I've found us a cook! The cook here quit a few weeks ago and Cookson has been in need of someone. I went to post a "Job Opening" paper at the little store across the street and the gentleman who was checking out at the register asked about it! He came in a couple minutes and filled out an application; however he has an interview Monday, but hopefully that will go well!
The mission group that has been here this week sang out the senior center yesterday:
Yesterday I helped put together the Pack n' Snack Bags for the Children's Program. It was saw awesome seeing their faces today as I gave them their bags of goodies.
There are so many beautiful birds here in Cookson. It's hard to get close enough to take a picture though:
Anna and I LOVE the lake:
Well, I worked with little people aka children grades 1-10 today. I mostly worked with elementary school kids though. I woke up early this morning so I could ride with Debbie, a wonderful woman who works at the Cookson Hills Center, as she picked up the kids. We drove to Marble City, Oklahoma:
We saw a factory that mines for lime. These are the mountains that remain from it, as well as all the dust:
The children Cookson Hills serves are amazing. Most of them have nothing, yet they want to give everything they have to help others. Being able to see where these children live is so eye opening. The living conditions for some of them seem awful, but that is their home.
Debbie is awesome. She gave up a good salary and comfortable life to serve at Cookson Hills. She is now a deaconess through the GBGM and she said today that she has never been happier.
On our way back from dropping off the kids, Debbie and I had a wonderful conversation. Don't get me wrong, I love America's past time, baseball. Debbie brought up a wonderful point today about how the Atlanta "Braves" is a very disrespectful to the Native American community. Also, the Washington Redskins, etc. In the Native American community, a person will go through a ceremony to become a chief and then receive a feather headdress. However, when we make this a mascot for the Redskins, this becomes degrading, not honoring.
The Social Principles of the United Methodist Church states:
"We commend and encourage the self-awareness of all racial and ethnic groups and oppressed people that leads them to demand their just and equal rights as members of society. We assert the obligation of society and groups within the society to implement compensatory programs that redress long-standing, systemic social deprivation of racial and ethnic people."
Furthermore, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, part of the Preamble states:
"Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world..."
Essentially, it is not okay for us to condone the use of "Braves" and "Redskins" because we are ultimately suppressing the Native American people. While some may feel that they honor the Native Americans through the names, we are not. We are demeaning their status and culture.
Meredith
