercy Ministry" to: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Sacred Road Ministries<br /></span>22116 SE 51st Place<br />Issaquah, WA 98029.</p>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-54832716521442117522011-02-11T14:23:00.000-08:002011-02-11T14:39:44.164-08:00Tuesday Night Bible Study - February 1, 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUT-Jv08IjQk74efyWue_3tzAlE0KBUGkmG8ELHaAw3b45H_7m9qM9SRcA999ouRw5P4hU5Sm-hQHkjHVs5txdRHT5R_SIBPe7BBqkjkY7NYUiO9GYmmqQ-mYjpOMiaGHOM__9LhWD3ZQL/s1600/Janisha+Picture.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUT-Jv08IjQk74efyWue_3tzAlE0KBUGkmG8ELHaAw3b45H_7m9qM9SRcA999ouRw5P4hU5Sm-hQHkjHVs5txdRHT5R_SIBPe7BBqkjkY7NYUiO9GYmmqQ-mYjpOMiaGHOM__9LhWD3ZQL/s320/Janisha+Picture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572561693120938706" border="0" /></a><br />by: Morgan Granberry<br /><br />This last Tuesday we didn’t take the kids as one group to tell them the Bible story for that night, but instead split up to tell each of our individual groups the story while they did their worksheets. My group consists of the older girls (grades 3-5, once they reach 6th grade they enter the youth group if they want to. The girls that came last Tuesday were Violetta who is in 6th grade, yet she prefers to stay in my small group instead of gong to youth group, Alexa (5th grade), Lanisha (5th grade), Janisha (5th grade) and her impossible to please sister Tajah, and Violetta’ s sweet younger sister Lorenda (3rd grade).<br /><br />(Janisha, pictured above)<br /><br /><br />As soon as I began to read the Bible story for that night Janisha tried to disrupt the entire group. She would interrupt, talk with the other girls who were trying to listen, and do anything that she knew would make everyone else as miserable as she felt. In the end none of the girls knew the story of the Sheppards and Wise Men, or about King Harrod who was ready to kill this new King. When I asked them questions on the story each time the said, “ Jesus?”<br /><br />I gave up on the questions on the sheet and asked them a different one: “ Why is Jesus so great? What makes him so uniquely important?” the answers I got were, “Because He’ s a King.” Which seemed to be one of the few things they picked up from the story.<br /><br />“What difference does that make? There were lots of kings, why was Jesus and better than any of them?”<br /><br />Lorenda answered my question first, “ He had money and gold.” Several other girls added in that He had power, strength, and freedom. Each girl gave an example of what would make a king; each girl said an example of something they had never had. As all of the girls gave examples Janisha whispered, “ He had a home.” As soon as the words left her mouth I remembered that Janisha, Tajah, Unique (4), and Yakama (2) had all lost their house. No one had been living in the house since they couldn’t pay the electricity bill, the girls had been going from place to place for some time, but nonetheless, they had lost the place they called home to a fire, and probably felt more homeless than they had before. “ He had a castle, kings have castles.” All of the girls turned to me as though expecting me to do something; I have no idea what they were waiting for.<br /><br />“Nope.”<br />Janisha looked confused, “ What?”<br />“ Jesus was homeless.”<br />“ He was?”<br />“ Yep, Jesus never had a home, or gold, or power. So why is it so important that he came?”<br />The rest of the girls followed Janisha into silent thought. After a few moments Alexa spoke up, “He died on the cross!”<br />“ Why?”<br />“ To save us!”<br /><br />Something told me that even though these girls had been coming to Bible Study and Kids Club as long as they could remember they didn't really understand what it all meant even though they knew the answers. I asked if any of them remembered when we did a story at kids club when we had two people and two sheets, one of the sheets had been splattered with mud and was torn, the other was white and clean. They all remembered, especially Lanisha whose brother had been the one to wear the white sheet. I explained how we wore dirty sheets, we were dirty with sin and Jesus was clean and pure. I explained why we should’ve been the ones to die, and why Jesus died to save us. And how Jesus took our sin on himself and put his pure white sheet over our sinfulness. The girls all understood and now, I’ m sure, feel different about Jesus, especially Janisha who hopefully will welcome the gospel more openly having found something she had in common with him.Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-32004673099855120402011-01-03T16:06:00.000-08:002011-01-03T19:37:57.249-08:00More on the Christmas Feast<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; "><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Due to the generosity of God's people we (the Gberries and Sacred Road staff along with many teenagers from White Swan) were able to deliver gifts, Walmart gift cards, blankets and quilts, food, and a variety of other Christmas goodies to about 60 homes (approximately 230 people) this year! Amazing in light of the "struggling economy"!) </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">~Chris</span></span></span></h3><div><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mary shares...</span></span></span></div><div><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One elder we visited, shared stories with us for over and hour and a half.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She stays pretty busy, but had come home to an empty house that evening and was happy to see us.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Her home was roofed and painted by a team last summer and we have been close since then.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“I don’t know if you realize what you are doing through your Christmas feast" she told us.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She talked about how full the longhouse was that night. </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> (</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We fed well over 425 people.)</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The elder said she saw families there from all parts of the reservation.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> "</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">They came from Satus, from Wapato, from Toppenish, from Brownstown, and of course from White Swan."</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She told us a story of how things were just before she came along and had continued until she was a little girl.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When the longhouse in White Swan was an old building, and when so many of the men and young men were off at war; the women would gather up their children in the winter and go to the longhouse.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">They would take whatever food they had, some bedding, and go to stay there together.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There was a potbelly stove on the east end and one on the west end of the "home".</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The women would spread out in the room, put their provisions together and cook their meals together.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">While they stayed together, the older women would teach songs and stories to the children.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">They sang and talked together.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Even when the war was over, gatherings like these would continue; but while this elder was a little girl, the gathering stopped.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">At the Christmas feast, she saw families gathered together, filling the building to eat together.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The families represented families she had gathered with there when she was a little girl.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> According to her, n</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ot since then had families come like this from all parts of the reservation.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Christmas feast is a big gathering.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We are celebrating and inviting families to join in the celebration.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The community is coming out to enjoy the celebration, a celebration of Christ’s birth.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One of the Indian women who sat next to this elder at the Christmas feast was a visitor to the Yakama reservation.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">At the end of the meal, the visitor turned to the elder and said, “Do you do this every year?”</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The elder hesitated a moment and responded that they have a church group that uses the longhouse each week for Bible Study and hosts the Christmas feast each year.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She explained that the church group has helpers from all over and</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">especially from While Swan.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The woman was astonished at this use of the longhouse home.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">She couldn’t understand why the longhouse elders would let those of a different religion come in and use the "home".</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px; "><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Our friend was happy to tell us this story during our visit to her house, she looked at Chris and me and said that we serve the same Creator.</span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The visitor who sat next to her at the feast told her that "they sure do things differently there at the White Swan longhouse". She implied that her tribe would never do such a thing. Our friend simply replied, "I know you wouldn't."</span></span></span></p></span></span></div></span>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-27026527208446829182010-12-25T19:38:00.000-08:002010-12-25T19:44:07.817-08:00Merry Christmas from the Granberrys<!--StartFragment--> <div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:";color:#1F1F1F;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This Christmas season has been a busy one for us, as I am sure it has been for you!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We were so thankful to see so much of our family and friends in Alabama in November.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Upon our return to the reservation, we have been organizing donations and other supplies for a Christmas feast in the longhouse, getting together food boxes, blankets, gifts, and candy for households in the community.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Folks come from all over the reservation to White Swan for the annual Christmas Feast now. There were well over 400 people (and most not Christians).</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This year it was a great celebration of Christ’s birth, marked with a feast, gifts for everyone, and a Christmas pageant with our own White Swan children and youth.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:";color:#1F1F1F;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We consider it an honor to serve together as a family, and thank so many of you for your support and prayers for us.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We don’t have many answers to the variety of struggles people here face, but have learned what a difference it makes when we love each other well.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is only by God’s grace that we can do that. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We can’t wait to get to quieter time in the days closer to Christmas and enjoy spending time together.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Until then, all 7 of us have put some thoughts on this year down on paper for you!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Merry Christmas!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:";color:maroon;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Mary</span></span></b></span><span style="font-family:Baskerville;color:#1F1F1F;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.25in;line-height:normal;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Baskerville;color:#1F1F1F;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span style="color:#003300;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“There’s nothing left for me to loose. What else could I possibly choose?<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span style="color:#003300;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My strength is almost gone. How can I carry on? Carry on…</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span style="color:#003300;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But Your love is all I’ll ever need. And Your grace has set me free<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span style="color:#003300;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My strength has been restored. You’ll be with me forevermore<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span style="color:#003300;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You’ll be with me forevermore…”</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center;line-height:normal"><span style="color:#003300;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></span></p> </div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This year I have done a lot of songwriting and some recording. I have really enjoyed experimenting with music and I’ve found that writing songs is a good way for me to vent. I struggled with some spiritual warfare and heartbreak this year, and it was tough. But a lot of times, that’s when I was able to write the best songs. The excerpt above is the chorus of my song “Forevermore”. Like most of my songs, I wrote it when I was struggling and there’s a story behind the lyrics. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This summer I became very attached to three boys in Totus Park (one of the tribal housing projects where we have Kids Club), Zander (6), Riah (5), and Dante (3). Some of the best memories I have from this summer are with them. I played with Dante the most. We would sit and watch everything that was going on. It was encouraging for me to step back and watch the team members pour themselves out for the kids. I always looked forward to seeing Dante. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">One day Zander, Riah, and Dante didn’t show up. I wasn’t too surprised at first, but when I asked where they were, I was told that they had moved. They were gone, and no one knew when they would be back.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sometimes kids we love here vanish. They’re just shuffled around. When Zander, Riah, and Dante vanished I was heartbroken. I cried and prayed and questioned whether I had done all that I could. Had I told them everything that I could about Jesus Christ? Did they believe it? I prayed, with all my heart, that they did. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I sat down and wrote the song, “Forevermore”. I was tired and stressed and afraid. But I’ve noticed that the Lord encourages me as I write. My songs go from being full of grief to being full of hope. I guess it’s true that a Christian’s hope can never fail.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I miss the boys a lot, but I have hope for them. God tells us that His word does not return void. I know that God is in control, and no matter what happens He will watch over them. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- </span><span style="color:maroon;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ann Marie</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (17)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Apple Casual';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Every Tuesday night at Bible Study, after Ann Marie finishes leading all the kids in singing and their Bible story, we divide into our small groups. I have a group of girls ages nine and under. We review the story from the night as they color a picture of the story, a maze or a crossword puzzle. After they have finished each page, they get a piece of gum. At the end of the night, they all pile into the 15 passenger white vans with their worksheets and crafts, their hands full of gum and a prize.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I love watching as Christ works in each girls' heart.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">They love to sing and to re-tell the story to me.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">They all have families that are struggling. When they rush out of the vans with their hands full, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Apple Casual';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and are greeted by an adult by the door, they immediately start to show off what they made and tell the Bible story all over again. They are a blessing to their families and to me. Kassey and Emma still test me often to see how much I can take, but they have come far and love to have their mom at Bible Study now. Brianna is my dad's little helper and always has a place on his lap while we are singing.