Prairie Light Youth Camp - Day 3 and 4

 On Wednesday we had the kids color tee-shirts.  We found out there are some REALLY artistic kids out there....and the shirts were grand.   We had the design drawn on the shirts and they went from there.

 We got to sit inside in the air conditioned school room.   That was wonderful.....105-106 degrees on Wednesday. 

 Today we had the kids make a "Footprints" plaque.  I'm sure you all know what the poem says.   It went along with our lesson on Joseph very well.  There again.....I showed the kids what mine looked like....they asked if they could have markers and add some other designs to them.....  Really neat!!

The activity ( plaque) didn't take a lot of time so we got to play a LOT of games today.....and does it surprise you that we played with water balloons and wet shirts and more water balloons.  The kids loved it!!!  And we had fun too.

It's been good getting to know these kids.....seems like camp should still be 2 weeks so we could REALLY get close to these kids.  But that's not to be.

We thank God for the 1/2 inch of rain that we received late this afternoon.  We had gone to a cabin on the Niobrara River for a fun time in the water.   As we were about ready to end the day and go to Valentine for pizza --- we could see dark clouds to the north.  It seems that it was just a nice rain and no bad things - like hail or strong winds.   So - Thank you Lord!

Tomorrow we will have our Bible Lesson first --- then lunch ---- then we will ALL go swimming at the Valentine Pool.  I am told that busing has been a BIG headache this year - all because of the one van breaking down.  However, safety has been good and we pray for that for tomorrow - at the pool and on the roads. 

Thanks again for all the prayers!!!
Gary, Barb, John, Margo, Sue and Gabe

Prairie Light Youth Camp - Day 2

 We start out each day with a new Memory Verse.  We gave Gabe that assignment and he is doing a grand job. We are proud of Gabe!!  The rest of us each do a lesson - once  - one day......Gabe has to do a new verse every day!

 Today we let the kids create belts.  It's a BIG huge process..............     Most of the kids stamped their names into the belt and then chose different "design" stamps.

The kids also had to choose ---- do I dye it - or leave it "natural".  We had a variety of choices and they all looked nice.  You see some of the natural - with letters colored  - below.   Ashley did NOT do hers wrong - it's just upside down on the table.

 On this photo John is busy putting the snaps in place.....it was a LOT of noisy pounding  - so we moved him to the room next door    :)

Clayton really did a lot of work on his belt and it looked nice in the end.   He had a little trouble with those stamps  --- if you move while doing it ---it doesn't look so nice.  So he had some that weren't real clear.  But in the end he chose to color them with the markers and they looked terrific - cleared up all the "mess".  Good job Clayton!!!

We worked at the school -- so we were out of the hot sun (95 today).  We did end up in the only room that the AC wasn't working......but it was better than that hot -hot sun!!!  We gained 5 new kids today.

Tomorrow -- we do tee-shirts.  Yesterday - the van that we use all year for Release Time died on the driver and the mechanic in the area had to leave for Arizona because his mother is not well...... So we are short on the transportation end - - but everyone was still brought to camp.

We continue to appreciate your prayers!!!

Gary, Barb, John, Margo, Sue and Gabe

Day ONE of Prairie Light Youth Camp

 Today was the day for the Monkey Bridge ---- here we have Gabe, John and Gary getting it ready.

 We finally talked Taleah into walking the bridge.  Not everyone did it.   Some were just too scared and I think others were maybe just not in the participation mood.  Others did it a couple of times. And yes we did have a few feet slip off - but no one was injured.

 Here is Gabe - one of our helpers from Michigan - Overisel Reformed.  He's doing a great job with the kids!  While we were having the Bible Lesson - Gabe saw a "need" - the need to separate two of the "rascals" - and he smoothly stepped in and did the job.  THANKS GABE!!!

 This game was somewhat of a flop ---- not enough ice cubes...but we got them cooled off anyway.  When we got home this afternoon  - the temp was 106 degrees.  And we were outside all day - except for the Bible Lesson.

