Freedom House and Cooking and all that......and Release Time

I know that many of you are wondering about the 'cooking classes" up in White River --- because several here have asked.  So once again I apologize for my tardiness in updating.

My first trip up to White River was ----- do I call it a fiasco????   Well, not quite - but almost. I arrived at 11:00 -- but they were still busy with the Bible Lesson - so of course, I waited....but that meant I wasn't going to have quite as much time to do things that I had planned.  I had asked for some type of ground meat to be available --- it didn't matter for the soup if it was hamburg, ground chicken or turkey.  But there was none.  So what is plan B --- I don't know - I didn't have one.  There were 2 large packages of chicken legs and thighs and they had been thawing in the refrigerator for a couple of days.  Chicken doesn't keep long --- so "it should be fried up" --- was what the whole group agreed on.   My brain did a little jump start and I decided that I better just use some of the chicken and make chicken / rice soup.  I had everything I needed except the rice......so a little trip to the grocery store in town.

It was a warm day and the little kitchen warmed up real good with all the frying going on.   But in the end we had some good chicken soup for the following day.....ate some good food for lunch....and got the chicken saved from spoilage.    So --- not quite a fiasco.....

The following week was "time off" for me --- there was only one client and Wendy said I could just pass. She would take care of things. 

So yesterday I was there again.  Once again things were not perfect ---- but I was not to be worried...... I just went and made my purchase at  the Wigwam (grocery store) and we had a good time.  There are only 2 clients -- instead of the hoped for 6.  But these two gals are committed to making some changes in their lives--with Christ in the forefront --- so the numbers don't really matter.  Clarissa has had a stroke at her young age (maybe 40's) and has lost the use of her one arm but she gets along pretty good.....yesterday I looked up from our lunch time visiting and she had all the dishes done.

We talked about what they would like to learn and banana bread came up. Priscilla said "I have never made that".   So then I asked her what she did with overripe bananas --- "do you just throw them away"..... Yes.     So next week we are going to make Banana Bread.... possibly from frozen bananas.  They look gross -- but work great.

Thanks for remembering the Freedom House and the ladies. 

Release Time began this week.  YIKES ---- that was a learning time again too.  We tried something new with the 2nd and 3rd graders.  We had chosen a Bible Workbook.  We had 13 kids --- only 2 that were new to us.  But we discovered that maybe a Bible Story would go better. It was hard to keep everyone focused on the verses we were reading and Gary and I would walk round and round helping them find the verse back.  We didn't have much time left when we finally got finished.  One boy had gone to the bathroom and when he came out we said it was time to get on the van.   He said "WHAT - did I miss the singing!!!!!"    We do feel that some of the kids enjoyed the workbook ---- but others were zoned out after 15 minutes of it.  So changes will be made next time for this bunch.  We are already doing a Story for the 1st graders - so there will be no problem in making a change over.

We still hope to use Workbooks for the olders 2 groups.  They are smaller groups and better readers so we figure it should work.  Thursday will be the day for this bunch......again we know all the kids - most of them have been with us from the beginning.

Keep us in your prayers  :)   :)
Gary and Barb

Rejoice and Pray with us

We invited Paul Mitchell --- a new Pastor in the area---- to join us at the Detention Center tonight.  He spoke a powerful message of the need to have Christ in your heart.  Throughout his message he gave his own testimony....of how Christ had worked in his life.  Toward the end of the evening he prayed the sinners prayer and told the young people that if they said this prayer with him that it had to come from their heart.  Afterwards, he said that they needed to tell us if they had prayed that prayer.  So when we passed out the prayer request sheets we said they could write it down ---- that they had prayed the prayer.  One young man, King, not only wrote it down that he wanted to stay with us afterwards but he came to us and said...."did you read what I wrote - I'm serious - I mean it". 

We had 2 girls also stay with us.....Reece and Calista.  Please keep these young people in your prayers.  Paul spoke to them about "the battle"...... but how powerful God is and He will be there to walk with them.

We are so encouraged to have met Paul and his wife Gloria.  They are so ready and willing to help us in our Ministry in whatever way they can.  Paul is a full blood Lakota - but raised by a white family.  He has a testimony that the young people can relate to and he isn't afraid to share it with anyone.
Please also keep Paul and Gloria in your prayers.

And we can't ever say thank you enough for all the prayers you lift for us.
Gary and Barb

Brother Bills visit and update on the Freedom House

Bill flew in on Wednesday and stayed until Saturday morning.  We had a lot of fun. In the evenings we played some card games, Farkle, and Big Boogle .....laughed and laughed.    He and Gary did some Dove hunting and were successful.  There is not much of a breast on them but it IS tasty.....not gamy at all.  I had a big roast in the crock pot and I wasn't going to change my menu ......Bill wasn't all that worried about missing out on the Doves....he's eaten plenty of game meat.  But Gary and I had them Saturday evening -----shiskabob style.  Pieces of zucchini, onion, green pepper, cherry tomatoes and then the dove breast that I had soaked in salt water first.  I coated them with a little olive oil and then sprinkled Scotty's seasoning on them.... YUM!!!

And then an update on the Freedom House where I will be "teaching" some cooking skills.  I was supposed to start today....however, we are waiting a week to begin.  Waiting for one of the clients to get out of jail......  THEN - an also......The gal who will be cooking on Thursdays is unable to be there on the 18th ----- so she asked if anyone could trade with her.  I said that would work for me.   SO --- I will now be starting my "teaching skills" on the 18th instead.

Supposed to get cold tomorrow....hot today.  Not sure which one I want.......  I guess we might as well get ready for the cold.  But I'm not going to put the summer clothes away just yet!

Have a good day!
Barb