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Autumn Update 2021

As I write this, I’m coming out of quarantine.  Having to be shut in at home after crossing the border for my daughter Andrea’s wedding to Paul Bradley has given me concentrated time to write for my book.  I’m eager to again connect with my reserve friends in person as allowable, especially those who are struggling and experiencing difficult and painful situations. 

The first national holiday for Truth and Reconciliation with Canada’s Native people has come and gone. It was a painful day for residential school survivors, and yet one of relief to have the “cat out of the bag”, so to speak, about the atrocities and have it respectfully recognized by the entire country.

Many of you received the paper I wrote about the residential schools in the summertime.  A dear lady in Quebec experienced great emotion as she read it and wanted to help.  She sent a donation to provide some joy for survivors, such as Rosemary, pictured on the right with her daughter Lara.  Demonstrating care and hospitality to them over tea and goodies was an uplifting and joyful time.  Rosemary has experienced much growth in her spiritual life, and is now passing on new knowledge, her devotion, and love for Jesus to two of her daughters, both of whom are recovering from serious problems and trauma.

I love these personal contacts as they yield significant interaction and exchanges.  The deepened relationships that develop allow for further spiritual conversations and introducing Jesus as the Healer and Joy-Giver!

Recently my daughter was driving me in Grand Rapids on her wedding morning. Stopping for a red traffic light, I told her to roll down her window as I noticed a Native woman standing at the street corner, holding a sign that said, “I’m struggling.  Help me!”  I handed a bill to Andrea to pass on to the girl with the beautiful, but sad eyes. As the mass of traffic started to roll, we had no choice but to move along. I shouted some kind and encouraging words with a promise to pray for her.  I’ve not forgotten her face and desperately hope I can meet up with her sometime.  Later I discovered that just around the corner is the Indian Center which I intend to visit after covid. A good way to get ministry started in DayStar U.S. Some have asked if I’m retired.  The answer is “no”. Perhaps I’m retreaded!  This fall, along with working in depth on reserve and doing my writing, I’m taking on services in southern Ontario, mainly in the Kitchener and Scarborough areas, plus others yet to be scheduled.

        PRAYER CONCERNS

• Mental health issues on reserves due to covid, abuse and addiction reasons are of high concern.
• Pray in advance of covid ending that DayStar ministry will continue as usual on reserves.  Much depends on who is in the leadership roles at the time. Our hope is that the rez population will be eager and excited to have us back and be hungry for our message.
• Pray that the momentum of the Truth and Reconciliation movement will continue and reap the desired effect of understanding & unity
• Safety in long distance traveling and for the Holy Spirit’s moving in the services.
• Pray for: Melanie P. and R., Jon S., Andy M., Heidi M., Alicia A., Rachel R., & Devin P.

Short Sketches

Individuals needing your prayers, each in their thirties…

L.

I’ve been ‘walking’ with L. for about three years.  A mom, born and raised in a dysfunctional family, is the mother of two sets of handsome twins, all in foster care, and a disabled infant who was taken from her at birth died at four months old in a foster home.  The events of L.’s life and that of her extended family would take up a whole book.  The baby’s Caribbean father brought drugs to Wiky and hooked up with L.  Eventually he was deported.  L. is full of anger at what she calls neglect of her baby while in care, and other trauma, that she can hardly function.  She desperately wants her twins back, however at this time she is not ready for their return.

I noticed when she came into my office one day that her eyes were clear, she wasn’t shaking and that her mind was clear. She described to me a terrifying encounter with the devil who was bent on destroying her. Then, she said, Jesus stepped in and poured love and grace on her head and all the way to her feet.  Transformed is the word she also used.   I believe she has faith now, however due to her circumstances, not all due to her fault, she really struggles. 

In addition, due to the fact that Wiky has lost about a dozen young men from suicide lately, some of whom were her friends which has brought multiplied grief to her and the community.

I’m not free to tell the whole story due to legalities and confidentialities.  Please pray for my friend that she will have the will power to make decisions and to carry through with them to better herself, stay off drugs, think clearly, find new friends, and live a wholesome lifestyle.  I told her about Teen Challenge for women, and from time to time she considers it.  Likely that is the best route for her to take. 

D.

D. is 33, the father of a two-year-old daughter who is in foster care.  Her birth has challenged him to change his lifestyle of drugs and alcohol.  His parents accepted Christ when he was about six.  His father has struggled with the same except for the time my husband Don was in his life.  Then he was mentored and did well, after Don passed away, he reverted to his old lifestyle.  D. has said he has been in multiple treatment centers and could teach their programs.  A year and a half ago I managed to get him into Teen Challenge London where he did well till his anger flared and he was let go.  I am so sad that he went back to the druggie house as no one would take him in, nor family, friends, or those in the Wiky Fellowship.  All were fed-up with him and didn’t trust him as he had a repeat record. 

Again, it was mainly trauma and the reserve mentality that brought him down.  He has almost died eight times, one time resulting from a slashed throat at a party.  He is familiar with living on Sudbury streets, saying it is safer there than to live in Wiky.

He keeps in touch with me by phone.  Still wanting to get out of his pit.  He has a knowledge of the Scriptures and does pray.  The desire for a better life is there, however the will power is not present within him.  ‘He hasn’t hit bottom yet’ is what most people say.  I see the situation like this.  I think of a drowning person.  A life preserver may be thrown out to him.  Yet if the person doesn’t have the strength to take hold of it, he cannot be saved.  This is the way I see both D. and L.  The loving care and strength of godly people are needed to help them out of the pit.  The rescuers need to stay present with them to journey daily together, mentoring, teaching, and keeping them accountable.  Not easy, but this is needed to rescue the lost sheep. Pray that a Christian man will come alongside him.

