Prayer for Native Communities on World AIDS Day—December 1st, 1997 Father, we come to Thee with much graciousness for all that Thou hast given us in this world. Father, we thank Thee for our earthly mothers and fathers, our brothers and sisters. And all those that we hold dearly in our hearts. Father, we thank Thee for the beauty that surrounds us, for Mother Earth who daily gives us suckle, for Father Sky who embraces Mother Earth, giving us warmth and life. We thank Thee for touching our spirits with yours, awakening our desire to seek Thee in prayer, finding we are not alone. Father, we come to Thee at this time to ask for comfort in knowing we are not alone in our affliction, for knowledge and understanding of the virus that is affecting us. Bless us each with our own individual knowledge of what is good for us as individuals. We ask Thee to direct those that can help us in our direction, and also help us find them. Help us to gain the courage to help others as we learn to help ourselves. Father, most of all please help us grow closer to Thee in all that we do. We want to feel Thy warm embrace and know that it will be all right. Father, again with much gratefulness in our hearts for Thy many blessings Thou has given us. We ask these things in the name of all things holy and in the name of our elder brother, Jesus Christ. Amen. So be it.