After such a great summer, coming back home was the hardest thing; I’ve never cried so much in my life, I definitely left my heart in Wikwemikong First Nation, on Manitoulin Island.
Learning more about my culture, and getting know the community, building stronger relationships with the youth from last summer, and establishing new friendships. Once again God broke my heart for the things that breaks his. Seeing the broken families, knowing that all girls I worked with have been sexually abused in someway, knowing that 80% of the native populations die prematurely. Most die violently as a result of alcohol and drug abuse, or by their own hands. Sadly there are 668 First Nations in Canada, and almost all of them are dealing with the same situations.
I have been so blessed to see these girls for who they truly are. Within the 4 months I’ve been there, such strong friendships were built. However a common thing I noticed was most of the youth we worked with, assumed that people who work with Daystar are born Christians and we all live boring lives that are trouble free.
Sometimes I would go home almost feeling like I’m not doing anything, I don’t see any fruit, and wondering if I was actually making a difference. But I went to a youth conference called Pitch and Praise this spring, and the theme was “The Conspiracy Theory” the last night the speaker said:
“The true conspiracy of God is that he’s doing more behind our backs than he is in front of us.”
One of our last events, one of our girls wanted to confess something she had shared to me earlier, but she felt she wanted everyone else to know too. She spoke about where her life is right now, and how she never thought she would be doing the stuff she feels stuck in. But its only when she is with us that she feels at home, she feels like she can be her true self and not feel as though she is being judged.
A few nights I would get asked if “I’ve ever been through any hard times?” or “I know you were born believing in God, but were you always good?” It really blessed my heart to hear that the Youth were actually searching for something, and noticed that I was different. Sharing my testimony as a Christian Native hit a lot deeper than I thought it would. I’m so thankful that I got to see a few youth come to Christ this summer, and seeing a lot more searching for something. Now I’m back home praying that those seeds will fall on good ground & God would pour out his blood upon those girls and keep them safe.
I want to see other Native American’s rising up, and leading others to God, and let them know that it’s ok to have a dream, to have a plan and a purpose for life. I truly believe that I’m called to be a full time missionary, working in Native America. I applied to YWAM (Youth With A Mission) and got accepted to do a DTS (Discipleship Training School) September 21st 2008. I will need around $6000 to go and have all my expenses paid. I’m having a fundraising roast beef dinner September 6, its $10.00 a ticket. If you know you can’t make it donations are more than welcome. However if you can’t support me financially I’m asking that you will keep me in your prayers, that the needs will be met and I will have a peace about leaving my dad, and trusting God is in control.
Thanks for the prayers and support over this summer.
God Bless.
Melissa
This blog started as "my life in missions" but has become what inspires me, my thoughts through lifes ups and downs, & what is God teaching me.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Dinner at the Farm
Well its almost the end of summer... its been truly an amazing one, i'm so inlove with the youth that i work with and the thought of leaving this place has already brought tears to my eyes...
the other day we had an amazing girls group, we wanted to show the girls what it was like to feel important and feel special. We told them to bring dressy clothes, Lynn & Myself did make up for the girls, than later had a photoshoot with them (one of the other interns took photography in uni). to top off the night we had dinner in the old barn, candle lite with lanters all over (batterie opperated ones of course!) and the guys small group prepared our supper and served us 1st class... Everyone had an amazing time, & it was awesome to see God moving in these girls lives :)
the other day we had an amazing girls group, we wanted to show the girls what it was like to feel important and feel special. We told them to bring dressy clothes, Lynn & Myself did make up for the girls, than later had a photoshoot with them (one of the other interns took photography in uni). to top off the night we had dinner in the old barn, candle lite with lanters all over (batterie opperated ones of course!) and the guys small group prepared our supper and served us 1st class... Everyone had an amazing time, & it was awesome to see God moving in these girls lives :)
Friday, July 25, 2008
DayStar
Hey Everyone!
Summer has kicked into full speed, and has been extremely busy! We have girl’s small group (which is going through a series called “Make You Think”), hip hop classes (where we break down the lyrics to the song we are learning a routine too), camping and leadership skills, beach night (swimming and a BBQ along with a short testimony), Swat (Sunday night bible study, and getting the older native Christians to share their personal hope stories), AOK outreach events (another reservation on Manitou in Island), and serve projects around Wiky (get the youth involved in serving their community).
I should remind you I’m not working on a Christian community, this place is largely into native spirituality, most of the youth we work with at NOT Christians.
However, I was blessed to go to Missouri at the beginning of July to a Native Christian youth conference called Warrior leadership Summit (WLS) hosted by Ron Hutchcraft. I was one of the chaperones, seriously that conference was so life changing, and seeing the youth so into God was truly amazing. Growing up I had a hard time feeling alone because I didn’t have any real mentors or friends that were Christian Natives.
