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Dear Friends: 

Three of our singers and I were invited to Lillooet, British Columbia to help Mark and Babe Smith with an event the Native Christian Fellowship called the Gathering.  It was not a Christian event but an event put on by Christians.  We were invited to be the host drum along with three others: Broken Walls and two local groups, Morning Star Dawn and Zumak7úl. 

Vincent Yellow Old Woman did a fantastic job at the MC table.  It was awesome to see eight of the church women and three young boys in full regalia.  What a testimony to the non-Christian community.  The day can only be described as a great victory for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior as many of the traditional people of the community not only came but stayed through the whole event.  Hundreds of people got to hear the Gospel in a non-aggressive way; people who would normally not attend church.  Even a family came and asked the fellowship if they could include their son’s coming of age ceremony and to give his Indian name.  It was an awesome feeling to know that this man who is not a Christian would ask the fellowship to allow him the honor to include this ceremony and for all to witness his son’s new name.   So I praise the Lord for the tremendous work Mark and Babe Smith are doing among the Lilllooet. 

Sunday morning we had our Native church service which was attended by over a hundred people.  I was able to share my story of how I became a Christian and how the Lord called me back in December of 1973 to serve Him through my Native culture.  After church the Indian fellowship had a covered dish dinner for all the church and then had a sharing time around a circle about what had happened over the weekend.  The testimonies I heard brought me to tears as church member after church member testified of the freedom they had in Christ and the right to be Native Americans and to participate in the circle.  What an awesome time we had and I want to thank the Native Fellowship of Lillooet for entrusting me to be part of this awesome event.  

By the way,  the drum group Zumak7úl is an awesome northern group and has a fantastic pow wow CD.  If you would like one you can contact Mark Smith for information.  

His e-mail is: mbsmith@telus.net. 

God bless and thank you for your prayers and support.    In Christ,  Robert Soto  Lipan Apache Warrior For Jesus