A Pierre Merry Christmas

We went to Pierre (pronounced PEER) today to view the Christmas tree display at the Capitol Building. It was grand!!!! The 90 some trees were gorgeous ----- decorated by various groups from all over South Dakota --- the Todd County 4-H group had a tree there......decorations were every imaginable item....many homemade.

And the building was another story. It is absolutely beautiful --- and especially when you think of when it was built.....between 1905 and 1910. If you can't read this whole SEAL --- I want you to know that it says Under God the People Rule (on that yellow ribbon in the picture).
Gary was really wowed by the architecture......and had to check out this marble drinking fountain.
Many of the pictures on the walls depicted the history of the pioneers....and the archways and the dome is full of stained glass.
In one hallway the walls were full of this type of picture - again depicting the time that our nation was developed with the pioneers moving west.
The Legislative chambers .... we were sure are in original form......grand!!! The balcony being for observers.....made us wish we were there witnessing business.

It really made us proud to be "from South Dakota".

We then went to view the Oahe Dam on the Missouri River........very interesting example of what man has done to harness electricity. All in all Pierre is a very nice spot for a mini vacation.

May you all be blessed during this Christmas Season as we rejoice in the birth of our Savior.

Merry Christmas
Gary and Barb

A Prayer Request

A couple of weeks ago one of the boys at the Detention Center had put on his prayer request that he wanted "to live a good life". The next day I read the passage of 2 Peter 1:1-21 (I am reading the Living Bible Translation). Starting at verse 2........"Do you want more and more of God's kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need to living a truly good life; he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us!" So trusting that it was a "God given" direction -- we did the lesson on that passage this past Thursday (last night).

There are only 10 boys at the Detention Center right now. We had hoped to share some wonderful videos of Youtube songs --- Amazing Grace, Because He lives, and a couple of others. However, it didn't get to happen.......the facility has blocked Youtube (for obvious reasons) and we didn't get to the right people to get the block off...... So we asked them if they wanted to sing. Usually the boys don't do much with the song time...... What a joyous time we had!!! Sang about 5 songs (their requests- It is no Secret, Amazing Grace, When I am Afraid, In Need and I am A C) --- it was wonderful!!!

We always pass out prayer request sheets --- and so -----WOULD YOU PLEASE PRAY FOR Terry. He is a very quiet young man --- we have visited with him on a Sunday afternoon. His request this Thursday said "I want to believe in God". Would you please pray that God's Spirit would draw Terry to Himself ---- only God could have put that desire in Terry's heart. We have given Terry a Bible that is full of "helps". It is titled "How to Find God - Living Water for Those Who Thirst"

Several of these 10 boys will be (hopefully) getting to go home for Christmas on a "temporary release"......they are on their own to return to the detention center. Some have at times (there is a girl out right now "on the run") taken it upon themselves NOT to return. We tell them that it's important that they return --- otherwise they just put more time on themselves when they are found. So pray also that they will all return again after their t.r.

May you all have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. Keep your focus on God and He will stay near!!!!

We will be spending Christmas here in South Dakota and then coming back to Michigan when our daughter Marti and hubby Tim have their baby ---- sometime in the first part of January.

Gary and Barb

Juvenile Detention Center

It was truly a blessing to have the opportunity to go to the detention center last night. Gary missed out on it because of it nasty cold and that is too bad.

There were 15 boys in our first group. No new faces in the bunch --- which is always nice because then we don't have that struggle of trying to remember a new name again. The lesson was on 2 King 2: 13-25 with the theme of "respect". To see the kids listening so attentively is the blessing we receive. Some of these young men have been with us for months and so they are really getting a good measure of God's Word. We sang the Christmas Carol "Mary's Boy Child" which basically tells the Christmas Story in a nutshell. Towards the end of the song some of the boys were joining in on the chorus.

One young man, Ty -- who we know does NOT have a good home life (and has been with us for a long time)........his prayer request was "to live a good life". Please keep Ty in your prayers -- he really is a nice young man with potential. Also, please pray for Harold. Harold has been in and out of the JDC many times. He is very quiet and reserved......but as he listens to our lesson....his facial expressions are ones of interest and questioning. He is NEVER disruptive in any way....but also comes from a VERY troubled home.

We could give you so many names.......and if you would like one "of your very own".....let us know --- we have numerous ones we could give out.

Then came the girls --- 5 of them. They had on new uniforms. The old orange ones were getting worn out and they were replaced with a very pretty rose/burgundy color. You can imagine that with their coal black hair --- they actually looked lovely. We really had thought that 20 kids could be handled in one bunch....but Julie and I were glad that we had this time alone with the girls. Just the five of them and so we could have some more "personal" conversations. We went through the lesson and then we sang the Christmas Carol......and then request after request. One of them said "we should just sing all the songs on this paper". Then Tianna said "it's the first Sunday of the month coming up.....are we going to have church?!?!?" We tried to explain that our "normal" time was the 2nd Sunday of the month. Well that didn't cut it......"I won't be here then!" So the plan is to have church next Sunday and we will sing lots of songs and go over the Christmas Story. The girls said they will be practicing the songs "in the back". Then we will also do the 2nd Sunday. As Julie said "I'm a pushover when they ask like that"..... me too!!!!
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On another note ---- Gary and a neighbor, Don, have been working at getting the new generator hooked up for the parsonage. They have run into several klinkers -- none of their doing. Looks like it will still be a while before it gets up and running....hopefully before any big storm comes along.

Speaking of the weather --- the weather man said to enjoy today because the weekend will be VERY COLD. Rats!!

Hope you are all blessed in whatever you do!!
Gary and Barb