 We then got the "Trust Fall" going.  That is a scary thing to do.  You have to fall backwards into the waiting arms of the "spotters".  We were thrilled that some of the kids did it.  And I know that when they look back it will be a meaningful experience...... it was for me(when I did it - a different year) and so I know it will be for them ...........especially because they were successful!!!

 Clayton wasn't going to do it -  until his Uncles Mark and Tyler (those two in the foreground) showed up - then he had someone he REALLY trusted!!!  He did great.

 The kids LOVED this big Medicine Ball.....we played this for a long time.

We went into the church basement for our Bible Lesson.  I think we were all so hot that we heated the room up  to the point of being miserable down there in the AC!!!!  But the kids really listened good.  We are doing the story of Joseph all week.

We had a total of 15 kids in our group today.  We know that we could get more tomorrow.  So - thank you !!!!   for all the prayers.    I think the rest of the camp ( the younger groups) were all doing well also.

Gary, Barb, Sue, John, Margo and Gabe

BIG PRAYER REQUEST

Today, Gary and I met with Ed and Wendy - concerning the Youth Group.  We are hopefully going to begin this Thursday afternoon.  They couldn't get ahold of the "keeper of the keys" at the Catholic Church today - so that's why I say "hopefully".   We can use their room anytime that they (the Catholic Church) don't have something already set in place for that day.

So if you would all lift this up to our Heavenly Father we would appreciate it.  We aren't looking for huge numbers of kids --- just a nice group that want to know more about God , want to make changes in their lives and have fun all at the same time. We are sure of about 5 kids right now and will be making phone calls for about 10 more.

We are all (Ed, Wendy, Gary and I) pretty much on the same page as to what we want to do with the kids ----- so our prayer request would be for the room to be available at the time we would like it (Thursday afternoon at 2:00 - 4:00) .........and for the kids to come. 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Gary and Barb

HOME AGAIN

We made it home in good time!!!  Made it past DesMoines last night and then back in Valentine by 2:00 this afternoon.  Our "new" car did us great.....this last tank was 35 mpg.  NICE!!!

Had a wonderful visit with family, friends and our Overisel RCA friends.   Thank you!!!!

Looks like we had over 2 1/2 inches of rain while we were gone so everything is nice and green.  I now have to get all this STUFF that we took along again put away....AND the garden was busy "producing"!!!!  Peas and beans need to be picked.....all the radish is ready to eat.  Beets need to be "thinned" again and canned.  The weeds did their thing too and need to be done away with!!!  At least the lawn doesn't need to be mowed - it just looks nice and the HOLLYHOCKS are beautiful (my favorite flower).  As I look out of the window (as I type) I have a view of reds and pinks and whites --- love it!  

The "outside" garden (not the greenhouse) looks like it did good while we were gone too....weeds too.  The chickens look good and I found 2 eggs.  If you remember - our banty hen sat on those 2 "adopted" eggs.....well - those "chicks" are almost bigger than their mama.  :)  :)

So -- that's all for now --- I also have the usual laundry and things to do too.   LATER.......


Gary and Barb

Boy ScoutTroop 21 from Zeeland, MI here for a visit

Gary's former Boy Scout Troop came for their "High Adventure" summer trip.  We have enjoyed their quiet presence......they are tenting on the yard and we hardly know they are here.  Except for the fact that Toby is EXTRA busy........whenever "kids" are around Toby is busy.....playing tug of war, playing fetch, playing kick ball - anything ----just play with me!!!! 

On Monday they moved one of the sheds at Lakeview CRC for us.....It holds lots of goodies that are used for Prairie Light Youth Camp.  Last year (or was it the year before) a new cement pad was laid.....but the shed was never moved.  As you can see on the video (nope - video wouldn't work for me) - it was really a piece of cake for these young men. They literally rolled it to it's new spot. Done in no time at all.    Then at 3:00 they were at the Juvenile Detention Center to play some fun games and have a short devotion time. 

