Pine Ridge Mission Trips

Yeah Baby!! (A peek at this year's stuff)

2012-01-10T15:42:00.000-05:00

The shirts are ordered! I have white cotton tee-shirts on their way and yesterday I picked up some tie- dye kits at Michaels (I had a 50% off coupon). One of the crafts this year will be making tie-dye shirts. Yeah, giving dye in squirt bottles to little kids ... always a good idea. Oh well, its not like we've not been painted before.

This year our "Crew Shirts" will not be the typical shirts that we've had in the past. Nope, this year we'll be tie dying plain white t's along with the kids and those will be our team shirts.

Along with the wild and crazy shirts we will give the kids neon bandannas and some snazzy looking neon shades. (modeled above by one of my favorite people) Oh and I think we'll decorate neon flip flops again this year too.

Its gonna be fun!

Introducing the 2012 Crew !!

2012-01-09T09:15:00.000-05:00

Once again we have a GREAT crew lined up for the 2012 trip to Pine Ridge!

Here they are ..

Charles Jackson
Cathy Jackson
Vicki Jones
Ericka Buchanan
Bailey Cartwright
Roy Hauser
Charlotte Johnston
Ralph Johnston
Angie Coffey
Carrie Pruhs
Laura Camardo
Jessica Camardo
Tim Hall
Debbie Hall
Linda Baker
Earl Baker
Rhonda Greely
Amber Buriff

Oh yeah ... its gonna be a fun year!

The Holiday Candy/Cookie Sale is ON!!

2011-11-01T18:12:00.000-04:00

The annual Holiday Candy/Cookie Sale is happening NOW!! The following 2012 Pine Ridge Mission Team Members are taking orders.

Here is how it works:

See the individual selling the item you want to order.
Place your order with them and pay at the time of order.
Tell them when you need it by.
They will make it and get it to you by the time you need it.

Laura and Jessica Camardo are selling Iced Pumpkin Loaves for $10 each.

(Sorry I don't have a picture for them).

Cathy Jackson is selling Buckeyes - $20 for 3 dozen.

Amber Buriff is selling Gingersnaps in a gift bag - $8 a dozen

Dates for the 2012 Trip

2011-08-19T15:06:00.002-04:00

We now have a date for 2012 !!

The trip will be Saturday, July 21 - Monday, July 30, 2012

We will load the truck on Friday evening July 20th, and leave very early Saturday, July 21st and arrive there on Sunday the 22nd.

We will leave there on Sunday, July 29th after church and arrive back home on Monday, July 30th.

Informational Meeting for the 2012 Trip

2011-08-18T14:52:00.000-04:00

Interested in going on a mission trip to Pine Ridge in 2012 but not sure if its for you?

There will be an Informational Meeting about the trip on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011 at the Winton Rd. First Church of God, 6200 Winton Rd., Fairfield, OH at 430pm.

The meeting will be about an hour long and will give you the info necessary for you to determine if you should consider the trip or not. It is strongly recommended that you have never before gone on one of our trips, that you come to the meeting before registering. Attending the meeting will not commit you to going in any way - it is simply to give you information.

My Thoughts on the Trip

2011-08-12T11:42:00.000-04:00

First things first:

THANK YOU to the 16 crew members who sacrificially gave of their time and money to make the trip happen. Be assured that God will not forget your hard work and the love you have shown (check Hebrews 6:10). In time the people there may forget. In time, you may even forget. But what you did last week will remain in eternity forever. Your time there was not in vain.

The Crew was spectacular! The way they worked together and took care of each other is all too rare. I was immensely proud of them. And it did not go unnoticed by the people there. When one gentleman out there called me and Dennis aside to ask questions about God, I truly believe it was because of the witness many of our crew have been over the past years. He has seen that. He commented on it. And I do believe it was because he saw Jesus that made him ask us more about him. That man was in church at the Pass Creek Church of God last Sunday. I don't know if he attends regularly but in the years I've been out there, I've never seen him in church before. Awesome!!

There were some minor issues among the crew. There always are. Anytime you get 16 different people with different personalities together, there is always something that comes up. Its all very normal. The thing is, this year it was handled in a biblical way and because of that, we all came home friends. Again, I'm very proud. Those issues are not easy to tackle, but it was done and done well and the result was peace.

