Monday, September 07, 2009

WOW

This is our third day, I wasn't able to get on the computer. All I can say is WOW it is unbelievable on the reservation there is sooooooo much work in running the mission and so little time to do everything that needs to be done. We arrived and unloaded all the boxes (pictured below) they were amazed at what all of us accomplished in four short weeks, We wanted to do anything we could to help them but Berry wanted Fred to show me a few things before dark and he knew we were leaving the next day so Fred took me to Wounded Knee I was scared cause he took me a different way then they usually go it was on a gravel road way in the boonies (it took two gravel roads for him to find the right one) it was very sad place to see. He also took me to Allen we seen some of the kids playing. When we came back we were able to help Berry prepare the church, fellowship room and bathrooms for service next day (Shelly was down with her back) then we were ready to rest. On Sunday morning I got to meet a few people with their children, they love our mission team so much I have pictures they drew for us I will post some tomorrow, That says a lot about our mission team (you all do a great job of showing Jesus to them) and you have accomplished a lot there. We drove an drove and drove today so I need rest. I'm so glad God allowed us to come its been such a blessing. I added last pictures of horses running I thought it looked beautiful.


Friday, September 04, 2009

Our First Day

Today has been a great day, we are so excited to get to Pine Ridge and the city of Allen. We left at 5:00 a.m. Friday morning and arrived here in Sioux City, South Dakota about 7:00 p.m. Friday evening. Here is a picture of the trailer loaned to us, isn't God wonderful? It holds 40 huge boxes packed full. Our total was: 207 pairs of shoes, 95 packs of socks (which =581 pair), 62 coats, 63 hats, gloves and scarfs, 2 king size comforters, 4 blankets and some misc items. A huge thank you to our church, family and friends and thank you to Shandon Congregational Church for the coats, shoes, socks, hats and scarves they donated. Below are a few pics Fred was packing the trailer so fast I didn't get a picture of all the boxes, when we unload I'll get one.



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Monday, August 17, 2009

Smile: Now How Awesome is This??

Just got a call from a lady in my church. She went to the dentist this morning and asked them to donate toothpaste and toothbrushes for Pine Ridge! Amazing. I didn't ask her to do that, didn't expect it, and didn't even know she was going to. Wow. I love it when people get on board and do whatever they find to do to help out. Its amazing to see what can happen when that happens. I wonder if she knows that the need for that is SO great on the Rez? Here are some stats about oral health care at Pine Ridge.
  • Less than 50% of population has access to water fluoridation

  • Lowest oral hygiene scores with lowest frequency of daily tooth brushing & flossing (this may be because with an income of $3500, toothpaste may take a backseat to food and other basic needs)

  • 56% of adult population have total tooth loss

  • Children: 60% have active, untreated tooth decay – less than 50% have seen a dentist

  • Ages 35 – 44: 50% have moderate to severe periodontal disease

  • World highest incidence of ECC (Early Childhood Caries) ~ 80%


Thanks Laura!!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Honor for Dedication

On the Pine Ridge Reservation the highest honor is to have a star quilt placed upon your shoulders. So Cathy Jackson and the 2009 Pine Ridge Team wanted to honor Amber for the many hours she puts in for Back Packs for Pine Ridge and Rezonate. Cathy Jackson made a star quilt and this morning at church the 2009 Pine Ridge Team placed it on Amber's shoulder's as well as Brian's, she not only gather's a team to go on a mission trip with her, but the family works as a team as well. Amber thank you for the many, many hours and all your dedication to these mission projects, you are a light in this world of darkness, you will never know the lives that have been touched here at home and at Pine Ridge.



Saturday, August 15, 2009

Fred and Judy

Just a quick post to welcome Fred and Judy as co-authors to the blog! They leave in a few short weeks to deliver coats, hats, socks and shoes to the children on the Reservation! Now they'll be able to post and upload pics to share with those of you who read here! Looking forward to it! Thanks Fred and Judy for your service to God and to the kids at Pine Ridge!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Shoes, Socks, Coats, & Hats

Trips do something to you. You come home and find that you can't quite forget the things you've seen and heard and experienced. And because of that, sometimes you've just gotta find a way to make things different for new friends.

