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Frontier Missions Hope Benefit |
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Friday, 05 September 2008 |
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Thursday, 31 July 2008 |
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It’s quite a moment when the big back doors swing open. It happened awhile ago with John Bush on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota and then again last week with Gary West on the Quinault reservation in Washington. I don’t have to look inside the trailer because I already know what’s in there. Instead, I always look at the face of the person who’s standing beside me. Specifically, I look in their eyes. And, it happened again, Gary’s eyes filled with tears! He couldn’t believe all the groceries that he saw. “Wow! Praise God!” he said, softly.
We had received a phone call asking if we had groceries and could we bring some to Lake Quinault. “Where’s Lake Quinault?” I said. “Oh, it’s not too far. You just go north on I-5 and take Hwy 12 W to Elma and then to Aberdeen and go north on Hwy 101 to Lake Quinault. If you get to Forks, you’ve gone too far!” Right!
Quinault Community Chapel is on the reservation and Gary West is the pastor. He told me that their food pantry has been empty for a long time and they had no way to get food to help the Natives on the reservation and in the community. When we responded with help it sent a message of hope to encourage their hearts and lighten their load. The tears were real and the sentiment was sincere to say, “Thank you. You’ll never know how much this means to us. Thank you!”
As we walked the length of the trailer and I climbed behind the wheel of the Western Star for the return trip, Gary asked me if we would be able to come back and bring another load. “Sure we can. In fact, we could come on a Saturday with a load and then lay over and preach on Sunday morning at your service and tell the Good News of God’s love, acceptance and forgiveness.” “You’d do that?” he asked. “Of course we would.” I said and smiled as I shook his hand. “Of course we would.”
So, another trip and another entry in the ministry log here at Frontier Missions. It’s made possible because of the help and prayers from people like you. People who care about God’s work, the message of hope and salvation and the Native American people. You’ve made a difference. And, you’ve made it possible to bring tears to the eyes of a dear pastor who desperately needed help. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Rick McPherson
Team Leader
“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” |
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Salmon Nets and Gaff Hooks |
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Wednesday, 02 July 2008 |
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The scenery is absolutely spectacular! We had driven
south from Lapwai, Idaho
through White Bird and arrived in Riggins and the Salmon
River by mid-day. As we expected, the fishermen were
everywhere and just as we arrived one angler pulled a beautiful Salmon out of
the white water. Just upstream we spotted Jonas and sat down for a
chat. He was netting fish and his 15’ pole was leaning up against a tree
as he took a break and talked with us. With our video camera rolling we soon
captured him standing knee deep in the turbulence, dipping his net to the
bottom searching for the elusive pink meat. He had been successful and
had a cooler full of smoked fish for sale.
The history of the Nez Perce and salmon fishing is
inextricably connected. Some Natives still use the old Gaff Hook, and if
you think that netting is difficult, you can only imagine the challenge of
using the Gaff. Be rightly impressed because what they do and how
they do it is a fundamental part of their rich culture.
This year we were invited to sit with the Tribal Council and
talk about the work of Frontier Missions. Their welcome was a huge
blessing and indicated that we were not intruding but rather partnering with
them to help the people.
Our Frontier Missions’ team had unloaded the big rig and
filled the food pantry to the brim. Workers finished the roof and weather-proofed
the building for winter. The chain-link fence around the property was
completed and the painting project at the Presbyterian Church was
finished. Each day our missionaries were in the community park to present
the Family Fest Outreach in the afternoon and evening. Boys and girls,
Moms and Dads and single adults all came to receive snacks, prizes, food boxes,
sack lunches and most importantly, hear the message of hope and the Good News
of God’s love, acceptance and forgiveness. Each day people responded to
the invitation to follow Christ with joy.
Thank you for your help to make this ministry happen.
You have made a difference in the lives of Native Americans!
Just like the maid who came to clean one of the rooms in the hotel
and was introduced to Jesus by one of our team members. She will never be
the same again. Praise the Lord!
Sincerely,
Rick McPherson
Team Leader
“When we get tangled up in our problems, be still.
God wants to untangle the knot.”
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Tuesday, 10 June 2008 |
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Trust me; Martin, South Dakota is a long way from Portland, Oregon. Specifically it’s 2,700 miles, round trip. When you do the math at 5 mpg and $4.75 per gallon, it totals,$2,565.00 for diesel fuel. But, we’re committed to helping Native Americans on reservations and the Pine Ridge is one of the neediest in our land. The reservation borders Nebraska and is the site of the Massacre at Wounded Knee. Our friend and brother, John Bush lives in Martin and Wayne Campbell and I made the trip in our Western Star pulling a 48’ trailer loaded with 850 grocery boxes, a 1986 Ford 4X4, half-ton pickup and 6 sets of king mattresses and box springs. A full load, to say the least! Wednesday evening, I was asked to speak and I brought greetings from Frontier Missions and a message from God’s Word. Several responded at the conclusion to make Jesus the Lord of their lives and said, as Joshua, “but for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” Jeff Cisco is a missionary pastor who serves in Martin and he and John Bush had invited other Native pastors, including Cecelia Spotted Bear and Stanley Hollow Horn to join us for the meeting. It was a great time and everyone left with groceries and the new prayer magnet for Frontier Missions!
Rick McPherson delivers food, clothing and an ’86 Ford 4X4 to John Bush on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota In just a few days we'll be leaving for the Family Festival and outreach in Lapwai, Idaho on the Nez Perce reservation. Pray for this ministry! We'll arrive on June 21 and be there through Friday, June 27. Mark it on your calendar, please! We'll be giving food boxes, toys, gifts, prizes and snacks plus finishing the roof and fence at the food pantry. And, most importantly we'll be telling the Good News of God's love, acceptance and forgiveness! Sincerely, Rick McPherson Team Leader “Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes!” |
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