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What a Difference a Day Makes

Today was a good day. After a really difficult and challenging day yesterday some of us had a very long night. The girls trailer came under attack ... some of our more devious guys (Josh, Bub, Mark, and Jeff) crashed through the window of the girls trailer with super soakers and trashed the girls. This morning I (Amber) went to breakfast in war paint to let it be known that we were indeed on the warpath.

After breakfast several of us gathered at the cross to pray for the situation we experienced yesterday with the children. Yesterday was a challenging day to say the least. I'm pretty sure that it will go down as our worst day here to date. In the end we sat the kids down and laid down some firm boundaries and then took them home a good 2 hours earlier than planned.

Today was entirely different. The kids who had given us grief yesterday were very well behaved today. We have lots of cool stories to tell but maybe one of the most rewarding was when I was walking across the playground and saw Ericka crying. I asked her what was wrong and she responded like any good female would - that she was just so happy. One of the little boys in her class had just asked her to pray with him and tell him more about Jesus and about how much Jesus loved him. Fred had done a lesson about the overflowing love of Jesus using Mentos and Diet Coke as an object lesson and the little boy wanted to know more.

There is really just too much to tell. We are all exhausted and suffering from the extreme heat. Please keep us in your prayers.

2008 Trip: Day 1

Wonder of wonders, we have Internet service in Pine ridge - thanks to Mark! I'm not sure how often time will permit for blogging, but I did want to let everyone at home know how the trip is going so far.

We arrived Sunday afternoon and since no one was home when we arrived, the first-timers went on a tour through the village. By the time we were back, so was Barry and Shelly. We unloaded the truck and settled in. That evening Dennis preached and Daniel sang in the church service. After the service we had a time of fellowship with the people here. We were touched to see that so many of the children showed up to see us. It was almost like we got in another day with them because so many were here.

Monday was the first full day and as always proved to be an eye-opening experience for the first-timers. I think Mark has broken a few records - he is the first person to cry during a Kool Aid run and the first to carry 4 -5 kids on his back at a time. Teresa is also having a fantastic time. From all reports, Jeff is proving to be an effective teacher for the teenagers and is providing us all with a lot of good entertainment. What a ham!

Monday evening we went to Wounded Knee and were honored to have one of the men from the village, his wife and daughter go along with us. Lionel was an amazing source of information about Lakota culture. Each of us were invited to take an offering of tobacco inside the memorial where the mass grave is and pay our respects to the dead there. I think we all felt very honored to be invited to do that.

A couple of prayer requests ... We were not on the road for 6 hours on Saturday when Whitlock got word that his father had suffered a heart attack and was in ICU. Monday evening Jeff received a message that his uncle, who is also his godfather, passed away. News like this is never easy and is only made more difficult by being so far from home. Both of these guys are amazing and are carrying with their duties here but I am sure that they're hearts are a heavy and they would really appreciate your prayers.

We love you all and want to express our appreciation for your support!

Watermelon, Watermelon, Watermelon

Well after 6 months of planning and getting the team prepared, its almost time to hit the road. I've been swamped with last minute details the past few days. One rather big last minute detail was watermelons. That's right, watermelons. I am just back from purchasing 24 of 'em. You should see the looks you get at Walmart when you buy that many watermelons.

Next Friday is party day at the mission. We will have around 150 kids, give or take a few, we will feed them lunch, have potato sack races, play tug-of-war, cornhole, play with a giant parachute, shoot hoops, and have a watermelon eating contest (any excuse to tie them up for a few minutes). We'll also get all the kids sno-cones from a Lakota lady on the Rez who sells them in remembrance of the American Indian Code Talkers with the proceeds going to the following Native organizations: The Olowan Dale Adam Scholarship Fund, The Lakota Song and Dance Club, The Future American Indians of Business. Its kind of a cool thing to treat the kids to sno-cones on a hot summer day and support the local business/educational imitative. And after all of that ..... we'll top it off with a water fight! Gotta hose 'em down somehow. That evening I think we're all going to relax and enjoy the beautiful American Indian dancers at the Pine Ridge PowWow.

A few of my prized purchases riding in the back of my Jeep.

Load up and Leave!

We load the truck at 7pm Friday, July 25th @ Amber's house.