The Work was hard. We accomplished more in three hours on Monday morning that I normally accomplish all week at home. We cut grass that was overgrown. We put together some beautiful bleachers for the amphitheater we built last year. We fixed a mower. We put in a bathroom for Melda. She is thrilled to now have water in her house and an indoor bathroom! We cleaned up trailers (thanks Andy). We built a fire pit in the amphitheater that is a great place to have devotions. We fed kids ... lots of kids a meal every day. We did a VBS for a whole lot of kids every day. We played on the playground with those kids. We did teen nights. And we put band-aids on hundreds of wounds, some invisible, some badly infected. We delivered 827 backpacks full of school supplies to children on the Rez. And who knows what else we did ... there are probably things I'm not even aware of because the crew was just like that - if they saw something that needed doing, they just did it. Amazing.

The Relationships are deepening. It was a good feeling to be mowing grass and have a couple of the adults drive by, see us, and stop in to chat. It was good to connect with the teens. I think I enjoyed the teens the most this year. Normally teens terrify me, but this year, I loved being with them. Its probably because they're "our kids". We've watched them grow up and so there's a connection there. Some of them break my heart because of the choices they're making. Some of them I'm very proud of. All of them I love. Its also exciting to know that some of the women out there will be coming here to REZonate this year. They'll be making Indian Tacos and selling their beautiful Lakota beadwork. Its how they want to support US. That's the beauty of relationships.

The Backpacks. We gave out backpacks in Allen, Calico, and left some at Re-Member for them to distribute. Its hard for us to know how best to distribute them because we don't live there and don't have the connections to do that in a responsible way. That's where Calico and Re-Member come in. They are both great places to leave them and know that they will get into the hands of kids who need them. In Allen this year the kids asked for backpacks every day. I don't remember a year when I've been asked for them so much. It was literally every day and all day long. At one point one little girl said, "But we NEED them". It would have been funny if it weren't so true. I was told they had been concerned and asking for them in Calico too. They have come to rely on us bring backpacks out for the kids. That's just fine with me. Just keep praying that the donations keep coming in so we can continue to take them. The $10,000 from the Harley last year was awesome and we've held some of that back rather than spending it all at one time, but eventually it runs out. Its little donations that make it happen over time. Those little $10 donations represent one child that will get a backpack. We need those ... lots of them. The little girl was right, we really do NEED them.

2011-08-08T15:34:00.000-04:00

Headed home!

2011-08-08T06:48:00.001-04:00

We got in to our hotel in Des Moines about 1:30 am. Now it's 6 AM & we are about to eat breakfast & head home. We have about a 10 hour drive today & lose an hour with the time change. Always the longest day of the trip.

Sent from my iPhone

Isn't he adorable

2011-08-07T07:26:00.000-04:00

2011-08-07T07:24:00.000-04:00

2011-08-07T07:22:00.000-04:00

This morning we are packing up & cleaning up. We will go to church & then hit the road. While we look forward to seeing our families & sleeping in our own beds, we are all feeling sad to be leaving our friends here. Over the past 8 years they have become a big part of our heart.

Sent from my iPhone

2011-08-06T15:42:00.001-04:00

We didn't make it to White Clay today - we ran into a parade & traffic was blocked so we went to Wounded Knee. Now on our way to lunch. Later we'll visit Melda.

Sent from my iPhone

2011-08-05T18:26:00.000-04:00

Just wrapped our last day with the kids in Allen. Tonight the crew will go to the PowWow.

Sent from my iPhone

2011-08-05T13:20:00.000-04:00

Just delivered 250 backpacks to the Calico community on the Rez.

Sent from my iPhone

2011-08-05T11:51:00.001-04:00

Just delivered 404 backpacks to Re-Member, an outreach organization on the Rez.

Sent from my iPhone

Cornhole with the Teens

2011-08-04T21:23:00.000-04:00

2011-08-04T17:48:00.000-04:00

Kool Ade Run

2011-08-04T12:35:00.000-04:00

2011-08-04T10:26:00.000-04:00

This morning we are working on getting water into Melda's house & installing indoor bathroom fixtures. This afternoon will be our last day of VBS and tonight our last teen night.

Sent from my iPhone

Gathering for church

2011-08-04T07:12:00.001-04:00

2011-08-04T07:11:00.001-04:00

Storm

2011-08-04T07:10:00.001-04:00

Last night we had planned to gave a cookout & an informal service by the bonfire but as anyone who has ever been on one of these trios knows, things do not always go as planned. Just after the meal we began church and just after the singing a nasty storm blew up. We watched the clouds begin to swirl & rotate and quickly gathered everyone inside. People began scattering and we took those without a ride home as quickly as we could. Strangely enough the message Brian had prepared to deliver was titled "after the meal, the miracle of the storm".

