News From the Rez

A few years ago when we were in Allen we met Emily, who was an AU student working as an intern for the summer. Emily has since graduated and is back on the Rez until next Spring/Summer. The good news is, she is blogging from the Rez and you can read it here. Please pay special attention to this post and read about the Woplia she attended. It'll bless and humble you to be sure!

'Tis the Season: Get Your Orders Now!

The Holiday Candy/Cookie Sale is ON!

Order Cathy's Famous Buckeyes early to make sure she can fill your order. (She gets really busy making buckeyes this time of year). See Cathy to order. They go for $20/3 Dozen.

Amber Buriff is also selling Homemade Gingersnaps in a gift bag for $8/Dozen

and

Peanut Butter Fudge for $10/ a pound See Amber to order.

Shelly Is Coming!

Who: Shelly - missionary at the Pass Creek Church of God in village of Allen on the Pine Ridge Reservation



What: Shelly will be speaking about life on the Pine Ridge Reservation



When: Wednesday, Oct. 7th @ 7pm



Where: Winton Rd. First Church of God, 6200 Winton Rd. Fairfield, OH



This is a real treat so BE THERE!

The Ultimate Betrayal by Rachel K

The following is written by Rachel, one of our team members who went to the Rez with us this past summer.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Remember learning about native americans or' indians' in school? We learned how the English 'discovered' America and how they had to defend themselves against savage natives? We were taught that the Forefathers of this great nation acted in the best interest of its 'people'. Only at Thanksgiving did we learn how the native americans befriended the settlers and played a huge part in their survival.

We were not taught the entire truth. We were only taught what the government wanted us to learn. The very same government that controls our schools took away the pride, culture, beliefs, and freedoms of the native americans and placed them on reservations. That very same government deceived the natives for their own benefit, with no regard for life of women or children. That very same government wanted to annhilate the natives; the very same natives that believed we could share the land and live peacefully together. Now many will say this was to better America. But I ask, better for whom?

Have you ever wondered what life on a reservation is like for the indians? Have you ever given thought to giving up life the way you know it and being forced to conform or die to another's ways? You would lose all freedoms and sense of who you are and where you come from. What comes to mind when you think of indians? I've heard the phrase 'drunken indian' many times. Have you ever wondered why?

If you've had your entire life stripped from you and you have no hope to offer your children and future generations, what else is there? The indians were forced to live on the reservations, conform to 'civilized society', and survive on small rations; forced to succumb to the very same government who placed them there. They were compelled to give up their religions, customs, history, and ultimately their livelihood.

Now, you might be wondering why I speak of these things or why I even care. It is because I have seen this firsthand. This past July I went to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, home of the Oglala Lakota Sioux, with a church. We had VBS for the children of Allen, SD, distributed backpacks with supplies to three villages, and constructed a room addition for an elderly woman who's kitchen was outdoors. This was a life-altering trip. There weren't many ways to prepare for what I would experience. I did read (and suggest to you) "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown. Now this is unlike any story you would ever hear in a classroom. This is the true story of deceit, larceny, murder, and even genocide. HBO even made a movie based on this book, however, I suggest both.

I can honestly say that I didn't really remember much about Wounded Knee from school. Most average Americans probably do not. The book tells of the downfall of the native americans beginning with the 'discovery' by the English to the massacre that took place at Wounded Knee Creek. It was December 1890, after the death of Chief Sitting Bull, that the 7th calvary was ordered to disarm the tribe of Chief BigFoot. A shot rang out as a deaf tribesman struggled in confusion to give up his rifle. This set off a chain reaction of mayhem and fighting between the two sides. By the time it ended, nearly 300 men, women, and Lakota children were killed. Due to a blizzard, it would be several days before any remains would be buried. A mass grave was dug for the slain victims of the massacre. I was able to stand and look upon this mass grave and knowing the tragedy that took place underneath my feet, I mourned. I mourned for the Lakota people killed there in Wounded Knee. I mourned for the Lakota people who are still living there today under the oppression of this life. I mourned for all native tribes that had their dignity and lives stripped from them.

