Before church on Sunday morning - November 9

The trees were covered with frost this morning and with the sun shining on them they were a beautiful sight.

These deer were there at 10:00 in the morning as we headed to Valentine to go to church at the Assembly of God. Is he magnificent or what!?!-----right next to the road - proud as can be! As we came home at 1:00 in the afternoon.....HE WAS STILL THERE!! same place!

This herd of mule deer were still in South Dakota (the top photo was in NE)..bedded down on the east side of the road......it looks like they are permanent fixtures for the day also.

These beautiful pheasants must have kept warm overnight on the haybales. And now were enjoying the sunshine.

The roads are a story in themselves..... You do NOT want to meet anyone in these areas ---- unless you've got your backup skills down pat!!

This is just west of us ......

We want to share some photos of our Sunday morning. We took time out early in the morning to witness some of God's beautiful creation and some of the winter "wonderland" - which can come in all shapes and forms. Some good some not so "good"....but awesome nun-the-less. We also saw flocks!!! of grouse and lots of jack rabbits.

We did not have church in Lakeview because of the bad roads and also because the pastor who was scheduled to come out (and I am not sure how far he had to travel but many come from the east side of the state) is in his 80's and the elders of Lakeview decided it wasn't wise for him to be traveling on these roads.

We hope you enjoy ........

Gary and Barb

WINTER!!!! Has arrived

The top picture was a scene out of our window on Wednesday....Gary driving some of the calves back to their corral... a rather chilly day with some blowing snow...... The bottom picture is the scene out of our living room window. We have a blizzard warning until Friday morning. We have been hearing a freight train all night......haven't seen it yet but sounds like it's still coming.. Gary was thinking he might just have a day inside....no school today so Dwights son Robb is available to helpout with the ranch work. HOWEVER, Dwight called and they went out to get 230 head of cattle to the west about 5 miles.....They went with the big tractor and pickup. These are mostly older cows who know that east means home and so they should come quite willingly.

I'm afraid that if this keeps up we will not be going to the JDC this evening. It's too bad because they probably don't have school either today....and it will be a long boring day for them. Please keep them in your prayers!

Oh MY!! I just looked out the window and saw a bird flying....wondered why it looked so strange....!!?? have you ever seen a bird fly backwards. It was a hawk trying to go against the wind....but it finally gave up and turned with the wind.

YES! Winter out here could be very interesting!!

Love to all of you! Barb

Some more ranch news.......

A very happy hunter. South Dakota is known for good pheasant hunting and Gary is having a good time proving it to be true. And BONUS!!!!......I have fried several of them and they are delicious!!!

We decided that our blog needs some color again.... So hope you enjoy this beautiful sunrise. It was a gorgeous day!!!!

When we aren't busy with kids - Release Time - JDC - kids over on the weekends....we stay busy with some type of ranch work. On Monday we were asked to help one of the ranchers with a big cattle round up. We were picked up at 6:30 a.m. and headed to a spot north of Rosebud. We were with a group of 4 or 5 on horseback and 4 of us on quads. When we got the cattle close to the destination there was a small creek down in the bottom of a draw. I didn't attempt to cross the creek but Gary did.........well - he got stuck. Luckily, a cowboy with his lariat was nearby and did the job....pulled him out!!!! What a hoot!! All total - we put on 25 miles (on the quads) during this drive. Went home whipped!

There is always an adventure just waiting.........

B & G

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