Look! I found a Cody & Owen here!

2011-08-03T17:42:00.000-04:00

2011-08-03T12:20:00.000-04:00

Delivered a hot water heater, sink, toilet, and flooring to Melda's. Tomorrow we will begin installing.

What a Load

2011-08-03T11:18:00.000-04:00

Buying supplies to put a bathroom in at Melda's

2011-08-03T10:29:00.000-04:00

Cookout @ Pass Creek

2011-08-03T10:24:00.001-04:00

Tonight we will have a cookout, cornhole, & an informal service around a bonfire for the people of Allen.
Sent from my iPhone

Yes that's Brian under the pile of kids

2011-08-03T08:58:00.000-04:00

Even the horses like the misting machine

2011-08-03T08:57:00.000-04:00

2011-08-03T08:53:00.001-04:00

Last night the teens painted the cornhole sets that we will use in tonight's cornhole
games. From there we began painting the horses and then they painted us! In the process of that, Ericka got paint in her eye & began to lose some vision. She is better today & her vision has returned but we would appreciate your prayers for her.
Sent from my iPhone

Update

2011-08-03T07:11:00.001-04:00

It's Wednesday & by this time in the week we are all feeling the roughness of the trip. Please keep praying for all of us. Whitlock's foot is really giving him trouble. The rest of us are tired & stiff & sore but ok. It's been a great week. So many blessings we can't count them.

Sent from my iPhone

2011-08-03T07:01:00.000-04:00

2011-08-03T06:58:00.000-04:00

2011-08-02T22:47:00.001-04:00

Painting Horses

2011-08-02T22:46:00.001-04:00

So the painting took a different turn

2011-08-02T22:35:00.000-04:00

2011-08-02T10:24:00.000-04:00

2011-08-02T10:23:00.001-04:00

2011-08-02T10:23:00.000-04:00

2011-08-02T09:19:00.000-04:00

2011-08-02T09:10:00.000-04:00

Updates

2011-08-02T07:26:00.001-04:00

I'm not sure if the text updates are posting correctly. We are all doing well. Yesterday was a great day.

Sent from my iPhone

2011-08-02T06:49:00.005-04:00

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2011-08-01T21:27:00.000-04:00

Tarp Surfing

2011-08-01T21:23:00.001-04:00

2011-08-01T18:17:00.001-04:00

2011-08-01T17:50:00.003-04:00

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2011-08-01T17:50:00.001-04:00

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The Misting Machine

2011-08-01T16:10:00.000-04:00

VBS

2011-08-01T16:09:00.000-04:00

Putting up the Misting Machine

2011-08-01T10:36:00.000-04:00

2011-08-01T09:53:00.000-04:00

Building the Beach

2011-08-01T09:50:00.000-04:00

Unloading Fire Brick For the Fire Pit

2011-08-01T09:49:00.000-04:00

2011-07-31T23:37:00.001-04:00

We made it safely to the Rez & are getting ready for our first team decks under the South Dakota sky.

Almost There

2011-07-31T20:03:00.001-04:00

We're having dinner @ Subway before heading to the Rez.

2011-07-31T17:44:00.000-04:00

2011-07-31T17:10:00.001-04:00

About to drive through the Badlands National Park.

2011-07-31T16:39:00.001-04:00

Just visited the Wounded Knee Museum. Highly recommended.

South Dakota

2011-07-31T13:11:00.001-04:00

2011-07-31T13:07:00.001-04:00

Just had a picnic lunch overlooking the beautiful Missouri River

2011-07-31T08:37:00.000-04:00

2011-07-31T08:28:00.001-04:00

On the road again

Day Two

2011-07-31T05:41:00.000-04:00

Day one went well. We made good time and arrived at the hotel about 9pm (Central Time). Amazingly, we only had one unscheduled stop along the way! Everyone is fine. Whitlock could use your prayers because his foot is giving him some discomfort, but he is OK.

Today we will arive at the Reservatin - but first I have a couple of surprises for the crew. :) Once we arrive at the Rez, we will unload the truck and get settled in and try to get some rest before the chaos begins bright and early tomorrow.

2011-07-30T22:38:00.001-04:00

Made it to the hotel

2011-07-30T21:11:00.000-04:00

Sandbags still up from the flooding.

2011-07-30T15:00:00.000-04:00

2011-07-30T10:44:00.001-04:00

2011-07-30T10:38:00.001-04:00

2011-07-30T06:17:00.001-04:00

And we're off!!

Locked and Loaded

2011-07-29T21:33:00.000-04:00

Well ... it couldn't be a tighter fit....

