Sunday - November 2

I was thinking that I had updated this concerning our return to the JDC on Sunday. But obviously I hadn't.

When we arrived and told the guard that we would like to visit with 4 of the kids.....we were told that we were not on the visitation list. Oh Boy!! But one short phone call and we were on!! As Gary said - "that was a God thing"!!

We visited with all of the kids - one at a time. Robert hadn't gotten a Bible out of the library yet (we had noticed that they had an abundant supply of Bibles when we took our tour)......so we talked about that and he said he would like one of his own. And we have one for him - so will get that to him this coming Thursday (along with one for the other 3 also). We also talked about where he lives and the wonderful pastor that is in the area. He knows David Marshall and has even played basketball with him and his sons and has gone to his church. We encouraged him to continue going to that church.

Two of the girls were rather distant. Not real good eye contact. But we had a good visit with them also....prayed with them and I (Barb) was able to give them a hug.

The other little gal - Nicole - had her father visiting her and we could overhear much of their conversation and so we knew that she would be going to a treatment center. Her and her dad seemed to have a good relationship. When we spoke with her....I asked why she had to go to a treatment center ..."for my anger". After the treatment center she will be going to a boarding school for the remainder of the school year in another part of the state. I said something to the effect that that might be scary for her.....tears came to her eyes and she said "yes and I don't want to leave my friends". We gave her our address and told her to write us with her new address and we would write back.

We gave all the kids our phone number and told them they could call anytime. We continue to see these young people in the JDC as nice kids....but kids that have made too many wrong decisions in their young lives.

We ask that you say a few special prayers for all of the kids in the JDC that we come into contact with. Ken and Sally, Rick and Carla (our company from MI) were able to take a tour that evening. They were told that the kids are given the choice to go to the basketball court or "go to church".....they chose to come to our "church". So there is a desire there.........to hear about God.

Gary and Barb

O LORD MY GOD - WHEN I IN AWESOME WONDER

God is so wonderful. Thursday night we went to the JDC (Juvenile Detention Center) once again.. We have been there three times now. We had decided not to offer an invitation to receive Christ right at the get go.......but rather let the kids get to know us a little better. Gary gave the Bible lesson - it was on Cain and Abel -- their offerings and how Cain did not have a "right heart attitude" when he made his offering to God. Gary gave an invitation at the end. The kids are all asked to bow their heads and close their eyes (no looking around). "If anyone would like to ask Christ into your heart, please show me by raising your hand." We both saw 3 hands come up.....but when we asked those who raised their hands to stay - 4 kids stayed. One boy and 3 girls. It was so wonderful to hear these young people repeat the sinners prayer with us. And to see the look in their eyes.

Please pray for Robert, Lelana Su, Nicole and Jailyn. We asked them "whose child are you now"....."Gods"....."Jesus' ".....

We hope to go back to the JDC this Sunday afternoon and hopefully talk with these 3 again. We warned them that they might be mocked..... But just that fact that they raised their hands and did this amongst their peers speaks volumes!!

While we were with the kids, Ken and Sally Kreuze and Rick and Carla Kraker (who are out for a visit this week) were taken on a tour of the facility. They found it VERY interesting!! So if you have more questions you can seek them out and I'm sure they would love to share what they learned!

KEEP UP THE PRAYERS - they are THE most important thing about all of this. We feel that prayer is the reason for all that is happening. God DOES hear!

Gary and Barb

Prayer is so very important!!!

Last week our meeting with the JDC kids went so well again.

Everything is going so well......

Prayer -- your prayers --- are what is making this all happen!! Without prayer nothing would go well. The devil has had such a strong hold on the reservation for so long. But God is at work here in so many different ways. WHY??? Because so many prayers are being lifted. Not because of our work......we are just a small part of the big picture. We are blessed everytime we go and work with the kids. Seeing those eyes focused on us and the lessons.......seeing the smiles...hearing the thank you......getting that hand shake (at JDC)........feeling God's presence.....

Without your support --- your prayers --- none of this would be happening. And so we ask for you to continue your prayers!! NEVER feel that they are going out void!!! God is hearing and God is in action! We can hardly believe that we are getting to be part of this. KNOW that you are a big part of it also!

We can't thank you enough!
With love, Gary and Barb

A Day in the life of Ranch helpers / Ministry Workers....

What a day!! We started out the day helping my cousin Dwight vaccinate approx. 250 calves that he does "background work". Not sure that's the exact term but these are calves that belong to another rancher who has Dwight take care of them for the winter. The vaccinating process went very well and we were done by 11:00.....just in time to make sure we had everything packed up for Release Time.

Release time went good! The little K-1 are so precious....wanting to get as close to me and the flannelboard as they could. In a way it was rather distracting to the story telling --- so many little bodies --- so excited and wanting the best seat in the house. The 2nd - 4th graders.....it shows that they are older and I can still see Mark Long listening so intently to the lesson. It just warms your heart. One boy - Tyler - asked Jesus into his heart. Tyler was all smiles. And oh! do they sing.....I can't wait until they know the whole song....."I'm gonna take God's promises and hide 'em in my heart, so I don't forget I'm gonna hide 'em in my heart...." We gave all the kids a Bible. We were given money by one of our visitor/relatives and decided to use it to purchase Story Bibles for the K-1. One little girl (Faith, who told me she was at a 2nd grade reading level) was reading it as she went into the school building. We gave the 2nd - 4th graders an Early Reader edition - made possible by another good friend of the Boy Scout family.

