MOVIE was good and one commitment

As I said in the last post --- we have had to change our plans everyday but the first. Today was wet and drizzly most of the day.....but it really didn't dampen any of the plans for camp.

Today was the day for Bruce to give the lesson on the "Wordless Book" - Red Page. He gave an invitation and one gal raised her hand. We said we would meet with her after the movie.

The movie was "Cutback"......and I think we would all recommend it for any young people to watch. The kids were great! I know full well that they watch a lot of TV or movies so it was nothing special to "get to watch a movie". Because of the rain (or other years - the heat)....we had asked Pastor Steve and his wife Lynn if they would be willing to share their home with us for the movie time. So we all of gathered into their living room - after shedding our shoes. The kids were really good --- watched the movie very attentively!!! And so we really felt good - they had once again received God's good news and in a fun (and sad) way. (the movie is a tear jerker for us oldies).

We then met with Christen - for her to pray to receive Christ. She told us that she had already done it before in another church --- but wanted to get "on the right path" again. She's a sweet gal and she quite a few tears. We would ask you to keep Christen in your prayers. We know Satan has it in mind to trouble her - just as he does all of us.

Tomorrow is reportedly going to be 95 degrees --- so we are looking forward to launching our water rockets. It will be a good day to get wet!!!

Bruce and Glenda and Sue headed into Valentine and the rest of us are here at the trailer having a cold pop! Trenton and Austin play basketball for a couple of hours every afternoon. We are really enjoying our time with our 2 grandsons!! and we are pretty sure they are enjoying their time with us :)

We so appreciate your prayers. Camp seems to be going well for everyone!

Gary, Barb, Bruce, Glenda, Sue, and Trenton and Austin

WET week but God's word still goes out!!

Well ---- I just had a bunch of pictures on the blog --- but hit a wrong button and ---- all messed up. So because I am running out of time - I will update and then when the week is done and we (hopefully) have more time --- will get some photos on for your enjoyment.

We had a very good day on Monday. We are a limited number of buses available this year and so we could only gather around 60 young people. We have the buses FULL!!! Our group numbers 14 --- NICE kids. Our plan for the day was the A-frame. Our group of 7-8th graders had a time of practice and racing --- we had a winning team.......and then we handed the frames over to the 5-6th graders for a time of practice -- then came the Big Race. Sorrowfully :) the 7-8th graders lost to the younger group. But they all did an awesome job with the ropes and everyone had a great time.

Tuesday was WET!!! Rained all night long.....the roads were a mess and on top of that --- we were without electricity right up until 9:30 that morning. However, camp had power (the church and the Community Center).....and so we headed out to see what had to be done. We are eating outside (was that a good plan or not ??!!??) and so we tipped all the chairs against the talbes and dried everything off.....then moved them out from under the trees that were still busy "raining" on us. It also involved a change of plans for us.....we had planned to set off Rockets that gets everyone nice and wet. It was already wet out and rather chilly.....so - we did Wed. plans on Tues. It all worked out fine.

Now as I type this on Wed. morning.....it is raining AGAIN - AUGH!!!! - and of course it is chilly. SSSSSSSSssoooooo we will do Thurs. plan on Wed...... ???? is my brain still working???? !!!!

Everyone -- Bruce and Glenda and Sue ---are really doing grand with all of this and things are really going well. We are having a great time fellowshipping with each other and reminiscing of days past.

It is now time to get headed out.....so better sign off.....

Keep the prayers coming!!!!
Thank You!!!