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Takoda and Brianna knock heads quite a lot. They are both leaders and try to take charge of the small group. Tajah and Unique stick up for each other. They sometimes make trouble (especially Tajah) and have a hard time paying attention, but on a good night they can be very sweet. I have known Marie and Kalanie for about four or five years. I love both of them very much, with all their rough edges. Chloe has always been around and often follows Marie and me from a distance. She has recently joined the Totus Park church crew and I have never seen her unhappy afterwards. Even when Marie is in a bad mood on the van, Chloe is always smiling. There are so many other girls who I would love to mention, but these are the regular attenders. And they all are learning and growing in Christ.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- </span><span style="color:maroon;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Beth</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (15)</span></span></p> <p class="NoSpacing"><span style="font-family:";color:#003300;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="NoSpacing"><span style="font-family:";color:#003300;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Three highlights of this Christmas season for me are decorating the tree, making Christmas treats, and playing in the snow. After unpacking all of the ornaments onto the table we grab one or two and gradually put them on the tree. I love seeing the pictures of when the Granberry kids were little, snoopy on his sled, the bear from Gatlinburg, and all the angels. After we finish, the cornhusk angel is put on. (This year I got to put on!) After that is all done we use the tins that the ornaments were in to fill with puppy chow, peppermint bark, chocolate chip cookies, and ginger snaps. Personally I like making the puppy chow the most. (There’s more chocolate) But all are delicious to eat and fun to make. Then the greatest of all! Playing in the snow! We had races around the house barefooted and then made an eleven foot tall snowman! It was so much fun! Joshua and Veronica helped us make it, but also threw snow at us too. Sadly those six inches melted the next day. But we will always remember how much fun it was. Hope all of ya’ll have a great Christmas! </span></span><span style="font-family:";color:#1F1F1F;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- </span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><b>Marisol</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family:";color:#1F1F1F;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (13)</span></span></p><p class="NoSpacing"><span style="font-family:";color:#1F1F1F;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in;line-height:normal;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Harrington;color:#1F1F1F;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We all love getting to know the people who come out to the Reservation during the summers, and it’s even better when they come back the next year. When people come back we know that God made something or someone from previous years touch their hearts. It makes a huge difference to us and especially to people in the community. When they see returning team members it assures them that people are praying and remembering a place that is so often over looked. The children ask for people that they played with the year before and all year round we get questions like, “Where’s my buddy?” “When’s the church coming back?” “Where’s so-and-so?” and when the first team is seen pulling into Totus Park and Adam’s view, the kids cheer. As I put together videos for each team week I enjoyed seeing the faces and the reactions of both children and adults in the community as people from all over the U.S. love on them and listen to them. For so many years they have been a people without a voice. Interns, too, make an incredible difference when they come back. Two of our interns this summer, Megan Kunkel and Paul Norman, came back and six year old Tyson, who was two or three when they left, saw them and said, “Hey I know them!” I was amazed that he had remembered. It showed how powerful God is to use one or two people to make such an impact on even a two year old so that he remembers it years later. One of my main hopes is that God uses Sacred Road Ministries to make an impact on children like Tyson, so that years later they will look back and know that God cares. </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- </span></span><span style="font-family:Harrington;color:maroon;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Morgan</span></b></span><span style="font-family:Harrington;color:#1F1F1F;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (14)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in;line-height:normal;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Harrington;color:#1F1F1F;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in;line-height:normal;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:Harrington;color:#1F1F1F;"></span></span><span style="font-family:";color:#003300;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In August this year my family and I went to a island for vacation. This vacation was provided by the Ross family, who own a cabin on this island in the Puget Sound. My family and I had a wonderful time! I loved to kayak and swim. We stayed there for about two weeks. During this time we caught crabs, swam, kayaked, collected shells, threw jellyfish at each other, put together puzzles, colored, played board games, watched movies, and ate s’mores! Two things that were especially fun for me were, catching crabs, and having jellyfish wars. When my dad and I caught crabs we caught them with cages or sticks. We had some pretty cool cages! When we saw one walking along the shore we would drag it up and put it in a bucket, my dad and I caught enough crabs for two dinners! Along the beach there was a swimming dock, and my sisters and I would swim to it and look in the water for jellyfish. When one of us saw one (there were lots) we would scoop it up in the palm of our hand and throw it at someone else! It was really fun, we never got stung because the little white ones don't sting. Every once and a while we would see one of the really big yellow ones that sting and be careful not to fall in! The Ross’s friends took me on their boat and I got to drive it! This vacation was one of my favorites and I really want to go there again! </span></span><span style="font-family:";color:#1F1F1F;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- </span></span><span style="font-family:";"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Davy</span></span></b></span><span style="font-family:";color:#1F1F1F;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (12)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in;line-height:normal;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:";color:#1F1F1F;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in;line-height:normal;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:";color:#1F1F1F;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family:'Big Caslon';"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Every Christmas I try to focus on some aspect of the Christmas story and use my imagination and "unpack" that element of the story then sort of meditate on it. This year I found myself thinking a lot about the stable. What did it look like? It was a small barn, probably a shack really, 2000 years ago in a small, poor town in the Middle East. It was probably "drafty", dark, had holes in the walls and roof, dirt floor, etc. What did it smell like!? Poop. Musty. I'd be allergic to everything in there, the hay, the animals. What did it feel like? Probably cold. It would be the last place you'd want your wife to have a baby. The last place you'd choose for your child to be born. We laugh about folks who leave the door open and say, "Were you born in a barn?!" (Which is a funny thing to say but it's confusing too because it seems to me that it might be more important to close a barn door than any other door. I guess it depends on what's in there.) But, either way, Jesus really was born in a barn! </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in;line-height:normal;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family:'Big Caslon';"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family:'Big Caslon';"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The thing that really got me about the stable though was that on one hand it was a very real place in time and space, and at the same time it is the perfect metaphor for my heart. My heart was/is dirty, smelly (sin smells like poop), dark, broken down, rickety, cold, etc. but then Jesus moved in! He moved in to my life in spite of the smell, the cold, the darkness, the “indignity of it all”. And then the renovations began. We all have a very long way to go yet. Longer than we think, because we are in much worse shape than we think, but Jesus is Emmanuel – “God with us”. And he is committed to finishing what He started/"completing the good work He has begun" in us. And one day soon He (and we) will trade in these "stable hearts" for the place that He is preparing for us, our new/</span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">real</span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> home.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in;line-height:normal;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family:'Big Caslon';"></span></span><span style="font-family:";color:#1F1F1F;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">With all that in mind, I'm ready to celebrate! Merry Christmas!</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- </span></span><span style="font-family:";"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">Chris</span></span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></b></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-71027313769131540592010-12-18T19:01:00.000-08:002010-12-18T20:42:59.150-08:00Photos from the 2010 Christmas Feast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge71R7FstmBlffq_hkYrP2X1HJtvcDKelUB7WoA82FBCKmXpwNMtuN4PdrtHv8PrqBqv0_TLZkFtDIITtFYmGKletzP7SsSNe1zNfZrmvRr3GTqEzIaRFgk4shKjKnclQS0U2Cca4joHe3/s1600/IMG_1336.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge71R7FstmBlffq_hkYrP2X1HJtvcDKelUB7WoA82FBCKmXpwNMtuN4PdrtHv8PrqBqv0_TLZkFtDIITtFYmGKletzP7SsSNe1zNfZrmvRr3GTqEzIaRFgk4shKjKnclQS0U2Cca4joHe3/s320/IMG_1336.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552249272096422098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FOdZb5c9viFaTMY7tgJF8JBE3W4Q4FprtYDJO2uuQbaEqazNLo1ylGVCz7z9XEg4vDuc9hkxU1ar3mw6iNdkDiBK2A1wqozB_LhZiDt3o4GdCSNMp-l9IIVOFtD2bIF4-OBury8AMDzr/s1600/IMG_1354.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FOdZb5c9viFaTMY7tgJF8JBE3W4Q4FprtYDJO2uuQbaEqazNLo1ylGVCz7z9XEg4vDuc9hkxU1ar3mw6iNdkDiBK2A1wqozB_LhZiDt3o4GdCSNMp-l9IIVOFtD2bIF4-OBury8AMDzr/s320/IMG_1354.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552247405764038594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WRTRlFNC3a7X9a94dAsqlAnz9ejDkYTieFaVKDnmFySmV7mgwkAI7vPlDJ1nkggjGLkP5dfjy2HxFZJvi0sDqVHC8eQZiIf7Jhj0d0VVinZBAO6I-i40989bwDXNrzcjLR0xvdZPfrWv/s1600/IMG_1353.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WRTRlFNC3a7X9a94dAsqlAnz9ejDkYTieFaVKDnmFySmV7mgwkAI7vPlDJ1nkggjGLkP5dfjy2HxFZJvi0sDqVHC8eQZiIf7Jhj0d0VVinZBAO6I-i40989bwDXNrzcjLR0xvdZPfrWv/s320/IMG_1353.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552247401775184514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiidYpkLp0jIpfrLglrMWEjr5vrh98i1BIva5NWnMlyEXarjwWYfaEP348hHJ424yf86d9wwHHIPY85kdp4aUCSQSHQPt81DDsyUOTSFVXU66rZ3z_wdTO1nDn9ehGnRQRJTD_AinpIHAL/s1600/IMG_1340.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiidYpkLp0jIpfrLglrMWEjr5vrh98i1BIva5NWnMlyEXarjwWYfaEP348hHJ424yf86d9wwHHIPY85kdp4aUCSQSHQPt81DDsyUOTSFVXU66rZ3z_wdTO1nDn9ehGnRQRJTD_AinpIHAL/s320/IMG_1340.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552247399020564802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOUztB34mn4mPVPZPbi6c2k5JTno5TohdvNnd0CMuGaq62MC3B537kjkd9S4aQ_XI9hveNqJtNONIDCxzHO-DKJbxU1NLvqhj8NJpTFRhKj2YVxPtDrKZYxf9CTOsjHU9KvzMtDRbk7qH/s1600/IMG_0258.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOUztB34mn4mPVPZPbi6c2k5JTno5TohdvNnd0CMuGaq62MC3B537kjkd9S4aQ_XI9hveNqJtNONIDCxzHO-DKJbxU1NLvqhj8NJpTFRhKj2YVxPtDrKZYxf9CTOsjHU9KvzMtDRbk7qH/s320/IMG_0258.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552247393681220562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lJ9mzRkF0YMS45R729SofL8m7nLZJysETlLNNt51EbAHnMhdrqyakLXhWrKYujsqex3WEuC8abgdG7PWFHGQei7KHOTBNHgGbFDy7y1OBgKWstljQS4ShoyjpCMLeRrNdSpoksqxgXsm/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lJ9mzRkF0YMS45R729SofL8m7nLZJysETlLNNt51EbAHnMhdrqyakLXhWrKYujsqex3WEuC8abgdG7PWFHGQei7KHOTBNHgGbFDy7y1OBgKWstljQS4ShoyjpCMLeRrNdSpoksqxgXsm/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552247386772840290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIY63YNC_uq2snnq1tndQk1EsLMkDm7jar3DxG3N0jux3EpHmn2ROVsRdyGBHk04JhwqMCwoeCBAT2y1Vz5AKLCZHQPrKdTAFzYnH2prTYlQfikpgof3EatFVcd7I9FJoiRdzbd9mYqa3B/s1600/IMG_1349.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIY63YNC_uq2snnq1tndQk1EsLMkDm7jar3DxG3N0jux3EpHmn2ROVsRdyGBHk04JhwqMCwoeCBAT2y1Vz5AKLCZHQPrKdTAFzYnH2prTYlQfikpgof3EatFVcd7I9FJoiRdzbd9mYqa3B/s320/IMG_1349.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552245767146362434" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09iuC4UAFO3Hzj6xeGXJEYpLAazD5csb7hd2TX_Pb4-fmih3EwXSbRWAJAbymEt3ZkjF2YH36iY-vICUcHfY_jX3l9wkx-6sQ-2stQuQKD2r5YwrnraWQgIlP0P4GJfn53zS04CY_EiFU/s1600/IMG_0257.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09iuC4UAFO3Hzj6xeGXJEYpLAazD5csb7hd2TX_Pb4-fmih3EwXSbRWAJAbymEt3ZkjF2YH36iY-vICUcHfY_jX3l9wkx-6sQ-2stQuQKD2r5YwrnraWQgIlP0P4GJfn53zS04CY_EiFU/s320/IMG_0257.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552224075706378242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZui34T8RINGdIRD3w1Ch49fLgh5XTl9fV22pjcb_RfCnAQtQrSyAX6J59_xG46TyZStNi0eyD8yl1PZt_TW0UEqtghES48OYw7L4ZP-9LyCm6Kr1aa1L0TfE93kHEAAbQCnluTHaTMuQO/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZui34T8RINGdIRD3w1Ch49fLgh5XTl9fV22pjcb_RfCnAQtQrSyAX6J59_xG46TyZStNi0eyD8yl1PZt_TW0UEqtghES48OYw7L4ZP-9LyCm6Kr1aa1L0TfE93kHEAAbQCnluTHaTMuQO/s320/IMG_0243.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552224071510736930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGZU8vjjInb5FTyBYZqa0NCsTbDMbCAwk8UTmF2wnDN6diFz_5EUmWrVH-iPYY3OIAGOtT6OUR3brZuta66p_g6HakF1nASsoQ_QdIh3L-5Vc_Dx1NvfldohYsaR7gTNh1ffhyphenhyphenIEZPBfN/s1600/IMG_0237.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGZU8vjjInb5FTyBYZqa0NCsTbDMbCAwk8UTmF2wnDN6diFz_5EUmWrVH-iPYY3OIAGOtT6OUR3brZuta66p_g6HakF1nASsoQ_QdIh3L-5Vc_Dx1NvfldohYsaR7gTNh1ffhyphenhyphenIEZPBfN/s320/IMG_0237.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552224066668822786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUKeFwMa2z76lQTFfdAV6B5P_PppmF7ckgEX9e_VcTbXCHCWEl7Lp6z5WMmFbMVk1dyQNFLUIxRlyS8mphELcm4tsmyxuNrRi2bw_snQalkGjq7n-zOO8fF63iMvnk915yX1oFVDqPDbe/s1600/IMG_0236.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUKeFwMa2z76lQTFfdAV6B5P_PppmF7ckgEX9e_VcTbXCHCWEl7Lp6z5WMmFbMVk1dyQNFLUIxRlyS8mphELcm4tsmyxuNrRi2bw_snQalkGjq7n-zOO8fF63iMvnk915yX1oFVDqPDbe/s320/IMG_0236.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552224065236436466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6WDt9MPck81csXOF5xg6EgVZBs786alDkPkVkRgk-NRWN-ri4fOqlz4qy6qTcyC0kegwvLPboEc6oZukFbgcAMUMrE19VEby-gdRIU0PDbbgmrgLj-zBwwU6jdV9_SpCwGA-1EAiK34B/s1600/IMG_0227.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6WDt9MPck81csXOF5xg6EgVZBs786alDkPkVkRgk-NRWN-ri4fOqlz4qy6qTcyC0kegwvLPboEc6oZukFbgcAMUMrE19VEby-gdRIU0PDbbgmrgLj-zBwwU6jdV9_SpCwGA-1EAiK34B/s320/IMG_0227.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552224058547370242" /></a></div>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-4442249251585992372010-12-18T09:16:00.000-08:002011-01-12T15:50:02.835-08:00Report on the 2010 Christmas Feast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbWkPDULdIxv4JqwNPAjAcxZCVrj6KHflr1ZkxiVeESca8jjQvfRMcGObpNu-xqyFdWFWhtdClruFWWotLrSsEQOQOUm5c9TzSsyzM3Jk42p8VR6bHwCaTJc79SWWFvqhNMavEInO9EE6/s1600/IMG_0246.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbWkPDULdIxv4JqwNPAjAcxZCVrj6KHflr1ZkxiVeESca8jjQvfRMcGObpNu-xqyFdWFWhtdClruFWWotLrSsEQOQOUm5c9TzSsyzM3Jk42p8VR6bHwCaTJc79SWWFvqhNMavEInO9EE6/s320/IMG_0246.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552216338954147010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTh4crB7cF5GGTKmuKwVTkYJSrBBFDD57fj2XehWpGBss-9-WBGzGQANTbCUU595wbq81Ha35s0r-BYtDVzjMAs4OqR3_tQXheIT62RhGgh_ZOqb-xCsSyX9Oa3Mzsl9B1NXRpenFxekiL/s1600/IMG_0249.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTh4crB7cF5GGTKmuKwVTkYJSrBBFDD57fj2XehWpGBss-9-WBGzGQANTbCUU595wbq81Ha35s0r-BYtDVzjMAs4OqR3_tQXheIT62RhGgh_ZOqb-xCsSyX9Oa3Mzsl9B1NXRpenFxekiL/s320/IMG_0249.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552216328760803762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzR1iN0ZmxkIVpd8SVcUvlfOviM8QW76ETHpH0OPdcLTYdzjJVek81mr1k_hpn4WjXznuK4Sn2Aua-my-nzHgZGhWuywb2rsduOqSugsVfzlXDMNINLrsj8XYN_JrWWfLdPxlPBm8FLD8f/s1600/IMG_0250.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzR1iN0ZmxkIVpd8SVcUvlfOviM8QW76ETHpH0OPdcLTYdzjJVek81mr1k_hpn4WjXznuK4Sn2Aua-my-nzHgZGhWuywb2rsduOqSugsVfzlXDMNINLrsj8XYN_JrWWfLdPxlPBm8FLD8f/s320/IMG_0250.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552216324441891874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuhAPvcC4NKM3GISJb4DLrBc6jyTXId_u_y7OVzK7Esb4Bdx1etAQLQeSqES3IIwuzNk_uNUwhhwQe5VpqXeM5yvtaCLLf8-n6YT2wT2CG7yn1R-CewVi51LJanvQNLc8Zn7Nx4QeXn85/s1600/IMG_0045.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOuhAPvcC4NKM3GISJb4DLrBc6jyTXId_u_y7OVzK7Esb4Bdx1etAQLQeSqES3IIwuzNk_uNUwhhwQe5VpqXeM5yvtaCLLf8-n6YT2wT2CG7yn1R-CewVi51LJanvQNLc8Zn7Nx4QeXn85/s320/IMG_0045.