We got home around 4:00....so I started getting supper ready to put in the oven. About the time to put it in the oven Gary came in asking "you want to go round up some calves?" Twenty of the 250 calves had broken through the corral (a big story in itself) and 7 were still missing. Dwight knew where they were - just west of us about 1 mile. So we headed out with the quads (in the rain) to get these delinquents. They were in with the neighbors herd of cattle so they had to be separated. They did not want to leave these new found "moms"and so it was quite the rodeo getting them separated and then to keep them from going back into the herd. We finally got them back to the ranch and into the corral.

We are enjoying ALL of the work we do and it is so good to stay busy. God has blessed us with health and strength - a beautiful place to stay - and many good neighbors that make us feel welcome.

We look forward to November 20th when we will be coming home for a visit and for little Sawyers baptism. It will be so good to catch up on all of our family and friends!!!

Love to all of you!!
Gary and Barb

And more overwhelming opportunities......

On Wednesday and Thursday a couple of guys by the name of Rick and Mick were out in the area doing school assemblies during the day and in the evening they would have a Pizza Blast party. You can find them on their Website: www.rickandmick.com. They are internationally known....have been all over the world with their program.....and it was great. We did not go to the school assemblies but were invited by my aunts sister to come and be Counselors at the pizza blast. On Wednesday we went out to Valentine and enjoyed a hilarious program. There was an illusionist and then Rick and Mick......and a group from the school who put on a "grecian urn" skit. Let me tell you there was a LOT of water squirting around as these men became a fountain......and then a bunch of people in the crowd were also recipients of the water...... How I wish we had had our camera along to get a movie!!!

Then on Thursday evening they were at the Todd County High School. We arrived late for the program but were available again as counselors.

Many people came forward at each invitation and we were able to go over the 4 Spiritual Laws with them. It is so overwhelming!!! Gary had all 5 of his chairs full and he went over the booklet with them and they filled out the response card. Then when the chairs emptied a little girl came over - Alexandria - and sat down and said "now it's my turn."

God is at work here on the reservation.....some would say that these people have heard this message over and over again and they respond over and over again. But perhaps it's going to take hearing it over and over again before it finally hits home and they fully understand. We must NOT grow weary in giving Gods Good News!!!

Another bonus of going to the TCHS pizza blast was that we got to see MANY kids that we have been in touch with.....and met a few parents.

God Bless!

Juvenile Detention Center

This picture isn't the greatest.....part of the building is covered by the "hillside". This is the Juvenile Detention Center (Wanbli Wiconi Tipi) --- a beautiful facility -- housing at this time about 20 young people. It has 47 available beds. It is a very new facility -- I believe it was finished in 2004. We had a tour of it on Wednesday and were VERY impressed with the programs they have for the young people. We asked if they would allow us to come in and do a religious program with their young people. "We would love to have you come and help us with our youth." And so we started immediately....last night (Thursday - October 16) from 6:00 - 7:00 we gave the "kids" our lesson on Creation. Again we wanted to start right at the beginning. We had a lot of fun with these kids....joking and laughing. The guard that brought them to the room was invited to stay and he did - so we knew things would stay under control.

I (Barb) went over a Bible verse with the group - Hebrews 11:3 It is by faith that we understand that the whole world was made by God's command. In the CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) way of doing things --- we should repeat the verse several times to get it "into their heads and hearts". So we worked on getting it said loud enough "so the guard down the hall could hear it". It worked pretty good because they said it pretty loud several times. Then Gary introduced the lesson with his snowshoes -- something he had made -- but only God can make something out of nothing......

After the lesson and singing the song How Great Thou Art, we went over the Review Questions. We had warned them ahead of time that we were going to check to see how well they listened. The very first question was "What does the word Genesis mean?" I thought that was a tough one!!!! The young man in the far corner shot his hand up....."beginning". I was very impressed. Gary had only mentioned that in passing right at the beginning of the lesson.

We passed out finger jello :-) and cookies at the end and sang one more song.

I really look forward to next week. You could tell that these kids have heard God's message before....one knew that we have to repent in order to go to heaven and everyone of the twelve questions got a correct answer from someone! Now they just need to change that head knowledge into heart knowledge. Perhaps we can bring them a step closer.

Please keep this group in your prayers (sorry no pictures of these young people - as you can understand it is not allowed).

Thank you once again for your awesome support!

Gary and Barb

CORRECTION

My goof!!! I shouldn't do things in a rush!!! I got the wrong picture of the 7-8th graders and missed one of our young people.

Marissa on the far left also asked Christ into her life.

THANKS! I will try to slow down and make sure on what I am posting! Barb