May Our Kindness Overflow
Over the past school year, the children here are Breslau MC have been collecting money to purchase puzzles for a school in Kashechewan First Nation through the MCC Global Family Program. This has been a powerful way to discuss the impact of residential schools with the children, to open our eyes to what has been occurring in various First Nation communities, and to partner with a community somewhat closer to home.
The outbreak of a severe rash and open sores in Kashechewan First Nation caught our attention even more than usual, as this is a community that we are currently journeying with. We have continued to hold them in our prayers.
Kashechewan is not the only First Nation community to be in the news in the recent months, and there are many other communities that are still struggling to have their stories heard. What captured the attention of social media last week was Attiwapiskat and Cross Lake, where a state of emergency was declared due to the rising number of suicides. In a community of 2000 there have been 101 suicides since September. A particular article has taken Facebook by storm, titled: Calling All Angels
Click here for “Calling all Angels”
It highlights the importance of knowing someone cares about you, and it calls for people to send cards and notes of encouragement to these communities (address provided). It is a call for social justice, political reform, financial support, but most of all, it is a call to love our neighbours and to let them know it.
The above link is just one way to show our love, there are many more agencies that have a history of walking with First Nations Communities, including MCC Ontario’s Indigenous Neighbours Program
May this state of emergency be a time where our kindness overflows, our prayers are unceasing, and when our country is astounded by the number of angels coming forward.
O Lord have mercy, we pray.
Amen.
Pastor Sara Erb
