The shelves of the Thrift Store were well stocked.  Furniture, lamps, Christmas items and other BIG items were set up in the warehouse with paths so people could at least pass by. 

We had prayed, prepared and packed as much into the warehouse as we possibly could.

Our lines were long but with an extra cash register for cash at the back of the warehouse, people didn't need to wait long.  We had a system set up where you could drop off your  "loaded arms" items, get a ticket and continue shopping.  We only have minimal shopping carts and with a crowd like we had, the system worked well. 

In the past we've had an influx in the morning and then continuous all day.  This one was different in that things were pretty quiet, everyone was nice and friendly and the crowds were continual all day.  Those who weren't able to come on the weekend came on Monday and we had an excellent day at the store.

The end result was the best sale ever!   We know our customers and know what they like and so we were prepared with loads of items that they  wanted and had asked for previously. Every sale gets improved with traffic flow, plenty of volunteers to help before and during the sale and happy customers. 

These sales are the backbone of the mission right now and is enabling us to continue helping Native Americans in very tangible ways. We’re taking food boxes to Celilo, OR now and are continuing with our ongoing work with White Swan, WA. We’ll keep you updated as to the ongoing ministries that are occurring daily.

Also watch for details on the next Warehouse Sale scheduled for November. Lots of Christmas items!!!

This past weekend, Jan & Pat Cousins, visited Babe in White Swan, WA. Babe has given her life for the last 15 yrs. to help her people survive. Giving of her time and her own money, she is providing not only service, but LIFE. She provides a “safe house” for abused women (usually only overnight), though the “facilities” are meager at best. You and I wouldn’t consider staying there. White Swan is closest to Yakima and on the Yakama reservation. You don’t go through White Swan to get somewhere…it’s in a canyon and the only way out is to turn around.

We are partnering with Lakota Dreams to help Babe and others provide a Thrifty Store (their name) to sell items of need. This way they can help themselves.  The only other “store” in White Swan is a gas station, mini-mart type of place that they call the grocery store. Prices are prohibitive but they must pay them for basic needs like TP, since the cost of gasoline keeps them from even going to Yakima to shop.

Jan said that at first glace the historical building looked pretty good from the outside, but walking in you were in the middle of the Taco Shop, where tacos were provided daily for $1.00 until they were gone using a hot plate and make-shift kitchen that has somehow passed code.  For some families, this was their meal. On weekends, more of a breakfast burrito is made and the cost is more. Looking around, one would see children playing, not with toys, but with a bottle that they rolled around like a ball into a box. Keep walking to see clothes strewn around and a shoe here and there.

The Thrifty Store would be housed in a double wide motor home behind that building and the facilities would be great, once you get past the debris, dead animals and tall weeds. We can take care of all of that.  Why don't you consider taking your family there for a missions weekend?  ...painting, building, cleaning.....yes, it will be primitive, yes, it will be hot, BUT the rewards will be great!   We are taking special monetary donations and donated items such as clothing, small household items, boxed/canned foods, furniture, toys. Call Jan, 503-674-9854 to have your specific questions answered. They do have electrical power so this will be very helpful. Some reservations do not! Pray with us and get involved somehow. Pray, give, help!

A daily Vacation Bible School in the morning at the park keeps a record number of children busy with games, crafts, Bible stories, puppets and activities. They are served lunch and then come in the afternoon and evening be part of softball, volleyball &  football games with the team. Relationships are forged so that these children and youth will listen to “the good news” of the gospel. On Monday, they had made 64 lunches which was more than  what they felt they needed. 66 lunches were actually served which included a family with four children who came late and were hungry. Our team made sure they had something to eat.

The Tuesday group was even bigger because on Tuesday and Thursday family food boxes are distributed to families represented by the children from the VBS.   The rest of the boxes are being given to the reservation Food Bank.  Vestal Smith, pastor’s wife, says we are the only organization who brings them food and that they haven’t had any food given since last year at this time when we brought a truckload. 

This morning (Tuesday) part of the crew went to a local seniors’ residence to do some "spruce up work" which included washing windows, weeding of flower beds, and putting down bark chips. Another group went to the Food Bank and helped organize the food that we brought for them.

Jan Cousins, thrift store manager, tells the story of a boy named George who is 13 or 14 yrs. old. On the first day, he wouldn’t come very close to team members. He watched from as far away as he could be but still know what's happening,  wouldn’t talk and seemed quite shy. He warmed up enough to get noticed and eat plenty of food and then three hrs. later was tossing a football with his new friends.  Thomas, Jan’s son, came to his mom the next day to introduce his new friend…George, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. Thomas also wanted to know why he had “just” a normal name and wanted his name to be something like “Grizzly Bear” or “Wounded Knee”…let’s see if by the end of the week he may have a new name. Jan also said that the outreach is “so much more than I ever thought it would be…it’s so deep and so personal”. The team is already sitting down and talking about how they can make next year’s outreach even better.

While talking to Rick McPherson today, he said that they had been interviewed and pictures taken for the local tribal newspaper.  

Theme verse for the week is Acts 16:31 “…believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved – you and your household.” 

My heart is filled with praises to the Lord today!  The little song is going through my mind that says, “Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above”!  Does that mean the enemy is not fighting?  Not at all.  In fact, he has never fought harder, but the Word says, “greater is He that is in me than he who is in the world”!  That’s enough to shout about, don’t you agree?

This is my annual appeal letter for our summer outreaches.  By faith, we have planned one of our most aggressive missionary campaigns to our Native American brothers and sisters than ever before.  In fact, the first big rig just returned from our first summer trip to Whiteclay, Nebraska.  Our Field Director, Marv Boettcher, along with David Gowan, had a great and successful trip.  Marv just told me when they formed a circle and held hands while they prayed, John Bush wept and said, “this is really doing something for my people”!  Pictures of this trip will soon be posted on our website at  www.frontiermissions.org

By faith, and with your help, Teammates, we have four more trips planned before this month is over.  We are taking a load of groceries to Jim Blewett and the Nez Perce in Lapwai, another load to Pastor John Bush, where he ministers to eighteen different out posts, then back to Lapwai, June 23-29, where for the seventh straight year our young people will hold VBS in the park, and winding up with a trip south to Williams, Arizona, where Calvin Bennett is faithfully ministering to the Native American people.

Teammate, every time we pull one of the Western Star big rigs up to the fuel pumps, it costs over $600 to “fill ‘er up”.  Do we have the money in the bank to buy all that diesel fuel? No, we don’t, but God does!  Would you just pray and ask God if He would have you help us?  One precious Indian man, women, boy or girl who finds God would make it all worth while.

We need to hear from you soon.  There is a new assurance around Frontier Missions, that God is still on the throne and that He will move on your heart to send that check, along with your prayers and support.  We cannot make all these trips without your help.  A little later in the summer, if God provides the finances, we plan to attend Crow Fair at Crow Agency, Montana. This is the largest gathering of Native Americans in the country, and they do not allow outsiders, but Pastor Ken Pretty-On-Top has invited us!  This will be Frontiers’ first time there.  Please hold us up in prayer.

Darrell E. Kennedy , President