A Deeper Look: Deschutes County

Deschutes County, Oregon

The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:34 NIV

While there might be some disagreement about which counties to include in the Central Oregon Region, Deschutes is not debatable. In many ways it IS Central Oregon. The county seat, Bend, is the major population center of the area. With a population of over 100,000, it ranks as the 6^th largest city in the state and growing fast.

Deschutes County

Earlier we touched on some of Bend’s history, including some early churches, but of course there is always more to explore. One story I recently found is both interesting and touching, (thanks to a blog post by Kelly Cannon-Miller, the executive director of the Deschutes Historical Museum) and ties in with some of the history of the Japanese Americans in Oregon, that we looked at earlier. In the mid-1920’s there were several Japanese American families living in Central Oregon, mostly associated with railroad work. There was increasing hostility in the United States during the early 20^th century toward Asians. In 1927, in response to the growing anti-Asian atmosphere, Dr. Sidney Gulick, a former missionary to Japan, introduced the Friendship Doll Exchange to foster friendship and understanding between American and Japanese children. He hoped to break through the cultural mistrust beginning with the kids.

In Bend, Mrs. Daum (Daisy), a Sunday School teacher in the Bend Christian church, enrolled her church for the program and they produced their own doll, Mildred Louise, that was sent to Japan and toured the Shizuoka Prefecture schools. Daisy went on to join forces with a local Japanese woman, Mrs. Riheji Tanaka, to start a Japanese Doll Celebration in Bend. This was very successful and grew annually from 1928-34. They went on to form the Japanese Society of Central Oregon.

By now, the late 30’s, international relationships were becoming more tense (Japan and China were at war). The Tanaka family returned to Japan for a six-month visit, having lived in Oregon for twenty-five years, but did not return, except for one daughter, Teruko, in 1940. Sadly, she was just in time for the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 and was incarcerated at Minidoka Internment Camp during the war.

In the face of the unfairness and harshness of the treatment of Japanese immigrants, the doll exchange might seem small. But one has to admire Dr. Gulick for taking steps to foster understanding and acceptance between the cultures, for lighting a candle in the face of great darkness. Others have continued the doll exchange over the years with thousands of dolls helping Japanese and United States children know more about each other. Read more here.

Present day Deschutes County is governed by a three-person elected Board of Commissioners, the policy making body of the county. Each member serves a 4-year term. Current Commissioners are Tony DeBone, Phil Chang, and Patti Adair.

The County Sheriff’s Office, overseen by Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, provides protection and services to the unincorporated areas of Deschutes County. The area is over 3,055 square miles and includes 157,000 residents. In 2006 Deschutes County passed a tax ordinance that resulted in permanent funding for the Sheriff’s Office which has helped create a secure organization for the county.

A growing concern in Deschutes County for the Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement, is the increased amount of deadly fentanyl being trafficked from the Portland area into Central Oregon. Since last year there has been a 141% increase in this type of crime in Oregon.

How do we pray for Deschutes County?

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9.

Pray for forgiveness and healing between Central Oregon and Asian-Americans.

Pray for the efforts of those who take even small steps toward peace and healing in our world.

Pray for the wisdom and protection of the leaders and law enforcement as they deal with increasing dangers and criminal activity. Pray for the Commissioners: Tony DeBone, Phil Chang, and Patti Adair, and County Sheriff L. Shane Nelson.