"And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved." 2 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

Tal and Christina James	May 2014

News Update

Well, I (Christina) finally decided that it is time to change the format of our Newsletter and start to send out shorter monthly email updates instead. I have 3 started Newsletters in my files, always having been interrupted, put aside and then outdated. I seem to not get around to the longer Newsletters between helping with the ministry, volunteering, working as a sub, managing the boys (ages 12, 14 and 47 now), and trying to keep the household in order (all three of my men are not into keeping things where they belong!!!)

I apologize for having been silent for so long and hope this will work better.

In the late fall Tal took a group of 12 kids from Penelakut to Snow Camp (First Nation Youth Retreat in Washington State) again. Every year the number of kids from Penelakut that are participating is growing, This time they have not only organized their fundraising themselves, but also been so successful that they were able to cover all costs, which shows that the community is strongly supporting the event. Of all Penelakut that were going, only Corbin (who was going for the first time this year) and Tal were actually Christians. However, everybody came back deeply affected by the testimony of a young First Nations Christian Man and the message, both speaking right into the hearts and lives of the special challenges faced by Native Youth and Adults alike. Pray for those seeds to keep growing and wisdom for us as to how to take care of them.

Donna has been the main force behind the fundraising and organized a volleyball tournament; cooking for elders, bottle drives etc. She used to be very anti-Christian, even though she had made a commitment at around the same time as Tal to Christ, but never followed through. These past couple of years she has been building close relationships to a couple of “Indianas”, the Christian interns from Indianapolis that are coming in during the summer and her attitude has changed. She also was the female chaperone – and therefore heard the gospel first hand along with all the other Penelakut. She almost had to cancel as she was asked to sing and drum at a memorial feast – an invitation that can usually not be declined. However she hired someone else to take, saying: “I don’t know why, but I have a feeling I really have to be there. I can not explain it.” She came back all excited and her Facebook posts and comments have reflected the changes in her heart. Please pray with us for Jesus continuing to touch her heart and her being willing renew her commitment.

In the last couple of years we have repeatedly discussed, prayed about and been confirmed the need of a small cottage style "drop in center" on Penelakut. We simply need a space where Tal and his colleague can meet with people and take turns to stay overnight to be available and to run R.O.O.T.S. from. We could also use such a place for short-term emergency shelter (e.g. a teen that needs to get out of the house because of partying and/or violence in his home). Additionally it would give me the possibility to host and meet with some girls/women from Penelakut, a much needed service as some situations call for female counsel. Volunteers would be able to stay and host as well. We have seriously discussed the possibility to move to Penelakut to be able to provide some of these things but for a variety of reasons that is not a possibility at this time. We would greatly appreciate your prayer for this. There is a lot of organization that has to go into building such a place. An appropriate site has to be found, the band has to approve and an able construction worker to be in charge and other volunteers need to donate their time. And of course the funds needed for such a building have to be raised, as this is too big a project to cover out of our regular ministry expenses. Organization is, as you know, not Tal's strong point. At the same time this is not really something I can take on. So prayer is needed as this will take the ministry to a much deeper level and give us a chance to expand.

I could go on to report on many more developments, but I want to keep it short, so next month more.

Thanking God for you and your faithfulness to Him, the Hul’q’umi’num’ First Nations and us.

Huy'ch q’u Siem (Thanks to all of you! / I raise my hands to you!)

Tal and Christina with Corbin and Connor

USA: Box 499 Sumas WA 98295 CANADA: Box 220, Station A Abbotsford BC V2T6Z6	Tal and Christina James	395 Harwell Road, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 6Y8, Canada Telephone (250) 753 6504 Email james@naim.ca	Please make out donations to NAIM, Project Number 620 and check out your options at www.naim.ca