Bring the following:

• Your big suitcase
• Air Matress
• Sleeping bag
• Fan (optional - don't really need this but you're welcome to bring one along)
• Tools
• Folding lawn chair

Be at the church NO LATER than 6am Saturday, July 26th. We will have doughnuts and coffee. If you want something else bring it.

Bring with you:

• Your one SMALL bag for the van
• A great attitude

Anyone who would like to show up and see us off - we do not expect that at such an early hour on a Saturday, but would be happy to see you there.

Thanks Lisa for makin' the coffee and cleaning up after we're gone!

Meet the Crew: Kristen

Kristen is a WELCOME and last minute addition to our crew. We are all thrilled to have Kris join us. She is getting to be a "pro" on these trips and the kids there love her. I've got the pics to prove it. :) Kristen is a hard worker and very self-less in her giving. She is always ready to go whatever is needed. She is always up for a giggle-fest in the late hours of the evening as well. Don't let her sweet smile and shy personality mislead you - she's devious when it comes to pranks.

How many years have you gone to the Rez with us?

This will be my fourth yr.

What is something specific people can pray for you about?

That I do what I need to do while I'm out there the other people and not doing things just for me

What about the trips has changed you and/or makes you want to go back?

I have been able to come out of my shell a little more
dealing with the kids and stuff.. and the kids are what you mostly wanna go back for


**Note* In case there is some confusion about last minute additions to the crew when I make a big deal about deadlines, here is the explanation. Although there are firm deadlines for signing up for the trips to Pine Ridge, occasionally we have a crew member that has to drop out for various reasons. When that happens a spot becomes available - I normally reserve those last minute spots for folks who are familiar with the trips due to the need to be as spiritually, emotionally, physically, and culturally prepared as possible.

Meet the Crew: Charles

About Charles:

Saint Charles, Always does the right thing, Honest, Hard-working, Never Complains, LOVES those kids, Trustworthy, Dependable. And he’s a great mechanic.

How many years have you gone to the Rez with us?

This will be my 3rd year

What is something specific people can pray for you about?

Health

What is it about the trip that has changed you and makes you want to go back?

It makes me appreciate what I’ve got more and makes me wish I could do more for the people and Barry and Shelly

*No pic of Charles was available HOWEVER, the kids on the Rez always call him "Papa Smurf" so ...

Meet the Crew: Chrissie

*Sorry - no picture of Chrissie availalbe. Even after all the years she has gone I do not have a good close-up pic of her. I have several that were taken from a distance but no close-ups. :/ That will change this year Chrissie!!

About Chrissie
Chrissie is a pleasure to have along on the trips. She quietly goes about doing what she’s there to do without complaining and gives her best at all times. Her love for the kids there is evident to anyone who has traveled to the Rez with her.

How many years have you gone to the Rez with us?

This will be my 4th trip.

What is something specific people can pray for you about?

I have sciatic nerve problems so it can make traveling in the van for long periods of time hard on me.

For those of you who have gone before - what is the thing about it that has changed you and made you want to go back?

My priorities have changed…things that may have seemed important before don’t always seem so important now.
The major thing that keeps me wanting to go back each year is the kids. When you aren’t there you think of them, I miss them and wonder what they are doing and how they are. Are they cold or hungry…are they happy or sad. It truly is a week where you put all your needs and wants aside and put all the focus on them. For one week you know the kids had fun and felt loved and by the end of the week you realize you did too. When it’s time to say goodbye, the cycle starts over and my heart aches to return again.

*Sorry - no picture of Jeff available

About Jeff
Jeff is willing to do whatever it takes, Good Attitude, Team player, Hard-working, Funny, Dependable, Adventurous, Fun

How many years have you gone to the Rez with us?

This will be my first year.

What is something specific people can pray for you about?

I need prayer so God will soften my heart with some personal situations I am going through. Seems I have gotten Bitter in my "older" years with certain situations. Almost to the point of hatred!

Why do you want to go on this trip?

I need to meet more people, I feel I have something to give, just don't really understand what it is I have. I have seen the pictures and heard Chrissie talk about all the people there and it seems like it would be beneficial for me and them. I know God has something spectacular in store for me! Just wish he would show me what it is..............