After spending a week on the reservation with the Lakota people, I had even more respect for them than I could even fathom. Consider all that has been taken from them and the majority of them were very accepting of us. The elderly woman that we built the kitchen for was the most compassionate woman I've ever met. She spoke of the past and said that many in her village do hold a grudge to the white man. She said "what's done is done. You can't change it, just accept it and do the best you can with it." WOW! I would never have thought that an indian might be so accepting. Her entire family was so gracious to our crew.

The children there were, of course, the icing on the cake of my mission trip. We had about 150 kids attend VBS and we wore our hearts on our sleeves. I had my heart broken many times while I was there. Many of the kids were distant at first, especially the older ones. But that is not true for all of them. There were several kids that had never met me before that came up to me and put their arm around me- they just wanted a hug. Due to the circumstances at home, many children there don't receive the affection from their family. There were very young children being cared for by 'older siblings'; maybe 5-6 years old. We did what we could to make each child feel loved and safe at that very moment.

To really understand the devastation there, you need to know some facts. The life expectancy for men is 48 years and for women is 52. In the Western Hemisphere, only Haiti has a lower life expectancy. That is surreal- most people wouldn't believe that's possible here in America. High rates of alcoholism, heart disease, cancer, suicide, and diabetes are afflicting these people. 97% live below the Federal Poverty Level. In fact, Allen, SD has been deemed the poorest county in the United States. With no industry and no natural resources, the unemployment rate is at 80%; even higher in the winter when travel is difficult. The estimated average of people living in each family home is 17. I'm not speaking of large homes, this is a 2-3 room house. Many homes lack basic water, sewage, and electricity. I saw many gutted mobile homes and shacks that were boarded up and not fit for habitation; however, these were homes to many people. I was awestruck! We just received word that a few young children there are currently living in a car! How will they survive the harsh winter weather?

Now I know poverty is just about everywhere. I can't help but feel a sense of responsibility as a 'white man' to care for these people. Would they be suffering in these conditions if history had not compelled them into this lifestyle? I do not know the answer to that and I'm not sure what we can do to help now. Many of the Lakota people do not want to be a charity case. They want what little they have to be theirs. I do believe that prayer and awareness is key. Please educate yourself and those around you so that together we can make a change.

Thanks for your time,
Rachel

VISIT : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH-Z0124h88 or log onto youtube.com and search for images of Pine Ridge Reservation

www.backpacksforpineridge.com

Making a Difference

We finally made it home late this evening. God blessed this trip in so many ways and gave us traveling grace, we never had any bad traffic or any problems it was as though he opened the red sea and we crossed right over that's how good traffic was. I had never been to Pine Ridge so it was all new to me, as we traveled I seen some beautiful homes and land but then I seen not so beautiful land and homes in bad condition and, then as you talk with different ones you find out there are trailers with children living in them with no electric or water and 6 and 7 year old's sleeping in cars because there's not enough room in their trailers. That would explain why there was so many hungry children this year when our team went in July. Pray for the people of Allen they don't have homeless shelters, like we do here and winter is coming. What our church, family and friends did gathering coats, shoes and socks will be a great help to the people of Allen. Thank you again for all the help we could not have taken so much out there without your help.

To the Pine Ridge Team year after year you make sacrifices to go on this trip only to work very hard from daylight til way past dark when you get there. You are making a difference there and God has blessed your efforts and I was proud to see everything you all have accomplished out there with the structures you have built and people you have touched they love you all so much. May God Bless you for all the sacrifices you make.

Who's The Boss

We are just about half way home and resting tonight after driving several hours today. Fred is still trying to convince me he's the leader (boss) since every time he's been there he's had a leader with the team. So I have to remind him we're no longer on the Rez and that's as far as he could boss or he likes to call it being the leader.
Fred and I have been so blessed on this trip, and we have seen how much of a blessing it was to the missionaries and the Lakota people, they had been searching for those items already, at yard sales, because winter comes so early there. The kids wanted to give us something in return, so they made us cards during Sunday School (I'm going to frame these) I thought you would like to see them (pictured below).
I see why the Pine Ridge Team comes every year, those children do steal your heart and the relationship you all have built with them. I see their love for you is true, just as your love for them is, as you can see in our cards below. I'm glad Fred followed his heart and did what he felt God had led him to do. We could see that when we arrived. What A blessing

By Michael

By Madison (missionaries Granddaughter

By Brianna (she added our car, trailer and all the cars at church, all the boxes nicely stacked at church and the play ground)

By Everett ( he wanted us to have a picture of an Eagle)

We will cherish these pictures forever. I know this was long but I believe it was well worth it.