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552216319292337250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1eQg3fPfXQTsUUXIvqKhiTHxQAn6krVUJc2Sia4j1_mAH6bjS-6Em6OdonkQD_lwpRWQDih-MlpxLRt6u7irrHHOkxSVEOgLk-2TgVMjkJUUgZdubBPu51rUrXdaD-zeR4RNcFk-o74N/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1eQg3fPfXQTsUUXIvqKhiTHxQAn6krVUJc2Sia4j1_mAH6bjS-6Em6OdonkQD_lwpRWQDih-MlpxLRt6u7irrHHOkxSVEOgLk-2TgVMjkJUUgZdubBPu51rUrXdaD-zeR4RNcFk-o74N/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552216314429285602" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;">To watch a 10 minute video of the 2010 Christmas Feast, please visit...</span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">http://www.youtube.com/user/SacredRoad#p/u/0/gERF3jVmW6o</span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div>Thank you to everyone who prayed and made contributions to make the 8th Annual Christmas Feast possible. Everything went very well. Over 400 folks from White Swan and the surrounding area came and enjoyed a wonderful meal, singing Christmas carols, watching the children's drama which depicted the Nativity scene, receiving gifts from believers all over the nation, and hearing the Scripture read and taught.<br /><br />The meal included fresh salmon and venison (provided and prepared by Rex and Sandra Zack), ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, jello salad, rolls, fry bread, fresh salad, vegetable tray, and homemade desserts. Later each person in attendance received a give ranging in value from $8-$25. I would estimate that the meal and the gift were worth anywhere from $30-$40 combined for over 400 people! The amazing thing is that the actual cost to Sacred Road was $2.50 per person because so much of the food, and all of the gifts, were donated by believers from all over the country! In other words, we were able to throw a $15,000 party to celebrate Christmas and it only cost (us) $1000! And that doesn't include "labor" and rent for the "facility" (which is free to us too).<br /><br />All of this may sound "over the top", but we believe there is nothing more worthy of celebration than the birth of our Savior and we want the people in this community to join us in celebrating and worshiping Him wholeheartedly... even in a recession :).<br /><br />I'm very proud of the "regular attenders" from Hope Fellowship (our baby church) who worked very hard to prepare for this event. They did a great job setting up and cleaning up afterward, preparing and serving the meal, decorating the longhouse, sorting and wrapping and distributing the gifts, etc. The teenagers from Hope Fellowship stood out in particular. Thirty-five youth came to the longhouse and made the decorations and spent two hours putting them up. They did a great job serving throughout the night of the feast. We are very excited about these future leaders of the church.<br /><br />As usual, I am also very proud of the Sacred Road staff who worked tirelessly and cheerfully for weeks and served behind the scenes throughout the evening. We have been blessed with a great team.<br /><br />On a more personal note, I really enjoyed seeing hundreds of smiling faces throughout the evening. When you visit White Swan, even for a few hours, you become aware of so much pain and suffering and brokenness and darkness. If you stay longer you begin to see the beauty of elements of the culture and the beauty and "worth" of the people, each of whom are created in the image of God. When you spend a summer (or longer) here you begin to see the "beauty and the brokenness" all tangled up together in a complicated knot that only Jesus can untie. When you see large groups of folks gather together here it is usually for a funeral. There, of course, you see sad faces (or folks who are trying not to look too sad). The beauty of the Christmas Feast is seeing so many happy, excited smiling faces. I recognize that much of the excitement and joy is related to the food and the gifts. But I also know that the Holy Spirit loves to use opportunities like a wonderful meal to draw our attention to the Great Feast, the Ultimate Feast, that is offered to us in Christ and that we will enjoy in fullness in Heaven. He loves to use the receiving of a small gift to draw our attention to the Greatest of all gifts, the Ultimate Gift, which, of course, is the Savior, wrapped in diapers, presented in a feeding trough, in a shed, in a small, "insignificant" town a whole lot like White Swan.<br /><br />In spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, I choose to believe that the Spirit is moving in just that sort of way, not just at the annual Christmas Feast, but throughout the year, in this community, drawing "beautiful, broken" people, like me, to Himself.<br /><br />Thank you again for your prayers, your gifts, and your service toward that end. We could not be here and do this without you and our fellow believers. </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; font-size:medium;">Merry Christmas!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; font-size:medium;">Chris</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">This year was my second time to be involved in the Christmas Feast. Last year, one of my favorite memories was working with the youth and helping to decorate the Longhouse for the celebration. I remember wondering last year, what would we do if we didn’t have enough help? We ended up having about 15 kids come by and help. This year, we had almost 40 teens working together to decorate the longhouse. A number of them had already been helping make props for the Christmas drama during the feast. We made two sheep, a manger and a star. Five of the youth worked with Joshua, our children’s director, to help the kids during the drama get their costumes on and go out on the floor at the right time. Youth also helped with a lot of other parts of the feast including passing out the gifts at the end. I was very proud of all of them and so I think my favorite moments were at the very beginning and end of the feast. At the beginning, Chris welcomed everyone and thanked the youth for decorating the Longhouse. At the end, Wendell closed the feast and said that it was hard to imagine that 40 teenagers in White Swan could work together to do something like the decorations he saw. Please pray for all of the teenagers – that they would know Jesus and know that He is trustworthy.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">God Bless!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Chuck Clevenger, Sacred Road Youth Director</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 17px; font-size:medium;"><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The beginning of the Kid’s Nativity Skit was really chaotic and getting the kids into costumes took a long time and was confusing.</span></span><span style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Eventually, all of the kids wound up walking out and they did a good job.</span></span><span style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The best part was that I envisioned having the kids line up on each side of the manger, much like a typical manger scene, but that didn’t happen.</span></span><span style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Instead they just made a big circle around the manger.</span></span><span style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The 11 children and 2 youth knew instinctively that they were supposed to be looking at Baby Jesus, and you can’t very well see Him when you’re down on the end of a line.</span></span><span style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">It was a really neat moment seeing the kids understand the importance of Jesus and wanting to see Him, and it was a wonderful night with many happy children and families.</span></span><span style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Joshua Tsavatewa, Sacred Road Children's Director</span></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">This year my perspective of the Christmas Feast comes mostly from inside the kitchen. We, which includes Mary, me, several local church small groups, women and men from the community, and helpers from the Tri-cities and Seattle areas, cooked and served a Christmas dinner to 400+ people. The meal consisted of ham, turkey, venison, salmon, mashed potatoes, gravy, potato salad, fruit salad, green beans, relish plates, cranberry sauce, fry bread, rolls, and the largest array of Christmas desserts I have ever seen. As the meal time drew closer we were joined by more and more women from the community. We had fry bread being made in one corner for several hours. There were women cutting up venison roasts, while others filled 50 bowls of mashed potatoes and green beans. It was bustling. I spent several years in High school working for a catering company and when the time drew close for the meal to be out and served stresses were always high. Well, that was not the case at the feast. It was busy, but it was full of joy. Everyone was excited to be able to serve so much food to so many people. It was fun to watch the women in the community take ownership of the food that was being served and to work under their capable guidance. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Thank you for all of you who were praying the night of the feast. I know that your prayers were the reason we had such a calm and enjoying time in the kitchen on the night of the feast. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Heather German, Coordinator of Mercy and Hospitality</span></span></div></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" style="line-height: 17px; "><tbody style="line-height: 17px; "><tr style="line-height: 17px; "><td valign="top" style="line-height: 17px; font: inherit; "><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">How do we celebrate Christmas anymore? How do we celebrate Christmas in the midst of a broken, beat up, poverty stricken community which is surrounded by first world wealth? A community that is bombarded by messages of glitz and glamour through the televisions which they use to escape the ever present sense of pain and despair. A community that has been told they are surrounded by a "Christian" nation.</span></p><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">On Tuesday night, we entered into the longhouse to celebrate! After a torrent of funerals, we celebrated with a feast, songs, the children's expression of the Gospel in a Nativity drama, and with gifts! What a celebration we had! The women who joined me in the kitchen as the day drew on were overwhelmed with how much food was provided for the dinner. We had hams, turkeys, deer, and salmon. We had mashed potatoes (4 extra large roasting pans full!), potato salad, fruit salad, a relish plate, green beans, fry bread, and rolls. Over 70 desserts came in from Christians who baked for White Swan! As we served the food to the tables, the rooms were so full! Over 400 came to the Christmas feast this year to join in the celebration. So much pain, so much grief has been borne by our neighbors here, but this was a time to celebrate the message of HOPE. A Savior has been born for us! </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Each year we host this Christmas Feast I see the understanding of this hope in Christ growing. Each year our neighbors are coming and enjoying themselves and one another more. Each year there are more that come to serve alongside of our Sacred Road ministry team, especially the youth in the community! I saw so much answered prayer on Tuesday night! Thank you for praying! We have had no deaths this week. The presence of the Body of Christ was felt in the longhouse on Tuesday and I saw a real division between the kingdom of this world, which has had a hold on White Swan for so long, and the Kingdom of God. The Lord went before us and there was a peace, even in the midst of the chaos of throwing a party for 400+. The message of hope came across loud and clear, and hearts really were warmed by the light of the Gospel! Many who came in somber, left with smiles! May the Good News continue to change hearts as it has changed and continues to change mine! </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">As Mary exclaimed while carrying our Savior Jesus,</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">"And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.</span></span></i></div><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the </span></span></i></div><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones </span></span></i></div><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things"</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> ~Luke 1: 51-53</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Thank you for your prayers,</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Mary</span></span></div><p></p></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-84796708127368039992010-12-03T09:06:00.000-08:002010-12-03T09:31:52.768-08:00Micah 6:8 Sermon Notes (the 50 minute version)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLjRfJh84zJp2170ku_yzthTlJiDBE2pk5PpKukAwyOAFNO13CUjXpDzLpZhrc4n26tlGGhVP-2kw0FnLxYs-Hw50J99p_r9pGMbr675kNPlRHxHKQvtnav18XFnaahlgFa2ypT2gZQAQ/s1600/neleigh.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLjRfJh84zJp2170ku_yzthTlJiDBE2pk5PpKukAwyOAFNO13CUjXpDzLpZhrc4n26tlGGhVP-2kw0FnLxYs-Hw50J99p_r9pGMbr675kNPlRHxHKQvtnav18XFnaahlgFa2ypT2gZQAQ/s320/neleigh.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546508617896373922" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">On Right: NeLeigh Driving Hawk, age 3, Lower Brule, SD. Her story is below...</span><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;">If you'd like, you can hear the much shorter/more story oriented version of this sermon at:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;">http://messageShare.com/messages/memberID132/Sermon112810.mp3</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, serif;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Title - </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>“Right, Wrong, or Indifferent”</b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Intro-</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When we travel to visit churches and talk about what the Lord is doing on the Reservation, folks often ask the same questions at first…</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For starters, they often ask “What in the world are you wearing?” Some have said that I look like some sort of indigenous road worker! That is not the look I’m going for…. I’m dressed in the way a typical man would dress to attend a feast or a funeral at the traditional meeting place, the longhouse.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Another common question is “What are you doing out there?! What is </span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the</span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">plan</span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">?” This morning as we look at a simple verse, Micah 6:8, I will attempt to answer that second common question. Let’s turn to Micah 6:8 together…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As you are turning, I want you to think of a time when you needed mercy…. Think of a time when you wanted justice… when you looked at the world and the way things are and knew, deep down, that it was a “broken world”, that things are not the way they should be….</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Little Neleigh</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">LOWER BRULE – Neleigh Driving Hawk stands on the powwow grounds at Lower Brule, pixie-like in her Lakota jingle dress with its Dora the Explorer cartoon faces, clinging to Grandma’s hand as she peers out at the masses. The steady pounding of a tribal drum pulses in the warm summer evening. Little Neleigh steps tentatively across the grass, her 3-year-old hips bobbing to the cadence of a centuries-old beat. Most South Dakotans recognize such postcard images of tribal life in this state. Far less familiar are the harsh realities Neleigh and 14,000 other youth growing up on the state’s nine reservations face once the drumbeat ends.</span></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Along the winding streets of Lower Brule, Neleigh and her 18-year-old mother, Janessa, sleep on a mattress on the floor of a bedroom in a relative’s home. When they’re hungry, they eat popsicles, Ramen noodles and anything else provided by a federal food stamp program. That image plays out daily in all kinds of reservation communities no more than 100 miles from the state’s major cities. It’s a childhood foreign to the rest of South Dakota and most of the nation. These are places where babies are twice as likely to go to bed at night and not wake up the next day because of SIDS and other infant mortality issues. It’s where reservation youth are 18 times more likely to be damaged in the womb by alcohol, or six times more likely to be killed accidentally in the bed of a pickup truck or an improperly placed car seat. As she pushes her dollies in their stroller down the streets of Lower Brule, Neleigh Driving Hawk can’t possibly know that: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> - As a Native American girl and a member of what South Dakota’s U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson calls “the most victimized group in America,” she has a one in three chance of being sexually abused in her lifetime. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> - On that welfare diet of Ramen noodles and popsicles, she has a 50-50 shot at developing diabetes. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- The possibility of her dropping out of school is greater than her getting a diploma. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- She will know people in gangs, and maybe join one herself. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> - She’ll have friends who are crammed into inadequate housing with 15 people or more, or who get ready for school with no running water or electricity in their homes. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- She is twice as likely to be touched by thoughts or knowledge of suicide as other South Dakota teens. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- And like her mother, who was 15 when she gave birth, Neleigh is growing up in a place where the rate of teen pregnancy is 2 1/2 times the state average. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The only way to protect Neleigh from all that is to leave Lower Brule, Janessa Driving Hawk said. Yet while her own hope is to be a nurse some day, the 18-year-old high school dropout struggling to get by on babysitting jobs and welfare knows that her vision is a pipe dream for now. She isn’t leaving Lower Brule any time soon. “I know she’ll probably experience all this stuff down here,” Janessa said of her daughter, adding with a nervous laugh that “she’ll be drinking by age 13, drinking or smoking.” But does it have to be that way for the little girl in the blue jingle dress, the beautiful child with the sparkling brown eyes and melting smile? Her mother shakes her head, shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t know,” she says softly. “She’ll have to face it all….</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Micah 6:8 is instructs us to love mercy and pursue justice. When we are on the receiving end we all like the ideas of mercy and justice, but are we willing/are our lives characterized by offering mercy to our neighbors who need it and pursuing justice for them?! That is the question we want to tackle this morning…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Let’s look at Micah 6:8 together…</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Micah 6:</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">8</span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> He has shown (told asb) you, O man (mortal NIV), what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly (do justice nasb) and to love mercy (kindness nasb; steadfast love esv) and to walk humbly (Or </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">prudently</span></i></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">) with your God.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Micah 6:8 (The Message)</span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">8</span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">~Pray</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When we think of justice it tends to be a “general concept”. We look at the world and say, “That is not right. That needs to change. That is not the way it ought to be.” To “do justice” means we engage in the fight against injustice in a certain area. We pray, we study, the think and wrestle then begin to take baby steps in a just direction.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As we engage an unjust system, we meet people embedded in that system, our heart goes out to them and we offer mercy. Justice is more general, at first, mercy starts off specific. As we offer mercy, we are reminded of the Lord’s great mercy toward us! He has shown us mercy, he fought for justice (for things to be made right on our behalf, for US to be “made right”/justified).</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For the Old Testament believer God showed his commitment to justice and mercy by setting them free from slavery in Egypt. For us we see clearly how Jesus has set us free from slavery to sin. He did this at great cost to himself. He paid the ultimate price, made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could go free.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This understanding/memory/fact becomes more clear to us as we engage in mercy ministry and then we are humbled. Then we desire to walk with God. “To do what he does, to love what He loves”. To join with Him in His great plan to build his Kingdom one life at a time. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">According to this verse, God calls us, and Jesus has clearly shown us how, to look at the world around us through new eyes, with a new heart, and say, “That’s not right. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.” To recognize that people, who have built in/intrinsic value and worth (because they are created in God’s image), are imbedded in “unjust systems and situations. We are told as followers of Jesus to “call it what it is”.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Then we are called to extend mercy to those who are trapped in those unjust situations/systems. To offer mercy always requires a sacrifice. Somebody has to pay for the mercy that is offered/given. Think of our story: lost in sin, separated from a righteous/holy God, enemies of God and objects of wrath; yet Jesus looked at our situation and said, “That’s not the way it ought to be. That’s not right.” And He came to pay the price to make it right by extending mercy to us!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Well, here’s where the humility kicks in. “Walk humbly with your God.” When we remember/consider what Jesus has done for us, what he had to do, what it cost him, as Tim Keller says, it humbles us into the dust. But at the same time, the fact that Jesus loves us that much “lifts us to the sky”!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And remembering/considering his love compels us to humble follow him. “He has shown” us!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. What does it mean “to do justice”?</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">jus·tice</span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (jsts) </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">n.</span></i></span></span></u></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the fair and equal distribution of benefits and burdens…</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">fair treatment and due reward…</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In essence, “to do justice” means as children of God we take a long, hard look at the world around us and recognize that something has gone terribly wrong. Things are not the way they ought to be. And then to prayerfully and thoughtfully and aggressively “attack” those unjust systems and situations in order, by the power of the Spirit to “set them right”. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You don’t have to look far and you don’t have to look hard to find things that are not the way they ought to be.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Is. 58 calls us to “spend ourselves” or in another version, to “pour ourselves out” for our neighbors who are in need. It’s significant that we are not simply called to “spend our money” or “spend some time or energy” but to spend ourselves, to “pour out” our very lives in a much smaller way than Jesus did, but in a very “real” way, that point to Him and His ultimate pouring out.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In other words, to speak up for those who have no voice, to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves, to fight for the defenseless. Know that the Lord “has our back” (Is 58). As believers, followers of Christ, we are called to love what He loves and to do what He does. To join with him in God’s great plan to redeem and restore the world, on little step at a time.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Now, I know that all of us are called to “join the fight”. I don’t know which arena the Lord has called you into. But I’ll tell you a little about ours.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Things are not the way they ought to be in Native America…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“Grinding” Poverty on the Rez</span></u></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">-According to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Native Americans continue to experience higher rates of poverty, poor educational achievement, substandard housing, and disease.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">-According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), at least half of the reservation population lives below the poverty line.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- In 1995 more than 20% of Native American reservation households had annual incomes below $5,000.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">-In 1970, the average real per capita income among Reservation Indians was $4,347. This figure grew to $6,510 in 1980, dipped to $5,959 in 1990, and grew again to $7,942 in 2000. However, the overall statistic for the United States has also steadily grown over this span of time. The total US real per capita was $13,188 in 1970 and $21,587. While economy on Reservations has improved, it is still significantly lower than that of the United States (The State of Native Nations, Harvard)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">-People living on reservations have the highest rates of unemployment in the United States—up to 70% or more on some reservations.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Further breakdown of poverty rates show that Native Americans are consistently the highest among each race.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">• For ages 25-34 the rate of violent crimes for both males and females is higher than for all other races.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">• 80% of Native American adolescents have tried alcohol. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">• One out of four Native American males is an alcoholic and one out of eight females. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">• Native Americans suffer from cirrhosis of the liver three times more than non-Natives. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Health</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">-70% have no adequate health care or health insurance (2009 US Census)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Out of the Native American/ Native Alaskan single race population; about 16.8% of individuals have a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">disability</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- 28% suffer from diabetes, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Native American tribes have received much need attention from the medical field due to the increasing </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_mortality_rate"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">infant mortality rate</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> among their people, as the nation sees this demographic overall on the decline. Native American infants suffer from </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudden_Infant_Death_Syndrome"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sudden Infant Death Syndrome</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> at double the rate of their white counterparts.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Within the United States, Native American men have been found to be dying at the fastest rate of all people. (The life expectancy for Yakamas is 39 years)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- The leading causes of death among Native Americans (American Indians and Alaskan Natives) are heart disease, cancer and unintentional injury.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Native Americans also face a disproportional share of certain diseases</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that, from 1999 to 2004:</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">• Suicide ranked as the second leading cause of death for those from age of 10 to 34.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">• when compared with other racial and ethnic groups, American Indian/Alaska Native youth have more serious problems with mental health disorders related to suicide, such as anxiety, substance abuse, and depression.</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">• The suicide rate is about 2 times higher than the national average. One out of six adolescents have tried to commit suicide. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(</span><a href="http://www.nativeamerican-ministries.org/native_americans.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://www.nativeamerican-ministries.org/native_americans.html</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Among the Yakama people:</span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">70% of teenagers in White Swan are homeless</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">65% drop out of school before graduation</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">100% of the folks we serve are affected by drugs and alcohol somehow</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Synopses & Reviews</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Publisher Comments:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Clifford Trafzer's disturbing new work, Death Stalks the Yakama, examines life, death, and the shockingly high mortality rates that have persisted among the fourteen tribes and bands living on the Yakama Reservation in the state of Washington. </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In these documents, he discovers critical evidence to demonstrate how and why so many reservation people died in "epidemics" of pneumonia, tuberculosis, and heart disease</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Trafzer argues that Native Americans living on the Yakama Reservation were, in fact, in jeopardy as a result of the "reservation system" itself. Not only did this alien and artificial culture radically alter traditional ways of life, but sanitation methods, housing, hospitals, public health, education, medicine, and medical personnel affiliated with the reservation system all proved inadequate, and each in its own way contributed significantly to high Yakama death rates.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">These statistics paint a very grim picture of the situation that our Native American Neighbors live in. When we look at the situation that our “first neighbors” find themselves in (the poverty, the heartache and despair and hopelessness, the darkness and suffering) we need to recognize and admit, “That is not right. That is not the way it ought to be. That is not just. There are situations and systems, in which an entire people group is embedded, that needs to change.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Three “non-controversial facts”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list 1.0in"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1.</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jesus clearly calls us to love our neighbors</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list 1.0in"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2.</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our “first neighbors” were/are Native Americans</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list 1.0in"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3.</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Only 2% of the nearly 3 million Native Americans in the US today claim to be Christians.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2. What does it mean to “love mercy”</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Love to offer it… not just to receive it</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Another approach to this is to ask “How can I love this person (stranger, alien, outcast, needy, homeless) “like family”? Jesus has shown us! How has he loved us… like family?!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">mer·cy</span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (mûrs)</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">n.</span></i></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">pl.</span></i></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">mer·cies</span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. </span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Compassionate treatment (To show someone compassion) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2. </span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A disposition to be kind and forgiving: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">a heart full of mercy.</span></i></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4. </span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Alleviation of distress; to offer relief:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How often do we love the idea of something but not the actual thing itself? Like loving the idea of sanctification or patience but hating the process of being sanctified or being made patient. When Micah speaks of loving mercy he not saying we should simply “love to receive it! But that we learn to love to give/extend mercy.” Because that is something that Jesus himself has done for us and loves to do!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It’s easy to love the idea of Indians and not like Indians themselves.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How often to we love to receive something like mercy or justice but hate to offer it to others, much less, to commit ourselves/to make significant sacrifices toward that end.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What do we know about the “mercy, kindness, and steadfast love” of the Lord!?