Sunday, April 23, 2006
Friday, April 21, 2006
Pam's Court Video - Improved Version
Please click on the video to watch our mission team build "Pam's Court".
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Monday, April 17, 2006
Sunday, April 16, 2006
The Warrior's Ride - Please check this out
Please take a moment to watch this short video. It can also be purchased at redheartonline. All proceeds go to help Lakota Youth at the Pine Ridge reservation.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Just for Fun
A short video that has a bit of fun at Jack Sparrow's expense. If you need a laugh, check it out.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Monday, April 10, 2006
Yikes! Jesus Come See About Us!
Three weeks from today is the final deadline for having all of our money in. Just 3 weeks! And I'm concerned. At this time we are about $1000.00 behind. Not good.
And another concern is that we have hit every Kroger, Target, Wal-Mart, Meijer, and other stores in the area as well as contacting all of the major oil companies asking them for donations. So far, nothing. The oil companies did write back to tell us they do not have enough money to support every worthy cause.
Normally we have a lot of donations but this year, for whatever reason, they are simply not coming in. This can pose a big problem for our trip. Basically, if we don't come up with the money - we don't go. I don't really believe that will happen, but it is a possibility.
While I am concerned, I'm not too worried because I know that if God wants this trip to happen He will supply all we need. Someone has said, "If it's God's will, it's God's bill", and that is true. And I truly believe that God wants this trip to happen. There are just too many reasons I believe that. One being that it is very likely that someone will come to Christ because of this particular trip. That is more of a possibility this year than in previous years.
So of course, our enemy is going to fight. What we need to do is PRAY. That is how spiritual battles are won. Then we need to put legs on our prayers and do whatever we can do on our end.
If there is someone who would like to help us out, here are some folks who really need some help coming up with their money:
Daniel
Larry
The Jacksons
Kristen
Contact me at my email address or see me at church if you feel led to help one of these. We need to make our budget by May 1st so that we can begin purchasing supplies.
One alternative we could do to cut costs is to not feed lunch to the kids. I really don't want to do that. For some of those kids, the lunch we feed them is the only meal they get. I well remember last year seeing kids taking the scraps from the other kid's plates and putting them in their purse or pocket so they could have something to take home for their evening meal or to share with family. I really think we have to feed them so I'm trusting God to come through. He always does. But for some reason He seems to wait until the last minute.
And another concern is that we have hit every Kroger, Target, Wal-Mart, Meijer, and other stores in the area as well as contacting all of the major oil companies asking them for donations. So far, nothing. The oil companies did write back to tell us they do not have enough money to support every worthy cause.
Normally we have a lot of donations but this year, for whatever reason, they are simply not coming in. This can pose a big problem for our trip. Basically, if we don't come up with the money - we don't go. I don't really believe that will happen, but it is a possibility.
While I am concerned, I'm not too worried because I know that if God wants this trip to happen He will supply all we need. Someone has said, "If it's God's will, it's God's bill", and that is true. And I truly believe that God wants this trip to happen. There are just too many reasons I believe that. One being that it is very likely that someone will come to Christ because of this particular trip. That is more of a possibility this year than in previous years.
So of course, our enemy is going to fight. What we need to do is PRAY. That is how spiritual battles are won. Then we need to put legs on our prayers and do whatever we can do on our end.
If there is someone who would like to help us out, here are some folks who really need some help coming up with their money:
Daniel
Larry
The Jacksons
Kristen
Contact me at my email address or see me at church if you feel led to help one of these. We need to make our budget by May 1st so that we can begin purchasing supplies.
One alternative we could do to cut costs is to not feed lunch to the kids. I really don't want to do that. For some of those kids, the lunch we feed them is the only meal they get. I well remember last year seeing kids taking the scraps from the other kid's plates and putting them in their purse or pocket so they could have something to take home for their evening meal or to share with family. I really think we have to feed them so I'm trusting God to come through. He always does. But for some reason He seems to wait until the last minute.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Friday, April 07, 2006
A Song From Our Hymnal
I got excited and had a bit of a picture posting frenzy this monning. I hope you enjoy ... click on any of the pictures to make them bigger.
Back when we were putting together the first trip to the reservation I came across this song in our hynmal at church and felt that it "just fit" with what we attempt to do there. I know it expresses my prayer.