One girl that came to WLS has been a regular at DayStar, but she’s never established a relationship with God. And seeing her break down and surrender her life to God was defiantly a prayer answered! Seeing God work within the student’s lives has been the greatest thing ever, just being able to witness a year full of prayers being answered is the greatest feeling.
This summer has completely changed, it’s completely different students and building relationships with them, which has been hard because I’m only here for three more weeks, and I’m missing the friendships from last summer and trying to find times to reconnect with them, and somehow try and reach out to them still.
There’s so much I could share, but please continue to pray for the Aboriginal people in Native America, that God will continue to reveal himself to them, and his spirit will be poured out over this place.
God Bless
Melissa
Summer has kicked into full speed, and has been extremely busy! We have girl’s small group (which is going through a series called “Make You Think”), hip hop classes (where we break down the lyrics to the song we are learning a routine too), camping and leadership skills, beach night (swimming and a BBQ along with a short testimony), Swat (Sunday night bible study, and getting the older native Christians to share their personal hope stories), AOK outreach events (another reservation on Manitou in Island), and serve projects around Wiky (get the youth involved in serving their community).
I should remind you I’m not working on a Christian community, this place is largely into native spirituality, most of the youth we work with at NOT Christians.
However, I was blessed to go to Missouri at the beginning of July to a Native Christian youth conference called Warrior leadership Summit (WLS) hosted by Ron Hutchcraft. I was one of the chaperones, seriously that conference was so life changing, and seeing the youth so into God was truly amazing. Growing up I had a hard time feeling alone because I didn’t have any real mentors or friends that were Christian Natives.
One girl that came to WLS has been a regular at DayStar, but she’s never established a relationship with God. And seeing her break down and surrender her life to God was defiantly a prayer answered! Seeing God work within the student’s lives has been the greatest thing ever, just being able to witness a year full of prayers being answered is the greatest feeling.
This summer has completely changed, it’s completely different students and building relationships with them, which has been hard because I’m only here for three more weeks, and I’m missing the friendships from last summer and trying to find times to reconnect with them, and somehow try and reach out to them still.
There’s so much I could share, but please continue to pray for the Aboriginal people in Native America, that God will continue to reveal himself to them, and his spirit will be poured out over this place.
God Bless
Melissa
Originally written June 12 08.
Hey Guys!
Just wanted to ask for prayers... things are really starting to be stirred up here....
Aboriginal people are very intune with the spiritual world around us, most of them are very animistic... and seeing spirits of some sort is not an uncommon thing...
with that being said...one of the girls that went to Pitch and Praise with us was recently telling us how her walk with God is amazing, i thought that was awesome, but she continued to share with us how shes able to communicate with her grandparents more,.. (her grandparents have passed away)... she's really confused and is starting to mix Native Spirituality and Christianity...
The same night, after our girls small group, we (jen my roommate, and Sydney, one of our girls) were driving home from the Native reserve heading back to our farm when i saw some people walking across the road i slowed down the car, when i realized that there was nothing ACTUALLY there there i picked up speed... trying to shrug it off and convince myself it was the fog i kept driving...
Jen spoke up and had asked if we had saw "that" and sure enough we all the same thing...
at first i was really startled since i've never seen anything like that, but than realized that was definatly spirits of fear and intimidation, and when it was just the two of us, we were talking about how Jen felt earlier in her quiet time that God really wants us to become fully secure in his authority...
This week is the traditional powwow weekend, which isnt the typical powwow you might have seen in the past, but its very into "connecting with the spirits"... please keep us in prayers here.... and that things will start to turn around and God's blood will be poured out over this community... pray that this will be the season of break through in wiky and other native communities...
God Bless
Melissa
Just wanted to ask for prayers... things are really starting to be stirred up here....
Aboriginal people are very intune with the spiritual world around us, most of them are very animistic... and seeing spirits of some sort is not an uncommon thing...
with that being said...one of the girls that went to Pitch and Praise with us was recently telling us how her walk with God is amazing, i thought that was awesome, but she continued to share with us how shes able to communicate with her grandparents more,.. (her grandparents have passed away)... she's really confused and is starting to mix Native Spirituality and Christianity...
The same night, after our girls small group, we (jen my roommate, and Sydney, one of our girls) were driving home from the Native reserve heading back to our farm when i saw some people walking across the road i slowed down the car, when i realized that there was nothing ACTUALLY there there i picked up speed... trying to shrug it off and convince myself it was the fog i kept driving...