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How does that reveal to us the way we should offer mercy/kindness/steadfast love toward others!?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sometimes folks who come to the rez ask us, “How do you get mercy to work?” Right idea, wrong question. Mercy doesn’t work like that any more than a snow covered mountain works. Mercy is. And were mercy IS, God is glorified!”</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Is 58 – love the alienated, the outcast, the orphan, the widow, the poor like family because when we were outcasts, slaves, alienated from God, Jesus loved us like family and poured himself out so we could be saved.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Stories about loving folks like family…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Good Samaritan</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mephibosheth</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jesus' Healings</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Us!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Loving a stranger like family is not a concept that is hard to understand, not rocket science. But it is not easy! It’s scary! Because strangers are… strange!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Brennan Manning says that when we are adults strangers are scary but when we have “childlike faith” and approach strangers in a childlike way strangers become “fascinating”!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Romans 8 in the msg “what next Papa!”</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Romans 8</span></i></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1-2</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us (Immanuel) no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3-4</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn't deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5-8</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">12-14</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So don't you see that we don't owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There's nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">15-17</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">18-21</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">29-30</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. …he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">31-39</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, etc.</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When you stop and think about it, there is no better time to study these concepts of justice, mercy, and humility than the Advent Season! Jesus willingly came into our cold, dark, broken world to “make things right” and to offer mercy, healing, forgiveness, and hope where there was none before! And he did this humbly! Born in a barn to a poor family in an “insignificant” town, raised in a small rough town (“can anything good come out of Nazareth?”). And he came and fought for justice and extended mercy at infinite cost to himself. He paid the ultimate price for us.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Now, in light of all of this, he asks us to turn to our neighbors in need and love them with the same sort of love we have received from Him. How can we say “no”.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When you love strangers like family, showing them mercy and justice, they want to know “why” and they get interested in Jesus, and hopefully fall in love with Him, and begin to love you back “like family”. This leads to community/shalom!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3. What does it mean to “walk humbly with your God”?</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">~What does it mean to “walk humbly/prudently with your God?”</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hum·ble</span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (hmbl)</span></span></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. </span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2. </span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Showing deferential or submissive respect:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3. </span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Low in rank, quality, or station; unpretentious or lowly</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Meek = gentle, submissive</span></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Keller – “To be humble is not to think less of yourself. It is to think of yourself less.” X2</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Again, He has “shown us” what walking humbly with God looks like!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As believers we are not permitted to think we are better than anyone else. If we buy in to the idea that we are better than our neighbors, for any reason, it short-circuits the whole process of loving them well. Pride comes before the fall. If our eyes are fixed on Jesus we are automatically humbled. When we look at ourselves we sink, just like Peter did when he was walking on water.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Keller- The gospel says that I am such a great sinner that Jesus had to die for me to be saved. That fact humbles me into the dust. The fact that Jesus loves me so much he was glad to die for me, lifts me into the skies!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1 Samuel 2:6</span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> “The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">7</span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">8</span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; (that’s US by the way!) he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter+5:5&version=NIV"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1 Peter 5:5</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">humble</span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Psalm 147:5-7</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5</span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">6</span></b></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Is. 66</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We need to wake up with and carry with us the awareness that there is something terribly wrong in the world, and that we are called to reach into that dark world with light and hope that comes with the love and truth of Christ, but also that “apart from Him we can do nothing”. That we are not our own and that this is not about us! It’s not about our wisdom or our strength. It’s about Him and what He is doing. We don’t really “bring anything to the table”. We are simply one beggar leading another beggar to bread.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4. How has he “shown us”? AND How do we get the courage and strength and desire to love mercy and do justice?</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">By looking to Him/fixing our eyes on the author and perfector of our faith</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Is 53</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. </span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. </span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">6</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">7</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">8</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> By oppression</span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></i><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.</span></i></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">9</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">10</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes</span></i></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">11</span></i></b></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> After he has suffered, he will see the light of life</span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></i><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and be satisfied</span></i></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">; by his knowledge</span></i></span><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When we remember our story, where we came from (slavery), and the great price Jesus paid to set us free/forgive us/make us right with God, His call for us to love our neighbors in need falls into perspective. Our pride is laid low. Our love for Him flames up. And we begin to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.”</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here’s what C. H. Spurgeon had to say about Micah 6:8…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the humility that is here prescribed includes delightful confidence.</span></i></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> let me read the text to you, "Walk humbly with God." No, no, we must not maul the passage that way, "Walk humbly with </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">thy</span></i></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> God." Do not think that it is humility to doubt your interest in Christ; that is unbelief. Do not think that it is humility to think that he is another man's God, and not yours; "Walk humbly with </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">thy God."</span></i></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Know that he is your God, be sure of it, come up from the wilderness leaning upon your Beloved. Have no doubt, nor even the shadow of a doubt, that you are your Beloved's, and that he is yours. Rest not for a moment if there is any question upon this blessed subject. He gives himself to you; take him to be yours by a covenant… that never shall be broken; and give yourself to him, saying, "I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine." "Walk humbly with thy God." Let not anything draw you away from that confidence; but then, in comes the humility. This is all of grace; this is all the result of divine election; therefore, be humble. You have not chosen Christ, but he has chosen you. This is all the effect of redeeming love; therefore, be humble. You are not your own, you are bought with a price; so you can have no room to glory. This is all the work of the Spirit.”</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">With Jesus being for us, how can we fail?!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Let’s Pray…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Times-Roman;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:ArialMT, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pressures On The Reservation</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Life for young people growing up on the reservation is often about pressure – to drink alcohol, to smoke weed, to join gangs, to skip school, to have sex. Against a grinding, almost Third World backdrop of poverty, housing overcrowding, family dysfunction and violence, many tribal youth will cave in to those challenges. But many will not, guided largely by the strength of their moral compass, by the influence of role models in their lives, or by their ties to their tribal culture and spirituality. Janessa Driving Hawk seems to fall very much in the middle – a teen mother and school dropout on welfare who yields too easily to the pressure to drink, but who also insists that she is going to do better for her daughter. Then there are the children at both ends – the tragic outcomes like 19-year-old MarQuita Walking Eagle of Two Strike on the Rosebud Reservation, and the shining hopes like 19-year-old Autumn White Eyes of Pine Ridge.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Remembering A Daughter</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In her family’s rural setting near the housing cluster that is Two Strike north of St. Francis, Walking Eagle’s mother, Martina One Star, gazes out the screen door in her kitchen at the hills to the east. Mother and daughter used to walk that rolling prairie beyond the family’s corral for exercise and for small talk, discussing what MarQuita might do after graduation, or simply joking about everyday life. “I’d always tell MarQuita, ‘You’re just like a mountain goat.’ She’d walk and not sweat or anything,” Martina One Star said as she sat at her kitchen table. “She used to tell me, ‘Will you just hurry up with your fat ass?” And the memory dissolves into laughter. Soon after, though, One Star’s smile fades. The joy of those evening excursions into the countryside gives way to the most brutal of images – semi-nude MarQuita lying dead in an abandoned house in St. Francis last Nov. 1, her hands bound behind her back, her face savagely beaten. According to One Star, her daughter and a childhood friend, 17-year-old Bryan Boneshirt, had culminated a morning of drinking by going to the abandoned house. They ended up having sex. During their tryst, Boneshirt apparently called MarQuita by one of his ex-girlfriend’s names. “MarQuita got mad and hit him,” her mother said. “That’s when he got mad. He started beating her. He tied her hands behind her back and choked her.” In her casket, MarQuita Walking Eagle’s bruised, battered face revealed a grim epitaph to a life ended by violence all too common on the reservations. Meanwhile, on Sept. 13 in a Pierre courtroom, another sad ending came to be – her teenage killer learned he would spend the next 48 years in prison. Among the documents his lawyers used to prepare his defense were medical evaluations proclaiming that alcohol in the womb with Bryan Boneshirt ultimately damaged his judgment and his ability to manage his emotions. Martina One Star doesn’t doubt that. Nor does this 41-year-old Lakota woman downplay the forces of reservation life that led her daughter to drop out of school, to dabble in gang involvement, and to ultimately expose herself to the dangers that come with binge drinking. “If I could have left this place, I would have,” One Star said. “She might still be here if I had.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Shared Experiences</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A hundred miles west of Two Strike in the village of Pine Ridge, Autumn White Eyes has grown up in the same challenging environment as MarQuita Walking Eagle. White Eyes spent years sleeping on a living room couch because there was no bedroom available in her crowded housing. She grew up with eggs, milk, cheese and other government-issued commodities. She watched people trying to kill each other outside her front door. Yet unlike many of her contemporaries throughout Indian country, White Eyes emerged from those challenges as a hope for a culture battered by generations of historical trauma and left to survive in the welfare state that is tribal South Dakota. She insists that she was blessed with two parents raising her in their home. Most of her friends did not have that. She grew up going to sun dances, seeking purification in the sweat lodge and pursuing her Lakota spirituality. Again, that was seldom true of her peers. In a state where a third of Native American students in public schools don’t graduate – and where half in the federal Bureau of Indian Education schools get no diplomas – White Eyes flew off in early September to Hanover, N.H., and Dartmouth College with her green star quilt, her two suitcases and a dream of becoming a doctor or a writer some day. Having spent six summers going through education programs like Indians Into Medicine in Grand Forks, N.D., White Eyes feels little fear stepping into the academic melting pot that is Dartmouth. If anything, she said the experience of growing up poor on the reservation has steeled her for the larger world in ways that her East Coast counterparts – or even her fellow white South Dakota graduates – could never imagine. “I do perceive my life as being different,” she said. “Where I live, the neighborhood I live in, the things I’ve seen, not growing up with money, how I talk, what I think is funny ... my whole personality would be different if I didn’t live here. “And life here is different. I could probably get along better with someone in the big city than in a small white town. People who live in a ghetto know what we live like. “In fact, I think it would be harder to have a conversation with someone from a small, white South Dakota town. I think they would judge, and do judge, people from Pine Ridge. Even people from other reservations judge Pine Ridge. And some of what they say is true. But I don’t think of the reservation all negatively.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tiospaye - Extended Family</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;line-height:18.