WOW

This is our third day, I wasn't able to get on the computer. All I can say is WOW it is unbelievable on the reservation there is sooooooo much work in running the mission and so little time to do everything that needs to be done. We arrived and unloaded all the boxes (pictured below) they were amazed at what all of us accomplished in four short weeks, We wanted to do anything we could to help them but Berry wanted Fred to show me a few things before dark and he knew we were leaving the next day so Fred took me to Wounded Knee I was scared cause he took me a different way then they usually go it was on a gravel road way in the boonies (it took two gravel roads for him to find the right one) it was very sad place to see. He also took me to Allen we seen some of the kids playing. When we came back we were able to help Berry prepare the church, fellowship room and bathrooms for service next day (Shelly was down with her back) then we were ready to rest. On Sunday morning I got to meet a few people with their children, they love our mission team so much I have pictures they drew for us I will post some tomorrow, That says a lot about our mission team (you all do a great job of showing Jesus to them) and you have accomplished a lot there. We drove an drove and drove today so I need rest. I'm so glad God allowed us to come its been such a blessing. I added last pictures of horses running I thought it looked beautiful.

Our First Day

Today has been a great day, we are so excited to get to Pine Ridge and the city of Allen. We left at 5:00 a.m. Friday morning and arrived here in Sioux City, South Dakota about 7:00 p.m. Friday evening. Here is a picture of the trailer loaned to us, isn't God wonderful? It holds 40 huge boxes packed full. Our total was: 207 pairs of shoes, 95 packs of socks (which =581 pair), 62 coats, 63 hats, gloves and scarfs, 2 king size comforters, 4 blankets and some misc items. A huge thank you to our church, family and friends and thank you to Shandon Congregational Church for the coats, shoes, socks, hats and scarves they donated. Below are a few pics Fred was packing the trailer so fast I didn't get a picture of all the boxes, when we unload I'll get one.

Smile: Now How Awesome is This??

Just got a call from a lady in my church. She went to the dentist this morning and asked them to donate toothpaste and toothbrushes for Pine Ridge! Amazing. I didn't ask her to do that, didn't expect it, and didn't even know she was going to. Wow. I love it when people get on board and do whatever they find to do to help out. Its amazing to see what can happen when that happens. I wonder if she knows that the need for that is SO great on the Rez? Here are some stats about oral health care at Pine Ridge.

• Less than 50% of population has access to water fluoridation
  


• Lowest oral hygiene scores with lowest frequency of daily tooth brushing & flossing (this may be because with an income of $3500, toothpaste may take a backseat to food and other basic needs)
  


• 56% of adult population have total tooth loss
  


• Children: 60% have active, untreated tooth decay – less than 50% have seen a dentist
  


• Ages 35 – 44: 50% have moderate to severe periodontal disease
  


• World highest incidence of ECC (Early Childhood Caries) ~ 80%
  

Thanks Laura!!

Honor for Dedication

On the Pine Ridge Reservation the highest honor is to have a star quilt placed upon your shoulders. So Cathy Jackson and the 2009 Pine Ridge Team wanted to honor Amber for the many hours she puts in for Back Packs for Pine Ridge and Rezonate. Cathy Jackson made a star quilt and this morning at church the 2009 Pine Ridge Team placed it on Amber's shoulder's as well as Brian's, she not only gather's a team to go on a mission trip with her, but the family works as a team as well. Amber thank you for the many, many hours and all your dedication to these mission projects, you are a light in this world of darkness, you will never know the lives that have been touched here at home and at Pine Ridge.

Fred and Judy

Just a quick post to welcome Fred and Judy as co-authors to the blog! They leave in a few short weeks to deliver coats, hats, socks and shoes to the children on the Reservation! Now they'll be able to post and upload pics to share with those of you who read here! Looking forward to it! Thanks Fred and Judy for your service to God and to the kids at Pine Ridge!