On Tuesday they were taken on a tour of the Reservation -- by Charlie Moe.  Charlie is the local Boy Scout leader and loves showing people the history of the area.  The boys and adults were not disappointed.   Well maybe a little......their one van overheated and it had to come back for important repairs.  Has to be in running order for Thursday when they head out for Mount Rushmore and a possible hike to Harney Peak (if time allows).

On Wednesday, they went out to Tinant's cabin on the Niobrara and had a fun time shooting the rapids. If you've ever been there you know what a riot that is.  The water was reportedly COLD.....good thing the sun was hot!!  95 degrees today.   A few of them will be going along with us for our Bible Study at the JDC this evening. ........... And to report on this evening......it went great.  Julie had a lesson on "choosing life or death" and then followed with the "Romans Road" - plan of salvation.  We broke into small groups with some of the Boy Scouts taking a couple of the group.  We sang some favorite songs and ended with the Banana Song  -- GOOD SINGING EVERYONE!!!!!   And then, of course, came the snack.  The boys scouts hadn't been told that the young people at JDC like snacks - so they didn't bring any.  Well, GARY, told the kids "I (Barb) would make it up to them on Wednesday".  So I did....brownies, mounds bars, and cookies.  Luckily a bunch of the JDC kids had gotten out so - enough goodies for everyone to have 2 each - including the Boy Scouts!!!

And then tomorrow morning --- we ALL take off. The Scouts heading west --- Gary and I heading east. 
We hope for a fun reunion with family and friends for about a week.  We will also be picking up a "new" car.  The Lumina did us so good that we went back to the same used car dealer and said "find us another one".  We will be traveling by Greyhound as we head east.....hoping this is a "good adventure"!!!!

Please keep the Native Youth Group in your prayers --- it still hasn't been able to get started.  We are STILL in the process of finding a building.  The Catholic Church wants a written request and then a meeting.  Ed and Wendy hope to get the meeting done while we are in Michigan --- and then - THEN - hopefully we will be off and running.  We sure hope so!!!

God"s blessings are SO abundant!!!!    Hope you see that too!!!!    Gary and Barb

Baby Chicks, Greenhouse and Goodbye to a dear friend.......

Our Banty hen is a good mother.  Ornery as all get out --- but a good mother.  The peeps are "adopted" and will be about twice the size of the "mother".  But she doesn't care - they are HER babies!!!  And you better stay clear of her or she will let you know it.

Our greenhouse was planted on April 14 ......  things are really growing fast.....weeds too  :( .  Gary spends a lot of time weeding each day. 

Today I brought some beets to a neighbor.  It's been a really fun project (the greenhouse) and it's fun to be able to share produce with our neighbors.  We are concerned about the hotter weather AND leaving for Michigan in a week might prove to be dangerous to the produce......gotta get someone to come and look at it and water it when we are gone.  The beans are about ready to blossom --- onions are growing nicely and we are on our second round of radishes.......green peppers and jalopenos are forming.....lettuce (Romaine) are forming into heads..... carrots - - well we can't tell yet.......FUN!!!!  and YUM!!!!!

Barb Schelhaas passed away May 29 - loosing her  battle with cancer......and leaving a hole in the neighborhood once again.  We will miss her a lot. We praise God for the loving family she was blessed with and the care they were able to give Barb right up until she passed away - at home (which was her one big wish).   These are pictures of the loving way she was taken to the cemetery. The day of the funeral was one of the most beautiful days we have had in a while.....sunny - calm  - NICE - Barb would have loved it!!! Gary was honored to be one of the pallbearers and he was really impressed with the way the horses could back up into the spot - missing all the other tombstones.  

We have not been able to get the Youth Group started.....still looking for the right place to meet.  We might just end up traveling to White River.....will wait and see what happens.  But if you would keep that in your prayers we would appreciate it.  

We will be heading to Michigan to see our family once again - on June 14....by Greyhound bus!!!! A new "adventure" that we aren't real sure about ----- but as Gary says (after I read a batch of complaints) - "we will be just fine".    So - we will look forward to seeing many of you once again.

Love, Gary and Barb