Canoeing at Merritt Dam..........

On Monday we took 6 kids along for a canoe adventure to Merritt Dam......the same place that we went for our "get-away".......Hillary, Dakota, Ethan, Robert, Shylo and Jon----- the first 3 listed are from our Lakeview Church (and kids that have been in our PLYC at some point in time) and the last 3 are Native kids (that have also been in camp). We had a grand time and we think the kids did too :-) !!

We picked everyone up between 9:30 and 11:00 and headed out to Merritt with 4 canoes on a trailer. We picked a camping spot in the same campground that we stayed in the 1st time....but this time there was a beautiful sandy beach, which meant they have been letting water out of the dam for irrigation purposes.

Gary gave some canoe instructions ---- different paddling techniques, parts of the canoe and so on. Some listened -- some were indifferent.....

When we got to driving out to our "put in" spot some of the kids got a little nervous ----- "how far are we going?!?!?!" As it turned out we didn't go far enough for Gary but just right for some of the group. For the most part the canoeing went pretty good.....a couple of boys did have their trials......round and round in circles---zigzaging across the lake....couldn't make that dumb canoe go straight for nothin'.!!!! Finally Gary got in the front of the canoe with one of them and gave instructions. There WAS improvement. Then the other boy got his turn for instructions...... The comment was "it's not as easy as it looks!"

It was a BEAUTIFUL day and we had plenty of time to pull off on the beaches and swim and cool off.


At the end of the day there was fun to be had just playing in the sand and in the water with the canoes. It was really neat to watch the kids play.....especially Robert -- who got buried in the sand with GiJoe taking him down......

We had a thunderstorm that evening......but in between rain showers we were able to have s'mores around the campfire..... And then every one was tired from a big day in the sun and water.

We woke up to a cloudy day --- but had an awesome Dutch Oven Hungry Man Breakfast - that got devoured along with bread and jam and juice. Then pack up the tents and head back home.

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On a different note........ My cousin Dwight and his wife Marvanne and son Rob left for a vacation with family in Montana and left us with ranch duties. We have been VERY busy.......but enjoying it very much. And now my sister Linda and her husband Dave are out here for a few days and so we have some company to enjoy and entertain. Life is good!!!!

God Bless!!

Gary and Barb

Took a much needed break..........

This past Monday we packed up our old camping equipment ---- 4 man tent, backpacking stove, cooler full of steak and burgers, charcoal grill, etc and headed to Merritt Dam. We had never been there before and we were in for a treat. It's a beautiful spot 26 miles south of Valentine. In the 60's the area was seen as a possible irrigation project and now it's a beautiful reservoir. Not a cottage on this huge lake --- love that! ------ primitive camping for the most part but you can take your big rig and have electric hook up too. This is "the darkest spot in North America" and so while we were there ---- there was also a "Star Party" going on. Nebraska star gazers come and set up their huge telescopes and check out God's awesome creation. HHHmmmm......I hope they know Whos' stars they are looking at!!!!

We had a wild start to our camp out......NASTY looking clouds and just as we got our steaks finished the rain started ...... So we took our plates and ate in the truck while the hail pelted our windows. It didn't last long but we never did get our tent put up.....just put our lawn chairs (recliners) in the back of the truck and went to sleep. Sleep fairly good too.

The next two days were beautiful sunny days. We wished there were trails to walk on but no such luck. We did check out the lake and have hopes of bringing some young people for a canoe adventure.

Now back in our home and we have been doing "some ranch work". Gary is having fun working with a BIG GREEN tractor (8300). Right now he is putting new brake pads on his quad. Seems there is really never a dull moment....which we are glad for.