Gary and Barb, Bruce and Glenda, Sue and Trenton and Austin

Minnesota Boundary Water Trip

We picked up Trenton and Austin in Madison, Wi on Sunday (June 26) at 12:00 noon and headed out for our 8 +- hour trip up to Ely, Mn. We arrived in the rain at about 7:00. Seeing as how it was raining --- we didn't want to set up our tents and have everything wet before we ever started -- so we found a motel. We got all set up with the Outfitter and then went to the Pizza Hut for supper.
In the morning ---- rain.....so we went for breakfast and then took off for the Lake One Access point. Grandpa and Austin in one canoe and Grandma and Trenton in the other. We did an "oops" right off the bat. Instead of making
real sure on our Portage --- we just went to the one where there was another group. They had probably gone the wrong way too. Anyway, we got into the canoes after our portage and took off. Nothing looked right --- what is this island doing here...... That's when we realized we had gone the wrong way. So --- back to the portage - everything out of the canoes once again ......... then back into the canoes.....over to the correct portage --- everything out of the canoes......do the portage....everything back into the canoes.... and so you get the picture. We made a total of 16 short portages.....and we did like the "short" part of them!!
The scenery was grand..... this duck was a very
busy mama - 16 baby ducks!! It was the sweetest thing to see. Those little guys can really scoot along.....and some - when they get tired - climb on board for a ride. We saw lots of turtles sunning on the rocks and pretty sure we saw a beaver in the distance - but didn't pursue it.

The boys lost their first fish to a snapping turtle. They had put the pike on a stringer and tied it to a tree and tossed it in the water.....next morning there was nothing on the stringer. That evening when they had two more bass to keep for a meal they went again to put it in the water and saw the snapper. We now knew where the pike had
disappeared to.

This morning the lake was like a mirror and we decided to take a long day trip to a little lake that looked very deep and hopefully full of fish. However, even though the trip was great -- and the boys did a great job of canoeing with each other.....the fish didn't want to bite. We could see that there had been a Mayfly hatch...so the fish weren't interested in anything. Trenton did manage to hook onto a 32" Northern Pike. He was a pretty tasty meal that evening.




We all learned how to get in and out of the canoes in safe fashion......only once the whole trip did anyone get wet and that was right by camp as the boys were trying to get out. Trenton wasn't too happy getting wet --- but when no gear is lost and nothing nasty happens --- you have to just figure - oh well!







We had lots of fun ---- goofing off on this rock ......making dessert and cooling it in the bottom of the lake....making chili in the rain ....making bread around the campfire.....watching the boys eat whatever was put in front of them...
eating GORP on a rock in a pretty little bay....and
so much more. The trip was a memory maker!





































But all things come to an end and this was our ending spot. Thursday came way too fast. Grandpa is already thinking - next year. We keep getting older - so it's do it while we can or pretty soon - we can't. Hate to think of that day.
It's wonderful to be out in God's beautiful creation and we thank Him for keeping us all safe and sound. We thank Him too for the physical health and strength to do these things.

We had people tell us that they had prayed for us and we say THANK YOU!

We came back to South Dakota with the boys and they will stay with us until after PLYC and then we will take them back to their family. Our garden looked just as bad or worse --- there was a real bad storm on June 30 with lots of rain and wind. We have to take the weather as it comes...might not be happy about it - but nothing we can do about it.

It was good to get back to the Detention Center and had a real nice visit with two of the boys on Sunday. We asked Mike D.S. "what do you think of all the things we tell you about Jesus"? - his comment was "good stuff"..... "do you believe it?" "yes". We could then go on to talk about hanging on to that faith and asking God to help when those temptations come.

We now have to finalize everything for Prairie Light Youth Camp. Lots of last minute little things to be done. Pray that we keep our focus on what has to be done.

Gary and Barb

We are heading out for the Minnesota Boundary Waters

We are heading out today for the Boundary Waters. We won't be on the water until Monday morning......have a few things to do first.

This morning we are picking up a gal in St. Francis and then taking two vehicles to Platte......our car and the PLYC van. Robbi will be going on with a group of young people to a Bible Conference in Wisconsin. We will be heading to Madison, WI to meet Mike and Julie and the kids on Sunday. We (Gary and I and Trenton and Austin - our two oldest grandsons) will then take off for Ely, Mn.

We will spend 4 days and 3 nights in the Boundary Water Wilderness area.....canoeing and portaging and fishing. Our hope, of course, is for fair weather and sunny days......but we know that that isn't always the case. We are prepared as best as we can. We also know that growing 12 and 13 year olds can eat mom and dad out of house and home ......so we think (and hope) we are prepared for that :)

We will be getting off the water on Thursday (June 30) and traveling back to SD with the boys --- they will stay through Camp and then we will take them home to Michigan. BUSY BUSY......but lots of fun anticipated.

Prayers are always appreciated.
Gary and Barb

A Mess of a different nature.......