Ut oh ....

Ah, it'll be fine.

Thanks to all who came out to help load the truck!

Family and Friends of Crew

2011-07-29T18:17:00.000-04:00

We LOVE you, and THANK YOU so much for your support. We couldn't go and do these trips without your support and understanding and there's really no way to tell you how much that means to us.

We're going to MISS you next week, and you can be assured that we will be thinking of you every day.

Your crew member should have given you directions as to how to contact us in case of an emergency (which we hope no one has). Other than that, we ask you not to call us Monday, Aug. 1st - Saturday Aug. 6th. The reason is that we are very busy and it is complete chaos and we need all of our focus to be on the mission we are trying to carry out. Its not that we don't want to talk to you - in fact its because we care so much about you that calls from home can be a big distraction. On our travel days you are free to call our cell phones as often as you like. No doubt you'll be hearing from us on those days.

If there is a genuine emergency, you may call, of course. We hope you know you come first - if you don't know that, maybe we shouldn't be doing these trips. :)

Thanks for your understanding - again.

2011-07-29T13:55:00.001-04:00

Just picked up food for the trip. We will feed about 150 kids a day while there. Now off to get dry ice & pack it all.

For Those of You Following ...

2011-07-29T11:02:00.000-04:00

I've tested this by trying to post pics from my phone to the blog and its not working. That doesn't mean that it won't EVER be able to do it - it just means that I can't right now. So you may or may not see pics here. I will try my best, but technology will only go so far. I should have no problem posting text updates though ... unless there is no data coverage out there. There is supposed to be, but .... we'll see.

So, if you don't see anything here, don't panic. Its not that we've all died. Its that Verizon isn't working for me. If there is ever a real emergency, you'll hear from us via a phone call.

2011-07-29T10:57:00.001-04:00

Picked up the truck!

A Motley Crew

2011-07-29T06:33:00.000-04:00

Well ... I would say its about to get crazy, but it already has done that. There are always two things that happen every year as we near the time to leave, 1) things fall into place with such uncanny timing that you know it just has to be a "God thing", and 2) the enemy throws everything he's got at you.

Both of those things have been happening. Several of our crew are under attack. Some have physical issues. Others have family issues. And there are no doubt some that I don't know about. At least one is leaving in a cast - and he's the cook.

Yeah, we're a motley crew this year. We're battle scared and we've not even left yet. So ... pray for us ... and pray for their families who are staying behind.

Angie Coffey
Roy Hauser
Terie Winkler
Andy Murphy
Cathy Jackson
Charles Jackson
Dennis Whitaker
Ericka Buchanan
Bailey Cartwright
Jean Hitsman (who is already battling health issues)
Tyler Hitsman
Brian Whitlock (who is going with an air cast on this foot due to a torn ligament)
Fred Howell
Earl Baker
Brian Buriff
Amber Buriff

Melons?

2011-07-28T09:55:00.000-04:00

Thanks Terie W. for helping pick up 25 watermelons today!

The watermelon eating contest is always a blast!

How to Burn Bridges

2011-07-25T15:46:00.000-04:00

I'd like to credit this article but I'm not sure where it originated. I believe it may be from Campus Crusade for Christ, but I'm not sure of the specific source. In any case, here are some GREAT reminders as we head off to the Rez. Please take the time to read it carefully. Your life may depend on it. OK, maybe not your life, but perhaps someones soul.

How To Burn Bridges

Ask a lot of questions. Especially about sensitive issues like poverty and alcoholism.
Interrupt often when they speak.
Be uneasy about silence and speak as often as possible.
Feel disrespected when they don't show up at your "event", even when they said they would.
Take a lot of pictures of "them" and use them for your ministry newsletter or research.
Refuse a gift from them because you know what's best for them and don't want to take away the little that they have
Think that if they pray in their language that it can't be Christian because God only speaks English

