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Wednesday, 11 March 2009 |
When you roll into town with the Western Star pulling a forty-eight foot trailer full of groceries, people get excited! They identify the truck and trailer and it means the Food Pantry will be filled from wall-to-wall and front-to-back. After all, when you load forty-eight pallets with twenty-four food boxes on each, it totals over a thousand boxes of food. 1152 to be exact.
Each box will feed two people for a week. And when you’re hungry and poor, a box of groceries is a big deal. It’s the kind of deal that makes sense of a few verses like these:
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14-17 (TNIV)
It’s faith that becomes action that makes the difference in the lives of people who are hurting and hungry. Action means loading a truck in Troutdale, Oregon and driving to the Nez Perce Reservation in Lapwai, Idaho and helping feed Native Americans. Action means taking a giant step (of faith) and doing something. Action means the love of God is active and alive and making a difference.
The trip to Lapwai in February is always a question mark because of the weather. You just never know in the Pacific Northwest what you’re going to get, even in late winter. This year we had it all! The overnight snowfall transformed the Columbia River Gorge on IH-84 into a winter wonderland equaling any picture postcard. When the sun rose, the skies cleared and the views were spectacular.
Miles later and deep into eastern Washington state the spectacular turned into heavy frozen fog, more snow, rain and sleet and then the same things all over again. The old adage, “if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute, it will change,” was never more true. Even when arriving in Lapwai at the Food Pantry the blue skies turned dark, and great big quarter sized snowflakes drifted down as more than a dozen happy Native Americans off-loaded the big trailer. The remarkable thing about the work crew was that it included two members of the Nez Perce Tribe Executive Committee. These NPTEC members lifted, carried, laughed and smiles their way through the whole load. Later, I learned they went to a NPTEC council meeting with a glowing report of the quality and quantity of the load.
I couldn’t help but think of last summer when we sat together for the first time with the NPTEC in Orofino, Idaho and talked of the partnership with Frontier Missions and our desire to help the Native American people in greater numbers and ways than ever before. I couldn’t help but think that, “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” I couldn’t help but think that the actions of faith were the means to an end. The goal, then, now and always is to bring as many people to faith in Christ as possible. The goal is to secure an eternity in Heaven for as many Native Americans as we can. Whatever we need to do to accomplish that goal, we will do! We will be people of action.
When you think of all of our donors, prayer partners, friends, volunteers , team members and helpers who make this ministry happen, you realize that lots of people are making a difference in the lives of Native Americans. Thank God the work continues and grows because of partnerships and friendships that help us accomplish the goals of ministry and vision.
I’m reminded of these things and humbled whenever I roll into the reservation with food and supplies. I’m really your representative and a missionary-evangelist for the Lord as I set the air brakes and climb down out of the cab. It is an honor to do this ministry and know that we’re not say, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed…”. Rather, you and I are, together, making a huge difference by expressing the love of God in action. Aren’t you thankful for that?
Sincerely,
Rick McPherson
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Wednesday, 04 February 2009 |
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One crock-pot full of home-made chicken noodle soup, another with sauerkraut, potatoes and sausage, two loaves of bread, one sourdough, one whole wheat, a stick of margarine spread and pitchers of ice water were all set out on the table in the middle of the restaurant.
“Anyone in the community who’s hungry can come and eat here for free, every day at lunch,” the pastor said.
I learned later that the provider was the owner of the restaurant. He had moved his family to the Quinault community after his release from a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program that he had completed. As a rock & roll drummer his life had spiraled downward and after seeking and receiving help, he knew he had to change his entire environment. The local pastor had met him one day in the restaurant that he had bought to earn an income. Learning of his musical background, he invited him to the church to play drums. “Oh, I’m not even a believer, you wouldn’t want me in your church,” was the response.
“Let’s not worry about that right now, just come on over and play drums and we can be friends,” was how the pastor answered.
After several months of drumming and friendship, he knew he had found something that he needed and didn’t even know it…and made the decision to follow Christ as his Savior and Leader. Immediately he talked to the pastor about the food pantry and the impact that the Quinault Valley Chapel was having on the hungry people in the community. “I want to help feed these people, too!” he said.
Within days he started serving up a hot lunch in his restaurant to anyone who was in need and hungry. And people saw, heard, touched, smelled and tasted God’s love.
