FUN FUN FUN.......LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH!!!!!!

Tonight was our JDC (Juvenile Detention Center) night. We have been doing a Halloween Party for several years....maybe every year since we started going there---2008. Well, tonight was our night to party :) :)

We started the evening with a Bible lesson like always. Julie did a wonderful job using the Wordless Book to share the Salvation Story with the group......which consisted of 4 girls and 4 boys. One gal had come in with red eyes.....we could see she had been crying. I think it might have been a phone call that went sour....because they have that time just before we come on Wednesdays. As we were singing some songs --- Julie went out with her to just see what she could do to help. I believe Julie has this gals little brother in one of her classes at school....so there is a connection there.

After we were done in the “Barney Room” ---where we meet for our Bible Lessons.....we all headed for the gym. We started with a group activity so we could be assured that everyone was involved. This was the Balloon Stomp....boy were those balloons hard to pop. Everyone got into it and once their balloon was popped – they still stood around and watched the rest of the “stompers”.

Every game was full of laughs!!!! Sometimes I laughed so hard it hurt. :) I think I don't have room in this blog --- or the time to write all the games' ins and outs.....so I might just let your imagination run wild here. But if you want to know more about one of them --- let me know and I will share all the “stuff” about them.

We played: Chariot races, Carrot Drop, Balloon Stomp, Beach Ball Volleyball (until the beach ball burst), Animal Bird Fish, Trash Can Game, and Table Top. EVERYONE had a blast. If you've never had Chariot races on carpet samples --- you've never had a real chariot race. Some drivers ended up OFF the chariot but hung on for dear life to the end.....others like Jymie (a girl we thought wouldn't probably participate) took off like a stallion and pulled her little driver to victory every time.

We ended our evening with Rootbeer Floats. One gal had been there on Halloween before when we made pizza – so “why aren't we making pizza, Barb?” These kids were wonderful and we told them so.....they were the BEST participating group we have EVER had. They said “please” and “thank you” and one asked if we had to take care of the chairs.....when I said “yes and they could hang them up”.....He and the other boys got right to it.

After they were done with the floats they wanted to sing some more. So we did. I said “we can't stay all night”....and one gal said “I wish you could”. Another comment was “this almost made me forget I was in JDC”. Even one of the officers came and grabbed a song sheet when we sang “Here I am to Worship”.

So if you don't think we came home smiling – you are wrong. We still start to smile and grin when we think of the night...... I think the kids are still thinking about it too as they lay on their beds.

Thank you, Lord, for allowing us this fun time with a great bunch of kids. Thank you, Lord, for Julie and Andee who come along side us and help. Thank you, Lord, for the Detention Center being so warm and friendly to us....allowing us the freedoms we have there to do an event like this. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunities you give us. Thank you, Lord, for your love for these young people. And thank you, Lord, for all the friends reading this and praying for us.

Gary and Barb

One of those times........

Today was a wonderful Sunday!!!  We had a retired Minister preach in our church and it was one of those times when you have NO trouble listening.  He was so easy to listen to and had such a good message.  What a blessing!!

Then it was off to the Detention Center to visit with the young people.  We were somewhat sorry to hear that one of the North Dakota boys was back.  But at the same time it was good to see him.  We always enjoyed visiting with him.  His heart is in the right place......just those temptations that are so hard to stay away from grabbed him once again right after getting his freedom.   We visited with six this afternoon.........and then at 6:00 we went back for "church".

There were 11 young people tonight.  That is the largest group we have had for a while.  Pastor Paul Mitchell was with us again and had another powerful message for the young people about "Truth".  They listened so attentively!!!  And then he prayed the sinners prayer.   He told them to pray it with him if they felt it in their hearts.  We have never had the kids repeat the prayer out loud before (unless we are one on one).....but tonight as he started praying one after the other began praying the prayer with him  --- out loud!!    Yes, we went home rejoicing.

And the singing!!!!  WOW --- Darian loves to sing and he sings out -- not afraid to be heard.  It just makes some of the kids start to laugh at first -- but then they realize how neat it is and they sing too.  It was quite the choir tonight --- love it!!!   Maybe you wonder what songs we sing........ For those tears I died.......Here I am to Worship......I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus.....and Sanctuary.....are the ones we sang tonight.  They would have gone on singing but it was time to end. 

One new young man came up to us --- shook our hand and said "I am sorry you have to see me in here".  

God is at work --- we see it!!
Thanks for the prayers!!!
Gary and Barb

Beautiful Fall Day.....projects

We've had some cold weather and windy days....but today, anyway this afternoon, is lovely.   The wasps are horrible - but at least they don't sting ---- I think they're just looking for a home in the siding.

My "cooking"  up in White River is just not happening.  This week Monday the one gal had a doc. appt. and  sadly to say the other one was suicidal on Sunday so they have taken her to Yankton for treatment.  I already know that I don't have to figure on the 13th...... many of the women will be gone to a Bible Conference.

