Native Ministries Mission Trip Objectives

1. What barriers do I see that would make it more difficult to reach the Yakama Indians with the gospel of Jesus Christ?  (Students will look at cultural, historical, spiritual, social, economic, and health-related barriers.)
2. Are there some beliefs and traditions that are similar to or compatible with those of Seventh-day Adventist Christians that I could use as a “bridge” while getting to know them?
3. What can I learn as an Adventist from their beliefs?  (We must acknowledge that they can teach us something, not just that they must learn from us.)
4. How would I have to adapt my churches’ more traditional evangelistic methods to reach out to the people of the Yakama Nation?
5. What are some creative ways in which I can implement Christ’s methods as mentioned in the following quote, in reaching the Yakama people?
   
   “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people.  The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good.  He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence.  Then He bade them, Follow Me." Ministry of Healing, p. 143
6. Students will develop a plan for applying Christ’s methods to each of the barriers they listed under #1 above.

Cultural Experiences:

1. Students will visit the Yakama Nation Cultural Heritage Center to learn more about the Yakama people, and better answer questions 1 and 2.
2. An interview with a Yakama elder will give students new insights into growing up on a reservation; being forced to attend residential schools, and other cultural and spiritual issues that will be addressed.
3. Everyone attending the Mission Trip must go to either a traditional Longhouse church service, or an Indian Shaker Church service.  This is so important in helping students realize what it’s like to be on the outside looking in.   We so rarely feel like “fish out of water,” and it’s essential for us to know what the Native Americans might feel like when we ask them to attend one of our churches.
4. A visit to Fort Simcoe, the former residential school, in White Swan, will give the students new understanding of that dark period of our history.
5. Mission Trip participants will have many hours of interaction with Yakama children, elders, and families, during the service projects, VBS programs, Kids in the Kitchen health and cooking school for kids, and just playing games with them.