Our cultural team is preparing for an outreach to the First Nations of
Canada (Oct 28-Dec 6)...following our bases vision to reach out to
indigineous people group. After some prayer and fasting, both Gee (the
Samoan lady I work with in Community Centre) and myself have felt to
join the team for their outreach. We will spend one month in Canada,
primarily in Alberta and Manitoba. My main vision for going is three
fold: to see how the leaders bridge the gap to create opportunities
for the islanders (which make up Cultural team) to use their giftings
in outreach. Also I myself would be involved with community focused
outreach including helping at a coffee shop ministry etc that will
help both Gee and I discover better our passions and create vision for
our Community Team as we return to Brisbane. I will also have the
opportunity to speak healing and truth into the lives of not only the
First Nations but any other person that crosses our paths from youth,
to church members to the cashier at the nearest MacDonalds! I would
have never predicted that God would call me back to Canada and the
cold and while my body shivers at the thought of being in the
mountains, in November, in Alberta, I am also in awe of how God will
use us as His vessel in ways we couldn't imagine. I am excited to
learn more about the First Nations and also compare their progress to
that of the Aborigene population here in Australia. I've included a
brief overview of our scheduled outreach.
I had not planned on another until oct 15th to raise 2000 dollars
(this is for both airfare and ground fees). Because of this I am
asking if you would consider praying about making a one time donation,
or increasing your monthly donation this month.I am truly honored and
humbled that up to this point God has been faithful to provide for my
monthly fees and even airfare travel (Vanuatu trips). If you are a
monthly donor, I cannot thank you enough for being the blessing that
God uses to equip me to continue speaking His truth and freedom. I
will continue to update you with how my fundraising is going and how
our team is preparing. We meet daily to interceed for our trip and the
First Nations as well as practice dances etc (yes, I am learning a
Hawaiin dance and a Samoan dance- this is not my gifting but I am
enjoying pushing myself and trying something new).
Schedule for Canada tour:
Alberta: 28-30 October work with coffee shop ministry
Fundraiser 31 October
Indigenous community in mountains 1-13 Nov
Fly or drive to Manitoba 15th Nov
Manitoba: Ginew reserve, and Winnepeg first nations church 16-20 Nov
Fundraiser 21-22 Nov
Cross Lakes First nation 23-27 Nov
Team flies to Kona Hawaii for 50th YWAM Jubilee Festival
Here is some information about First Nations from Wikipedia:
First Nations is a term of ethnicity that refers to the Aboriginal
peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently
over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across
Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and
British Columbia. The total population is nearly 700,000 people. Under
the Employment Equity Act, First Nations are a "designated group",
along with women, visible minorities, and persons with physical or
mental disabilities. They are not defined as a visible minority under
the Act or by the criteria of Statistics Canada.
The term First Nations (most often used in the plural) has come into
general use for the indigenous peoples of the Americas located in what
is now Canada, except for the Arctic-situated Inuit, and peoples of
mixed European-First Nations ancestry called Métis. The singular,
commonly used on culturally politicised reserves, is the term First
Nations person (when gender-specific, First Nations man or First
Nations woman). A more recent trend is for members of various nations
to refer to themselves by their tribal or national identity only,
e.g., "I'm Haida," or "We're Kwantlens," in recognition of the
distinctiveness of First Nations ethnicities.
Thank you for your continued interest in missions! God bless,
Alissa
Donations can be sent to my home church:
Belmond Evangelical Free Church
attn Alissa Kennedy
2796 130th Drive
Belmond IA 50421
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