A.

A. was addicted.  I hadn’t seen her in years.  Coming to my office she simply stated ‘I want to get back to my faith’.  She had accepted Christ in her younger years when attending DayStar programs.  Now a mom of three beautiful daughters and grammy to two babies, all living with her, her life was a mess.  We began meeting weekly with me mentoring and teaching her about life, motherhood and how to be obedient to the Lord.  I challenged her with Scripture and she ‘ate it up’.  She started taking steps forward, but then occasionally a step backward. 

One of the daughters had a boyfriend living with the family.  Not long after they had a baby together, a fight occurred, and the young man went missing.  A. was the one to find his body and went into trauma mode.  One by one many fine young men took their lives, one being her own boyfriend. 

Being covid season I cannot spend time in person with the many who need attention and assistance.  I struggle with that.  Pray for me as I know Wiky so well and see all the need.   Sometimes my prayer is, ‘Lord, please stop the pandemic, and let me LOOSE!’ 

So far, I am well.  Pray for my upcoming operation on Wednesday, January 12th.  Cancerous growths will be taken from my nose and skin grafting done. 

Hopefully I can soon join you all on zoom. 

Till then,

Thanks for your interest and your support. 

Supporting Church Letter 2022

Dear Friends at Springvale,

Almost every morning my first routines are my time in God’s Word to ready myself for the day, and then to spend some time on the treadmill.  Not just to get my heartrate up, but to use it as my prayer platform, especially for my family, the DayStar staff and ministry, and for my supporters who are committed to ‘partnership with me in the gospel’ as the Apostle Paul put it.  That’s where you come in.  Your ongoing support keeps me ‘on the job’ daily, even in this covid time.  You are having an impact on Native lives and turf.  Thank You!

• My heart overflows each day for the blessings in my life.  For my family:  children and grandchildren all serving Jesus with passion, for the Lord entrusting me with the establishment of the DayStar ministry, all the opportunities with my boots on the ground, sharing our wonderful Jesus with the dear indigenous people, and for the grace and favour He has shown in my life.  I am forever grateful for your kindness, concern and prayers for me.
   
• Each of us within DayStar has had to find optional ways to serve our Native people during this second year of covid.  This past year has found me in deeper involvement with extremely needy adults between the ages of 19 and 47.  Most are in deep pits of pain, addiction and grief. Each one has a riveting story. Some were involved with DayStar programs as children and teens, and now are realizing they need to turn to God for help. As exhausting and taxing as the work is, I love these significant opportunities to counsel and help these valued young adults get turned around for Jesus.
   
• Covid cases in Wiikwemkoong were minimal at first, but now has spiked, getting close to 400 cases in the community of 4,000 people.  Since around the last of summer till now there has been another pandemic, that of suicide.  In the same age group as above, 19 – 47, there have been about 14 or 15 young men who have taken their lives.  One young Mom as well, at 37, the daughter of one of my good friends.  Distress and grief have taken deep root here, causing many more to consider doing the same.  Fentanyl is everywhere, with overdoses occuring.  After overdoses, hanging is the next choice for taking one’s life.  Chief and Council must do more.  And, as we can, we’re doing our best to confront this pandemic as well.  For now, we’re doing what we can and exploring ways to be effective in this area.  My doctor who has a long list of clients in Wiky told me that several people in grief have made comments to the effectiveness of my ministry to them.  Thanks be to God.
   
• Till hockey season began, I was able to negotiate TV time on Wiky’s Channel 5 to show wholesome and Christian movies.  Knowing the boredom, the increase of family violence and the degenerating mental wellness, I was happy that the band channel was supportive.  The movies were presented Saturday nights at 8 p.m., prime time, at no cost to us at all.  PTL. 
   
• Progress on the writing of my book has been slow but is coming along.  Writing truly is emotional.  I find tears in my eyes at some points, and laughter rings out at other times.  I have written about nine chapters at this time, with beginnings on many others.  Included will be pictures of course, along with some Personal Paragraphs I wrote for the DayStar Dateline, song lyrics, and other appropriate and interesting items.  No matter who the reader is, I want to carry him/her along through my life, demonstrating how wonderful it is to journey with Jesus.
   
• Cheryl Lynn Peltier, a Wiky band member who has worked with me at the DayStar Center in Wiikwemkoong for almost ten years, and a close friend, has a stage three cancer diagnosis. Presently she is undergoing both chemotherapy and radiation treatments at the Northeast Cancer Center in Sudbury.  My heart aches for her and the family.  She is indeed a strong, bold warrior for the Lord and is having a remarkable witness and impact on many in the Wiky community. Daily she writes strong, bold, and challenging Scriptural verses and remarks on FaceBook.  She has heavy prayer support for these trying days.  Please join us in earnest prayer for her.    
   
• I need to bring you into what is happening with me in this first month of 2022.  Some time ago I had two basil cell carcinoma lesions taken off my nose.  This occurred again, so on Wednesday, January 12, I had more removed.  This time it was termed major surgery, done in Sudbury, 2 and ½ hours from my home.  It was more invasive and required skin grafts.  What looked like a pit bull’s bite on my face is now healing.  My battered face turned yellow from the bruising.  I told my friends they could call me Su-Ling or some other Chinese name!  I now have the results of the operation.  I am happy to share that the pathologist who checked the area after the procedure declared it cancer free! 

 I am blessed by the Lord’s giving to me through you. I’m reminded of your generosity and prayers as I view how faithful God has been through my finances this past year.

Gratefully, and Chi Miigwetch (a big thank you)!