Pit Bulls and Milk Bones!

It seemed like a really good idea at the time.  Fill your pockets with Milk Bones and when the Pit Bulls come close, just toss them a treat!  Right!  Problem is, a person with a pocketful of treats is a bigger treat than a single Milk Bone.  Why trade?  Go for the big prize. 

The rationale for all this had  to do with our monthly outreach to the Yakama reservation at Celilo Falls, Oregon.  Each time we arrived we were greeted by a gang of dogs,  Pit Bulls to be exact.  Being a dog lover,  I’ve always enjoyed  them and gotten along quite well… except for Pit Bulls.  Something about them just gives me the creeps.  Too many news stories about them attacking children and people in general, have left me nervous, to say the least. 

So,  how do you deliver food boxes, door-to-door in the Celilo Falls village and avoid the Pit Bulls?   Remember, the food box itself  smells like dinner, let alone the one carrying it. Well, that’s where the beauty of a well-placed Milk Bone comes in.  Make that, several well-placed Milk Bones.  Scattered around and generously distributed, the Milk Bones become your admission ticket to the Village and they’re enough of a distraction to let you get from the front door of  your truck to the front door of the house and give away your grocery box. 

The wonderful thing about this recent trip was the last house.  Not only did they open the door and receive their food box, they also invited our team members inside to visit!  After thirty minutes of conversation and questions they knew all about Frontier Missions and the God in Heaven who loves them, accepts them and forgives them!  That’s the main thing!   You see, we work “hand-in-hand with Native Americans” to help them physically and spiritually.  But, at the end of the day the most important thing is for people to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  You might say, it’s the biggest treat of all.

In preparation for our next trip to the reservation, we’ll be sure to have  prayer, plenty of food boxes,  some New Testaments to give away,  hearts of love and compassion and of course, lots of Milk Bones!

Sincerely,

Rick McPherson
Team Leader
“Faith is the ability to not panic.”

Since I noticed the first green shoots, I’ve gone back several times to check on the progress.  And, the green shoots are still green shoots.  Hurry up!  I want to see the flowers.  I want some color.  I want some definition.  Hurry up, please.  Despite my impatience, nature will take its course and no matter  what my imposed schedule  may be the flowers will bloom when they’re good and ready and not before. 

That principle is true and right.  Whether we like it or not, God has a schedule and we can either accept it or resent it.  In fact, I read this verse and thought of the green shoots…

     “Wait  for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”                                                                                                       Psalm 27:14 (NLT)

The connotation of the word “wait” is an eager and patient anticipation of the Lord.  In other words, everything is under control (His) and our impatience is not going to change the schedule.  We can be eager and anticipate His plan and … relax! 

When I think of our ministry here at Frontier Missions and the great needs that are everywhere on the reservations, I get anxious and impatient.  I’m tempted to rush ahead of God (if you can imagine) and just get it done.  Green shoots?  Let’s make ‘em bloom by tomorrow!  But, alas they won’t.  You must wait.  You must be strong.  You must trust that God’s schedule is WAY better than yours.  Remember …

  “ ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways’, declares the LORD.  ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ ”  Isaiah 55: 8-9  (NLT)

So, relax!  Before you know it the green shoots will be beautiful crocus, daffodils, tulips and iris…and our Creator God and Heavenly Father will receive all the glory!

Sincerely,

 
Rick McPherson
Team Leader

So, The Party Began

One day, Jesus, told His followers a beautiful trilogy about different people who had all lost things that were very important.   Each of them, when they found what was lost, celebrated.  They really celebrated!   One had lost an animal, another, some jewelry and the last, a son.  The father, whose son returned home after being lost, celebrated most.  He said, “ ‘Quick!  Bring the best robe and put it on him.  Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it.  Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.  So they began to celebrate.’”  One translator said, “So, the party began.”  Luke 15:22 (NLT)

The remarkable thing about these stories is that there’s more to them.  It’s not just about lost animals or jewelry or even kids who wander off.  As thrilled as any of us are, when we find lost stuff, albeit keys, wallets, phone numbers or a favorite sweater; it all pales in comparison to what’s really valuable.  In fact, Jesus said when one person, one lost soul, comes and repents to God, the angels in heaven rejoice.  They celebrate.  

As we plan for this New Year, let’s plan to celebrate, too!  Let’s plan and work hard so that Native Americans, will come to know God’s love, acceptance and forgiveness. Let’s reach out to introduce them to a personal and real relationship with Jesus Christ.  Nothing is more important or valuable.   

Because of your faithful prayer and financial support we are able to help Indian children, teenagers, men and women…those who were dead and are now alive…those who were lost and are now found!  Let the party begin!

Sincerely,

Rick McPherson
Team Leader
“Too many Christians are no longer fishers of men, but keepers of the aquarium.”

Mikey’s  Ball Glove 

“What do you do with this?”  Mikey asked.

“You put it on your hand and catch a baseball with it.”  Maria said, as she helped unload another load of Christmas toys and gifts for the children and their moms and dads on the Yakama reservation in White Swan, Washington. 

“You catch a baseball with it?” 

“Yeah, a baseball.  Here’s one in the box.  Let me throw it to you.”  Maria  smiled and backed up.  For the first time, Mikey had a real baseball glove on his hand and a new friend to toss him the ball. 

For little Mikey, a ten year old Native American, living on the reservation, he had been introduced to a whole new and exciting world with the gift of a baseball glove and ball. 

You see, the gifts that we distributed at Christmas were given by people like you who had the compassion and generosity to write a check and send a gift to help Indian people like the Yakama, Tulalip, Nez Perce and Lakota-Sioux.   The gifts ranged from home-made hats, scarves, mittens and quilts; to grocery boxes, winter jackets, box springs, mattresses and Bibles to cars and trucks that have been donated to us.  What a blessing to be able to deliver these gifts on your behalf and see the joy and appreciation in the eyes of these wonderful people. 

Some would dismiss a baseball glove and ball as trivial, but for a ten year old boy who didn’t know what it was, it meant the world.  As the Indian people say, “it’s the evidence!”  Yes, it’s the evidence that someone cares and someone loves and someone gives.  Thank you, dear friend, for helping us make a difference in the lives of Native Americans.  Without your help we could never do this ministry and tell the story of God’s love, acceptance and forgiveness. 

May this New Year be filled with God’s richest blessing and may 2008 be your friend!

Sincerely,

Rick McPherson, Team Leader

“As a child of God, prayer is like calling home, everyday!”