Day 6 - last day of play days and Next Steps

 Thursday July 25

So this is the last day of Play Days and Next Steps. The Next Steps program ends on Thursdays - and today there is a special ending to the week. They end the program each week with Chapel during the Next Steps program. I noticed that many people were very supportive of each other and many came because it was chapel on Thursday. This is their church. Church does not need to be a physical building, following a specific worship set and preaching. These people want to hear more of and about God and Jesus. They want to improve in their lives and learn more about Jesus.

On this last day some came again for the bannock and coffee, others came for the friendship, and more came for the chapel. Today they had singer Jesse Green come to sing and share her music and talent.  Two of our team (Andrew and Holim) shared their testimonies; stories that show how we are people like them, who have struggled and how Jesus pursued them and waited for them. They were attenuative. I believe they also drew hope from the sharing.

After lunch, we were able to go to our last play day complex - John St. Here again we ran into special friends we met last year. Alice and Holim (and their kids) were hoping to see someone their youngest made a special bond with last year. We heard at the start of the week that she was at the reserve. But their daughter had a dream last night that she saw her at the play day. They had gifts for her and so looked forward to seeing her.  Guess what... she was there!  So they were able to connect and chat. I remember that Northwind has a special connection with some of the people there. They sit out and talk with each other. They watch out for each other.  What struck many of our team members was how close many of them are with each other. They often refer to each other as cousins or uncle and aunt even though there is no direct blood relation with them. Some look after others' kids. One fosters 4 kids from there, along with her own!  They truly do care for each other.

I walk away from all this thinking about how do we treat each other. How do we find good and build hope in each other? Would we support one another, or just bring judgment. And how can we learn from these interactions and change our perceptions and ways of looking at others when we are back home?

We can all see how carefully Northwind has been in connecting with these people and doing things that serve them. They have so many programs to help. They are right there in the thick of it helping and supporting. They demonstrate how Jesus wants us to care for the least, the lost, and the lonely. Orphans, Widows, those suffering, and those seeking. How do you share Jesus? You do it through action and taking care of their needs, because Jesus calls us to care for them. The Word alone will do little. Actions alone are good, but do not draw us to a higher purpose, reason or call. 

So when you see street-adjacent people in your walk, you see the person begging for money on the street or at the intersection, how do you see them? Are they a nuisance? Do you see them as people?  And what if that was you or someone you knew? 

We hope that through this week you have had a glimpse of the work being done here and we hope you will join us either on missions, or street outreach back home or in any other area that serves others. 

One more day ot go - we will be doing a prayer walk around the city near Northwind, and also the adults will do some street outreach in the evening on Friday.  Pray for safety and protection, as well as the opportunity to meet and interact with people in the area.

We will also take the time to say thank you and good bye to those we have worked with all week.

 i

map of the 49 Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the 49 different communities

It is possible the Northern Lights were slightly visible tonight.