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On a steamy August afternoon, Neleigh Driving Hawk sits on her new Huffy bicycle – the one she received on her third birthday July 13 – and waits for Auntie or Grandma to push her. Heat fumes radiate from the pavement. It’s too hot to pedal, and her home on Spotted Tail Avenue in Lower Brule is blocks away. “Move,” 16-year-old Mariah Driving Hawk commands her niece. But Neleigh just sits. She’ll get home. This is the beauty of Lakota and Dakota culture, the tiospaye – or extended family – that provides a guiding hand and a safety net for tribal youth. To a much greater extent than white South Dakota, Native Americans have always looked after their relatives, stepping in as grandparents, aunts and uncles or siblings when mothers and fathers are absent. But propelling Neleigh Driving Hawk down the path to a rich and meaningful future is much different than pushing her bicycle home. She was born into a way of life forged from the U.S. government’s theft of her ancestors’ native lands, one that turned the Lakota and Dakota into little more than welfare recipients with promises of food, housing, education and health care. While the government was promising to take care of the Lakota and Dakota, the Catholic, Episcopalian and other missionaries were trying to beat the savage out of them so they could be assimilated into white society. They were not allowed to practice their religion in the mission schools. They were not allowed to speak their language. Against that backdrop of what the Lakota and Dakota call “historical trauma,” the culture fell into chaos, said Dr. Don Warne, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and director of the Office of Native American Health for Sanford Health in Sioux Falls. “Now in many of our families, the women are unhealthy,” Warne said. “There is imbalance in many communities and many homes. An instability and imbalance of home life has affected a lot of lives. Substance abuse, violence, alcoholism ... has created an inconsistency in many of our homes.” He blames much of that on “bad federal policy, a lot of which is occurring today.” What chance does little Neleigh stand when bad federal policies and underfunded programs lead to poverty in the community, and instability and imbalance in the home, Warne asked? “Look at Indian Health Service,” he said. “Every time the president brings his budget and Congress passes a budget that doesn’t fully fund Indian Health Service, they are killing Indians. But now they don’t do it with bullets. They do it with the stroke of a pen.” As a child growing up in the 1940s, respected Lakota elder Albert White Hat knew poverty on the Rosebud Reservation as well, maybe worse than Neleigh and her mother face today. They lived in tents, White Hat said. Their parents earned a few dollars working for area ranchers and farmers. But back then, the retired Lakota Studies instructor at Sinte Gleska University also experienced the richness of youth, when children cut wood and hauled water for elders, offered them tobacco and learned about medicine and spirits from these storytellers. Now in this era of rapper songsters and MTV, even those experiences are lost, White Hat lamented, saying: “Our children don’t learn that now. It is a real struggle for them.” Today, tribal youth stay out all night and sleep all day, said Pat Janis, the burial assistance director for the Oglala Sioux Tribe in Pine Ridge. “Or they see parents partying, or moms going from man to man or their dads from woman to woman,” Janis said. “It’s very confusing. I didn’t grow up like that.” That confusion is where gang culture is spawned, Janis said, where suicide becomes the solution instead of spirituality, where school is both a sanctuary and a waste land. “It’s that old story of the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other,” Janis said. “When you live in a stable society, the angel usually wins out. In an unstable society, it’s the devil.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:15.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Angels And Devils</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And so that struggle between the angel and the devil will continue for Neleigh Driving Hawk, played out on the powwow grounds and back streets of Lower Brule, far from the view of the rest of South Dakota. As she moves from infant to toddler to adolescent, will she know the terror of MarQuita Walking Eagle or the promise of Autumn White Eyes? Or will this child, who herself can be angelic and devilish at times, simply become mired in the pressures of poverty and alcohol that is so common in reservation life and so confusing to her own struggling, teenage mother. “You try not to get stuck in all this, but it’s hard,” Janessa Driving Hawk said. “Look at everybody; most people are stuck down here. I don’t want that for my daughter, but I can’t tell you what’s going to happen.” </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;color:#4C688F;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Surviving birth</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;color:#402E10;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:ArialMT;color:#402E10;"><b><a href="mailto:syoung@argusleader.com"><span style="text-decoration:none;text-underline:nonecolor:#682E13;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">STEVE YOUNG</span></span></a></b></span><span style="font-family:ArialMT;color:#767C89;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> • SYOUNG@ARGUSLEADER.COM • NOVEMBER 3, 2010</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:4.0pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;mso-text-indent-alt:-.5in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:11.0pt .5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:ArialMT;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:4.0pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;mso-text-indent-alt:-.5in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:11.0pt .5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:ArialMT;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:4.0pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:-.5in;mso-text-indent-alt:-.5in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:11.0pt .5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:ArialMT, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">More than 40 percent of the 69,000 Native Americans in this state are under age 18 – the youngest of which are often the most vulnerable. In 2008, Native American babies between 28 days old and one year died at four times the rate of white babies in South Dakota, according to state Department of Health statistics. From birth to 28 days, the death rate was 2-to-1 for tribal newborns. Dr. Amy Elliott, director of Sanford’s Health Disparities Research Center in Sioux Falls, is trying to figure out why. She’s part of the Safe Passage longitudinal study that includes reservation women and their children. The study is looking at everything from babies’ heart rates, blood pressure and temperature control to mothers’ use of alcohol and tobacco to understand why some children are more at risk for SIDS and other causes of infant mortality. “What we know is that alcohol and tobacco use can result in adverse outcomes,” Elliott said. “If women reported drinking in the first trimester, they increased the risk of the baby dying eight-fold. “But the link between prenatal and infant death hasn’t been entirely figured out. What differentiates those who drink and their babies turn out all right, and those who don’t?” The issue is complex, Elliott said, and involves many uncertainties. Has the mother had good prenatal care? Does the baby have a good sleep environment? And on the reservations, there are other considerations, such as bringing a newborn home to a house crammed with multiple families, or exposing an infant to smoke and contaminants put off by a wood-burning stove. Sometimes, there is no simple explanation, as Joe and Marion Picotte discovered two springs ago on a tragic Sunday morning in Pine Ridge. At the time, the Picottes and their children – 2-year-old Kenny and newly born daughter Nadia – were living in a relative’s trailer with as many as 10 others. Though Marion Picotte is an artist who makes quillwork, Joe Picotte’s $7-an-hour job provided the only consistent paycheck coming into the trailer. “It was pretty rugged,” Joe Picotte, 27, recalled. “At times, I couldn’t pay the electricity bill. I’d have to call in and ask them to hold off on turning off the electricity. Sometimes we had to use candles.” Nadia Sunshine Picotte was born on May 20, 2008, at the Indian Health Service hospital in Pine Ridge. She liked to smile, her father said, “and I could tell she was going to be a thinker,” he added. “She’d have a serious face on her and look at things for a long time.” Their bedroom was so small, there was no space for a cradle, Picotte said. So he slept on one side of the bed, Marion took the middle and Nadia was next to her, guarded by pillows and blankets to keep her from rolling off the side. At 8 that Sunday morning, June 8, 2008, Marion had awoke and was going to change Nadia’s diaper. But the baby, on her back, didn’t appear to be breathing. “Marion started freaking out,” Joe Picotte recalled. “Kenny was still sleeping, so I said, ‘Just go. It will take too long for me to get Kenny up and ready.’ So Marion got Nadia in the Suburban and took off.” Later, they would learn that tiny Nadia had passed away from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome at least three hours before her mother had found her – and had never cried out in distress. It doesn’t make sense, Joe Picotte says now. Nadia had been healthy; there had been nothing wrong with her. Still, he believes there are tests that could have been done when his daughter was born that might have told them whether she was susceptible to SIDS. “If I could go back,” he said, “that’s the one thing we would have done.” Finding and confirming those markers to underlying infant mortality issues is what Elliott’s study is all about. On the reservations, alcohol and tobacco use aren’t always the easy answers. Most people probably don’t realize that many tribal communities in South Dakota have the highest percentage of women who don’t drink as any place in America, Elliott said. But rates of infant mortality on the reservations two to four times the statewide average are alarming, and alcohol does play a role, Elliott said. And what’s frustrating at times is the seeming inability to get that message out. “One of the issues we’re constantly facing is, the tribes get programs up and running and then the money goes away,” Elliott said. “There is a lack of infrastructure to sustain things.” On the Pine Ridge Reservation, where there are 450 to 500 pregnancies a year, Healthy Start funding allows that agency to get to only about a third of those women, said Lisa Dillon, health administrator for the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The frustrations are similar on the Rosebud Reservaton, said Sandy Wilcox. Her Healthy Start office works with high-risk women during their pregnancy and the first two years after their babies are born. The women they can get to and counsel have good success stories to tell, Wilcox said. But Rosebud is a big reservation. Many pregnant women have no means of transportation, and her office has no surplus of vehicles to take women to doctor’s appointments or other services. So it becomes a gamble, Wilcox said, like it was recently with a baby who had shown some abnormalities on initial health tests. The family didn’t bring the child in for follow-up testing, and her office had no money to pay for gas to go see the baby. “I had 20 bucks of my own that we used,” Wilcox said. “Thank God the baby’s tests were good; there was nothing wrong. But we go through that all the time. It’s so hard for us to make choices like that.” In some ways, Janessa Driving Hawk, now 18, took that gamble as well as she carried her baby to term in Lower Brule. “Whatever I knew about having a baby and taking care of myself I learned from the people around me,” she said. “I didn’t go to Healthy Start, and they never came down here. I never heard from them. “I just knew from everyone around me telling me not to drink when I was pregnant.” Fortunately, that message stuck. Little Neleigh Driving Hawk, laughing and giggling as her grandmother and auntie pull her on her bicycle past a burned-out trailer in Lower Brule, is proof of that. </span></span></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-77620480364931989882010-12-02T17:14:00.001-08:002010-12-02T18:34:17.444-08:00An Encouraging Update from Jesse and Sarah Demson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvWrwuamrWMryVvXqPtpDeKInpexSAFepPXYdFmac-o9Q7F4v-uK-yrPGUQqz2tHXuUMhpC7RHGJG64TEYR8EI6EZdkohysmJDvz8nvirlLA3asAafHI9C7Rvmplu4XzMzCt96jmmqXG2/s1600/sarah+and+jesse.jpeg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvWrwuamrWMryVvXqPtpDeKInpexSAFepPXYdFmac-o9Q7F4v-uK-yrPGUQqz2tHXuUMhpC7RHGJG64TEYR8EI6EZdkohysmJDvz8nvirlLA3asAafHI9C7Rvmplu4XzMzCt96jmmqXG2/s200/sarah+and+jesse.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546278732777815154" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Merry Christmas, all!<div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">It's the close of a year of support raising, a year that saw us go from about 15% of our support to 54%. Looking back at that number, that's encouraging. God has been moving, and our team has been growing. </div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">Adelaide turned one last month or the 17th. She's been such a blessing, and it's been incredible to watch her grow and be a joy to everyone she is around. I'm continually in awe of God's goodness when I see her. She seems to cause everyone around her to smile - her own little ministry of spreading joy to others through her sweetness. (I don't sound too much like a proud papa, do I?) We also discovered that we have a new little one on the way due officially May 7th. It's wonderful to see our family growing. We're excited to see the adventures God has in store for us as we raise children to love and serve Him. </div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">We've been blessed to visit and speak to people in a number of churches this month, including one near Naches, one in Sunnyside, one in Eatonville, and one in the greater Seattle area. We are praying for God to bear fruit from these new relationships we've established, and that we'll get a number of people excited about what we're doing and behind us in both spiritual and financial support. </div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">Pray:</div><div style="line-height: 17px; "><ul style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 1em; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 1em; list-style-type: disc; "><li style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; ">For our support level to continue to increase as we move forward.</li><li style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; ">For protection against attacks of the enemy on our family and encouragement.</li><li style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; ">For our upcoming support trip to Colorado to bear fruit and for the details to be ironed out. </li></ul><div style="line-height: 17px; ">Praises:</div></div><div style="line-height: 17px; "><ul style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 1em; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 1em; list-style-type: disc; "><li style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; ">For the continued increase in funds for the building. Donations for Sacred Road's property purchase are now at $380,000. </li><li style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; ">For the doors that are continuing to open into churches, and for the encouragement that we continually receive through the response of people to hearing about the work God is doing among the Yakama. </li><li style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin-left: 0px; ">For the generosity of all of you who are faithfully giving and making it possible for us to focus so much of our energy on securing more support.</li></ul><div style="line-height: 17px; ">A special request: We ask that you pray and consider if there is anyone whom you might be willing for us to contact and share about our ministry. Because so much of our support is coming from individuals currently, we'd love for you who are invested in seeing us get to the field to help us by considering who you know who might be able or willing to participate, too. </div></div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">Remember Christ this Advent! We are bought with the blood of the One Who came as a child that night. May we all strive to work for His glory and the coming of His Kingdom!</div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">Grace and peace,</div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div><div style="line-height: 17px; ">Jesse, Sarah, Adelaide, and Little One</div><div style="line-height: 17px; "> </div> -- <a href="http://www.trailtohope.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">www.trailtohope.blogspot.com</a> </span>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-19152586099815656712010-11-18T12:01:00.000-08:002010-11-18T12:02:18.958-08:00Update on the Building and other stuff!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><p style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; ">Hey All!<br /><br />We found out last night that the credit union accepted our offer on the building that we want to use for a church, after-school tutoring, youth ministry, school, etc! Thanks to all of you for praying! We've had $330,000 in gifts in about 30 days! Thanks to all who have given. I can't wait to show you around the new home of Sacred Road Ministries and Hope Fellowship!<br /><br />We do still need approximately $50,000 more in one time gifts for the facility's renovations, etc. Also, please pray about our regular monthy opperating budget. We are going to need it to grow as we move into the building and the ministry grows. We estimate that we will need an additional $3000 in regular monthly giving.<br /><br />As many of you know, we are in Alabama visiting with supporters, churches, friends and family. We make this two week trip every November. As we prepare to "come home" for a couple of weeks we look back on the the previous year/years and ask ourselves as a family, what stories do we have to tell this year? How do we describe what we see the Lord doing now? What are we excited about and what do we want to ask folks to pray about this year?<br /><br />Here's what our kids had to say about all of that!