Meet the Crew: Darlene

*Sorry - no picture of Darlene available.

About Darlene
Loyal, Hardworking, willing to do whatever is needed, thinks of others before herself, very committed to the team. Makes a good strawberry pie!

How many times have you been to the Rez with us?

This is my first year.

What is something specific people can pray for me about?

Strength to do what I feel the Lord has called me to do

Why do you want to go on the trip?

Because I love to help people and I think it will be a good experience.

Meet the Crew: Dennis

About Dennis:Honorable, Man of intgrity. Hard-working, Trustworthy, Funny, Funny, Funny. Never Complains - or at least in all the time of traveling with him to the Rez I've never heard him complain. Great teacher. Great musician. Does his best at all times.

This will be the 3rd trip to the Rez for Dennis.

He did not get his responses turned in but has many issues that need prayer and I’m pretty sure he keeps going back because he has a heart for people and believes strongly in missions. Now if we could just get him to pay attention. ;)

Meet the Crew: Bev

About Bev
Bev is one of those people who strives to do her best at whatever task she is at. She is a hard worker who always seeks to give Jesus her best.


How many years have you gone to the Rez with us?

I have been four times.

What is something specific people can pray for you about?

That I will be prepared and sensitive to the Holy Spirit each day that I am there and will follow His leading.

What is it about the trips that has changed you and makes you want to go back?

I love the Native people and to see them living in the conditions that they are today breaks my heart.

*Bev did not give me her answers in writing. There was much more to what she said but I do not want to misrepresent her by misinterpreting her words. I'm sure she will gladly share with you if you ask her. My memory is just not good enough to remember what she said word for word.

Meet the Crew: Daniel

Daniel is a young man with a heart for God. He is a talented musician and has a desire to be used by God. He also talks in his sleep. You can learn a lot of you listen to him when he’s sleeping.

How many years have you gone to the Rez with us?

This is going to be my third year going to the reservation.

What is something specific that people can pray for you about?

Pray that I have a servants heart, and not care about my needs, but the needs of others.

What about the trips have changed you and made you want to go back?

The trips for me are really life changing. It ,makes you realize how good we have it here in America. And the kids and the people are why I keep going back. Praying that one day they all will come to the saving power of Jesus Christ.

Meet the Crew: Jean

Jean has been a part of our crew since the first trip and has been a blessing to have along. She truly has a servant’s heart and is willing to do whatever needs doing with little or no regard for her own personal wishes. Her self-less efforts on the trips have helped her to build some special relationships with some of the kids.

How many years have you gone to the Rez with us?

Four

What is something specific people can pray for you about?

That I am able to go, and that my husband gets rid of his cancer, or at least begins to feel better.

What is the thing about the trips that has changed you and made you want to go back?

I have learned that it's not about me. And I want to go back because I feel like I have family there, and I miss them.

Meet the Crew: Fred

What can I say about Fred. Fred is awesome. Fred is amazing. Fred is LOVED by everybody on the team. And in spite of all of that, Fred is humble. One of the sweetest guys you’ll ever meet and a hard worker who always puts Jesus first and has a true servant’s heart.

How many years have you gone to the Rez with us?

This will be my 2nd year.

What is something specific people can be praying for you about?

That I would be obedient to God, to be tender to the Holy Spirit, step up when I should, step back when I need to and the wisdom to know the difference.

What is the thing about the trip that has changed you and makes you want to go back?

I think about the children at Pine Ridge all the time, especially when I see the children at church or my grandchildren and I've grown closer to my brothers and sisters in Christ that I traveled to Pine Ridge with.
What makes me want to go back?
If I can encourage or help one person to know Christ and change their life, that would be awesome.

Click it for the Kids

Got a minute? Here is a quick and easy way to help us help the kids at Pine Ridge and it won't cost you a penny. Click here to go to the DoSomething.org site and then click on the Projects page. Type in Backpacks For Pine Ridge in the "find a project" box and then vote for us!
Easy as can be and it can help us get the word out ... and that means more help for the kids.

Meet the Crew: Tim

About Tim:
Tim is funny. He cracks everyone up with his off-the-wall sense of humor. He is also a very talented photographer— many of the photos you see from the trips are ones Tim has taken. He is also a hard worker, is willing to do whatever is needed and oh yeah, did I mention he was funny?

