Port Angeles, Washington
A Time of Blessing and Celebration
by Tom Benzler (Ioway)
Our food ministry has grown since we received the grant money to expand the ministry to the Native elders on the Peninsula. We are now able to serve the elders from the different reservations much better now that we have a storage facility. We can respond quickly when someone needs food and we can meet the need on the spot. The best thing is we have been able to provide a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables to help with getting healthy foods to the people who need it most.
In one of my earlier articles, I mentioned a lady who had lost her husband and found herself homeless. We are happy to report that after two years, she now has a nice apartment and has been blessed with furniture and other household items. She was getting very depressed about not being able to find somewhere to live on her small income, but the Lord has blessed her and she is so very thankful. She has learned what it means to “wait upon the Lord.”
The summer months are always a very busy time for all of the Native tribes on the Pacific Northwest, as they celebrate the annual Tribal Canoe Journey. Tribes from all over the Pacific Northwest typically participate in this drug and alcohol free journey including tribes as far away as Vancouver Island, BC. All make the long journey by canoes, stopping overnight at each reservation along the way, until they end their journey at the Swinomish Reservation, near Seattle. They hosted this year’s journey. When all have arrived, then follows a week long celebration of singing, drumming and dancing, and sharing of tribal traditions.
On a separate note, I have one more class left to complete my studies to become a licensed Deacon. I am looking forward to this, as I will be able to better serve the people here.