Back when we were putting together the first trip to the reservation I came across this song in our hynmal at church and felt that it "just fit" with what we attempt to do there. I know it expresses my prayer.
O May Thy Church Build Bridges Lord
O may thy church build bridges Lord,
Across the wastes where men have warred
With stone on stone as fighting cease
And war-fare yields to lasting peace
Forgiveness, justice, in each span
As man is reconciled to man
And enmity and hate and fear
Give way to love and hope and cheer
Lord let these bridges ever be
For rich and poor
From sea to sea
Across which man may still progress
And not destroy the world but bless
O teach us thus to build for peace
And may our efforts never cease
Till nations press with one accord
Into the kingdom of our Lord!
Thursday, April 06, 2006
A Cool Resource!
Hey guys, check this out Patch The Pirate.
And by the way, if you're having trouble seeing the pics I've posted, please let me know. Or if you CAN see them, let me know that too. You can click on the "Post a Comment" link and leave a comment. You can do this anonymously so that you will not have to give any personal information and you do not need an account with Blogger. I'd really love to hear from you either way!
"Today is a gift - Have Fun!" - Dustin, age 11
(Dustin was a Children's Hospice patient who passed away at age 11)
And by the way, if you're having trouble seeing the pics I've posted, please let me know. Or if you CAN see them, let me know that too. You can click on the "Post a Comment" link and leave a comment. You can do this anonymously so that you will not have to give any personal information and you do not need an account with Blogger. I'd really love to hear from you either way!
"Today is a gift - Have Fun!" - Dustin, age 11
(Dustin was a Children's Hospice patient who passed away at age 11)
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Monday, April 03, 2006
102 Days and Counting
As of today we are 102 days out from our trip. Things will really start to roll now and it'll be time to strap on the bandanna and hat and head to the Rez. For those of you who don't know, bandannas are the only way to deal with unruly hair on long busy days in the heat. Just no time to fool with hair when we're out there. :)
We are not having a meeting in April becuase we're still yet not sure who all is going and who isn't. With that situation it's just impractical to begin planning. I hope everyone goes but this year has been strange with people dropping in and out fast enough to make my head spin. And we still are having MAJOR money problems. SO .... until those things get sorted out, I really can't make team assignments so there is little use in having a meeting.
We will have meetings in May, June, and July. As of May 1st all of our money should be in... at least that's the plan and I really, really, hope that it is. In June we'll begin shopping and packing and in July we leave!
Ericka and her friend (the village in the background)
Until then, I'll be trying to post a Pic of the Day each day. If you check in at the blog you should find a new pic of our past trips to Pine Ridge. Let those inspire some excitement and serve as a reminder to PRAY for the kids, the crew, and the trip!
If your payments are not in through April 1st, then now is the time to really make that a priority. Do whatever you have to do to get those in ASAP.
We are not having a meeting in April becuase we're still yet not sure who all is going and who isn't. With that situation it's just impractical to begin planning. I hope everyone goes but this year has been strange with people dropping in and out fast enough to make my head spin. And we still are having MAJOR money problems. SO .... until those things get sorted out, I really can't make team assignments so there is little use in having a meeting.
We will have meetings in May, June, and July. As of May 1st all of our money should be in... at least that's the plan and I really, really, hope that it is. In June we'll begin shopping and packing and in July we leave!
Ericka and her friend (the village in the background)
Until then, I'll be trying to post a Pic of the Day each day. If you check in at the blog you should find a new pic of our past trips to Pine Ridge. Let those inspire some excitement and serve as a reminder to PRAY for the kids, the crew, and the trip!
If your payments are not in through April 1st, then now is the time to really make that a priority. Do whatever you have to do to get those in ASAP.
Friday, February 24, 2006
The Hotel!
The hotel reservations have been made for the trip out. We are still looking at our schedule before making reservations for the trip home, but those will be coming soon. We will be staying in the Hamtom Hotel in Des Moine, IA. (Cathy click the blue words to see pics of the hotel).
I did have a bit of a problem and I am asking for your cooperation on this - especially from you men who are going. Currently we have 5 men signed up, which would mean that we need 2 rooms for the guys. The problem is that two of those men are having difficultly coming up with their money and may need to drop out, which would mean we would only need one room.