Calling Out Your Name

2011-07-24T08:03:00.002-04:00

Well the moon moved past Nebraska

And spilled laughter on them cold Dakota Hills

And angels danced on Jacob's stairs

Yeah, they danced on Jacob's stairs

There is this silence in the Badlands

And over Kansas the whole universe was stilled

By the whisper of a prayer

The whisper of a prayer

And the single hawk bursts into flight

And in the east the whole horizon is in flames

I feel thunder in the sky

I see the sky about to rain

And I hear the prairies calling out Your name

I can feel the earth tremble

Beneath the rumbling of the buffalo hooves

And the fury in the pheasant's wings

And there's fury in a pheasant's wings

It tells me the Lord is in His temple

And there is still a faith that can make the mountains move

And a love that can make the heavens ring

And I've seen love make heaven ring

Where the sacred rivers meet

Beneath the shadow of the Keeper of the plains

I feel thunder in the sky

I see the sky about to rain

And I hear the prairies calling out Your name

From the place where morning gathers

You can look sometimes forever 'til you see

What time may never know

What time may never know

How the Lord takes by its corners this old world

And shakes us forward and shakes us free

To run wild with the hope

To run wild with the hope

The hope that this thirst will not last long

That it will soon drown in the song not sung in vain

And I feel thunder in the sky

I see the sky about to rain

And I hear the prairies calling out Your name

And I know this thirst will not last long

That it will soon drown in the song not sung in vain

I feel thunder in the sky

I see the sky about to rain

And with the prairies I am calling out Your name

- Rich Mullins

2011-07-22T15:49:00.000-04:00

If you were following my Facebook today you know it was a crazy morning. I had planned to shovel sand today. We are taking 2 of those molded plastic kiddie pools to the Rez along with a lot of sand left over from a project here at our house and making sand boxes for the little ones. So after 3 cups of coffee (it was a short night) I got to work putting the sand into bags and when the strong bags were filled I filled garbage bags inside 5 gal. buckets. I'm still not sure how to load them onto the truck since the buckets do not have lids. Someone suggested duct taping them but we can't stack them that way ... so I'm not sure but I am sure we'll figure something out.

I got almost all of them finished when I got a call from Walmart ...

I've been buying school supplies from Walmart for Backpacks For Pine Ridge for 8 years now. I have asked many, many times if they would let me order the supplies since I buy so many but until yesterday, never found anyone there willing to help me out.

Yesterday I was there and happened upon a lady putting tissue on an endcap near the school supplies ... so I figured, "why not ... doesn't hurt to ask again", and what do ya know ... she not only was willing to help me but she went the 3rd and 4th mile to do so. She got on her computer and found out that they had 6000 folders in the back (they usually tell me there aren't any back there) and that a truck was coming in later with notebooks on it. She wrote down what I needed and then stayed after her shift - on her own time - and pulled 2400 folders and put them on a skid with a note for no one to touch them. Then today was supposed to be her day off ... but she went in and pulled 2400 notebooks for me and then gave me a call to make sure I got them. Amazing! Its hot here today. The heat index is up over 100 degrees and she was supposed to go swimming today but instead went in to take care of our school supplies. Wow .... Yeah, her boss is going to get a letter from me telling him to do whatever he has to do to keep her.

Since plans changed so fast I posted a request for help picking up the 4800 notebooks and folders, but then had to run out really fast because some folks at Walmart were giving my friend there a hard time about holding them till tomorrow. So off I ran...

And after Brian and I loaded one load into his car and my Jeep, Dewayne Hitsman showed up with his SUV to help load the rest. THANK YOU Dewayne!!

1st load

More ...

2011-07-21T07:52:00.000-04:00

Our stash grew again ... I came home from church to find this ...

This is all the work of Fred, Earl, and Charles and Jerry. Charles and Jerry are not going on the trip but they've put in a good deal of work to help get us ready.

I think it bears repeating ... a LOT goes into these trips long before we ever leave.

Hydrate!!!!

2011-07-20T16:59:00.000-04:00

With the brutal heat this summer we need to be extra careful to stay hydrated while we're on the Rez. While we're not really "working out", we will be out in the heat working hard for long periods of time. Here are some guidelines to pay attention to so that you don't get dehydrated. Remember - take care of yourself!!

General Guidelines for Fluid Needs During Exercise

While specific fluid recommendations aren't possible due to individual variability, most athletes can use the following guidelines as a starting point, and modify their fluid needs accordingly.

Hydration Before Exercise

•Drink about 15-20 fl oz, 2-3 hours before exercise

•Drink 8-10 fl oz 10-15 min before exercise

Hydration During Exercise

•Drink 8-10 fl oz every 10-15 min during exercise

•If exercising longer than 90 minutes, drink 8-10 fl oz of a sports drink (with no more than 8 percent carbohydrate) every 15 - 30 minutes.

Hydration After Exercise

•Weigh yourself before and after exercise and replace fluid losses.

•Drink 20-24 fl oz water for every 1 lb lost.

•Consume a 4:1 ratio of carbohydrate to protein within the 2 hours after exercise to replenish glycogen stores.

