The water is pumped directly from the lake and stored in a tank in our laundry room. The tank is very dirty. Both Jenn and I have been sick as a result of water contamination. We now boil and filter all water.
There is no police in town. Police do rounds once every few months. There is also no medical care here. A man broke his neck a few weekends ago - he lay on the ground for half a day waiting for a helicopter. This is my third week with my students. I am so grateful for each of them. Our classroom is quickly becoming a little family. Each morning we start the day with breakfast and journals. I find that they are hungry, tired, and in need of a slower paced morning (which is also often the case with me...haha). As a school we are focusing on literacy. It is my goal to have every student in my room reading and writing before the end of the year. I am falling in love with Colville Lake. The culture is rich and the community is beautiful. Yet, within the beauty, there is unimaginable pain. Generational trauma and hurt from residential schools is ingrained in the stories of the people. No one is immune to pain. I am struggling to navigate where exactly my place is within the story of this community. I am surrounded by so much hurt and want my time here to be purposeful.
7 Comments
Vita Ladefoged
9/4/2018 07:33:06 pm
♥️ You lovely loving strong girl....
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Jelena
9/4/2018 09:01:51 pm
Oh Heather! That is so, so, so, so much! So much to process and carry and yearn to want to do something about. I pray that you would know that what you can do is enough and you can give the rest to Jesus, whose heart breaks over all this even more than yours. What an amazing time of growth and experience for you. You will never be the same!
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Courtenay Sorge
9/4/2018 09:28:48 pm
Thanks for a great post. You have a heart of gold and those kids will never forget you. Teaching them life skills will get them so far in life.
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Sheila Brown
9/5/2018 11:51:30 am
Thanks for sharing your heart (and life). ❤️
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Heidi
9/6/2018 12:34:26 am
Seeing such brokenness--so beyond you....How heavy. I just typed a whole bunch and deleted it. I sense the weight of the brokenness you are witnessing. I grieve for your new community with you and Jenn.
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Lee Boehr
9/6/2018 08:53:14 am
Thanks for sharing your observations, progress and the community with us. Praying you'll be strong enough to carry the load of pain that your kids and their elders have. Water - what a problem to have. Can I send some water tablets?
Reply
Lorraine McWilliam
9/7/2018 10:01:25 pm
God bless you for making an impact in these kids life’s , but the impact they have in you will be greater !! such a life changing experience
Reply
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