"LOSS OF A DEAR FRIEND" by Forrest Liggett

Donald Eugene Bullard was born June 6, 1912 at Independence, Missouri. January 14th, 1997 marked the passing of one of the last of his kind from this life of probation into the presence of the Lord. Don had been a self sustained missionary, taking the gospel of Jesus Christ and the message of the Book of Mormon to the native people of this land since 1978. His great love and compassion for these people brought him into many close associations over the years.

In his travels he had opportunities to minister to the Navajo, Choctaw, Cherokee, Creek, Kickapoo, Paiute, Potawatomi, Sioux, Omaha and Winnebago nations in the U.S. and the Ottawa, Ojibwa and Dokis (Ojibwa) nations in Canada. It was during a visit to the Dokis reservation that he received his Indian name "Gaishka" (SeaGull), one of his highest honors in the work.

Don was an avid student of the scriptures and had an unquenchable thirst for the truth until his last day on earth. He believed with all his heart that the gospel proclaimed in the Book of Mormon was to go forth to the Native American people and tried to follow his calling to the best of his ability. He was a member of IMCA and the Sacred Hoop. He worked as a counselor to the Kansas City Indian club, and was a member of the New Jerusalem Restoration Branch of Christ's Church.

Don was a great travel companion and friend that had a talent for gently leading someone to greater and deeper truths. He influenced many of our current crop of missionaries. Joy fills my heart as I see Don in my mind's eye, lifted upon the wings of eagles, face smiling, and eyes gazing upwards into the face of his Lord and Redeemer. I can almost hear the Lord saying, welcome home, my good and faithful friend.

THE NAVAJO REUNION by Ron Wilson

This past summer my wife and I went to the Navajo reservation for the annual reunion. While at an early morning men's prayer service, we were asked to share a testimony with our native brothers and sisters to help strengthen them and glorify the Lord.

As I lay in bed that night, kind of half asleep and half awake praying to the Lord for a testimony to share, the Lord spoke to me and said, Oh, my son, you already have a testimony to share with these people. Have you forgotten the day that you went down into the waters of baptism and your heart and soul were changed" Have you forgotten how He has worked in your life and taken the alcohol and sin out of your life"

By that time I was awake and laid there in joyful tears. The next day it was impressed on my mind how these people could be an ensign in the salvation of their people and the blessings that God promised them if they would hearken unto the words of the Lord.

It is always good to see our friends in Pinon and to fellowship, sing and rejoice with the Lord. It is my prayer that our native brothers and sisters are blessed with the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

THE OSAGE MISSION by Forrest Liggett

The past year was busy for the many IMCA missionaries that were involved with bringing ministry to the Osage reservation. On average, services were held at Sonny Cunningham's house twice a month. Sonny is a baptized member and is also on the IMCA Native American Advisory Board. His sisters, Adie, Marion and Katherine attend frequently. The Cunningham clan is prominent among the Osage and well known in the area. One of Sonny's neighbors, Assistant Chief Ed Red Eagle, Sr is also a frequent visitor on Sunday mornings. Ed is also the spiritual leader of the Osage and also the spiritual leader of the Native American church in the Pawhuska area.

Upwards of a dozen people meet for Sunday services and for the potluck dinner that follows. The highlight last year was when over a dozen members of IMCA attended the Osage annual "In Lon Schka" dances in June at Pawhuska. These dances last three days and it seems like the entire Osage nation attends in full dance regalia. If you haven't been to the dances before, you might want to consider going this coming June.

TRIP TO BLACKFOOT RESERVE by Charlie Beck

In August, 1996 several IMCA families and individuals made a trip to Cluny, Alberta, Canada to spend a week with Gerald and Lois Meltingtallow. About twenty people gathered at the Meltingtallow home.

Each morning Gerald had everyone out of bed before sunrise to begin the day with sweetgrass prayers. Each sunset he again led us in sweetgrass prayers. We also participated in campfires and many good prayer services. The last day we had a sacrament service which was very important to Gerald and Lois as it had been sometime since they had received sacrament. We also had very good discussions on doctrine, native culture, native religious beliefs and plans for IMCA ministry among the native peoples. Gerald also led the men in a sweat. This was the first experience for a number of these men in a sweat. The spirit was present as we prayed and shared testimonies in the heat of the steaming rocks. The sweat was done in the traditional Blackfoot way. The Blackfoot never use the same lodge twice. Women do not sweat in Blackfoot tradition, but rather sit outside to hear the prayers and support the men with their own prayers.

Richard Hensley was able to make contact with several of the Blackfoot tribal leaders that J he knew from previous years. The Blackfoot had once sent several men to investigate the RLDS movement. He found that they had recently tried to contact the church to get some assistance with a youth program, and had received no response. Richard briefly discussed the possibility of IMCA working with them.

Chuck Primo moved right in and took over the responsibility of preparing the meals. Everyone will assure you he did an excellent job, for which we were all grateful. The women were especially grateful! They were glad to help but all were pleased they did not have to head up the job.

Gerald had a great time singing and playing the drum. We all enjoyed his contributions. We all thought it was a worthwhile trip to share with the Meltingtallows. The worship, fellowship and socializing enabled us to see a little of life as it is on the reservation.

LeRoy Campbell and Forest Liggett will leave February 21 to visit the Meltingtallows and participate in home visitations with Gerald.

TESTIMONY OF THE BLACKFOOT TRIP by Ron Wilson

In August my wife and I, Uncle Bob and Aunt Finis, Aunt Garnell and IMCA member Steve Sickles went to the Blackfoot Reserve in Canada. Thanks to my Uncle and his camper, I was able to see some beautiful country I had not seen before, and we were able to strengthen our family ties with fun and fellowship.

A number of IMCA members had made plans to visit Gerald Meltingtallow and his wife, Lois. Gerald and Lois were in need of the spiritual lift, testimonies and fellowship, that each of us were able to bring. It was also an opportunity for the members of IMCA to have a greater fellowship with each other, and thanks to the Spirit of God, a greater closeness of brotherhood.

Gerald held a sweat lodge, instructing us on the proper way to build it and the special way of caring for the fire and stones. I had the responsibility of handing the heated stones into the sweat lodge. Although I was on the outside, I was strongly touched by the spirit as I prayed.

Everyone learned right away that Gerald has three special prayer services each day. One at sunrise, one at noon and one at sunset. Gerald also showed us how to identify sweet grass and how to braid it for use with prayer.

It was a good visit. I would like to thank the Lord for His Holy Spirit being there and for the abundant gifts given. Our brothers and sisters were blessed with many testimonies and were protected while on the road, arriving home safely. May the Lord continue to work in the lives of Gerald and Lois is my prayer.