After devotion, Taketo, Ada and I went to #58 to visit an old friend C. She just appeared while we’re still looking for her house. It’s easy to find anyone you want on the reserve. She led us to her house and we were shown many pictures that showed the pride the family for the children and grandchildren. We stayed for about an hour and half; we encouraged them and prayed with them before we headed back to the church.
We had lunch quickly and went to the clinic at one o’clock as usual, and we were supposed to do ‘prize Bingo’ today. Bingo has been just a song to me in the past and this is the first time I really learned how to play Bingo. I was looking at the time as we were learning about the game and then I found out that there were not going to be any kids at the program today. Disappointment set in and as I wondered why we were playing this game—just the three summer students, a grandmother and her grandson and us. Then it dawned on me that it’s an opportunity for us to understand this game. Apparently, Bingo is a very popular game, or the only game on the reserve. It could be a social pressure for people to come out, a chance of hoping to win some extra money, something that can bring excitement as there is nothing much to do. It is possible to be addicted as people compete with each other.
After sometime there were a few small kids that came back from another program and they played Bingo with us, and I couldn’t believe that I won Bingo four times in a row! This only served as an educational experience for us, but I don’t recommend it. However, some of us had the opportunity to connect with the few summer students who have been there to help the summer program. It turned out that we were able to arrange a ‘girls’ night out for the teens.
We did some quick shopping for the supplies that we needed for the night. To my surprise, I saw ‘D’ and his mom at the cashier checkout. It’s the same ‘D’ with the same smile that we’ve met a few years ago except that he is much bigger now. I tried to catch up with ‘D’s mom and am glad to find out that they’re doing better this past year. God has been great and He did answer our prayers. The only concern now is that the mills that ‘D’s dad is working at could be closing down later this year, it might be a problem then. This might mean the people on the reserve would be affected.
After dinner, some of us went to pick up the teen girls at 7:00pm. They saw only two girls there when they arrived at the clinic. It might be a little frustrated especially for those who came for the first time as not all the girls who promised had actually showed up. Thank God that they were able to pick up some other girls as they drove around. They were a little uncomfortable at the beginning but felt more relaxed as we started making the cookies. Thanks M for the cookie dough, it really came in handy! We then had a chance to do personal care which they really appreciated; and some wished there was something like that available on the reserve. We had a good time connecting with the girls from the reserve; they have put their hand prints on the wall and we invited them to pray with us at the end. A small episode before that was we had two visitors show up while the other members went to pick up the girls. It’s when we’re not sure what to do with them, then God stepped in--they were doing a Bible study upstairs with Taketo with the help from our young team member, Andrew! Isn’t God amazing! Our day was long and we’ve not been able to do our cross-fit exercises, but it’s worth it. We’ve been building relationship the people on #77 and it’s really amazing how everything has been working out, not necessarily the way we expected.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
Posted by Shirley
Bingo! 4 in a row
Bingo Time
Bible Sharing
Pampering our skin
Girls' Night Out
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