Wednesday, July 29, 2009

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"


Saturday, July 25, 2009

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

Friday, July 24, 2009

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. :)


























Wednesday, July 22, 2009

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.

Monday, July 20, 2009

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

Sunday, July 19, 2009

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

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Went 2 the PowWow in Allen & was chased by kids with water guns. Dread 2 say goodbye 2morrow.
the snake is dead. Jeff has a nasty cut & is in pain but is ok.
Dennis wrestled with a snake. Jeff ran power tools all week but got hut folding a ladder.
Today we finish trim & flooring at Melda's while some go to Crazy Horse. Tonight is a PowWow in Allen. Everyone is beyond exhausted

Friday, July 17, 2009

AWESOME!!! Time giving out backpacks in Calico!!!
met the church group from Franklin OH who are here on a workcamp at Wouned Knee
Officer Afraid of Bear is bringing us in to Calico
This morning the backpack truck rolls to Wounded Knee & Calico!
2morrow we say goodbye 2 the kids. We're tired & feel like we can't walk the playground 1 more time until we realize 2morrow is the last time.
Truck madde it up the hill!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Shungles & siding are going on today
from below...Up that hill so we can give backpacks & heaters out 2morrow. And this morning it is storming. Pray
To say the hill 2 Melda's is steep is an understatement. 2 say it has deep ruts is likewise an understatement. 2day we have 2 get our 26' truck

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Tomorrow we work with a group from YWAM (Youth With A Mission). Another day of seeing what God has in store...Everyone is doing welll.
One word for today...tired!
Another day. Another adventure! VBS. Work at Melda's. Melda had a blast getting her gifts. Bareback horseback riding with the Indians. Awesome

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Wow! What a day! got the base of Melda's kitchen finished just as a wicked storm came. Had 2 hike up huge hill in the storm. Everyone is GOOD

Monday, July 13, 2009

The kids are REALLY hungry this year. Some cry for food and can't seem to get enough to eat.
Got the posts set for the foundation at Melda's this morning. VBS went well but was still a shock for the newbies. :)
after a wrong turn or two we are at Melda's! Getting ready to unload materials.
The biggest mosquitoes in the world may very well carry every member of the crew away. They are TERRIBLE this year.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Arrived at the church in Allen! On our way to Wounded KneeJ
Checking out some of the Badlands...awesome!
Near the place where we may lose cell service. The rain is past & its a beautiful day
On the road again! Left the hotel at 7am and heading to SD. Everyone is doing great. Tonigt we go to Wounded Knee and then dinner at Big Bats.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Arrived at hotel. Everyone is doing welll.
First injury...Dennis walked into a glass door and bloodied his nose
On the road!

Loaded and Ready


Thanks to all who came and helped us load!

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Friday

We load the truck Friday, July 10 @ 6pm at the Buriff's house.
All crew must be there.
If you're not on the crew but want to help, we would appreciate it!

It's a big one and we've got a LOT of stuff to go in it!

Pray for NO Rain! No, Really, None AT ALL

Normally I'm kinda OK with the weather but next week we do NOT need rain for a few reasons.

  1. If it storms in the afternoon, it may keep us from being able to have VBS with the kids -- and the kids are the whole reason for going.
  2. We have a building project going on that is going to take every bit of our spare time. Rain may cause problems that we just don't need.
  3. As part of that building project we are planning to take our 26' truck down to Meldas so we have tools/materials at hand. The road to Melda's is a dirt road. If it rains and gets muddy we may get the truck stuck which would create all sorts of problems that we don't have the time to deal with.

Here's the weather forecast for the village we will be in.

Jul 11
More Details
Sunny to partly cloudy
Low: 57 °F
High: 86 °F

Sunday, Jul 12
More Details
Times of clouds and sun
Low: 57 °F
High: 88 °F

Monday, Jul 13
More Details
Breezy with clouds and sun
Low: 56 °F
High: 82 °F


Tuesday, Jul 14
More Details
Watch for strong thunderstorms
Low: 56 °F
High: 82 °F


Wednesday, Jul 15
More Details
Watch for strong thunderstorms
Low: 56 °F
High: 85 °F


Thursday, Jul 16
More Details
Rather cloudy
Low: 55 °F
High: 89 °F


Friday, Jul 17
More Details
A couple of afternoon showers
Low: 57 °F
High: 80 °F


Saturday, Jul 18
More Details
Mostly cloudy
Low: 57 °F
High: 77 °F

Things can change and God is in control but PRAY!

Friday, July 03, 2009

Grocery Shopping

Whitlock and I went shopping today and then Cathy came over to help pack. Looks like we'll be eating good! Pierre is donating the meat (hamburgers, drummies, pork chops, as well as breakfast pizzas and croissant sandwiches). The kids and the crew should be eating good!