The first hail storm did some minor damage to the garden - but we knew we were OK. Things would come back and do just fine. The second one made things look kind of sick -- but still we figured everything would come through it.....we just need some nice warm days. Then came this past Thursday evening.

As we were leaving for the Detention Center, we could see storm clouds in the west. But there were really no severe warnings so we headed out. Pastor Steve, Lynn and Benjamin were joining us for a visit at JDC just to get them acquainted with the place......Pastor Steve has agreed to do the Sunday Service there. As we left - the one guard stated that it was raining "out that way" --- south.....Oh! That's the way we have to go. About half way home we began to wonder if we would make it. The hail was coming down so hard on the top of the car that it was hard to hear each other....yelling didn't help. Gary came to a stop a couple of times - not being able to see where he was going. We got the Boersma's back to the school - and they would head home from there. When we turned the corner to go to our place --- a torrent was coming down the hill and water was across the road. I (Barb) took my shoes off (my NEW shoes) and waded out into the water to see if there were any bad washouts (I really wanted to get home in one piece). Nope - it was OK. From there on we just went thru the water hoping it would be OK. And we did make it home in one piece.

Our garden was hurting BIG TIME by now. A look at the rain gauge said 2.8 inches of rain. Many of the fields had standing water - that on top of the damage from the hail. One good thing is that the plants are small yet and should be able to make a come back. However, there are places that will no doubt be drowned out by the standing water.

Then on Saturday evening we had a repeat......Lots of hail and rain.....about 1.8 inches this time. As we stood on the deck on the back of the trailer we could all of a sudden hear water coming....and sure enough - to the north -- it came across the driveway and making it's way down past the trailer. We had a river going past our deck. About 10-15 minutes later we went to see where it had ended up......but there was nothing - no water. So what's with that....where did it go. Pretty soon we could hear it coming......and in short order we had the whole area by the barn covered in water. Kind of interesting how long it took to get that short of a distance when actually it was moving quite fast.

What you are looking at here is our tomato patch --- or what used to be our tomato patch. We now have about 9 stems sticking up out of the ground....now covered in hail. This is the 4th hail storm in about 2 weeks (maybe a week and a half). Saturday morning we thought we would replant some things like -- more beans and carrots.....a new bunch of spinach. Well after the storm I'm sure the seeds are washed all over the place. Hopefully the neighbors will share -- IF they have anything TO share.

We were feeling bad for ourselves.....we really enjoy our tomatoes and green peppers. But then we consider what the Missouri River is doing.....flooding out home....covering major highways. ....
We really don't have it so bad!!!!

On Friday we were invited to go along with Dan and Sheri Tinant to Pierre to see the Oahe Dam -- which is located on the Missouri River. The town is in a battle with the elements. Sand bags are surrounding business' and homes. And some homes are half under water.

You really have to wonder if the bags will hold the water out. We understand that they have to increase the output of water even more....meaning the level will go higher yet.









A movie would have been so much nicer --- but for some reason the blogger is refusing to upload the video. But I think these pictures give you an idea of the force of the water....150,000 cubic feet of water per second. We're standing in front of one chute, there are six of them releasing water, makes you dizzy standing there looking at it.















Our computer went on the blink after one of the storms......seemed that it was only the monitor. We called the "Computer Lighthouse" and he would look at it. Yes the "tower" was still good --- so our computer was OK - we just needed a new monitor and he would get us all fixed up right away. We had quite the visit with Ray!!! He and his wife (whom we have met before) moved to Mission (on the Rosebud) about 12 years ago....wanting to help wherever they could - for God's glory. He talked and talked and we agreed with him on so many things. It was a fun afternoon with a man who is on fire for the Lord. Plus we came home with our computer ready to go again.

So we have to be thankful for all the ways we continue to be blessed......and not dwell on the negative --- like the garden being a mess. We have so very much to be thankful for!

And we are thankful for all the prayers you continue to lift on our behalf. Thank You!

Gary and Barb

WHAT A MESS!!!!

