Getting a Grip on Hope

Sunday, June 8

It rained overnight last night. Just what we needed, more rain. I am so thankful that Ron was able to grade the road on the grounds of the Ministry Center. Now the road is just muddy, and not muddy ruts. The rain had pretty much stopped by the time we left for church in Devil's Lake. Hopeful the sun will shine sometime today, but it's not looking good.  Gray and gloomy day.  The rest of the week looks better with highs in the mid to upper 70's and mostly sunny.

After service, we ate breakfast at Mr. and Mrs. Jays -- a tradition of sorts. Arrived back at the Ministry Center and did a few things to prepare for the arrival of our two teams this week -- Eureka, SD and Iron Mountain MI.  About 40 people. 

                                          Part of the group during Sunday evening orientation

Mon June 10

Woke up again to rain.  So muddy, Coop spent most of day inside. 

Diana Baer arrived today.  She brought Zoey, her 8 year old lab with her.  The dogs will have a blast!  Diana will be running the sidewalk Sunday school program.

                                                                            Zoey


This year we'll be working with Tribal Housing, rehabbing homes and getting them ready for their new occupants. Once these homes are completed, new people will be able to move in.  There are many homeless here on the Reservation and the waiting list is long; over 300 people.  Perhaps by getting these homes ready for them, we may provide them with some hope...

This week the teams will work in Tokio. We have three homes to work on.  Two homes need to be cleaned out in order to begin rehabbing.  Rehabbing will begin tomorrow.  The other home needs a new roof.  Due to inclement weather today, the team will begin the roof tomorrow. The team should complete half of the roof this week, next week's team will complete it.

Scripture Power!!

Roofers taking a break!

The youth group from Eureka, SD is awesome! These kids understand mission. They understand what it is to do mission work. They range in age from 8^th grade to 12^th grade.  Their pastor, Bob, brought them here. This is only the second mission trip they have been on. These kids cleaned out the house in order to get it ready to rehab and will begin to rehab it.  Again, not a word of complaint, nor any judging to be heard from any of them. They showed compassion and love in all that they did.  A tribute to their pastor and their parents to be sure.

Not to be outdone, the youth of Iron Mountain are amazing! They, too, understand mission. They worked hard cleaning out a house, rehabbing and roofing.

Both groups of youth blended, worked together and became "one team".  How cool is that? Friendships were forged.

By early afternoon, the rains had stopped!!! Halleluiah!! The sky cleared up and the sun began to shine.  Beautiful evening tonight.  Should be great weather until Friday. More rain to arrive then.

While the work continued on the houses, we held Sidewalk Sunday School in the afternoon...

                                                                            Bubbles!!

Dr. Russ McDonald, who is a Dean at the Community College here on the Reservation invited us (the teams as well) to a celebration in which they honored the head of the college.  Singers and native dancing. 

They also had a group of traveling teens put on a musical of Joseph and His Amazing Colored Coat. A fun, and interesting evening.

The teams worked hard and they played hard!!  A wild game of Noodle Ball!! Young and Old participated!

A friend of mine, Scott, summed up mission trips. "This is why you go on a mission trip. No money, no fame. Lots of work to make a bit of a difference for a little darling like this"...

And this...

And this...

                                                                       
                                                                            And this... 

                                                              And many, many more


                                                                 
Arnie, who is the Spirtual Leader of the Tribe, stopped by Thursday evening along with Dr. Russ McDonald.  Russ spoke to the teams regarding part of their lost culture. The part of their culture wherein the man takes care of his family by providing for them and the tribe.  In times gone by, the man would hunt and fish thereby providing nurishment, animal hides used for clothing and, at times, horse stealing. Which Russ stated was a good thing in their culture!  No so much in ours!! The horses would be for the use of the tribe, or traded for other goods.  Russ feels that the loss of this part of their culture has contributed to the decline of the family, contributed to drug and alchol abuse, thereby enabling poverty to grow...without jobs (only 1% of the men of the tribe have employment) the poverty will only continue to get worse.  Without jobs, the men of the Tribe are no longer able to provide for their families.  Russ made an interesting comment, "they think the culture of poverty IS their culture". Sad, and something to think about.

Arnie spoke very briefly as how this is a very spiritual time for the Tribe.  It is a time of preparation for the Sun Dance (religious ceremony).  Arnie hopes to be back next week to tell us more about it.


A blessed week to be sure.


Sunday, June 16 we have a team arriving via AmTrak from Oil City, Pennsylvania.  Approximately 40 people.  They will arrive in Devils Lake at 6:15 am Sunday morning.