I have been keeping busy though with lots of other activities. Yesterday I was invited by Sheri Tinant to see about making a pheasant wreath.  I  had saved 3 pelts so I didn't have to go begging......just begging for her expertise!!!  I'm pretty happy with how mine turned out and Sheri has 4 beautiful ones herself!!  Gar said
"did she make 4 while you made just one?!?!"  No - she's been busy for a while!   I had a rattlesnake hide that I wanted to include in my wreath.  I almost ruined it -- but found a way to save some of it and get it in the wreath.   So, yes people, --- I still have a snake skin (piece of one) in my house. This one is a real honest to goodness Arkansas Rattlesnake.....so not a local one that I came across.  It was a "gift"  :)  :)

I also enjoy "paint by number"  ....... this one has been in the works for a little less than a year.  I think that old barn wood frame really sets it off.  This will be a Christmas gift for a special someone ---- not telling who though.

Gary had a project of his own.  Kim M. had asked if he could do a few alterations on a cabinet that he wanted to put the sound system on at church.   It took some doing to find the right drawer closers.....but persistence paid off and he finally found them.   The cabinet did not have drawers and that's what Kim wanted.

Would you believe he made these drawer pulls!!!  Hammered them out of a flat piece of steel.  I never cease to be amazed at what he can accomplish.

Tonight we will be going to JDC.  I think we have a real fun lesson for the young people.  Part of it will be the lesson on the Wise Man and the Foolish Man.  We will have 2 houses.....one built on a rock and the other built on the sand.   The rain (out of a squirt can) will come down in torrents and that house on the sand will fall FLAT!!     We also have an activity for them to do on paper about building their life strong - on Christ.  I think that for those who need visuals --- they will have several tonight.  And yes -- we will also be teaching them the song....the wise man built his house upon the rock....and the rains came tumbling down......

We did this same lesson on Sept. 27 at the Rosebud Worship......did I tell you that?????  We had made 15 little houses to give to the little kids and we had the biggest bunch of young people ever.   SO we were short on the houses.....but only by one.  Little Taleah will get one next time!!!

Release Time is on its way.  We are blessed with lots of kids.  One teacher - the 2nd and 3rd grade teacher - has ALL of his kids coming - all 14 of them....in ONE GROUP.  We will not be working out of the workbook as we had planned ---- that didn't go very good with such a large group!!!!   Instead we will do a Bible Story like we have been doing all these years.  The workbook did work good with the older groups so we will continue in that.  We do feel that we have to find a little time for some fun with them.  It shouldn't feel too much like school --- workbooks and all that.  So we will be busy with planning for some fun times each week. 

Thank you for keeping us in your prayers!!!! 
Gary and Barb

Just a few neat things.......

This past Wednesday evening at the Detention Center, Andee gave a lesson on Revelations 21.  She did a verse by verse "explanation".  And, by the way, she did a very good job.  We only have 4 kids at this time, so there is time for questions and answers (if we have them).  One comment by Andee really struck me - something new to think on.   She said that "all the glory we receive here on earth  - we will one day give to Jesus."  Wow -- made me think......I have a hard time when people say "oh you are doing such a good thing".......  But now I realize I can give that all to Jesus - and will in person one day.   Makes those comments seem more appropriate now!!!  and hopefully easier for me to know what to do with.   :)   :)  Thanks Andee for those encouraging thoughts.

Then today ---- the kids - the 7th and 8th graders at Release Time made us grin.  We were talking about the 10 Commandments.  So when we got to a big word like "covet"  - we explained it......"take the Lords name in VAIN" -- we explained it.   So when we got to the word "adultery" ---- no one knew what it meant.  "Must be something for adults" was one comment.   So we gave a clear explanation.   I said that I was married to Gary and that I was faithful......if I went and had an affair with another man----- I would be committing adultery.   So then they had to know how long Gary and I had been married.  They guessed a while and then we told them ---- 46 years.   WOW --- that's a long time.....and they broke out in clapping.   :)  :)    Gary said "quit it - you're making my glasses fog up".

We also did a little review today ----questions about last years lessons on Moses.   They did outstanding!!!  I think there was only one question that the one group couldn't come up with -----
Who was Moses' brother?  The one bunch even got that one.  Makes us know that they listen because for the most part it was the first time they had heard the story of Moses.

So these little perks keep us going.  We will have a challenging year.  We have large groups and the school has asked that we do a little switching of how we do the kids......  We have always done the two young groups one week and the older groups the following week.  They would like us to do one of each every week.   So we will have to have our heads on straight -- our thoughts clear and ......YIKES.......can my brain handle all these curves.   YUP I think we will make it - with God's help.

So THANKS for keeping us in your prayers!!!
Gary and Barb