Pic of the Day

2011-07-20T09:46:00.000-04:00

In this crazy heat and humidity my lens fogged up as soon as I stepped outside. But here's a pic ... the garage is starting to fill up. Fred, Earl, and Charles and Jerry have been busy. More is on the way....

If You Want to See Us Off ...

2011-07-20T07:31:00.000-04:00

If you want to see us off, it'll cost ya! Well, it'll cost ya a couple hours of sleep. I know sleep is precious, but it would mean a whole lot to the team.

We will be meeting at the church on Saturday, July 30th at 5:30 AM and will be driving out no later than 6AM. If you get there at 6, you'll be too late.

A lot of you have said you would like to go but can't .... this is a way to be involved. Just saying ...

WooHoooooo!!

2011-07-19T16:16:00.002-04:00

Be sure to check out this post at Backpacks For Pine Ridge for some really cool news!!

How "Cool" Is This!!

2011-07-19T01:28:00.001-04:00

Thanks to Fred and Earl for making this very cool misting machine. With temps over 100 degress on the Rez this summer, this will be awesome! It will mist water all the time so that the kids (and us) can run under it and cool off. Click on the pic to enlarge.

Less Than 2 Weeks ... and Counting

2011-07-18T16:14:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder what a typical day looks like a couple of weeks before we leave? There's a lot that goes into these trips ... a whole lot.

I can't speak for everyone but I do know that 3 guys showed up today with a load of lumber for the building project. They had been out buying it and hauling to my garage and if I know them, they were probably busy doing other things too.

Another lady is cutting about 900 strips of fabric that measure 2"x6" for a craft project. I'm quite sure she's having a blast. ;)

Another team member is having surgery tomorrow. Yeah ... its like that.

And I am doing all sorts of things. I started the day out by going shopping for a few things that are still on my list. I bought 500 cookies, 200 band aids to add to the few hundred I already have, and 2 cans of coffee. All completely necessary. :) I ran into the center of the universe there - a lady who moved my cart away while I was in the middle of paying for the items. I was so tempted to say, 'Oh excuse me, I didn't realize the world revolved around you - let me get out of your way" ... but I was nice and smiled and said, 'Oh I'm going to need that to take my stuff to the car."

Then I came home and bagged sand. We have a pile of sand in our backyard that was left over from a project and since the theme this year is "the beach", we're taking a couple of those molded plastic kiddie pools and a bunch of sand out to make sand boxes for the little ones to play in. Maybe they'll even build sand castles.

I'm not sure what I was thinking because we have a heat emergency out today - the heat index is over 100 today. Oh yeah.... its going to be that hot or hotter all week long and we're running out of time - so I'm gettin' r done when I can.

I'm also still looking for a home for 327 backpacks. I have homes for the other 500 but still need a place to distribute these last few hundred. I know, I know ... I can hear the screams of "WHY DID YOU WAIT SO LONG TO DO THAT?!?!?!?!" Welllll ... let me tell ya .... its a different world on the Rez. If we do things too soon - plans seem to fall apart. I've had that happen enough to learn my lesson and wait ... and trust that God has it all under control and it will work out just like its supposed to.

That's a hard lesson for us middle-class, suburban Americans who like to think we're really, really efficient. So its kinda fun to watch people freak out a little bit when they see how I work. Hey, what's the worst that can happen?? Whatever it is, trust me, the world will not come to an end over it. I have a few possibilities ... and if those don't pan out, there's always plan "B" and "C". But I have a feeling ... that it's going to be just fine.

And when I get all this down to a manageable work load ... there's shopping to be done for school supplies for backpacks in 2012. And REZonate ... and a 5k/10k race to work on.

Well, daylight is burning ... keep watching here ... I plan to post lots of updates on the trip.

Top 10 Ways to Ruin Your Mission Trip

2011-07-12T09:27:00.000-04:00

Haha... "this is Fred. He was a hard worker"

Seriously though ....

Playground Games

2011-07-08T14:13:00.001-04:00

We're taking the beach to the Rez this year. In keeping with the theme, we'll be playing beach games and water games as often as possible during VBS. Here is what is planned ...

Tug of War

Frisbee

Beach Ball Race (One beach ball per team. Players will race 2 by 2 to get the beach ball to the finish line without touching it with their hands- can balance it between their heads, stomachs, or whatever works for them)

Penguin Race (two teams will line up, people on each team must put on a swim mask and fins and race the other team to the finish point and back. This continues until one of the two teams wins by having all of their teammates finish.)