How many years have you gone to the Rez with us?

This will be my fourth time to the REZ.

What is something specific people can pray for you about?

I am not all that good at communicating with the kids at our church so it is that much more difficult with the kids on the Rez and I am not as patient as I should be.

What is the thing about the trips that has changed you and made you want to go back?

I am not good at this self analysis gig but I do see the people warming up to us more each year - maybe I can follow their example

Meet the Crew: Debbie

About Debbie:
Debbie is an amazing lady. I’ve always known that but that characteristic became very clear the year we went to the Rez and on the first day there, Debbie got a call from her doctor telling her she had cancer. Rather than spend her time feeling sorry for herself as would be normal for most of us, she took a minute to cry with her hubby Tim and call her family and then got right to work. She is always a blessing on the trips and teaches us all how to make the best of a bad situation.

How many years have you gone to the Rez with us?

This will be my third time out.

What is something specific people can pray for you about?

Pray that when we are are there and difficult situations arise that I will know what to do - what to say or just to listen.

What is the thing about the trips that has changed you and made you want to go back?

I don't know if I have changed but I go back for the kids and being busy with them out there has helped me get through difficult times in my life.

Meet the Crew: Teresa

Teresa has been one of those crew members who have been first to seize opportunities to serve. She has quietly gone about doing what needs to be done without the need for recognition. She has a servant’s heart and has exhibited responsibility and a willingness to help others whether they are the Lakota people or her own teammates. Teresa is expecting a grandchild to be born about the time we will be on the Rez. I know she wants to be here for that so we're hoping the baby will wait till we're back home.

How many years have you been going on to the Rez with us?

This will be my first year.

What is something specific people can pray for you about?

Pray for my lost family members

Why do you want to go on this trip?

I had God tugging at my heart and when He is speaking I am going my best to listen and serve Him the best way I can. I hope to be a blessing to the people of Pine Ridge because I know I will receive a blessing.

Meet the Crew: Whitlock

Since I have so many Brian's in my life, I have dubbed this Brian "Whitlock". What can I say about Whitlock ... he is a really gifted organizer. I've been amazed as I've watched him work on both this team and the Rezonate team. His real day job has him wheeling and dealing with some very big businesses and he is far more talented than I ever imagined. Not only that, he's a genuinely nice guy. Very kind, A Real Giver, Good Cook (thankfully since he's our cook this year). He has volunteered to cook for 150 people at a homeless shelter - not just once a week, but every day. Takes Initiative, Is fun to pick on, Has a great sense of humor. And just can't seem to take a good pic - the first pic I took he was saying something and it came out looking like he was blowing a kiss -- and in this one he has his eyes shut. Oh well, sorry Whitlock. (He may kill me for this)


How many years have you gone to the Rez with us?

This will be my first year.

What is something specific people can pray for you about?

Be more obedient to God!

Why do you want to go on this trip?

I live to serve other's and I love to cook, I want to use what God has blessed me with to help other's. I see this mission trip having two missions for me personally, the first is helping and building a relationship with the Pine Ridge people, the second is to serve the Pine Ridge Mission team.

Meet the Crew: Cathy

Cathy is Compassionate, Compassionate, Compassionate, Dependable, Willing to Step out of her comfort zone and try things that scare her, Courageous. Hard worker. Always puts others ahead of herself - unless she has to pee.

How many years have you gone to the rez with us?

This will be my 5th year

What is something specific people can pray for you about?

Health and that God will prepare me to handle the situations that arise while we are there.

What is it about the trips that have changed you and make you want to go back?

I appreciate the things I have more and the opportunities in the place were I live. The thing that keeps me going back is the relationships with Barry, Shelly and the people that have been build. The looks on the kids faces when they see you have come back and know you love them is priceless. You really do feel like its going home to visit family and friends. They are beautiful people.

Meet the Crew: Mark

About Mark:

The first thing people notice about Mark is his physical strength but I've come to see someone who has a heart as big if not bigger than he is. Mark is
very compassionate, Loves Deeply, Hard-working, Willing to do whatever it takes. Great with kids. Fun to pick on. Dependable.

