YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN

I was a little unsure as to what we would be doing while in Canada. The communication was small at best. Having been to Brazil, I had envisioned similar door-to-door evangelism, business visits, and an overall "Wow, you're here to tell me about Jesus, cool" type of attitude.

What we got was much different. First of all we were in a society much like ours. They have all the same fast food restaurants we have, they drive like we do, they speak the same language, and look pretty much the same (except for the First Nation people).

What was unexpected though was that it seems most Canadians have a stereotype for Americans. And that stereotype is a proud, loud, and obnoxious Texan (if they only knew that was the truth and not a stereotype…).

In addition, the First Nation people are very anti-White Christian. The reason is because years back when the first missionaries came into town they stole all of their culture. They told them that their dances were evil, their costumes were satanic, their languages were demonic and then they forced them into school to domesticate and civilize them (not to mention abuse). These schools existed until the late 60s and early 70s. So there are several byproducts of these schools still around as parents of the children we were trying to love on. So imagine a society that teaches its children to hate a certain race because of past harsh treatment to them in the past (familiar right?). That is what is there. (You know it is amazing all the stupid-idiotic things that have been done throughout history in the name of Jesus).

So at first we had to “prove” ourselves somewhat. Many of the children did not want anything to do with us. But as the week went on they grew to understand that we were there to love them for who they are. We did not tell them that they are stupid and rejected… we simply showed them the love of Christ.

So as we left I was thinking, “What good did we do?” After all no one got saved. But then it hit me. We ministered to a community of about 800 people (with 3-5 Christians). Mua and Marie have been there for several years and just now are they beginning to see some doors open up. Ideologies are beginning to change. Hearts are beginning to see that you can be White, Christian, and from Texas and still love with pure motives.

It was not until I saw children crying because we were leaving that I realized how much we had accomplished in one week. Isn’t God’s love amazing?