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

Went 2 the PowWow in Allen & was chased by kids with water guns. Dread 2 say goodbye 2morrow.

the snake is dead. Jeff has a nasty cut & is in pain but is ok.

Dennis wrestled with a snake. Jeff ran power tools all week but got hut folding a ladder.

Today we finish trim & flooring at Melda's while some go to Crazy Horse. Tonight is a PowWow in Allen. Everyone is beyond exhausted

AWESOME!!! Time giving out backpacks in Calico!!!

met the church group from Franklin OH who are here on a workcamp at Wouned Knee

Officer Afraid of Bear is bringing us in to Calico

This morning the backpack truck rolls to Wounded Knee & Calico!

2morrow we say goodbye 2 the kids. We're tired & feel like we can't walk the playground 1 more time until we realize 2morrow is the last time.

Truck madde it up the hill!

Shungles & siding are going on today

from below...Up that hill so we can give backpacks & heaters out 2morrow. And this morning it is storming. Pray

To say the hill 2 Melda's is steep is an understatement. 2 say it has deep ruts is likewise an understatement. 2day we have 2 get our 26' truck

Tomorrow we work with a group from YWAM (Youth With A Mission). Another day of seeing what God has in store...Everyone is doing welll.

One word for today...tired!

Another day. Another adventure! VBS. Work at Melda's. Melda had a blast getting her gifts. Bareback horseback riding with the Indians. Awesome

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

The kids are REALLY hungry this year. Some cry for food and can't seem to get enough to eat.

Got the posts set for the foundation at Melda's this morning. VBS went well but was still a shock for the newbies. :)

after a wrong turn or two we are at Melda's! Getting ready to unload materials.

The biggest mosquitoes in the world may very well carry every member of the crew away. They are TERRIBLE this year.

Arrived at the church in Allen! On our way to Wounded KneeJ

Checking out some of the Badlands...awesome!

Near the place where we may lose cell service. The rain is past & its a beautiful day

On the road again! Left the hotel at 7am and heading to SD. Everyone is doing great. Tonigt we go to Wounded Knee and then dinner at Big Bats.

Arrived at hotel. Everyone is doing welll.

First injury...Dennis walked into a glass door and bloodied his nose

On the road!

Loaded and Ready

Thanks to all who came and helped us load!

Friday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Things can change and God is in control but PRAY!

Grocery Shopping

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

All I Can Say is ... Wow! I Hope This Will All Fit on the Truck!

Sad to say but these pics really don't do it justice. There's more than it appears in the pics. I've gotta be honest - I'm ready to get this stuff out of my house. But hey, I'm SO not complaining. Its not about me. :)

Melda's Shower

Thanks to Michelle and Sherri for hosting the shower for Melda today! It was great! Melda got a LOT of stuff and will be so blown away when we give it to her. She knows she is getting a new kitchen but has no idea that we did a shower for her. I'm sure she will share of the abundance. Not far from her is a small, single-wide trailer with no indoor plumbing, little electric, and 15 people living inside (8 of them are children). The Lakota believe in generosity to the point where they define it not by how much you give, but by what you have left. Thanks to all who gave. You will bless a lot of people!