How many years have you gone to the Rez with us?

This will be my first year.



What is something specific people can pray for you about?

Spiritual strength and health. I’ve been in a battle with a broken wrist for 9 months.

Why do you want to go on the trip?

I feel like God wants me to go on the trip. I haven’t quite figured out why, but I have always had a big heart for those in need and love cures many things.

Meet the Crew: Josh

About Josh:
Oh man, what to say .... I love this guy. He's like one of my own. Josh is always willing to help out with anything that needs doing. He sees opportunities to help out before anyone can ask and just does it. Hard worker, Funny, Fun to pick on. Takes it very well when people freeze his underwear. Servant's heart.


How many years have you gone to the Rez with us?

I have gone to Pine Ridge every year, so what is that...5? wow!!!




What is something specific people can pray for you about?
People can pray for my energy...I will just be getting back from a 3 week long trip to Greece and we're always running in Pine Ridge.

What is it about the trip that has changed you and makes you want to go back?

Two words: THE KIDS!!!!!

I've Made A Decision

I've been behind on this blog. Partly because I'm not sure what to do with it. The purpose if for the team members to be able to keep up to date and for our church family to be able to follow all that is going on with the trips. But as I check my stat checker I see that very few people from Fairfield/Hamilton/Cincy are reading here. Instead someone from Latvia is? So, I'm confused, but welcome people from Lativa and other parts of the world! I stay confused most of the time anyway so here goes a blog post and we'll see who reads it.


I've made a decision.

Its not etched in stone yet, as most of my decisions aren't, but I'm pretty sure about this one. The decision is to not do the trip the way we are this year ever again. This year we are blocking out most of the day there to do various work projects. My reason for that was that was twofold:

1. We really wanted to get into the village and do work for the people. This was meant to be a way to build relationships with the adults in the village as well as with the children.
   
2. We often find that we get into a work project in the mornings only to have to shut it down to go do VBS with the kids.

I don't have a problem with shutting a work project down to play with kids, but I've heard that some of my crew are frustrated by that and I do try to listen to my crew and take their ideas into consideration so this year I thought we'd try doing all day work projects and then do VBS in the evening.

The problem with that is also twofold:

1. We are unsure what work projects we are doing. We will probably not know until we arrive there. To have the whole day blocked out and not have any clue as to how to plan for it makes me a bit nervous. Not a lot because I know things always work out, but it would be much easier to plan what materials and tools to bring if we had an idea. It may mean less trips to town once we are there if we already had the supplies and it may mean less expense since things seem to be generally cheaper here.
   
2. And this one is the real "problem" as I see it. There are people both on the team and not on the team who now have the idea that this year's trip is about "construction". I've heard people say that they would have gone this year if they had known it was about construction projects this year. I've also heard team members say they are much happier with this year's plans because they feel that the work projects are our biggest contribution out there.

YIKES!

If I had known that was the message I was sending by changing around the schedule, I would not have done it.

I know work projects make us feel like we're actually "doing" something there. It makes us feel good to have accomplished something tangible and feel like we've given them something of use. A lot of us, myself included, are way more comfortable with something like that. BUT that is not the most important way in which we contribute. It is not in any way the most important thing we do. On that, I'm absolutely convinced.

The most important thing we do there is build something far more difficult to build and far more uncomfortable for us to do - relationships. That is what God is all about - relationships. It was through relationship that He created us and it was through relationship that He communicated His love for us, and it is through relationship that we communicate His love for other people. Its how we touch people's hearts.

Yes, Pine Ridge is a place of poverty. But I think we forget that there is a kind of poverty that is far more destructive than physical poverty. There is a poverty of love that is the worse sort of suffering a human can experience and I see plenty of that on the Rez. Even Mother Teresa, the great humanitarian of our time, has said this,

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a
much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to
eat.

So I'm pretty sure we need to get back to the original plan at Pine Ridge. We're not about buildings, although those are fine too, but we have a higher purpose - people's hearts.

Meet the Crew: Ericka

Ericka is one of those crew members that I would be lost without. She is great about doing whatever is needed without any direction. She is as good in the kitchen as she is on the playground - and that's saying something because she's really, really good on the playground. I'm pretty sure she could put these trips together herself and lead them and she may well do that one day. Ericka is planning to be a teacher and the kids on the Reservation love her mightily. She always has two or three of them attached to her the whole week we are on the Rez. To watch her interact with the kids is to see her putting her giftedness into action.