Jen spoke up and had asked if we had saw "that" and sure enough we all the same thing...
at first i was really startled since i've never seen anything like that, but than realized that was definatly spirits of fear and intimidation, and when it was just the two of us, we were talking about how Jen felt earlier in her quiet time that God really wants us to become fully secure in his authority...
This week is the traditional powwow weekend, which isnt the typical powwow you might have seen in the past, but its very into "connecting with the spirits"... please keep us in prayers here.... and that things will start to turn around and God's blood will be poured out over this community... pray that this will be the season of break through in wiky and other native communities...
God Bless
Melissa
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Originally Posted May 22
Hey Everyone!!!
Just thought i'd give you all a little update on things here at Daystar.
these past few weeks have been PACKED with hanging out with the girls to re-establishing our friendships from last summer...
The hardest part was that when we (the other interns and myself) left for the summer, some of the youth saw that as a "we're just more people that are leaving and won't come back or even care". and immediatley put walls up and grew cold...
Thank God that those are coming down!!!
We took a group of 4 girls (Mary, Giselle, Sydney & Chelsea) and 1 guy (Pierce) down to an event in Paris, Ontario, called "Pitch and Praise". It was so worth it, non of these kids never really seen any actual christian youth before, so to see 2000 kids coming together and praising God was totally mind blowing for them! (here on Wiky, you have either the Catholic Church or a few other small family churches that aren't too involved with the youth)
One of the things all the kids loved was that Manafest (the rapper) was there and took the time to talk with the wiky kids and let them know that he had remembered them(earlier this year Manafest came to this reserve and did a performance and some workshops) which made them feel special and in a deeper sense gave them a feel of worth...
During the sessions it was sometimes too hard for the girls to really pay attention, one of the girls even commented how "the guy is a brutal comedian" and was shocked to hear he was actually a preacher... However, Mary you could see her abserving EVERYTHING, really taking it in and trying to see what this "Jesus thing" is all about... Giselle, was the girl to ask questions, and really want to hear answers and want to know if other people have had a "hard past" or if they all grew up happy... Sydney, understood a little more than the rest of the other girls but still wants to learn more, she wants that decipelship... chelsea, Man, she really experienced God's love, and really felt his presence, she came out of a session for Girls and was like "I'm Free!!!" which is amazing! chelsea was always the slower learner and sometimes she just doesnt understand what Sin and repentance and salvation is... but this weekend she totally got it, and loved every moment of it... Pierce really came out of his schell saw was interested in meeting the other christians and seeing how they lived their lives by just socializing and expecting Pierce for who he is....
I know that God doing things within these Kids lives theres soooooo much i'd love to share about all of the kids, telling you about their stories, what they go through everyday... please keep praying because i really feel that a break through is coming! If you'd like to help in someway, whether it be donating clothes for the depot, praying for a specific Youth and their family, or finacially, or want to know how to get involved somehow feel free to private message me!!!
Take Care & God Bless
Melissa Williams
Left to Right: Sydney, Mary Giselle, Chelsea & Jen
Just thought i'd give you all a little update on things here at Daystar.
these past few weeks have been PACKED with hanging out with the girls to re-establishing our friendships from last summer...
The hardest part was that when we (the other interns and myself) left for the summer, some of the youth saw that as a "we're just more people that are leaving and won't come back or even care". and immediatley put walls up and grew cold...
Thank God that those are coming down!!!
We took a group of 4 girls (Mary, Giselle, Sydney & Chelsea) and 1 guy (Pierce) down to an event in Paris, Ontario, called "Pitch and Praise". It was so worth it, non of these kids never really seen any actual christian youth before, so to see 2000 kids coming together and praising God was totally mind blowing for them! (here on Wiky, you have either the Catholic Church or a few other small family churches that aren't too involved with the youth)
One of the things all the kids loved was that Manafest (the rapper) was there and took the time to talk with the wiky kids and let them know that he had remembered them(earlier this year Manafest came to this reserve and did a performance and some workshops) which made them feel special and in a deeper sense gave them a feel of worth...
During the sessions it was sometimes too hard for the girls to really pay attention, one of the girls even commented how "the guy is a brutal comedian" and was shocked to hear he was actually a preacher... However, Mary you could see her abserving EVERYTHING, really taking it in and trying to see what this "Jesus thing" is all about... Giselle, was the girl to ask questions, and really want to hear answers and want to know if other people have had a "hard past" or if they all grew up happy... Sydney, understood a little more than the rest of the other girls but still wants to learn more, she wants that decipelship... chelsea, Man, she really experienced God's love, and really felt his presence, she came out of a session for Girls and was like "I'm Free!!!" which is amazing! chelsea was always the slower learner and sometimes she just doesnt understand what Sin and repentance and salvation is... but this weekend she totally got it, and loved every moment of it... Pierce really came out of his schell saw was interested in meeting the other christians and seeing how they lived their lives by just socializing and expecting Pierce for who he is....
