Part II: The Ugly Truth

The Residential School System Historical Overview

The Indian residential school system predates Confederation; and in part grew out of Canada's missionary experience with various religious organizations.

The federal government began to play a role in the development and administration of this system as early as 1874, mainly to meet legal obligations under the Indian Act, as well as to assist with the integration of Aboriginal people into the broader Canadian society.

The schools were located in every province and territory, except Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Of the 130 schools that existed over time, it is estimated that up to 100 of these schools could be involved in claims.

The Government of Canada operated nearly every school as a "joint venture" with various religious organizations. On April 1st, 1969, the Government assumed total responsibility for the school system, although churches remained involved for some years in many instances. Most residential schools ceased to operate by the mid-1970s; the last federally-run residential school in Canada closed in 1996.

While it is not uncommon to hear some former students speak about the positive experience in these institutions, their stories are overshadowed by disclosures of abuse, criminal convictions of perpetrators and the findings of various studies such as the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, which tell of the tragic legacy that the residential school system has left with many former students.

In addition to allegations of physical and sexual abuse, which are found in 90% of the legal claims, allegations relating to such things as cultural loss, breach of treaty, loss of education opportunity, forcible confinement and poor conditions at the schools are also alleged.

It is estimated there are 80,000 people alive today who attended residential schools.

Dealing with the legacy left by the residential school system is an important aspect of Canada's relationship with Aboriginal people.

-Government of Canada website

Part 1: Rags to Riches: Money That Comes with Pain

I went home early today and was intrigued by the TV guide listing for the Oprah Show today. I went to the web and found some interesting food for thought. The interviews began...

Person 1--Began a business and became an instant success. Got into drugs to make her feel like part of the "in" rich crowd. Lost her husband, children, business. Ended up homeless, imprisoned, and eventually in rehab.

Couple 2--Won the lottery. Got taken advantage of by friends. Had to create their own "witness protection program" by going incognito and beginning a new life where no one knew them.

Person 3--Plagued by guilt, she blew a large lawsuit that came from her father's inheritance.

Person 4--Story courtesy of Oprah:

In a controversial Showtime documentary, Reversal of Fortune by filmmaker Wayne Powers, cameras follow Ted Rodrigue, a 45-year-old who has been periodically homeless for the last 20 years. Wayne tells Ted his film is about what's it's like to be homeless, but there's more planned for Ted's story on film.

One day, Ted headed for the dumpster to search for bottles and cans, which he recycled for money. There he found a briefcase containing $100,000 in cash—placed there by Wayne.

While Ted received financial counseling to deal with his influx of money, his old habits died hard. Ted got a room but continued to sleep on the floor. He still collected cans and bottles, the primary way he'd survived for years. Ted also spread his wealth around—he says he paid off friends' debt, bought a friend a new car and himself a truck that cost $34,084.89. He also got married.

Ted says he not only spent or gave away all $100,000, he actually owes more money now than he did before. "I thought it would erase all my problems. I thought I would never be homeless again," he says. "But, like I said, I made a couple of bad choices."

...his marriage—which ended, he says, when his wife left him as soon as the cash ran out.

"It was a frustrating process, in a way, because I think that there were a lot of opportunities sent Ted's way," Wayne says. "And while you're with someone, and the closer you get to them, and the more that you kind of root for them and understand them, the more frustrating it gets when those opportunities are passed by. I think that it shows that, from a personal story, people that are homeless, there are certain demons inside them. … I think alcoholism plays a part of that. I learned that in providing somebody with the necessities to be able to turn their life around, a car, a telephone, a roof above their head, a driver's license, all the things that we hear is what somebody needs to be able to turn their life around, it still, unfortunately, in this particular case, was not enough."

Back living on the street, Ted says, "I'm not happy, but I'm contented."

"Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
-1 Timothy 6:6

Laughter is the best medicine

The Womens Home is abuzz with chatter and excitement tonight. Short of women volunteers, and with Paula in Florida, we have placed our male Chaplains on duty at the Women and Family Home.

Today Harley had to come up with a Rec Idea. Well, first off, the boys lied to the girls and said they got to go to laser tag, so they were mad!

"What? Not fair! We have to go to the LIBRARY!" they complained.

But tonight, they are singing the praises of Chaplain Harley.

""He is so nice."
"He is so kind."
"We got to go to the library and then out for coffee!"

