“We are long distant cousins…Abos, Negros and American Indians have all fought for land.” One night Arete felt called to worship outdoors. Five or six aboriginals joined us while drinking their beer and smoking. The more Dewey talked, the more I began to relate. He was right- our ancestors have all fought for land. Unfortunately he is holding on to the pain embarked upon his ancestors.
Due to having no hope, many of the men in this community are not fathering their children because they’re spending time behind bars. Some of the people aren’t progressing because they are dwelling so much on what the “white man” has done to them. They are holding on to the mistreatment by the white missionaries that came to assimilate years ago.
This very church that we are living in is a stumbling block for many to come to church. This gorge was a mission. It was a government policy for kids to be taken from their parents and placed in the dormitories here. Because this church holds the painful memories of the past, only a few people in the community actually come into the doors.
My greatest concern with God is this: if the look of the church is what’s preventing people from worshipping, please tear it down. Our desire is for this community to see beyond the church walls and find God, find hope, find security and freedom.