I know that God doing things within these Kids lives theres soooooo much i'd love to share about all of the kids, telling you about their stories, what they go through everyday... please keep praying because i really feel that a break through is coming! If you'd like to help in someway, whether it be donating clothes for the depot, praying for a specific Youth and their family, or finacially, or want to know how to get involved somehow feel free to private message me!!!
Take Care & God Bless
Melissa Williams
Left to Right: Sydney, Mary Giselle, Chelsea & Jen
Myself & Mary
updates
Hey
I thought i'd start posting my updates and photo's on here... feel free to check it out whenever!
---------------------------------------------
This was originally writen
April 26
Just decided to send a little update on whats going on with me...I'm living back on Manitoulin Island for the summer, working with an organization called Daystar Native Outreach, on a First Nation Called Wikwemikong (aka Wiky) theres about 1000 Aboriginals here... If you knew me for a long time you would know that living on a reservation would be one of the last things i would have done, because i hated the native stereotype and just saw a lot of Natives falling into it... and it seemed like anyone wanted to make a change for their future...
but a few years ago God had to really break my heart for the things that break his and gave me a loving heart toward my people... Instead of choosing to just see the stereotype, God really opened my eyes to see what was going on, opened my my eyes to generational trauma, oppressions and depression and the effects of residential schools, etc... God really placed a passion to see Native Americans come to God in a really way, and truly search His Character...
almost all the youth i work with have come from broken homes, have lost someone close to them, and for many of the girls have been sexually abused somehow, they have all felt the effects of substance abuse, and are falling into the same pattern...
the churches here are for the most part really dry... last summer, the Daystar team and Myself, were here building a relationships with the Kids, letting them know that they could come to us and trust us.. it was such a blessing to hear the kids ask questions wondering who God really was, and i've never felt so blessed to see a few of the youth come to Christ...
This year, we are starting bible studies that are more indepth, and really searching out Gods Character, and trying to show them that he's very real.... which can be a little hard, the organization i'm with is brethern/baptist... and sometimes it feels like some of the full year team still has God in a box an limits on him...
So basically i'm writing this for support, just pray that this summer would be a break through, that God's spirit will pour out over the community of wiky, and that the people here will be able to experience God in such a real and powerful way....
also, i'm here completely on volenteer terms, so please pray that God will provide finacially for me these next few months... that food will be provided and my bills back at home can be looked after...
thanks so much
God Bless
Melissa Williams
I thought i'd start posting my updates and photo's on here... feel free to check it out whenever!
---------------------------------------------
This was originally writen
April 26
Just decided to send a little update on whats going on with me...I'm living back on Manitoulin Island for the summer, working with an organization called Daystar Native Outreach, on a First Nation Called Wikwemikong (aka Wiky) theres about 1000 Aboriginals here... If you knew me for a long time you would know that living on a reservation would be one of the last things i would have done, because i hated the native stereotype and just saw a lot of Natives falling into it... and it seemed like anyone wanted to make a change for their future...
but a few years ago God had to really break my heart for the things that break his and gave me a loving heart toward my people... Instead of choosing to just see the stereotype, God really opened my eyes to see what was going on, opened my my eyes to generational trauma, oppressions and depression and the effects of residential schools, etc... God really placed a passion to see Native Americans come to God in a really way, and truly search His Character...
almost all the youth i work with have come from broken homes, have lost someone close to them, and for many of the girls have been sexually abused somehow, they have all felt the effects of substance abuse, and are falling into the same pattern...
the churches here are for the most part really dry... last summer, the Daystar team and Myself, were here building a relationships with the Kids, letting them know that they could come to us and trust us.. it was such a blessing to hear the kids ask questions wondering who God really was, and i've never felt so blessed to see a few of the youth come to Christ...
This year, we are starting bible studies that are more indepth, and really searching out Gods Character, and trying to show them that he's very real.... which can be a little hard, the organization i'm with is brethern/baptist... and sometimes it feels like some of the full year team still has God in a box an limits on him...
So basically i'm writing this for support, just pray that this summer would be a break through, that God's spirit will pour out over the community of wiky, and that the people here will be able to experience God in such a real and powerful way....
also, i'm here completely on volenteer terms, so please pray that God will provide finacially for me these next few months... that food will be provided and my bills back at home can be looked after...
thanks so much
God Bless
Melissa Williams
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