"And his wife, Rhonda, is really nice too. We stopped in at her work and brought her hot chocolate, but she wasn't there. We helped her one day when they moved their office. Rhonda's awesome. She used to work here!"

They made a sign for Paula's door that said:
PRINCE HARLEY IS IN

They tittered as they commented on the cartoon picture of Harley in a crown: "One of the eyebrows is really fat."

I told them that Ken was actually the Prince and Harley was the frog. They thought that was hilarious.

As Ken took over tonight for his shift, and was handing out meds, they were wondering who would be leading Bible study. He told them it was him and they were elated.

"Pastor Ken, you are really going to teach us Bible study tonight?!"

They turned to me, "How many years have you been married? 16?"

Of course I had to check with Ken as I don't remember such things... "18."

"18! And no kids."

"You girls are my kids."

"Wow! Thanks!! And now we're good kids, too!"

"Yeah! I've been sober 5 months now!

"I've been sober 8 years. I came for my depression."

"Are you depressed?" I asked.

"Just a little bit," she replied, explaining she had just learned that her former common law husband committed suicide by overdose 6 months previous.

I bid my farewell, "Good bye, Prince Ken! Have fun with the women!" I heard more giggles as I slipped out. "Bye Michelle! Good night!!"

Visions and Dreams

You've read a few posts about Becca lately, as our latest hire, and longtime friend. Well, here is something she recently discovered in her journal, and has given me permission to post. It's uncanny. It has all come to fruition in the time frames she wrote down.

March 23, 2006

Tonight I had a vision about the Mission - this is the first time I've ever felt compelled to just write something like this down and not say anything. I envisioned that next summer RRM will have, not only a new shelter/drop-in/low income housing facility, but also a new womens home. That if God is to lead me back it would be in a year to fill that gap - work directly in my field, grow my experience, and prepare me to move on toward my dream.

My other thoughts about this is that 2007 will be a year of blessing (jubilee) for RRM after 6 years. God will provide money, goods, opportunity and people to advance His will.

Lord, if this is from You, let it come to pass. If not, please take it from my heart and mind.

This is interesting, because she wrote it the day the government declined our building project proposal. Hard to believe that today, we have four months to complete Harbour House, a 30-suite complex which will include emergency shelter and affordable housing, and the government is footing the bill due to such a serious shortage of decent housing!

"But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

Acts 2:16-18

Get off the Chesterfield!

Perseverance IS Success. My sister in law, Rhonda, has this up on her wall at home. I have a poster of it in my office, too. What makes this little statement so thought-provoking is our innate desire toward the opposite: complaining, negativity, giving up.

Remember the old song... oh how I loved this song: When the going gets tough, the tough get going! A high school favourite, for sure.

There aren't a lot of toughies around these days. We have bred a generation of men and women who find it difficult to be diligent. Who would rather rest, than run. Who don't realize that this life is a race! In fact, it's even a war.

We are to keep our eyes focussed on the prize--the reward. What is it? Heaven!

In the meantime, we are to count all our suffering as joy. We are to get up off the couch of self-pity and dress in our armour, ready for battle. Ready to step forward to what God has called us to do in this day, this hour, this moment.

Do you need to get dressed?

MY CHRISTmas Report: Crokinole & the best Christmas ever

Back Row: Ken, Uncle Roy, Dad
Middle: Aunt Eunice, Yours Truly, Mom, Howie, Natasha, Adrian
Front: Cousin Kendra, Aunt Lorna, Aunt Amy, Uncle Clem
Camera: Norma
Already in the car: Cousin Michael

People have been asking me how my personal Christmas went, so I thought it might make for a nice Saturday post. My personal goal was to keep Christ as the centre of Christmas. Celebrating with Ken's family, all who love and serve the Lord, made it possible to remember the real reason for the season.

We headed to Swift Current, a 2 1/2 hour drive, on Christmas Eve afternoon. We dropped the Christmas turkey (our contribution) and the gifts off at Howard and Norma's (Howard is Ken's brother whom I went through three years with, at Millar College of the Bible.)

We headed to Mom and Dad's to unload our bags, chatted a bit, then we went together for a traditional Bolivian special Christmas dish. Now, don't laugh, because technically, it's soup. But it's really more of a huge meal of three meats, potatoes, and many other surprises, simmered in a delicious broth with a secret spice only available in Bolivia! It's the soup that you eat with a knife and fork; in fact, we don't even have the proper type of bowls for it here. At any rate, it was a very delicious Picana.