Shell Races (same as Penguin Race except that teams will balance a sea shell on their forehead while racing to the finish without dropping it. If it is dropped they must go back to the start and start over)

Sand Castle Races - Two teams will race to see who can build the biggest sand castle

Tarp Surfing - with a skateboard on a large blue tarp - two team members will hold the edge of the tarp up to catch the wind while someone surfs across it. It looks just like surfing.

And of course we'll have sack races, slip-n-slides, a misting machine, and sand piles for the little ones and sidewalk chalk to decorate the basketball court.

Hotel # 2

2011-07-06T16:49:00.000-04:00

OK, so I won't really make us drive straight though ... although ... I've seriously considered it.

On the way home we'll be staying in another hotel that will be new to us. For some reason its been a bear to book at our usual hotels (I've spent 5 hours today trying) so we're going with some different ones. Drivers, before you get upset about the out-of-the-way location of this one - keep in mind it was this or pay a lot more per room.

We'll be at the Hilton Garden Inn in Des Moines, IA. You can check it out here

One Hotel Down, One to Go?

2011-07-06T14:40:00.000-04:00

We've booked the hotel where we will stay on the trip out to South Dakota. Its a different one that we usually stay at so I hope you're all up for an adventure! :)

Prices were a bit higher this year ... so I found a cheaper one. HAHAHAA

Those who went the first year are probably cringing about now.

Trust me ... I don't think it will be THAT bad. Actually all of the reviews were great! It had better reviews than the hotel we normally stay at. Check it out for yourself here

About Comments

2011-07-01T15:20:00.000-04:00

Just FYI, I've reluctantly had to disable comments from this blog again. I had hoped that this blog could be more than just an informational format and that the people connected to our mission could comment and lend support, but it seems that blogs such as this tend to attract people who often make rash judgements about what we are doing without taking time to get to know anything about us or our mission. I'm too old and don't have the time or interest in answering those comments and if published all they do are bring the folks who are trying to do something good down - so, sorry folks, no more comments.

Walk on .... the One who knows us, knows our hearts and that's all that matters.

VBS Teams

2011-07-01T15:12:00.000-04:00

For those team members who may not remember ...

VBS Teams

Little Kids

Cathy
Charles
Earl
Fred
Bailey
Brian B.

Middlers

Roy
Jean
Angie
Ericka
Tyler
Dennis
Terie
Andy

A Story Worth Repeating

2011-05-14T13:34:00.000-04:00

One of the most challenging things about preparing a team for a mission trip is the aspect of sharing the gospel. Each year we have a team with various church backgrounds and who are in various stages of spiritual maturity. Its probably safe to sasy that there are a lot of different expectations and opinions on the topic of sharing the gospel and what that looks like in a different culture. Do we do it? How do we do it? When do we do it? Afterall, it is a mission trip so winning souls is what its all about, right?

Yes, winning souls is the ultimate goal but how we go about that makes all the difference. Emily Clark has worked as an intern on the Pine Ridge Reservation and shares this story which illustrates how a mission team can go wayyyy off the rails in seeking to share the gospel. With her permission, I share a portion of it here.

One of the more horrific experiences of my life, related to my experience of the Church, took place last summer while I was living and working of the Pine Ridge Reservation. A little about the community before I tell you the story, because I believe context will help you understand. Manderson, where I lived, is 15 miles from the closest gas pump; it has a school k-8, a college center, a tribal office, a tiny store where a gallon of milk costs $5, a post office, and a day care center. About 600 people live in the community. Pine Ridge has 80-90% unemployment, an average yearly income of about $3,500, and a life expectancy for men of 46 and women 52. There is one small Catholic Church in the community of Manderson and it does not have regular services. I can rattle off other stats but you get the point, life there is hard and if anyone needs to be shown the love of God it is the Lakota people.

While I was there working for YouthWorks hosting youth mission trips, my team and I worked to shoe the people in the community that we came because we loved them, another church group came for a week long mission trip. This group, who denomination will remain nameless, invited the entire community and the 70+ YouthWorks participants to a free Indian Taco meal. An Indian Taco, which is not a racist term trust me, is the best food in the world. My mouth waters just thinking it about them. Anyway I gave my permission for my group to be a part of this activity because a meal is a great way to engage with people and interact with them on an even level. The pastor planning this event plastered the community with signs inviting them to a free meal. No cost, nothing you have to give or do to be a part of it, just come and eat.