How many years have you gone to the Rez with us?

This year will be my fourth trip to the reservation. So, I have been three times already.

What is something specific people can pray for you about?

People can pray that I am physically, mentally, and spiritually ready for the trip. I have found that the trip is often challenging in ways that I can' learn it.

What is the thing about the trips that has changed you and made you want to go back.

I feel that going on the mission trip allows my relationship with God to grow in a different way each time that I take this adventure on. I have also developed a great passion for the children, people, and relationships that are built on the trip (both within the crew and with the people living on the Rez). I have kept going back because I feel that it is something God has led me to do both for me and the children.

Meet the Crew: Amber

I wasn't going to include myself in this but I've been reminded that if I'm going to do this to the crew that I'd better be willing too.

How many years have you gone to the Rez?

This will be my 5th year being a team coordinator. I first went to the Rez with a church in Indiana and have been a couple of times on my own without a crew.

What is the thing about it that has changed you and made you want to go back?

I grew up in a church in Indiana that was very mission-minded and then attended Anderson College which also offered mission trips several times a year. I finally got to go on my first mission trip back in the early 90's. Seeing how other people in other parts of the world live always changes you ... it breaks your heart and you are just never the same. It becomes harder to justify spending lots of money on yourself - not that there is anything wrong with that, but you learn that there is more joy in giving to someone else in need than in spending it on self.

I also have never been able to find a way around the passage of scripture in Matt. 25 where Jesus has some strong things to say about how we treat the poor. I take it that he meant exactly what he said and so I figure its a good idea for me to be involved in helping the poor. In doing that, I've learned that I have a lot to learn - they often have a better handle on spiritual matters than I do and I am usually the one that is "helped".

I also wanted for our church to become more mission minded and creating opportunities for people to experience a mission trip is the best way I know of to do that. I think it is vital to the health of the church to be reaching out to people who are different than us and who have been given less in this life than we have. That kind of experience makes us better people and makes the church a better church.

What is something specific people can pray for you about?

Pray that I will be obedient to Jesus and have a good attitude. I am not the best person for this job of organizing mission trips but I am willing to do it because I feel it is important and because I know its not about "me" being comfortable in the position I am in. Leading these trips challenges me in every area of weakness that I have and I don't always handle it well.

Team Member Spotlight: Brandon

I have decided to spotlight each team member and post a bit about them on the blog so that people can see who is going, give them a chance to share something about their experience with the mission trips, and let folks know how they can be praying for each individual team member.

I get to start with Brandon simply because he got his stuff in first - which is a first, I think. Just kidding ya Brandon.

Brandon is easy for me to write about because I've known him his whole life. He is the same age as my youngest son and I have come to consider him as one of my own. There is not a lot I wouldn't do for this guy.

Everyone who knows Brandon is very familiar with his winning personality. Honestly, to know him is to love him. He's friendly, funny, very talented (my rock star), and has come to love God with all his heart. Is he perfect? Nope, but I must say that I'm impressed with what I see in him as I've watched his relationship with Jesus develop into an honest, real, and increasingly meaningful relationship that is very evident to those around him. I am very proud to call him "my other son".




While his personality is the thing that probably stands out the most about him, something people may not immediately realize is that Brandon is a deep thinker, especially when it comes to spiritual matters. I've been amazed at his wisdom on more than one occasion. I am also impressed with Brandon's ability to bond with the kids at Pine Ridge. I've watched him grow closer to some of the kids there over the years and have seen that he is indeed having an impact on them for Christ. Last year especially Brandon was able to develop some friendships with a few of the boys on the rez that he will be able to build on in the future.


How many years have you been going to the Rez with us?

I've been 3 times to the rez.

What is it about these trips that has changed you and made you want to keep going back?


The reason I really wanna go back is because of the friendships I formed. I wanna keep those going and hopefully bring God into some peoples life.



What is something specific that people can pray for you about?

Something people can pray for me about is the cost of the trip.






