Howard told us a story of how innocent he was when he first went out on full time missions in Bolivia. He ate a huge turkey dinner, thinking, "Well, all we're having is soup tonight." Little did he know! That boy had a very sore stomach!! When Howard was there, he picked up a hot little Bolivian chick and my sister in law, Norma, is such a sweetheart and a real blessing in my life.

Well, it was time to get ready for the Christmas Eve candlelight service! Off we went. Howard and Norma and their two young children, Natasha (8) and Adrian (6) read the Christmas story together. The kids' diction was perfect and Adrian surprised us all by reading his fairly lengthy portion with great expression and gusto! People all over the packed out sanctuary were tickled pink!

Afterwards, we went to Howard's, while Mom and Dad went home to bed. We visited a bit, did some catching up, watched the kids open their stockings, put them to bed, then more visiting!

"If you want to see the kids open their presents, you'll have to be here by 7:00 at teh very latest!" Howard announced.

"Ha! That's why we stay at Mom and Dad's for Christmas! There are certain advantages to having no kids, and one is not having to get up at the crack of dawn on our day off!"

The next morning we had a light breakfast with Mom and Dad, and did family devotions and prayed together around the table. Afterwards, we opened small gifts they had gotten for us. Then we cleaned up and headed off to Howard's for the rest of the day.

There, we opened gifts, visited, and enjoyed a lovely turkey dinner. Norma is the only woman I know who makes the best turkey, yet doesn't even LIKE turkey! Good thing they didn't rely on the pop-up feature or we'd be chewing on rubber! It came up two hours early!!

This dinner was also made special as we shared what God had taught us in 2007, and what our goals were for the following year. Dad's response still brings tears to my eyes as I recount it. He had written Mom a mini three point sermon (once a preacher, always a preacher) on her Christmas card:

1. Love God.
2. Love my wife. So many years you looked after me and our four boys. Now it is my turn to take care of you.
3. Pray for our kids by name every day.

I am so thankful to have married into a family with such a rich, Godly heritage.

The afternoon was spent with extended Uncles and Aunts and cousins, catching up, singing Christmas carols by the piano, watching the kids play with their new toys, eating Norma's delicious treats and playing the traditional Porter favourite, crokinole.

The game of crokinole appears to have developed in rural Canada in the 1860s. A unique blend of several older English, French, German and East Indian games, crokinole has been an enduring family favourite for close to 140 years.

Seriously, this family could enter tournaments snipping those little checkers until their fingers bled. They are all amazingly good!

It was crowded, but really nice to visit. Aunt Amy, a Columbian missionary now retired, had a stroke this past year, so it had been a rough one. Aunt Eunice, now retirement age, but still working at a Christian charity, drove all the way from Calgary and surprised us with generous gifts! Uncle Roy, the still single farmer bachelor came looking like Seinfeld's Kramer! We hadn't seen him in years so it was a real treat. And Uncle Clem, a supposedly semi-retired semi-driver, Aunt Lorna, and their kids were also there to spread the Christmas cheer.

That night, Howard, Norma, Ken, Natasha, Adrian and I watched Ratatouille. What a great movie! Once the kids were in bed we were able to talk more seriously, and it was a very good time of sharing.

Boxing Day, Mom and Dad cooked us a special bacon and egg breakfast. Again, we had our family devotions. That afternoon, they stayed home to watch some dumb World Junior Hockey Championships where Canada was playing the Czech Republic. Okay, so I hate crokinole and hockey. Now you know.

Norma and I had a shopping date, while Uncle Ken and Daddy Howie were "babysitting". Well, let me tell you, when we got home, they were all watching U-571, a movie, by the way, the switches the British Army for an American Army! WHATever!! As Norma and I sit down for a Scrabble game, we hear the blasts of a World War II submarine, and see little Natasha heading toward us, shaking in her boots! This is what happens when you put the boys in charge! So, Natasha joined us at the table and did a craft, while Norma and I finished our game. Now, just so you don't get the wrong idea... several rounds of Disney trivia were played and of course the kids pummelled Uncle Ken in their movie knowledge!

For supper we all headed back to Mom and Dad's for a pizza and games night, where we played Jenga, Scrabble, oh, and let's not forget crokinole. For fun, Norma and I let Howard and Ken clean our clocks. Wait, that wasn't fun.