We also want to share a GRAND time that we had at the JDC on the last two meetings....... The verse for a Thursday night meeting was I Corinthians 15:3-4. So we did this verse with motions - to help the kids remember the verse. Boy oh boy did that ever work. Here are the motions: Christ died (pointer fingers in cross form), for our sins (shake fist), according to the scriptures (palms of both hands open as a book), that he was buried (both hands palms down toward the ground), that he rose again (both hands palms up to the sky), on the third day (three fingers), according to the scriptures (hands as a book). The kids really enjoyed doing the motions and so we were able to do it several times. WELL!!! And this is the best part..... On Sunday when we visited with the kids (there are only 7 at the present time)we asked some of them if they remembered the verse from Thursday. ANDRE -I hope you are reading this because you will love this part!!!! Jeremy knew the whole verse --- where it was found too!!!!!!! and only missed a little bit of it. Then we asked two more and they were able to get most of it too. We went home just praising God!!!

Thanks for your interest and prayers and support!!
Gary and Barb

An awesome week.....PLYC 2009

Another Prairie Light Youth Camp has come to a close.....except that tonight we have a Family Night Supper and Music and Games....and a "give away" of slightly used items. It was a wonderful year. The kids were so well behaved.... and not just our group...... We heard that the kids were well-behaved in all age groups. Thanks for the prayers!!!!

On Thursday each kid in our group made a stepping stone.....with a design all their own.

Then on Friday we gave the kids a Kayaking adventure. I don't believe any of them had ever been on a kayak before. They really had a good time. Of course, some had better skills than others and so the kayaks were spread out a pretty good distance. A few tipped over along the way....but Sue said there were others on the river that were there to help right the kayak for them. And so we thank God once again for his protection for the campers on the water. The 5th & 6th grade group went tubing along the same river but at a different "put-in spot".

We have to admit that there were a few klinkers along the way that produced stress but for the most part I think we all (anyway in our group) agree that this was the best year yet. And it was also grand to have family members involved with the camp along side of us. My sister, Sam (really Ethel - but everyone calls her Sam) and her husband Jim were here (along with their church group) as well as our son Mike, Julie and 3 kids (Austin, Sidney and Colton).

And so now as many, many volunteers will be leaving soon (Mike and Julie this morning) , we ask for your prayers for safe travel. And too, we pray that what the kids heard this week will sink deep into their hearts and be remembered and built on.

Thank you once again...... Gary, Barb, Sue, Mike, and Julie

Day Three -- Wednesday at PLYC

Today, once again was a really good day with the kids.... and by the way we DID compliment them on being such a wonderful group of kids....attentive, respectful, fun...... We still have one young lady who we wish we could get more of a smile from. She is very shy and reserved! She just might turn out to be the one that will tip Gary off his kayak on Friday..... you know you have to watch those quiet ones :-) :-)

This was a "hot day game"..... The kids were broken into 3 teams and each team was given a 2 cup size ice cube. The goal was to be the first team to melt the WHOLE cube. Kids rubbed the ice on their arms, legs, under shirts, ....breathed on it...... One team was called on for cheating.... they broke the ice cube on a tree.. OOPS They were done first but had to take a penalty (which by the way they didn't agree with------).

This was our craft. They were given the "Footprints" poem and made a plaque out of it. As we read the poem before starting the craft --- one young gal had tears in her eyes. What a special sight.

We have "asked" (could say "advised") the kids to say Thank You to the cooks at dinner time. At that time they get their name tag "punched"......that and participation......will be looked at to see whether or not each person "wants" to go on the kayak adventure. So far -- everyone wants to go....some do need a bit of encouragement (on the "thank you")....but Julie is real good at that job. She's had lots of practice :-)

Today we handed out permission slips for our kayaking adventure on Friday.....so the excitement is mounting.

We would ask for prayers for safety for the kayak adventure......for safety for our travel time and....... time on the water and...... time at the cabin having fun and games.

AGAIN-thank you!!! from the 7th & 8th Grade Crew-Gary, Barb, Mike, Julie, Sue and Kathleen

Onto 3rd day.....of PLYC

KEEP THOSE PRAYERS COMING !!! We can feel them! The kids are so well behaved and attentive. And we see smiles from one who came looking so dejected!!
We had a contest with the A-Frame Walk------ the kids loved it .....AND our equipment held up once more...BONUS!!!