Shoes, Socks, Coats, & Hats

Trips do something to you. You come home and find that you can't quite forget the things you've seen and heard and experienced. And because of that, sometimes you've just gotta find a way to make things different for new friends.

That happened this year. Fred saw that many of the children on the Rez didn't have shoes that were in very good shape. Many of them wore shoes that were too big or too small, and Fred just had to do something about it. So after we got home he and Judy began to plan to collect shoes, socks, coats and hats for the kids. They will be leaving the first week of Sept. to deliver them.

So, now Fred and Judy are discovering that the kids out there not only take over your heart, they have a way of taking over your house as well. Below are some pics of Fred and Judy's house and how its been invaded by shoes, socks, coats, and hats. Click on the pic to get a larger view.

The Heat is On

Here's a short video of us delivering some of the heaters that our friends 8 Lives Spent raised the money for. We delivered heaters to the villages of Calico, Wounded Knee and Allen. BIG THANKS to the guys from 8 Lives Spent for all their work! Some people will be warm this winter thanks to them.

2010

The dates for the 2010 trip are scheduled for July 10-19. We will again load the truck on Friday evening, July 9th. If you are interested in going, please attend an interest meeting that will be at the church on Sunday, August 16 @ 4pm.

In the meantime, please, please, please support the efforts of Fred and Judy Howell who will be collecting new or almost new children's winter coats, hats, gloves, blankets, and shoes (Velcro closures please) and taking them to the Rez the first week of September. Our team and our congregation fully support what they feel led to do.

Some News

Sunday evening, Aug. 2nd our team will be sharing about our trip. This will be the only chance to see the video as I can't upload it to be viewed online.

I also have some dates for the 2010 trip. We will leave Saturday, July 10 and return Monday, July 19, 2010.

Random Pics

The infamous playground. That's a daunting sight when you're walking into that.

As if cooking for 150 every day isn't enough, Whitlock swung a hammer too

Introducing the teens to "Hillbilly Golf"

Jeff and Charles did a great job with the teens

Even giving piggyback rides at the work site

Some really rare "down time"

A Little Adventure Never Hurt Anybody

This isn't anything fancy - just raw footage of the truck ride to and from Melda's. Its fun to listen to the people in the vans. :) BTW, thanks for your prayers as we tried to get the 26' truck up the hill last Thursday evening. We had awoken to a crash of thunder and a downpour of rain and wondered how we would ever get it up the hill with mud, but it proved to be no problem ... just a little adventure.

Watermelon

Watermelon
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

An Interview with Dawn Frank: President of the Calico Community, Pine Ridge Reservation

Sunflower

Sunflower
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

A sunflower at Wounded Knee. There are normally whole fields of sunflowers in SD

Wounded Knee

Wounded Knee
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

The cross above the Wounded Knee memorial. I think that is an old American flag tied around the cross. Amazing considering the US Army massacred over 200 unarmed Lakota at this site.

Wounded Knee Memorial

Wounded Knee Memorial
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

The stone at the site of the mass grave of the massacre at Wounded Knee

Bree

Pine Ridge 09 214
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

Hammer

Pine Ridge 09 351
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

Jessica

Pine Ridge 2009
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

Hammer!

Hammer!
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

Hammer was really hungry this year. He ate 3 burgers (2 on the playground), 2 pudding cups, chips, carrots, and who knows what else - all in one sitting!

Dakota

Dakota
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

Bubba

Lakota Child
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

Lakota child

Lakota child
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

The Dragon's Eye

The Dragon's Eye
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

Some strange clouds we saw at the hotel in Sioux City, IA

The Missionary's Grandaughter

Summer
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

I Know You've Been Waiting For Some of These: Melda's Kitchen

These are not necessarily in the correct order, but you can see what it looks like. :)

We're Back!

We're back. A little bruised, battered and sore but we are BLESSED! Pictures and video will be coming shortly. Until then, check out a couple of really awesome things on the Backpacks blog. I'm just too blessed for words when I see that kind of thing.

Very short night. Leaving Des Moines and on the way HOME!!!

There is no Lakota word for goodbye so we have left our family in Allen until next summer. On our way to DesMoine. Everyone is quiet