* This spotlight isn't intended to be a plea for sponsors and Brandon certianly didn't ask me to mention this, but if you would like to sponsor Brandon I'm sure he would be very appreciative.

Jan/Feb Newsletter from Shellly

Hello friends, just want to connect with everyone and let you know how things are going here in South Dakota. We hope that you all had a great start to 2008 and we enjoy news and phone calls from you all. I am going to try to send the newsletters monthly, but sometimes every 2 months is all I can do.

We received $600.00 from the AIC (American Indian Council) for the Ladies Group that was started here last summer for supplies. We were able to purchase fabric by the bolt, cutting mats, cutters and other supplies to get our ladies going on sewing projects. One of the great things is that we have four young ladies 11-13 that are participating in the group and are excited about learning to sew. Once everyone has learned all the initial things they need to know about sewing, machine and practice some we'll do a beginning project and then take a quilting class as a group project. I think this is going to be a great time of learning and uniting our women and a way of generating income for them. I would like to thank Sam Johnson, president of the AIC for making this possible.

I would also like to thank the churches in Fairfield and Jersey Shore that helped us with a project this year to bring Christmas to some special people here that might not have had much. I thank God for you, your generosity and compassion for the people here and your willingness to always help. I would like to continue with some special programs here at Christmastime and anyone that would like to be part of this, just let me know we can use all the help we can get. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I want to thank those that support us in prayer, with clothing, things for the Thrift Shop, financially and by planning their work camps to come out here and work and provide VBS for the children here. We are planning some special things this year for our work camps, we are focusing on building relationships and really submersing you with the culture here. So come prepared for a time this Summer like you've never had before!!!

We have some other special people to thank, they are Norval and Mary Justice from Faith Fellowship CHoG. They sent us 30 beautiful padded chairs for our sanctuary, a much needed and appreciated gift. We were able to carpet the sanctuary at about the same time the chairs arrived and the two matched so closely you would have thought it was planned to match! We thank you and all the members of our church thank you. It was so great to have the first wedding of the year in our beautiful newly done sanctuary.

I think our next project will be linoleum for our fellowship hall and then it will be time to expand. We have noticed that it is getting harder to fit everyone in the fellowship hall when we have weddings and large dinners, but that is truly a good thing.

We are looking forward to the Tri-S Group coming on the 9th of March, our first work camp of 2008. It will be good to see Ed Breeden and Emily Clark again, and to meet a new group of students. In my next letter I will print out the scheduled work camps and when they will be here. This is going to be a busy summer and our goal is to lead others to Christ and to build relationships in the community and with all of you who work so hard and are so dedicated to the Lakota people.

God bless,

Barry & Shelly Bentley

Pics from the Italian Dinner

Our "Beauties" from the Beauty Contest

2008 VBS Teams

Teens
Jeff
Cathy
Charles
Bev


Middlers
Jean
Daniel
Bub
Teresa
Darlene
Andreina
Dennis
Amber

Little Ones
Becky
Tim
Debbie
Chrissie
Ericka
Josh

New Web Site!!

We are happy to annouce that we now have a new web site for Backpacks for Pine Ridge.

Check it out at www.BackpacksForPineRidge.com

Italian Style Dinner

An Italian Style Dinner

March 2nd after the morning worship service

Ticket prices: $12 individual, $20 couple

The meal will be served restaurant style (you will be seated and we will serve you) and will include:

Spaghetti

Lasagna

Salad

Breadsticks

Drink

Desert

Spaghetti, salad, breadsticks, provided by Olive Garden

Desert provided by Swan Deserts

For your dining pleasure entertainment will include a "Woman-less" Beauty Contest

Come and enjoy the food and fun!

For those who cannot eat Italian food, if you purchase a ticket we will prepare the food and take it to Serve City. Its an opportunity to help 2 Missions for the price of one!

Proceeds from the meal and Beauty Contest go toward our expenses for the mission trip

and include:

A meal each day for 100-150 Lakota children

Construction materials (some for the church, some for the homes of Lakota people)

Fuel and travel expense

VBS materials

March Meeting

The March team meeting will be on Sunday, March 2nd after we clean up from the Itialian Style Dinner. It will be a long and grueling day .... just a preview of days to come. ;)

The next payment of $100 is also do at that time.

The good news never ends does it.