When I was in South Dakota, we had a weekend where we let the kids stay overnight, for a weekend. We took in a few teen girls from a shelter on the reservation. I think it was more of an alternative housing, like an alternative school? I don't know. I don't remember. I just remember thinking, "These girls are gonna be rough around the edges" but what I didn't realize was just HOW rough. Life is extremely difficult for all on the rez. I have so many stories I could tell, but that's not the point. It was a very difficult weekend in every way. I can't tell if I broke through with them or not at all. Though, two of them accepted my friend request on Facebook shortly after, so that's something, I suppose.
It's been almost 3 years, I can still see their posts, so I know they haven't unfriended me. Hidden me, maybe. I don't know.
One of them is now pregnant. Her parents kicked her out.
The other has been posting suicidal statuses. There have already been at least 5 suicides this year, three of them children under 13 years old.
My heart is aching. I am crying and praying hard, but I still feel so useless and helpless. I could message them. They don't trust white people. They don't trust Christians. The worst they could do is message me back with biting words. I just wouldn't know what to say. Everything sounds cliche and I don't even know if they remember me. For now I will pray and see how the Spirit leads.