Death
and Hopelessness – A Part of Life
With the high
suicide rates and the constant danger of disaster due to blizzards or
accident, death is always just around the corner. It is a very real part
of life in the Arctic. Most people we met had either a friend or relative
commit suicide or one who became lost and froze during a snow storm.
Others had people die unnecessarily due to the lack of medical facilities.
Can you imagine living in a community where there is no Doctor and the
nearest hospital is in another province? Even worse, the only way you can
get there is by air and that is only if the weather permits. We are told
that HIV and TB are 5 - 8 times higher than other parts of Canada. The
very basic health care most of us have grown accustomed to would only be
faint dream for those in the arctic.
All in all
death has touched the vast majority of people in this community. Just a
day or two before we arrived another suicide took place. Others struggle
daily with the memories of parents or children, siblings or cousins who
died in the starvation of the 50's.
If death is
not enough, the constant concern over health related problems, family
abuse and violence triggered by drugs and alcohol abuse, sniffing propane
or other substances, and chronic gambling have become regular parts of the
life for far too many.
It is not
uncommon to hear how even the older people are abused or how the younger
ones steal the welfare checks and leave the older ones with no food. Many
seniors try to exist on nothing but a little bannock.
Rampant hopelessness is accentuated by
boredom; the effects of violence are compounded by the multiple families
living is overly crowded, poorly equipped houses. Only Jesus can break the
cycles and set the captives free. He alone is the answer.
Personal Reflections - A
Month Spent In Baker
The lack of
so many things we in the south take for granted causes great strain.
Simple things like green grass and trees become so much more appreciated.
The high cost of food, the lack of selection, not to mention the poor
quality because of the long time in storage, adds up to takes a
surprisingly large toll. The widespread hopelessness, the deep pain, the
lack of simple things like a drug store or Doctor can cause one to
reconsider such a mission.
The language
barrier, the totally different culture, lifestyle and mind-set has an
effect on ones self as well.
But when we
look at the people, when we see the years of pain etched across their
faces, when we hear beneath the surface words the tears crying out for
help, how can we say NO? When you see a people who long to be taught how
to live as mature, victorious Christians, who need to learn what it means
to be accepted, who long to be shown God’s love; when you see tear
filled eyes of the youth praying that God will have us stay, when we see
how God is beginning to move, when we see the altars are full, when we see
people getting right with God and the haggard faces starting to shine,
when we see a face that has had no hope for years start to believe there
is hope, how do you say ‘NO’
Partners and
friends, we could not say ‘No’, so we said ‘YES’.
With
your help we can go back on a regular basis to be with these precious
people.
The Ministry of Releasing The Master’s
Touch
As long as I can remember I have always
felt that it was not only vital to go where God leads but rebellious to refuse.
There has always been a real sense of God preparing us to go into places that
others would not go into and that much of our lives was a preparation ‘for a
time such as this’. I think of a song that has always moved me, it brings
tears and a firm belief that we have been called to this mission at this time.
The song talks about setting up a mission at the gates of hell. In many ways for
those from the south to go into these conditions, to live without the basics we
have all grown accustomed to, to go into a land where death like a giant demonic
hand reaches out to cut short lives,. where tradition and the ways of shamanism
are so intermeshed, this mission is an invasion into the strongholds of hell. I
cannot stress enough the vital importance of those who stand with us and keep us
in your daily prayers. I pray God will impact your hearts, not only with the
urgency for these people, but for the many battles we will be facing both in the
natural and the spiritual.
We pray that God will impress upon you
His mission and plan. We pray that you will join with God and with us so the
goods news can be shared throughout this land and around the world. We have a privilege and an
obligation to these precious people as well as others around the world to bring the message of restoration. We are
willing to go and do what is needed.
Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray
that you will reveal Your heart’s desire to each one. Impress on each heart with what You would have them do. Lord, I feel my
words are so inadequate, I do not know how to show the urgency of bringing Your
reality to these people and others around the world. Jesus, I ask that by your Holy Spirit, You would cause
each one to sense what we sensed while in Baker Lake. Father, let them know how
we sensed and saw the utter bondage and terrible hopelessness. Lord, reveal the
pain and how death, in a very unnatural way, was so evident in many lives. Give
them a glimpse of how the effects of a mixture of shamanism, traditions and a
form of Christianity have filled so many lives with bondage and pain. Let them
see how suicide, drugs, alcohol, gambling and others forms of addictions from
gas to propane sniffing is part of life. Father let people see the needs and the
vast opportunities that are available around the world, help us to lift our
vision above see through your eyes.
Father, let them know what you did and
what you are longing to do so the life that can be found only in Jesus as He is
permitted to rule and reign. Let each one be filled with an urgency to see this
mission completed, to see these people being set free and many more souls added
to your kingdom.
In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
We
Invite You to Be Part of the Nunavut Miracle?
Partners and friends, we could not
say ‘No’, so we said ‘YES’.
These dear people are so very
special. Will you please help enable us to go back on a regular basis?
Will You help us go through the open
doors around the world?
Please write us today
and let us know you are standing with us. As you do we have no doubt you
will reap in heavens reward.
For More Info Write To:
Master's Touch Ministries International
PO Box 1184
North Battleford
Saskatchewan
Canada
S9A 3K2