This past Monday (June 6) started out in beautiful fashion. Zero percent chance of rain --- nice and sunny......good crew of young men (and old). And so the shingles on the south side of the church came off. Gary was able to able to get up in the bell tower and check out the bell....... As you can see - the tar paper is being put on (at about 7:00 p.m.).....tractors are used for a multiple of tasks :)






We are wondering if this inscription on the bell is the same as the one on the Overisel Reformed Church bell.....so - someone out there - check it out.

Now what happened in the middle of this day was NOT good. About 4:00 as the men were taking an iced tea break - sitting in the Community Center looking out the windows......they saw a rather small area of dark clouds come toward the church and then actually go on around. But out of the blue -- a storm formed...... and a good inch of rain fell on the bare boards of the church.




























And that rain had to go somewhere ---- guess
where it went ---- YUP --- all over the church sanctuary......down the walls....through the ceiling....onto the pews.....into the light fixtures.....and a very small amount made it all the way to the basement (thank goodness the new carpet has not been installed - gotta see the good in it too). There are streaks down the south wall that don't wash off - so we will be painting walls ....and the ceiling - which is a textured steel (?tin) tile that was used years ago is full of nasty dark spots.....so the ceiling will need paint also --- yikes - that's about 18 feet high.

Another sad part is that our new Pastor is being
ordained in our church this coming Sunday (June 12). Steve and Lynn (figuring on 30 guests) seem to be taking it in stride --- what else can they do really. The church will be put back in order -- but the walls and ceiling .....well I told Steve - they will have their eyes on you - not on the streaks (hopefully).






Everyone has been very helpful and doing
whatever they can. Today the insurance assessor is coming -- so we shall see what the good news is. The insulation, of course is wet ------- Lots of things to work out.

We all thank God that it was not worse.....there are people in the Pierre/Fort Pierre area that have had to leave their home due to flooding. We have a mess that we can work thru and still use our church --- so we thank God!!! We also thank God for the safety the workers have had on the roof. We continue to think of the men who are putting the shingles on.

So for those of you who enjoy this blog to keep up on the local news ------ there you have it.

Keep those prayers coming :) Thanks!!
Gary and Barb

Thank you for Prayers lifted for Rick.....

Rick is doing really good. We talked with him this morning ---9:30 am our time is 9:30 pm his time --- so does that make him exactly on the other side of the world?!?! Anyway, he said as he boarded the plane he told himself -- "you can still turn around Rick.......you can still get off Rick". But now after almost a week there - he is enjoying it. Says it's a beautiful place --- flowering trees and so on......monitor lizards (6 foot long ones) to stay away from (but enjoyable to view) and the people seem to be treating him very well.

He's gotten a hair cut, eaten from the street vendors without any ill effects, seen 3 of the monitor lizards, enjoys the Thai food........however, there are some troubles --- sizes are small there and he has found it difficult to find some important items in his size. :) We had some good laughs over that one!!! Yes, he's on an adventure.

Classes start tomorrow..... he has 4 classes to teach. If I remember correctly --- two classes with about 60 students each, one Masters class with 1 student and one Doctorate Class with 6 students. He WILL be getting very busy.

And so we thank you for the prayers you lifted for Rick. God is GOOD!!! all the time!!

Today here ---- taking the shingles off the church roof...and that is a VERY steep roof! I'm afraid that as I type we are getting a ?? short shower --- and they had better be off the roof. I haven't seen lightening -- but hear thunder. I suppose there's that grief of a bare roof and now rain.....

Our Pastor and his family are all here now.... Benjamin is 13 and a hoot!! Gary said that Benjamin was wandering around by the church this morning and asked if Dan and Gary (standing around looking up) were the foremen or something.....they said "well, yes". Shortly after, a shingle came off the roof and landed on Gar's arm. So Ben yells out....hey be careful you just about took out one of the foremen --- they might quit on ya. :) :)......... we are enjoying them !!

Plans are moving forward with Prairie Light Youth Camp. I will be sending out Registration Forms tomorrow....and Robbi is doing the same for another group.

Gary just came home --- not good!!! Roof off -- rain and 60 mph winds predicted until 5:15 (it's 4:30 now) ...perhaps the wind will miss us. He took some awesome pictures so I will get them downloaded and send some your way.

Again---- Thanks for the prayers for Rick.

Gary and Barb