In All Things, Charity

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”  ~1 Corinthians 1: 10-12

When I returned home from Moose Factory last year, I went months talking about an 11 year-old girl that stole my heart. What a joy it was to see her again and interact almost as if I had not been away from her for the last year! Jasmine and her friend Carrington came to dinner on Tuesday evening. As soon as we went into the house, both girls stopped speaking. This is common for their culture and many of them are very shy around unfamiliar people. So, let the interrogation begin. I’m beginning to think that I will gain enough skills to pursue a career in detective work when I return home. Having a conversation is much like a cross-examination: “How was school?” “What have you learned?” “What have you done?” And the list continues.

We were able to spend a little time with the girls at the Youth Center during evening drop-in hours. There is a youth center attached to the gymnasium of the reservation school. The youth center has a pool table, ping-pong, and foosball. They also have a stage for movies and music. The youth centers design is very unique and revolves around the medicine wheel. The medicine wheel represents what they believe to be the 4 qualities of a balanced life:   

• The Spiritual life is represented by the color red.
•  The Emotional life is represented by the color yellow. 
• The Physical life is represented by the color black. 
• The Intellect is represented by the color white.

However, life here is all but balanced. After the youth center, Alaina and I spent time with a woman who is seeking any support possible. This women and her daughter live daily in a state of fear and panic. Her husband and her two sons are abusive alcoholics (much like a high percentage of the men on the island). They come and go during drinking binges. Her pain and feelings of failure as a mother and as a human were overwhelming. How encouraging it is, and how much hope we truly have in a God that saves a wretch like me. It is so beautiful knowing that we can never “out-sin” God’s grace, we can only fail to acknowledge our need for a Savior.

Upon arriving back at our ‘home’ Tuesday evening, we heard word that a black bear spotting occurred on our street several hours earlier. Yes, indeed, there is a bear on the island.

On Wednesday, Alaina and I spent 4 hours traveling the island, knocking on doors, delivering posters, and encouraging the children to attend our camp. The island’s last day of school was yesterday. They do not go to school consistently throughout the year because of the weather and because of scheduled cultural time off for hunting leave. I know many of my PA friends would love it if life stopped for hunting season. No one works, nothing is open, and men leave for the bush, until they return with enough food to survive the year. All of that to say our children’s camp begins this coming Monday. We have decided that in order to spend more quality time with each child, we would divide the ages into 4 groups and run camp for one group at a time. The older two groups will be going through the first 6 chapters of Daniel and the younger two groups will be learning about how much they are loved. Love seems to be what everyone is seeking. Children, who are not receiving love from their parents, are searching just about any where. As we delivered fliers, many young girls (14-16) answered the doors and said yes, they do have children. The ratio between children who have fathers and children who actually have daddies is sickening.

Yesterday evening was greatly encouraging. Like I have said many times, there is a very slow revival occurring in this place. I continuously pray for that little light at the end of the tunnel to shine increasingly brighter. In lieu of the recent suicide wave, the community is seeking unity to fight against it. The deputy chief called a meeting with all of the church leaders and other influential individuals from both Moose Factory and Moosonee. There were about 36 people in attendance. The topic of discussion was “How can we come together to stop young people from taking their own lives?”

Although there is no simple solution, several major items were brought up in conversation. Most importantly, right now, suicide seems to be glamorized among youth. When a teen takes his/her life, there is a recognition and attention that most youth here desperately crave. Immediately, the person becomes a star on Facebook, probably with more friends writing messages and looking at pictures than ever before. A sports jersey is hung in the school, next to classmates who have made similar poor decisions. A public service is held celebrating the life, which unfortunately, should not be celebrated as it ended way before its time and a huge feast is held after the final burial. Suicides and suicide attempts have been prevalent for at least the past 10 years and so the community has just begun to expect them. Instead of speaking out against the act and truly educating the youth, they are waiting in fear for the next one to take his/her life and trying to survive the pain and heartbreak of the last several that succeeded.

Ultimately, last night’s meeting had one huge victory. The churches have agreed that in order to battle this monster, they will need to be unified. The power of one body, one Savior, one faith, and one baptism is immeasurable and it is time to unleash that power and attempt to make a change. I am greatly looking forward to this month’s prayer meeting with the church members from many congregations in both Moose Factory and Moosonee. As St.Augustine so appropriately stated, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

Prayer Requests:

• Please pray for the deputy chief as he proceeds in his mission to help the youth through various organizations, like Project George, and as he presents the meeting’s topics to the tribal council. 
• Please pray for the youth as they are faced with increased free, unstructured time this summer. Pray for our children’s camp that will begin on Monday and run 4 days a week until the end of July.
• Please pray for the church leaders and for the unification of Christ’s body on the island and in Moosonee.