As I stood in the parking lot and helped off-load yet another load of groceries for the Quinault reservation, I couldn’t help but think that people, wherever they might be, are not impressed by what you know, but rather, what you do. Talk is rather cheap and nobody really cares what you say, anyway. What really matters is what you do.
The pastor really did something. The rock & roll drummer really did something. And, you really did something. You cared about the souls of Native Americans and helped us, help them. That’s something.
Sincerely,
Rick McPherson |
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Saturday, 03 January 2009 |
It’s not often that we have waist-deep snow drifts on our property, let alone black ice and fifty mile an hour winds howling out of the Columbia River Gorge. But, this month we had exactly that…and then some! Winter arrived before anyone expected it and before you could say, “Where is that snow shovel?” the region was paralyzed with a ferocious winter storm. December ’08 will not soon be forgotten! The experts are saying it was one of the worst winter storms, ever!
Fortunately, the timing of the storm was such that we were able to get the last trip of the year to the Yakama Reservation in White Swan, Washington concluded before the roads were closed and truck and vehicle travel was impossible. It’s a good thing, too, because the groceries, blankets, warm coats, gifts and toys arrived just in time for Christmas. The brutal winter storm and weather was off-set by the warmth and kindness of the Frontier Missions’ team as they distributed family food boxes throughout the community.
As we close the year and anticipate 2009 and all that the Lord has in store for us, I’m reminded of these words that King David wrote in Psalm 9:1
“I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart, I’m writing the book on your wonders. I’m whistling, laughing and jumping for joy. I’m singing your song…” ™
It’s true; our hearts are full because God has, indeed, done wonderful things for us at Frontier Missions. We are whistling, laughing and jumping for joy…and singing His song!
Thank you to all of the family, team-mates, friends, volunteers, donors, prayer warriors, helpers and supporters of the great vision of Frontier Missions. We could NOT do this ministry without you. You have made a difference in the lives of Native Americans. Many have come to know Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord. Many have come to a personal knowledge of God’s love, acceptance and forgiveness. Many have come to a place where hope has been restored.
With the coming of the New Year, may you be blessed with good friends, good health…and God’s best! May your New Year be anointed and abundant!
Sincerely,
Rick McPherson
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Wednesday, 03 December 2008 |
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Winter is harsh in South Dakota. When we arrived on the reservation they were still reeling from forty-four inches of snow and eighty mile an hour winds. “Worst blizzard I’ve ever seen!” one old-timer told us. As we drove the last miles from Rapid City to the Pine Ridge we saw that power poles were snapped off at the ground level like broken toothpicks. Emergency crews from Iowa, Nebraska and Wyoming were on site to help with repairs and restore power to the barren frozen land. Under normal circumstances the conditions are brutal with unemployment, poverty, hunger, alcoholism and despair all in abundance. When you lose power, you’re numbed by the cold and the darkness attacks with a vengeance. Winter is harsh, indeed!
We had driven fourteen hundred miles to the reservation with a full load on the big rig of over one thousand family food boxes, wrapped toys and gifts, bottled water, health and beauty aids, pet food, paper products and perhaps the most popular of all…one pallet of coffee! We did have to “hang iron” to get the rig into the church parking lot but it was worth it.
John Bush, our longtime friend and contact to another fifteen outposts on the reservation, climbed up into the truck cab and wept tears of joy! “You’ll never know what this means to us! Thank you, Frontier Missions, for bringing these supplies. We couldn’t make it, if it wasn’t for you!” His eyes were communicating as much as his words.
When you look at the pictures you’ll see the faces of precious people who have been helped because of people like you! You’ve made a difference in the lives of these Native Americans. Your financial help and prayers make this ministry possible. It is people helping people! Thank you, on behalf of people like Kate Kindle from Oglala, SD who took time to write and say:
“Greetings in the name of the Lord. Thank you for sending the boxes of food and clothing for our families. They came in time for Thanksgiving Day when families will gather at the table for dinner. They are always thankful to receive the groceries. And thanks to John Bush and his nephew for the hard labor of delivering the boxes thru difficult winter roads. The Lord is so good to provide to us His provisions thru wonderful Christian brothers and sisters.”
Notes like that change the harshness of difficult circumstances to the warmth of genuine Christian love in action. More than words or thoughts, you have conveyed God’s love in specific and practical ways to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, encourage the down-trodden and bring hope in the midst of despair. May God bless you abundantly, for your love and compassion.
Sincerely,
Rick McPherson
Team Leader
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