THEN, one of the ladies is perhaps going to drop out as well and another guy may be taking her place. SOOO.... I'm not sure what to do about rooms. We reserved 4 rooms - one for the men so some of the guys may end up needing to sleep on the floor or (hopefully) a roll-away. We needed to make the reservations now in order to ensure the $29 a room price. Even at that we were only able to get 3 of the rooms at that rate, so I went ahead and booked them.
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
I did have a bit of a problem and I am asking for your cooperation on this - especially from you men who are going. Currently we have 5 men signed up, which would mean that we need 2 rooms for the guys. The problem is that two of those men are having difficultly coming up with their money and may need to drop out, which would mean we would only need one room.
THEN, one of the ladies is perhaps going to drop out as well and another guy may be taking her place. SOOO.... I'm not sure what to do about rooms. We reserved 4 rooms - one for the men so some of the guys may end up needing to sleep on the floor or (hopefully) a roll-away. We needed to make the reservations now in order to ensure the $29 a room price. Even at that we were only able to get 3 of the rooms at that rate, so I went ahead and booked them.
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Pine Ridge '06 - My Story, Our Story, His Story
In addition to the "Pirates" theme for the week, we will be doing VBS differently this year. For one thing, we have a smaller crew and to do a typical VBS will stretch us too thin, SO, time for creativity ..... who said we had to do things the same way we've always done them anyway, eh?
For VBS we will focus more on sharing our stories - both individually and collectively. So, be prepared to share what God has done for you personally.
Here is what the week will look like in terms of telling stories:
My Story
Monday - Wednesday
We will divide the kids into groups with each group having several crew members. The crew members will take turns sharing their stories. You may also allow for the kids to share their stories if they choose to do so as well.
Our Story
On Thursday we will share Our Story with the kids. In essence, we will tell them why we come out to the reservation and what it has taken for us to do so. Be prepared to share with them your own personal reasons for wanting to go to the reservation.
His Story
Thursday - sharing why we come to the reservation will naturally lead in to sharing about Jesus and His love for us and for the Lakota children. We will take the opportunity to share the gospel message.
Focus on Prayer
Because we will be more intentionally sharing the gospel message with the kids, I am asking each crew member (and anyone reading) to keep our trip in your prayers on a daily basis. This will be new territiory for our crew and we need to be especially sensitive to the needs of the Lakota children. Pray for the trip in general. Pray specificially for the safety and health of all of the crew. Pray specifically for the missionaries there. And pray specifically for the children.
Bracelets
I am in the process of making prayer bracelets for each crew member. The bracelets will have the name or names of some of the children that we will be working with and will be a reminder to us to pray daily for those children.
Some time in June or early July I will also be passing around a sign-up sheet for those in our congregation to commit to pray for us. Anyone who signs up to pray for us while we are gone will be given a beaded bracelet to remind them to pray for us.
SO,
Let,s pray, let's prepare, and let's have FUN!
For VBS we will focus more on sharing our stories - both individually and collectively. So, be prepared to share what God has done for you personally.
Here is what the week will look like in terms of telling stories:
My Story
Monday - Wednesday
We will divide the kids into groups with each group having several crew members. The crew members will take turns sharing their stories. You may also allow for the kids to share their stories if they choose to do so as well.
Our Story
On Thursday we will share Our Story with the kids. In essence, we will tell them why we come out to the reservation and what it has taken for us to do so. Be prepared to share with them your own personal reasons for wanting to go to the reservation.
His Story
Thursday - sharing why we come to the reservation will naturally lead in to sharing about Jesus and His love for us and for the Lakota children. We will take the opportunity to share the gospel message.
Focus on Prayer
Because we will be more intentionally sharing the gospel message with the kids, I am asking each crew member (and anyone reading) to keep our trip in your prayers on a daily basis. This will be new territiory for our crew and we need to be especially sensitive to the needs of the Lakota children. Pray for the trip in general. Pray specificially for the safety and health of all of the crew. Pray specifically for the missionaries there. And pray specifically for the children.
Bracelets
I am in the process of making prayer bracelets for each crew member. The bracelets will have the name or names of some of the children that we will be working with and will be a reminder to us to pray daily for those children.
Some time in June or early July I will also be passing around a sign-up sheet for those in our congregation to commit to pray for us. Anyone who signs up to pray for us while we are gone will be given a beaded bracelet to remind them to pray for us.
SO,
Let,s pray, let's prepare, and let's have FUN!
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