The next morning, we all went our separate ways. I thanked Norma for "the best Christmas ever." Ken and I stopped and bought a few things at a Christian bookstore, and discussed an interesting book we were reading on the way home by Irwin Lutzer, called, "When You've Been Wronged--Moving from Bitterness to Forgiveness."

It was the perfect holiday, with enough time to have a good visit with family, time with the kids, even time to myself to catch up on some reading, and amazing food and fun!

If you read this to the end you have to leave a comment!

Two New Recruits!

A new era has dawned and we FINALLY have been able to hire a full time LifeChange Campus Women & Family Home Resident Manager. Okay, so maybe we want to look at changing her title. BUT, nonetheless, let me just tell you that Rebecca Cochrane may be new to the payroll, but she's no stranger to the ministry of RESCUE.

Becca has interned here under the University of Regina, in her mini-practicum and has almost completed all of her Rescue College! She's our first employee with a social work degree, so we're all pretty thrilled with that!

What this means for Paula is that she can focus on directing the department, as well as take on some new duties such as client database administration (her forte) and other things the rest of us feel a little overwhelmed to tackle!

Welcome too, to Derrick Moore, who has been a guest blogger on and off in Mission Musings. Derrick has been interning since... well, it seems like the beginning of time.

Derrick has been hired as a Public Relations Assistant. Donor relations is very near and dear to MY heart, so I am so excited to have someone likeminded to share in this amazing ministry to those of you who pray and support us with your time and finances. It's a priveledge to have someone who cares for our partners in this way! With his background in sales, he is thankful to now be using his talents and training for the Lord's work.

You may be hearing from him in the near future as he solicits sponsors for our 2008, fifth annual Love Your Neighbour Fund Raising Banquet. Please say "yes!"

Rescue ministry is a special vocation that takes a call and committment of dedication and perseverance. These two have shown that they are here for the long haul, and have been excited right along with us as we experience this rapid growth and change together.

Welcome to the RESCUE Team!

Doxology

People who know me also know my affinity for coffee. Mmm, coffee. Starbucks, Tims, and the amazing mapley Highlander Grogg from Stone's Throw Coffee House. They have it brewed every day as a regular. Anyway, I also love mugs. Big coffee mugs. Becca gave me a really cute one with this cartoon on it:

That was hysterical and I love it a lot. Another one was by my newest employee (until yesterday, but I digress) Jennifer. She is our Financial Clerk, and is the one who processed the thousands of gifts that have been given to the Mission over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I am daily amazed and awed by the way our friends and partners have responded to our merger, and particularly during this Christmas season. I haven't quite known what to make of it, really. It's been unfathomable how this city and beyond have pulled together and made us debt free, allowed us to offer a simple benefit plan to our staff, and to raise our bottom line so that minimum wage is no longer the norm.

Jenn's gift put it all together for me. It's a mug by a company called Common Grounds, and their slogan is "The perfect blend of God and coffee." Well, during my regular morning devotional reading, I definitely agree with it's sentiment. Not just that one, but today, as I reflect on God's unspeakable gifts, the doxology rings true:

PRAISE GOD from whom all blessings flow

Deuteronomy 8:10 says that when we have eaten and are full, we will bless the Lord our God for the good He has given us.

Psalm Twenty-Three

A good friend of mine is really struggling, so I sent her this Psalm. In doing so, I realized how hopeful this Psalm truly is, and thought it would be a great personal passage for me for 2008.

The Future's so bright, I gotta wear Shades

This is part 3... not sure you knew this was a brief 3 part series! Our Scripture today is the end of Philippians 3:

Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.

But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Saviour, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
-Phil 3:17-21

What am I talking about here? The Hope of Heaven. The sure thing that every one of us will face is death. Do I sound morbid to you? Do you think this is New Year's fodder? NO! It's the thing that gets us through the difficult times, trials and temptations we will all have in 2008. It's the thing that keeps me from straying off the path beaten by the millions of saints that have gone before us.

My destiny is Heaven. I can be sure of this because this baby Christ of Christmas grew up to be the man who would die on the cross to take my sin away. He lived a perfect life, then gave it up for me, despite knowing how I would hurt Him by my sin. He became sin for me, died on a cross, then rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, where He is preparing a home for you and for me.

Follow me there.