About 400 hungry people crammed into the tiny gym Wounded Knee District expecting a meal and were given instead a worship service. Hymns were sung from the stage while the White Christians attempted to engage the native people sitting at the tables across from them. Then came the message, it was at this point that I entered the gym, totally unaware of what was happening my community. I felt terrible. Here was this pastor speaking from the stage to a room full of hungry people telling them how if they only accepted Jesus into their hearts as their savior everything would be better. They wouldn't go to hell when they died. Even thinking about it makes me cringe; this pastor knew nothing about the pain that people lived with daily. The people who filled that gym expecting a meal lived in a daily hell. Hell was all around them, hell is not being able to feed their children, hell is be a child who is raped by his or her drunk uncle, hell is a 6 year old riding her bike for 2 days straight because she does not have place to sleep

While I was sitting there cringing at the disgrace that the pastor was preaching in the name of Jesus he pulled out the classic, turn or burn moment. I am sure that some of you have experienced it.
He said, "Now everyone close your eyes," something no one did, "Now raise your hand if you don't want to spend eternity burning in hell."

I heard several people around me yell, "we are hungry and want to eat, just raise your hand."

The pastor, "We are not going to eat until someone comes to Jesus and steps away from Hell."

Finally after the acceptable number of people raised their hands, we were able to eat. The next day, an ice cream social was offered to the community and before they could get their ice cream they had to listen to the same message. Then the Christian's left, they did their good service to the poor Indians, and then went home.

I was left saddened and frankly amazed at how the love of God got boiled down to a way to get a free Indian taco or a free ice cream Sunday. I had invested a year of my life in that community showing people that being a Christian was about love and being able to see the love that God has for them. I did not see the point to warn people about hell, when it was all around them. What they need to see is heaven here and now. If you are going to describe a revolutionary concept to people speak of peace and love enduring and conquering all.

More please ....

2011-03-28T07:57:00.000-04:00

Each year we feed about 150 children a meal every day that we are on the Rez. In past years we have always been given a large donation of meat from a local business and we are very grateful for their past generosity. However, this year the donation of food is looking very, very, very doubtful.

We know from past years that the kids on the Rez are truly hungry so NOT feeding them a meal is not an option. Its just something we have to do, whatever the cost.

This Sunday evening, April 3, at 6pm at the Winton Road First Church of God, Gary Hitsman will be in concert. If you've heard Gary, you know he has an awesome voice. Its a voice that has taken him to some pretty high places in his past. His old band opened for some national acts when he was the lead singer for Distant Rail. He's good. Really good.

The concert is free. Just come and enjoy and be blessed.

We will take up an offering at some point and all the money we receive will be used to purchase food for the children on the Rez. If you can't give, that's OK, come anyway - you will be glad you did.

We're Going to the BEACH !

2011-03-21T22:02:00.000-04:00

And if you go to the beach you know you're going to need Flip Flops, Sunglasses, and a brightly colored bandanna to keep the sun off your head. :)

I was able to get them all to match ...

In the pic is also a couple of the crafts we'll be doing with the younger kids. Some foam craft crabs and sandcastles.

The teens will do some Tarp Surfing and scrapbooking and have a "make your own banana split" night.

Those are just a few of the FUN things we have planned for the kids this year!

Meeting and Payment Time Again

2011-02-04T08:12:00.000-05:00

The next team meeting will be Sunday, Feb. 6th @ 4pm @ Winton Rd. First Church of God. The next payment of $130 is also due at that time. We'll be setting up the VBS teams so be thinking about which group you would prefer to work with. We'll do our best to get you with the group you would like, but no promises. :)

Chili Cook Off & Womanless "Beauty" Pageant

2011-01-05T18:31:00.001-05:00

Mark your calendar now because you're not going to want to miss this.

Feb. 27, 2011 at noon (just after the morning service) there will be a Chili Cook Off and Womanless "Beauty" Pageant in the fellowship hall at Winton Rd. First Church of God.

Here is how it'll work ...

Enter a pot of your famous chili (or winter soup) into the contest. Fairfeld, and Fairfield Township firemen will judge both categories and the winner will gain "braggin' rights" for the next year.
During your meal there will be a Womanless "Beauty" Pageant. Men from the Pine Ridge Mission Team (and others from our congregation will stand in for the women on the team) will compete. This is guaranteed to be hilarious. Miss Candy Cotton will be making another appearance as eemcee for the event.
YOU will get to choose the winner of the "Beauty" Pageant by putting money in your favorite contestants jar that will be displayed on a table in the fellowship hall. The contestant with the most money in their jar at the end, will win.
There will be a free-will donation for the meal and all proceeds will go toward the Pine Ridge Mission Trip for 2011.

Invite your friends and plan to join us for good food and lots of laughs. It'll do ya good.