Working on the Walł

     Day we got started bright and early. The sun typically comes up around 4:30 or 5:00. Chip was up with the sun and ready to begin work for the day. Our first order of business was to get the lawn mower working so Chiles, Emory, and James could finish mowing the grass around the church. Chip was able to make a slight adjustment without having to wait for a single tool or part and they were off and running. Here is Chiles on the mower while Chip and Emory clear away toys, balls, and other items from his path.

     The next big project that we began was to build the exterior walls on the addition of the church. Chip and I discussed the plans we had been given and decided on the best course of action for the day. We began working with James to get the walls started. As you can see below we built the two small walls to get under the eaves and began on the western wall which should be erected tomorrow. 

     While we were working outside on the walls there was a lot of activity going on inside as well. Jane, savannah, and Jackson were working to clean up the fellowship hall (aka our sleeping/eating/hanging out area) to be ready for our guests that would come for the cookout tonight. We also found out that we would be joined by the group from St. Dunston's Episcopal Church in Houston. Paula and Joy drove to Faith to get some needed groceries and supplies.  The Texas group arrived about noon, ate lunch with us, and made preparations for a small store of sorts that they would set up after dinner on the porch.  These pictures are supper prep and store prep by our two groups.

     Mr. Marvin spent the afternoon with the ladies from St.Dunston's. They went up to Takini to announce our presence and invite the folks to dinner at the school tomorrow night. They fell in love with him and I know that he had a blast with them as well. It has been a true blessing to be here at the same time as them this week. For the last couple of years we have been one or two weeks ahead or behind them. After dinner tonight they presented Byron with a saddle to be used as part of the horsemanship program. Unfortunately I missed the presentation so I was unable to provide you with a picture.  I did catch some of the story though. Apparently, they stopped by a church in Rapid City on Sunday for worship. They met a couple that attends there and got into a conversation about what they would be doing this week. The gentleman got one of his saddles for the team to bring. It was a true God-moment as the team was not to planning to attend that particular service and the gentleman and his wife alternate weekends between the Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church.  They were excited to be able to present the saddle on behalf of the Rapid City church.

     Our dinner tonight consisted of hamburgers, hot dogs, and fried chicken. We were able to connect with old friends as well as meet some we people. That continues to be the theme as we share meals with one another.  Take a moment to pray for Toni Buffalo. Early this morning one of her former students committed suicide. This is the fourth teenager in about 7 months and these one in less than a week.  We shared a tender conversation this evening where she voiced her grief for the families and the young ones and those still living who feel such desperation that suicide seems to be the only way out.

     We are having a great week and all are well!

Project Assessment

    Today we started checking things out around the church to see what we could do and what we may need to go buy in order to accomplish some of the many tasks. The guys began working on the grass around the church and the fire pit. We assessed the situation of the addition to the building, the lawn mowers, and prepared the grill to cook tonight.  After we made our preparations we had lunch and left for the pow wow in Dupree. We saw Byron and Toni and several of our other friends who we will cross paths with this week. Enjoy these pictures from the pow wow (opening ceremonies, open dance, drum circle, and one of the men's head dresses).

     On our way back to the church several of us went to the river (my second visit with a second group). This was my first time down to the river in three years.  We enjoyed skipping rocks and looking at the beauty of God's creation.

     We had a great meal tonight where we were joined by several members of the community including Rodger, Victoria, Tameka, Lanaia, Makai, and Uncle Ben (as they all call him). I predict our meal times from this point forward will be full of laughter, stories, and deeper connection as several members of the community often come to join us to enjoy table fellowship.

     Chip has a list of items that we need to purchase in Faith. He will further assess the riding lawnmower tomorrow to determine what is needed in order for it to run.  We will also begin work on the building addition. We were able to talk to Mike Lassiter this afternoon and get squared away on what is here, what is coming, and the plans are for the space. As we always do we will be prepared to stop work as folk from the community stop by. I also hope that we will be.  Able to encourage some of them to join us in the work at hand.

On the ground in Bridger, South Dakota.

    You know the old saying, "You can't get there from here?"  It doesn't apply to Bridger any more! After three years we finally figured out the secret to getting here.  After our great ride on the people mover from Randy Gossert and Master's Transportation Ministry we checked our bags curbside and breezed through security as easy as you please. Joy called to check on us (she and Chiles had flown out on Thursday) and that was when the wheels started to come off. As soon as Chip hung up the phone the announcement came over the loud speaker that our pilot was not here and it would be an hour and a half before he would get to the plane.  What? Really? Luckily, within ten minutes we found out that it was actually the first officer that had been missing and another had been located and we would begin the boarding process very soon. After that brief twenty minute delay we were taxiing to the runway for take off. An uneventful flight later and we were all loaded up with our luggage and ready to hit Sam's, Wal-mart, and lunch. Here we are pictured in front of the Rapid City airport as fresh as we can be and ready for a great week of ministry and relationship building.

   After the grocery run we loaded the two SUVs to head to Bridger. Realizing we forgot the retried beans for supper we stopped off at Coyle's Supervalu in Phillip, SD. This was a great little store located right off the Main Street. Our limited inventory grocery stop was a step back in time. It reminded me of visits to Morgan's Superette in Martin, GA on those summer visits to my grandparents house.

     The team had a wonderful dinner and are all settling down as I post this blog.  We are eager to reconnect with our old friends and continue the work to which we have been called. We have two main projects for the week with other things that will come up while we are here. We are prepared to offer fun reinforcements in math and reading to the children as we interact with them this week. I am also excited to be a part of the building project here at the church. We are adding on a room to the fellowship hall which will allow for larger community meetings and provide opportunities for larger groups to stay and minister here in Bridger. As always we are reminded that relationships are the most important and I pray that I, for one, will stop the work long enough to connect with our Lakota brothers and sisters.