To Michigan for a "Reunion" and then back.........

We had a grand time visiting with all of our family in Michigan the past 2 weeks. It was great to see the grandkids and our own kids!!! We got to help Marti and Tim with their home renovations....Gary got to help Mike with some baby chicks..... We spent one week at Mike and Julies and one week at Holly and Dennis........ We also got to visit with lots of our friends and do some fun stuff! The time went way - WAY - too fast!!

And now we are back in South Dakota and back into the swing of things. We visited with the JDC group and then the Lakeview CRC had a worship service there this evening. Pastor Tom always does a great job of relating the message to the kids and their culture! They are very attentive to him and respectful! We had four boys (young men) stay ---- not really to pray to receive Christ ---- but rather for prayers for themselves. One of them will be leaving the juvenile facility for the "big jail" this evening at midnight because he turns 18 tomorrow. We really had a nice talk with these four. It's neat to have more then one at a time because they can see that they really aren't alone and have others that WON'T be mocking them.....(sometimes you can see as they look around the group that they are wondering if anyone is looking at them as they sing or as they act interested).

And now we want to share some photos of what our garden looked like upon returning....it was NOT a pretty picture!! We thought the grasshoppers were bad last year --- but this makes last year look like nothing!!!

This is our rhubarb plant -- when we left there were leaves!!! They might have been rather "holely" but you COULD definitely see the leaves.....

That little green row of "plants" ---- that would be our carrots.....nice and full like carrots should be when we left. We will be digging them up and taking whatever we get. But we are thinking these will be OK.

Now this would be a good "what is it?" question. Luckily we got most of the ears of corn out before we left and then Marvanne (cousins wife) came and got the rest. But as you can see.....nothing but sticks left!!!

The grasshoppers got into the tomatoes too but they don't look to bad. And they must not like green pepppers at all.... Our squash (butternut) are rather naked too -- but I think they will be good eating anyway.

And that's how it is on the prairies. As my Aunt Melva would say "it's a harsh country". We're beginning to see what she means.

We love all of you!!! Gary and Barb

So very neighborly.........

I just wanted to share this "precious" neighborly moment that I had last night. The phone rang and I answered it... "Pauline??" ---- "No, this is Barb - I think you have the wrong number". She told me who she was trying to reach...."I wanted to see if she could use some pickles."....."Do you have a garden?" She asked me. Now this person - whom I could tell was elderly --- did NOT know who I was at all!!! "Well, yes" I said "We do have a garden but we didn't plant any pickles." So she asked me "would you like some?"

Now you tell me........is this neighborly or what?!?!?!? I'm sure she knew she had called a local number and so it must certainly be someone nearby. And so she told me where she lived....and I know just where that is......so I will be going over there to meet a new "neighbor" and get to share some of her produce!!!

YUP!!! Life is like that out here on the prairies!! :-) The place is chock full of good people!!!

I'm thinking I should be more neighborly!!!!! You too?????

With love for all of you!!!! Barb

Lots of encouragement......

We have some really good things to share with you......

Tyler Left Hand Bull will be making profession of his faith in Lakeview Church on August 23....that's next Sunday. It's just so awesome to see God at work!! Tyler indicated at camp this summer that he wanted to ask Christ into his heart. We remembered that he had done so last year....... So we talked with him about the fact that he was doing the "g r o w" Go to church and Sunday School.....Read your Bible......Obey was the Bible says......Witness So we said maybe making profession of faith is the next step for you. This has been a wonderful community affair....so many people working with Tyler and encouraging him in his walk with God. Please keep Tyler in your prayers.....and his family. They will be bringing him to church next Sunday and this will be the first time for them in our church.

Also ---- we have started up again at the Alcohol Treatment Center in Rosebud....with teens. When we arrived this past Tuesday evening we were given a wonderful reception. We knew all of the kids from being in the JDC previously. It was so much fun to see them again. They were eager to sing too.....we really made a joyful noise!!!! There was a sign on one of the doors "please be quiet - class in session"...... I'm afraid we were NOT very quiet!!!

And then ------ this past Thursday at the JDC we had 3 boys pray with us to receive Christ. Riley, Thomas, and Jeremy. Then on Sunday we found out that Riley has a little one year old daughter. In fact, we got to see little LaShay --- she was there with her Gramma and Auntie. However, she didn't get to go in to see her daddy --- there needs to be special permission for a little one like that. PLEASE pray for his very young father!! He told us that he wants to take her to Sunday School. And we will be giving him a Toddler's Story Bible - just for her!

And then on another note.......just at the right time we received an email of encouragement from one of the directors of the Treatment Center. God knows what we need !!!!!

Thank you for your continued support!!
Gary and Barb

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