That happened this year. Fred saw that many of the children on the Rez didn't have shoes that were in very good shape. Many of them wore shoes that were too big or too small, and Fred just had to do something about it. So after we got home he and Judy began to plan to collect shoes, socks, coats and hats for the kids. They will be leaving the first week of Sept. to deliver them.

So, now Fred and Judy are discovering that the kids out there not only take over your heart, they have a way of taking over your house as well. Below are some pics of Fred and Judy's house and how its been invaded by shoes, socks, coats, and hats. Click on the pic to get a larger view.












Thursday, August 06, 2009

The Heat is On

Here's a short video of us delivering some of the heaters that our friends 8 Lives Spent raised the money for. We delivered heaters to the villages of Calico, Wounded Knee and Allen. BIG THANKS to the guys from 8 Lives Spent for all their work! Some people will be warm this winter thanks to them.

Sunday, August 02, 2009

2010

The dates for the 2010 trip are scheduled for July 10-19. We will again load the truck on Friday evening, July 9th. If you are interested in going, please attend an interest meeting that will be at the church on Sunday, August 16 @ 4pm.

In the meantime, please, please, please support the efforts of Fred and Judy Howell who will be collecting new or almost new children's winter coats, hats, gloves, blankets, and shoes (Velcro closures please) and taking them to the Rez the first week of September. Our team and our congregation fully support what they feel led to do.

Saturday, August 01, 2009

Some News

Sunday evening, Aug. 2nd our team will be sharing about our trip. This will be the only chance to see the video as I can't upload it to be viewed online.

I also have some dates for the 2010 trip. We will leave Saturday, July 10 and return Monday, July 19, 2010.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Random Pics

The infamous playground. That's a daunting sight when you're walking into that.





As if cooking for 150 every day isn't enough, Whitlock swung a hammer too



Introducing the teens to "Hillbilly Golf"

Jeff and Charles did a great job with the teens

Even giving piggyback rides at the work site

Some really rare "down time"


Saturday, July 25, 2009

A Little Adventure Never Hurt Anybody

This isn't anything fancy - just raw footage of the truck ride to and from Melda's. Its fun to listen to the people in the vans. :) BTW, thanks for your prayers as we tried to get the 26' truck up the hill last Thursday evening. We had awoken to a crash of thunder and a downpour of rain and wondered how we would ever get it up the hill with mud, but it proved to be no problem ... just a little adventure.

Watermelon


Watermelon
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

Friday, July 24, 2009

An Interview with Dawn Frank: President of the Calico Community, Pine Ridge Reservation

Sunflower


Sunflower
Originally uploaded by ABuriff
A sunflower at Wounded Knee. There are normally whole fields of sunflowers in SD

Wounded Knee


Wounded Knee
Originally uploaded by ABuriff
The cross above the Wounded Knee memorial. I think that is an old American flag tied around the cross. Amazing considering the US Army massacred over 200 unarmed Lakota at this site.

Wounded Knee Memorial


Wounded Knee Memorial
Originally uploaded by ABuriff
The stone at the site of the mass grave of the massacre at Wounded Knee

Bree


Pine Ridge 09 214
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

Hammer


Pine Ridge 09 351
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

Jessica


Pine Ridge 2009
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

Hammer!


Hammer!
Originally uploaded by ABuriff
Hammer was really hungry this year. He ate 3 burgers (2 on the playground), 2 pudding cups, chips, carrots, and who knows what else - all in one sitting!

Dakota


Dakota
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

Bubba


Lakota Child
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

Lakota child


Lakota child
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

The Dragon's Eye


The Dragon's Eye
Originally uploaded by ABuriff
Some strange clouds we saw at the hotel in Sioux City, IA

The Missionary's Grandaughter


Summer
Originally uploaded by ABuriff

I Know You've Been Waiting For Some of These: Melda's Kitchen

These are not necessarily in the correct order, but you can see what it looks like. :)


























Wednesday, July 22, 2009

We're Back!

We're back. A little bruised, battered and sore but we are BLESSED! Pictures and video will be coming shortly. Until then, check out a couple of really awesome things on the Backpacks blog. I'm just too blessed for words when I see that kind of thing.

Monday, July 20, 2009

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