This is Diondra - isn't she cute!?!?!? This was called Tape-Head. And Oh Man! I had to apologize to the volunteers....I forgot an important part of the whole deal. We were supposed to supply each "tapehead" with a large baggie to put over their hair..... OUCH!!!!! (the tape WAS put on sticky side out but still caught their hair!) I am so sorry!

The kids are even singing along this year. And that is so cool! We are singing "I am a C (CHRISTIAN- spelled out)" I am a CH, I am a CHRISTIAN, And I have CHRIST in my HEART, and I will LIVE ETERNALLY".......start out slow and then increase and increase and increase the speed. WOW! can we go fast! The other song is "There is Victory for Me". We also sang "When I am afraid"..... Our lessons are the story of Daniel - chapters 1 - 6. Each one of us are doing a different lesson each day and we also start out with a Bible Verse for the day and a "Gospel Activity".

Thank you for your awesome support!!

My cousins daughter Hillary - one who went with us to CYIA training this past June....has had the awesome experience of praying with a 1st grader and a 3rd grader to ask Christ into their heart. She, of course, was thrilled. GOD IS AT WORK.....blessing the worker and the camper!

Gary, Barb, Sue, Mike, Julie, and Kathleen (a former camper who has helped us EVERY year since the time she was with us the first year :-)

Prairie Light Youth Camp begins.......

Today is the day........PLYC begins. Sue Pfnister arrived on Saturday after a 13 hour drive.....but she as usual arrived SMILING!!! Mike and Julie (our son and daughter in law) and Austin, Sidney and Colton arrived Sunday afternoon. My sister Ethel and her husband, Jim arrived Sunday ...... Everyone else (as far as we know) had a safe trip. There are MANY volunteers ----from Wisconsin, Michigan, South Dakota, Nebraska.......

There have already been those Monday morning klinkers....but we are used to them by now.....but we still don't like them AT ALL!!!!

We have a LOT of kids ready to come! Camp will be full!

Please keep all of this in your prayers. God is in control and so all is well.

Gary and Barb and ALL!

Wild Flowers ..........

Before we share the wildflowers with you --- we want to share this little tidbit. We were talking to a young man at the JDC this past Sunday and we asked him if he went to church. Yes- He did. He went to the Carpenter Shop Church. But -- we said -- you live in Rosebud and that church is in Mission.... how do you get there? I walk or I catch a ride. WOW -- that's at least an 11 mile trip....and he walks! He said that church starts at 11:00 and Wednesday night starts at 7:00. Any one of us willing to start out walking to a church that far away?!


Have to remember how to put pictures in order....... any way --- that was an awesome end to a beautiful day!!

Our streets are lined with flowers!!! Love those sunflowers!!!

We took a side trip to Rapid City -- right after the ORC Youth Group left us.... Visited Mount Rushmore, my Aunt Vernona, and the Mammoth Dig.... very interesting!

This is THE flower of the Rosebud Indian Reservation. These little prairie roses are the most fragrant roses around!!! They grow everywhere!!

This is the Meadowlark...... love hearing these little guys sing --- especially as you drive past them in the car!!

And this little treasure --- we found out thanks to Aaron Klanderman --- is the Orchard Oriole. He and his mate have a nest in a tree in the middle of our garden and we see him every morning.

Even cactus have a beautiful flower. I missed the Prickly Pear flower -- didn't have our camera along on a recent cattle drive. Each flower is only out for one day.....such beauty for such a short time.

And then THIS pesky weed..... Constantly pulling them out....and yet God gave them some beauty too. Cute little white trumpets and some with a touch of pink.

Ah!! The Cone flower....the pastures are full of them. And I got to catch this butterfly resting on one. It's a beautiful time of the year. We are told that soon the grasses will be turning brown as they "head". The ranchers are VERY busy haying and so we enjoy the smell of fresh cut hay also. We have totally enjoyed what God has blessed us with.

Hope you enjoyed some color on this blog. I believe we are ready for Prairie Light Youth Camp. Have a few more items to pick up at the store.....cement for the stepping stones, and so on. And now we await the arrival of all the volunteers and THEN ..............the kids!!!

Please keep all of this in your prayers!

Gary and Barb