<br /><br />Ann Marie:<br /><br />I am excited about the new building. It will really help with Childrens Ministry. We will be able to work with the kids in a more efficient way, I think, and I think that they will be able to calm down and control themselves better in the new atmosphere. I'm also excited about the Christmas Feast that is coming up and I'm looking forward to the teams next summer. <br /> <br />Pray that the community will see the building as their church building and that they get excited about having their own church. Also, we have lost contact with some of our kids. Pray for them, that they're safe, that they grow in the Lord, and that we'll be able to see them again (in this life, or the next).<br /><br /><br />Beth:<br /><br />Lately I have been excited by watching my small group of girls growing in Christ by singing, listening to Bible stories and retelling them, and by doing work sheets. They all range from second to third grade. I have about nine of them on Tuesday, on a regular basis. I really look forward to teaching them in our own church building soon. Please pray for all of them. <br /> <br />Also, our house will be busy soon while we all get ready for the Christmas Feast. Pray that everything goes smoothly. And, lastly, pray for us while our SRM team grows and that we all become closer and stronger together. <br /><br />Morgan: <br /><br />This summer the four year old girl, Lenelle, that I have been playing with for the last four years told me that she didn't want to play with me anymore because she wanted to play with someone else. I was disappointed and a little angry, but I figured that maybe she would want to play with me later. But after a while, she still didn't want to play with me. I was even more upset and hoped and prayed that she would want to play with me again. After a few more days of not playing with her I gave up hopelessly. <br /> <br />As I stood gloomily on the sidelines, watching the kids play, I felt a small hand touch mine. "Tag!" Six year old Tyson grinned up at me. "Now it's your turn." he whispered. I moved to tag him, but he darted away, his face glowing. Soon, I caught up with him and tagged him. After a while, we sat down and rested. While we were sitting there he asked me if he could get on my back. I put him on my back and we wandered around for a while. I played with Tyson all week, and it didn't take long to get to the routine of tag-everyone-there-at-least-twice. <br /> <br />On Friday, Tyson didn't show up, and I found out that it was because he had gotten in trouble with his dad and wasn't allowed to come to Kids Club. After a little while though, Tyson walked towards the playgroud. I ran to greet him and asked him what he would like to do. He shrugged. We sat down on the grass together. <br /> <br />A few days before the BBQ kickoff event, some of our staff walked around Totus Park and gave out flyers. Tyson recognized Joshua Tsevatawa and asked him "Where is my friend?" Joshua didn't know exactly who Tyson was talking about but he told him that all of the team memebers had gone home. Tyson ran off again, Joshua assumed he had gone to play, but Tyson came running back with a picture of me and him, that had been taken on the last day of Kids Club for the summer. He pointed at me and said "Her! Where is my friend?" <br /><br />Tyson left for Spokane (four hours away) the next day. <br /> <br />Please pray that Tyson will be back next summer. I am excited to see how he will grow closer to Christ as the years go by and pray that the Lord will keep him close. <br /><br />Please pray for Tyson. <br /><br />As the rain and the snow <br /> come down from heaven, <br />and do not return to it <br /> without watering the earth <br />and making it bud and flourish, <br /> so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, <br />so is my word that goes out from my mouth: <br /> It will not return to me empty, <br />but will accomplish what I desire <br /> and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.<br /><br />Isaiah 55:10-11 <br /><br /><br />Marisol:<br /><br />I'm excited for the way that kids ministry is going. There is a feeling of joy that comes to you when you're out there playing with the kids and watching them participate in the Bible story. It feels so good to know that they want to be in the story, they want to be involved in the ministry. <br /> <br />The Christmas Feast is such a great time too. I love getting back from school that day, and walking into the longhouse, and seeing so many people laughing. So many people who are excited for what is happening. Kids get their presents and start ripping away the paper, then they show their Grandma, and you can tell that they are so excited. <br /><br />The building is amazing too. Just to think that now the ministry has it's very own place. It looks perfect for the ministry. I just can't wait to see the kids being dropped off and watching them make their way to their very own Sunday School class. And knowing that youth have a safe place where they can come and call home. I'm just so excited that the community is involved and loves SRM. <br /> <br />Please pray for my family, that they know that, even though they've gone through some hard times, God is still with them. Pray that they humble themselves before God, and that they start going to church again. Pray that my mom has peace, I know that she works so hard so that all of her kids can be happy. I thank God for having such a large and loving family. <br /><br /><br />David: <br /><br />I am excited about the new building that Sacred Road has, it will really help the ministry and I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for this. Also, I have started leading a small group of boys at Bible Study and two boys are really taking the lead and they always want to help me teach the other boys, that is exciting. It is also encouraging to see so many people supporting our team. There are a lot of churches who want to come out on teams in the spring and summer and it is very exciting to see so many people trying to support our team and the Yakama Indians. <br /><br /><br />------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Read the <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Blog</b>: <a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/24283267/72617527/148560/0/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">www.sacredroadyakama.blogspot.com</a><br /><br />Visit our <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Website</b>: <a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/24283267/72617527/148565/0/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">www.sacredroadministries.com</a><br /><br />Watch <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">videos</b> at <a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/24283267/72617527/148561/0/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">www.youtube.com/sacredroad</a><br /><br />See photos on <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Facebook</b> on the <a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/24283267/72617527/148562/0/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">Sacred Road Fan page</a><br />------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /> <span style="line-height: 20px; font-size: larger; "><br /><b style="line-height: 20px; font-weight: bold; ">Prayer Requests</b></span><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; "><br /> <br />Sacred Road Ministries</b><br /><span style="line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 153); ">1. Pray for the <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Granberrys</b> as they visit churches, supporters, families, and friends in <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Alabama</b>. They will be there through November 30th.<br /><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">On Nov. 28 Chris will be preaching at Oak Mountain PCA</b> in Birmingham at 9:00 and 10:45 am. We are thinking about having a lunch after that or a get together later that afternoon for all who want to attend and visit. We'll send out an email with the details if/when that "shapes up".</span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 153); ">2. Please pray for all of the <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">funding</b> to come in for the <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">facility</b> (we are short $50,000 right now) and for the Lord to continue to lead and direct us. Read more about the facility on the </span><a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/24283267/72617527/148560/0/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; "><span style="line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 153); ">blog</span></a><span style="line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 153); ">. </span><br /><br />3. As the weather turns colder we are <span style="line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 153); ">receiving new or gently used <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">blankets</b></span>. Please send to the following address:<br />4711 Branch Road <br />Wapato, WA 98933<br />Contact Heather with any questions at (509) 930-5903 or hmgerman@gmail.com.<br /><br />4. <span style="line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 153); "><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Walmart Gift Card Drive</b></span><br />We are also collecting money for <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Walmart Gift Cards</b> (or cards themselves) for the people in the community to use to buy food, clothes, and gifts for their families at Christmas. We want to empower the responsible adults in the community to shop for their own families at Christmas time. <br />Please send gift cards or your check with “<b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Christmas</b>” in the memo line to:<br />Sacred Road Ministries<br />22116 SE 51st Place<br />Issaquah, WA 98029<br />*All donors will receive a tax-deductible receipt (unless you send an actual gift card)<br /><br />We would love to receive our <span style="line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 153); "><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Christmas Feast</b></span> gifts by Thanksgiving this year. We are collecting the following gifts:<br /><span style="line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 153); "><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Youth</b> <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Girls</b> – necklaces<br /><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Youth</b> <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Boys</b> – footballs or basketballs<br /><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Men</b> – $10 tool sets<br /><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Women</b> – lotion sets</span><br /><br />Please mail unwrapped gifts to: <br />4711 Branch Road<br />Wapato, WA 98951<br /><br /><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Yakama Community </b><br />5. <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Lea</b> would like her children to know our Father God. She also would like prayers for the community of White Swan and the drug problems it faces.<br />6. <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Gigi</b> <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Woodward</b> went to court and lost the custody of her two youngest grandsons. She also recently lost her oldest grandson (19) and says she needs prayer to "keep her head above water."<br />7. <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Diana</b> and <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Xavier</b> would like prayer for the children of White Swan and for the Hope Fellowship (Bible Study) group to multiply.<br />8. <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Phyllis</b> <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Yallup</b> recently lost her oldest grandson and would like prayer for her and her family as they mourn their loss. <br /><br /><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Sacred Road Team </b> <br />9. Pray also for <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Chris</b> to finally have relief from his sinus infection that is not going away. He’s had it since late May and finished his third round of antibiotics. Doctors are thinking about surgery next.<br />10. Pray for <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Heather</b> <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">German</b>, <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Veronica</b> <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Vasquez</b>, <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Joshua</b> <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Tsavatewa</b>, and the <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Clevengers</b> who are raising more support. Also pray for the families (the <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Yarbroughs</b> and the <b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Dempsens</b>) who are raising support to join us full time. <br />Clevenger’s Blog:</p><a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/24283267/72617527/153293/0/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">www.rustlings.com</a><p style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><br />Yarbrough Blog:</p><a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/24283267/72617527/167603/0/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">http://www.tastinghope.blogspot.com</a><p style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><br />Dempsen’s Blog:</p><a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/24283267/72617527/153294/0/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">www.trailtohope.blogspot.com</a><p style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><br /><br />We are now booking teams for next summer! Please email me at sacredroadministries@hotmail.com to reserve. Weeks available are:<br /><br /><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; ">Yakama Indian Reservation</b><br />July 30 - August 6, 2011 [10 spaces]<br /><b style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: bold; "><br />Warm Springs Indian Reservation</b><br />June 4 - 11, 2011 [23 spaces]<br />June 18 - 25, 2011 [8 spaces]<br />July 16 - 23, 2011 [15 spaces]<br />July 30 - August 6, 2011 [12 spaces]<br /><br /> <br />Sincerely In Christ,<br />Veronica Vasquez<br />Sacred Road Ministries<br />Ph: (253) 315-1833</p><a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/24283267/72617527/148565/0/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">www.sacredroadministries.com</a><p style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><br />blog:</p><a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/24283267/72617527/148560/0/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">www.sacredroadyakama.blogspot.com</a><p style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><br />video:</p><a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/24283267/72617527/148561/0/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">www.youtube.com/sacredroad</a><p style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><br />photos:</p><a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/24283267/72617527/148566/0/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">http://www.flickr.com/photos/sacredroad</a><p style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "></p><p style="line-height: 17px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; margin-left: 0px; "></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">find us on <a href="http://go.netatlantic.com/t/24283267/72617527/148562/0/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 20px; font-weight: inherit; text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">facebook</a></p><img alt="" src="http://go.netatlantic.com/db/24283267/72617527/1.gif" width="1" height="1" style="line-height: 17px; " /></span>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-50896317144150324982010-10-26T08:54:00.000-07:002010-10-26T08:58:11.770-07:00The Building Fund is Growing!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; "><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">D</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">onations came in today (10/27/10) that took our total from $150,000 to $186,000 in donations and firm commiments! Keep praying about the offer we are making today! </span></span></span></span></h3><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">If you'd like to see the website for the home, visit </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/14531-Pumphouse-Road_White-Swan_WA_98952_M14953-40441</span></span></span></div></span>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-16534995413193304342010-10-07T08:36:00.000-07:002010-10-07T10:17:55.282-07:00Sacred Road Building Fund<span style="font-size:130%;">Sacred Road Ministries is a church-planting ministry serving on the Yakama Indian Reservation in the remote town of White Swan, Washington. Sacred Road builds relationships in the community through children’s ministry, youth ministry, weekly Bible studies, and mercy ministy projects using volunteer teams from throughout the USA.</span><br /><div><br />THE NEED<br /><hr />• 100% of the Yakama people are affected by substance abuse<br />• 75% are chronically unemployed<br />• Life expectancy is 39 years<br />• Suicide rates are very high<br />• 65% drop out rate in high school<br />• 70% of teenagers are homeless<br />• Most children and youth are fatherless<br />• There are very few intact marriages<br />• One of the poorest communities in the country<br /><br />HISTORY<br /><hr /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeF-jyP3mGJz0ygzs1IS2Xdp81uqOpgy4w2JSSkzRNW3gJEWodPTOYqVSVXERWor6wV05iEFrEN6aLIxqQtuvcEU6QOXsMGc83s__ZpG_AfslBHq0HXeXpxdHHmhn5nP_ORJ6jMybF0In/s1600/Jack+and+me.