Donald and Lorraine,

It was so good to see you at Stayner Family Camp (Ontario) this year.  I have some wonderful news to share with you. The first evening that you shared about your ministry of reconciliation, my heart’s prayer was that I could be reconciled to my adopted mom whom I had not seen for 16 years. She is now 96 years old. This past Monday night August 24^th I received a phone call from my adopted sister telling me that mom was in the hospital with terminal cancer and had been asking for me for 3 weeks. That is exactly when I had prayed at camp. The next day, August 25^th. we went to the hospital to visit her and what a glorious time of reconciliation. She had been journaling the last few weeks and had asked for my forgiveness for the offences of the past that had kept us apart. I have also asked her to forgive me for not reconciling with her sooner and for all the years we missed together. I believe God in His wisdom directs our steps when the time is right. God has allowed me to share the scriptures with her and I believe in my heart that she has accepted Christ’s forgiveness.

Thank you for your powerful ministry. - Judy

The Frist Nations, and Reconciliation 

 Consider the following statement from Liz and Bert Genaille, First Nation people, from Saskatchewan, who offer their personal perspective on their historic, ongoing conflict with French and English Canadians. Bert speaks for them in the remaining words of this appendix.

In the fall of 2001, I met Donald and Lorraine Gingras at Arlington Beach, SK. Donald spoke about his personal journey and about Quebec. For the first time I understood the background of French Canada and their desire to have a “distinct society.” In my conversation with Donald, I told him I heard many stories about the French people talking about separating and other issues. I told him I used to say, “Why don’t they cut off Quebec at the Ontario-Quebec border and push them into the ocean? They can have separation.”

       Looking from God’s window, I found I was wrong in my attitudes towards Quebec. In Donald’s testimony, he talked about reconciliation. He looked straight at me, a native, and said, “Bert, I am sorry for what we did to the Native people, invading and buying your land for trinkets…” This was the first time I heard such a warm apology; I responded back to him, “I accept your apology. If it were possible, I would accept for all the Native people.”

          We have heard about Native people dealing with French and English Canadians to negotiate territorial rights and past hurting issues that are now exposed publicly. We have seen the government talking about buying peace through financial agreement or material compensation. And, as so many people observe, money alone cannot resolve the social and personal problems of my people. It is not more money, more power, and certainly it is not more isolation on our reserves that will resolve our issues. Donald’s message of Reconciliation reminded us that we are called for a greater purpose.

  Window of Hope...and Reconciliaiton, Appendix 1, p. 241