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeF-jyP3mGJz0ygzs1IS2Xdp81uqOpgy4w2JSSkzRNW3gJEWodPTOYqVSVXERWor6wV05iEFrEN6aLIxqQtuvcEU6QOXsMGc83s__ZpG_AfslBHq0HXeXpxdHHmhn5nP_ORJ6jMybF0In/s200/Jack+and+me.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525335036881895362" border="0" /></a>While serving as youth pastor at Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church in Alabama, Reverend Chris Granberry brought his youth group to the reservation on a short-term mission trip in 2000. He was devastated by the hopelessness and despair of the people. Yet Chris was hopeful, knowing that the power of the gospel can change and does redeem broken lives and<br />communities.<br /><br />In 2003, the Granberrys moved to the Yakama reservation with a desire to serve the community and establish a healthy church in White Swan. They also recruited believers to come on one week mission trips to share the love and the truth of Christ through mercy ministry projects and backyard Bible clubs.<br /><br />Since Sacred Road Ministries was established, the full-time ministry team has grown significantly. This has enabled Sacred Road to host over 2,000 people from throughout the United States who have performed works of service on the reservation. In the spring and summer, nearly 100 children per day are involved in the Children’s ministry. Approximately 75 teenagers have been reached through weekly Bible studies, mentoring relationships and outreach activities. On average, 80 people attend the Tuesday night meal and Bible study conducted in the Yakama traditional Longhouse. Sacred Road Ministries is a church-planting ministry serving on the Yakama Indian Reservation in the remote town of White Swan, Washington. Sacred Road builds relationships in the community through children’s ministry, youth ministry, weekly Bible studies, and mercy ministy projects using volunteer teams from throughout the USA.<br /><br />THE OPPORTUNITY<br /><hr />The opportunity for Sacred Road to reach out to the community of White Swan with the love and truth of Christ is growing daily. However, the size and depth of Sacred Road’s ability to do that is limited by the lack of a proper facility.<br /><br />THE FACILITY<br /><hr /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo-n7ufN1QC8W8sba8ctyMLbU0lLvUGh_WWXeXpz-Ujl4jv8uGfJdyCUWVEIHJpF1hcpTSbHS0I0EUpY6z0fcbHiCZXjyw1EZE_G2gGnxDVyX1jxauNUzXaCuQfKU1K8zbSL13zpGfFWS/s1600/DEVON.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo-n7ufN1QC8W8sba8ctyMLbU0lLvUGh_WWXeXpz-Ujl4jv8uGfJdyCUWVEIHJpF1hcpTSbHS0I0EUpY6z0fcbHiCZXjyw1EZE_G2gGnxDVyX1jxauNUzXaCuQfKU1K8zbSL13zpGfFWS/s200/DEVON.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525335064439630658" border="0" /></a>Sacred Road needs a facility immediately to begin an after school tutoring program for children and youth, expand youth ministry, and in which to host Sunday worship services. Sacred Road has the opportunity to purchase a 7,000 plus square foot building on 40 acres of land near White Swan. In addition to meeting the ministry’s immediate needs, the property has space to support long-term goals.<br /><br />PROJECT CAPITAL NEED<br /><hr />Acquisition: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>$300,000<br />Renovations: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>$50,000<br />Reserves: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span>$58,000<br />Total: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span>$408,000<br /><br />YOUR INVOLVEMENT<br /><hr />Based upon the opportunity and your appreciation for Sacred Road Ministries, would you consider making a significant, sacrificial donation to this project? Time is of the essence as the property is on the market now and generating interest. Your donation needs to be mailed by Nov. 10.<br /><br />YOUR COMMITMENT<br /><hr />Your commitment can be in the form of cash or appreciated assets such as stock or real estate.<br /><br />Please mail your tax deductible contribution to:<br />Sacred Road Ministries<br />22116 SE 51st Place<br />Issaquah, WA 98029-9221<br /><br /></div><div>Please include a note indicating that the contribution is for the purchase of the new facility.<br /><br />MISSION STATEMENT<br /><hr />Sacred Road Ministries was established by the Pacific Northwest Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America. Its board of directors is composed of the following persons:<br /><br />Rev. Eric Irwin, Chairman: Senior Pastor</div><div>Covenant Presbyterian Church, Issaquah, WA | 425.392.5532<br /><br />Steven O’Ban: Senior Trial Lawyer<br />Ellis, Li and McKinstry PLLC | 206.682.0565<br /><br />Stephen Meerdink: Marketing Manager<br />The Commercial Agency | 206.575.1758<br /><br />Rev. Eddie Koh: Pastor for Equipping and Mission<br />Hillcrest Presbyterian Church | 206.937.0101<br /><br />(Pending) Rev. Luke Morton: Assistant Pastor<br />Covenant Presbyterian Church, Issaquah, WA | 425.392.5532<br /><br />(Pending) Jonathan Ross: Software Architect<br />Microsoft | 425.943.1477</div>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-42818697623344963852010-06-22T07:43:00.001-07:002010-06-22T07:45:05.446-07:00Update from a Sweet Summer Intern (and so much more!) Mollie Simpkins<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 14px; font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;">Hey beautiful people!<br /><br />So much to say, but I might forget some details.<br /><br />I'm sorry that it's been so long since I’ve talked to most of you. Things get a little busy out here. Not an excuse! :)Anyways I wanted to just tell a little bit about what I have been doing for the past month and what's going on on the REzzzzzZ.<br /><br />This is my life for the summer. I do go into work, which is my missionary family's house, and I cook and put together kids ministry programs and crafts. I have a variety of random jobs I might also get assigned to. On team weeks, I would then go to kids club in the afternoon and spend the evenings with teams. Then at night I come home with the other girl interns and staff, so basically our team is are all together all day everyday. And it's wonderful. I love it.<br /><br />I arrived in May and had a long week and a half of staff orientation that went great! I learned a lot about what it means to be behind the scenes in a ministry (and still learning obviously) and what it takes to be able to work with people and serve. We have such a beautiful little community here within Sacred Road. It's great to be surrounded with these people everyday. Our staff theme for the summer is "Image of God." We wanted that to be our constant reminder throughout the summer... that all these people you are surrounded with are so precious and beautiful... in the image of God. It’s been really fun to be able to get to know our team – I really see them all as family (haha a giant family of course).<br /><br />I went down to the Warm Springs Reservation our first team week - it was great to see ministry happening there, but it is so dark. Please pray for the people on that rez.. There are many relations to Yakama here in Washington. Pray for the ministry happening there this summer! We have been able to get really involved with working with the actual tribal workers...maintenance people and others. Last team week… these guys had a big BBQ with salmon and different meats. That’s really special! And awesome that we are making friendships down in Warm Springs. They are doing children's Ministry at a boys and girls club, and it is going well - keep praying that the kids, their homes, and that they would see the hope of Jesus.<br /><br />A couple weekend ago I was able to go to the Treaty Days Pow Wow. It was amazing to see the dancers and drummers there. What an experience! It was so awesome.<br /><br />This past week we had a team here in Yakama from Idaho and Chicago. They worked on roofing and painting houses, and had kids club in the afternoon. I have been working a lot on the kitchen crew cooking for the teams! I'm learning a lot about cooking, so hopefully that will happen more in my dorm next year. This summer i'm going to a housing project neighborhood called "Adams View" in the afternoon for kids club. It was great to start to get to know the kids there. We played with sidewalk chalk, 4 square, tag, jump-rope, crafts, etc. Please keep these children in your prayers. They do not come from stable homes or families, and need the love of Jesus. Pray they would see hope in the midst of brokenness.<br /><br />This past week was good, but very hard in many ways. Satan was trying very hard to divide and conquer our group – everyone felt it - and it felt at times like he was succeeding. But he didn’t succeed. ☺ I’m resting in the fact that Satan is conquered already and he can’t separate me from my Father. Please continue to pray for our team spiritually! It is a battle everyday.<br /><br />I've enjoyed being out here in Yakama so much this summer. I can't begin to describe how much I feel blessed to be a part of this ministry for the summer. God is working out here, and I get to see it and feel it. And sometimes I don't see it or feel it, but God is still working. I'm learning so much about what it means to serve, and that my time is not my own. I'm learning how much more sinful I am than I like to believe. I'm enjoying seeing the beauty in the Yakama culture. And I'm loving our community here: believers, nonbelievers, native americans, whites, dutch, old farmers, mean kids, adorable kids, interns, staff, the Granberries. All of them. I love them.<br /><br />I should write more, but I will later. I love you all, and I hope you are having a wonderful summer! Please keep me in your prayers, and let me know if I can be praying for you for anything.<br /><br />I fear no Foe,<br />with thee at hand to bless.<br />Ills have no weight<br />tears lose their bitterness.<br /><br />:)<br /><br />love you,<br />Mollieeeeeeee<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; line-height: 14px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; "><div class="photo_img" style="clear: none; line-height: 14px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></div><div class="photo_img" style="clear: none; line-height: 14px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31523396&op=1&view=all&subj=406018961381&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=406018961381&id=1288650545" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; "><img class=" img" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs292.snc3/28240_1326063073502_1288650545_31523396_2488272_n.jpg" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img); });" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; width: 460px; " /></a></div></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; line-height: 14px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; "><div class="photo_img" style="clear: none; line-height: 14px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31506305&op=1&view=all&subj=406018961381&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=406018961381&id=1288650545" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; "><img class=" img" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs299.snc3/28632_1320832382738_1288650545_31506305_6241255_n.jpg" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img); });" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; width: 460px; " /></a></div></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; line-height: 14px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; "><div class="photo_img" style="clear: none; line-height: 14px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31520013&op=1&view=all&subj=406018961381&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=406018961381&id=1288650545" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; "><img class=" img" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs281.ash1/20840_1325191011701_1288650545_31520013_8333933_n.jpg" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img); });" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; width: 460px; " /></a></div></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; line-height: 14px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; "><div class="photo_img" style="clear: none; line-height: 14px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31520003&op=1&view=all&subj=406018961381&aid=-1&auser=0&oid=406018961381&id=1288650545" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; "><img class=" img" src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs201.snc3/20840_1325185531564_1288650545_31520003_2605679_n.jpg" onload="var img = this; onloadRegister(function() { adjustImage(img); });" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; width: 460px; " /></a></div><div class="caption" style="clear: none; line-height: 12px; padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 11px; text-align: left; ">:)</div></div></span>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-60263549050260653512010-04-09T08:18:00.000-07:002014-07-11T11:04:13.420-07:00"Uncle Dave's" Reflections on the 2010 Spring Break Teams<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdmGORZ_Q1TAdXnu2WWEAnlqGtj6VAkI15477ZdT83vF53VfFJIgmMKshbM9oZRFTkzoZGIM2ZkuekUha_pYU8fWT1BcETqZe9jR5VGTT2ncJoQ8dmw0qrFWqXqJ5jslPEw3IROmk95E2/s1600/25102_409614301017_662291017_5015212_6879787_a.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdmGORZ_Q1TAdXnu2WWEAnlqGtj6VAkI15477ZdT83vF53VfFJIgmMKshbM9oZRFTkzoZGIM2ZkuekUha_pYU8fWT1BcETqZe9jR5VGTT2ncJoQ8dmw0qrFWqXqJ5jslPEw3IROmk95E2/s320/25102_409614301017_662291017_5015212_6879787_a.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458158218379300642" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 135px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 180px;" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2010 Spring Break with Sacred Road<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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?<br /><br />Thank You.<br /><br />God Bless,<br /><br />Dave<br /><br />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<br /><br />(Print and send this coupon to : Sacred Road Ministries22116 SE 51st Place, Issaquah, WA 98029-9221<br /><br />http://sacredroadyakama.blogspot.com<br /><br />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 ________<br />I would like to be a prayer partner$________<br />Monthly pledge through August$________<br />One–time gift ________<br />I would like to receive monthly prayer updates from Sacred Road Ministries via email<br />Name<br />Address<br />City<br />State/Prov.<br />Zip/Postal Code<br />Phone<br />Email<br />Checks are to be made payable to: Sacred Road Ministries<br />http://sacredroadyakama.blogspot.com<br />Please return this card with your donation<br />Dave and Cheryl Koerner<br />2939 Shepard Dr<br />Rockledge, FL 32955<br />321-961-0880<br />davekoerner@cfl.rr.com</span>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-27941987208571354282010-04-08T12:47:00.000-07:002010-04-08T12:48:14.439-07:00April 6, 2010 Baptism Video is on Youtube now!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Please visit our videos at youtube to see the recent baptism service and listen to Jack "Wildman" Spencer's testimony and thoughts on the service. There are two videos (part 1 and 2). You'll need to listen to the second to hear "the rest of Jack's story" because I couldn't fit his whole testimony on one, but it's worth it :).<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/user/SacredRoad#p/u/1/elCUDkKqjkg</span>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5831230374625707251.post-15041035714820720632010-04-06T09:47:00.000-07:002010-04-06T09:51:58.756-07:00Pray for Madison<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d4WT3q2kcb7KG2s1QGNErRRShRsIPaluPef68g0V8jz9_NgWfGL-YuMWsXQxAC2F__A3pgLkTcvgK-SxZ2G7gVjrhBGg1glp0y6gLBxQ-Mi9bt8S62fID6gGq82cFp03dwmxo2zGRFEh/s1600/IMG_0140.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 143px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d4WT3q2kcb7KG2s1QGNErRRShRsIPaluPef68g0V8jz9_NgWfGL-YuMWsXQxAC2F__A3pgLkTcvgK-SxZ2G7gVjrhBGg1glp0y6gLBxQ-Mi9bt8S62fID6gGq82cFp03dwmxo2zGRFEh/s200/IMG_0140.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457068159301609218" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(128, 128, 128); font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><h3 class="GenericStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" size="13px !important" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Please lift up Madison (5th grade) who is facing surgery this week. Her family is raising support to join the Sacred Road team here on the Yakama Indian Reservation full time. Here is the prayer request from her home church, Oak Mountain Presbyterian in Birmingham, AL...</span></h3><h3 class="GenericStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" size="13px !important" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />Update on Madison Yarbrough (5th grade daughter o</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">f Bill and Tina Yarbrough) They met with the surgeon today and he is going to admit her to Children's Hospital tomorrow (Tuesday around 9-10am). He will do 2 days of testing and then has surgery set up for Thursday. They know it is a large tumor but didn't say 100% on whether it is benign or not. It will be a pretty large, almost hip to hip incision (like a C-section). Madison is understandably afraid and sad about the whole thing. Meals are taken care of for the next 3 weeks - PTL! Please continue to PRAY!</span></span></h3></span>Sacred Roadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044638684958041391noreply@blogger.com