Prairie Light Youth Camp Monday - Wednesday 2013

Camp is well underway.....and it's seems to be going great.....on Tuesday we heard that there were 94 kids at camp.  WOW!  We only have 10 of those kids but they are REALLY a nice bunch of young people.  Busing is still chaos - but we are all dealing with it.  The chaos comes because the 7th and 8th graders are in Rosebud at the Lutheran Church (because of gym problems at Lakeview) and all of the rest of the kids, at least, start out in Lakeview (the 5th and 6th graders are bused to Rosebud for PE). 

I am going to post some pictures here and try to add a little blurp for you.....it's hard to pick which photo because i've taken a lot  :)   And they might not be in the best of order....... it's early in the morning and I'm in hurry mode.

 This is where we meet.....

 The "waiter game"......  they had to fill their cups and glasses with water - carry them over their head and then dump the water into a bucket and hope to have the fullest bucket.

 Amber had just been to a Conference and she had wonderful things to share with the kids that fit perfectly with our lessons.  She shared often that the kids are of worth to God and they (we all) are His treasures.

Working on our "Jesus Plaques"....paint and paste.....

 A 2 liter bottle on a rope --- better jump high or the rope might hit you.....

 

This is our water balloon game ----- There is one below of Clayton in a "perfect catch".....

 Sue Pfnister giving the Bible lesson

 One of our best loved games ---- a ring on a string and "who has it".....We have played it every day.

The boys made wooden "treasure boxes" and did a fine job!!

 We LOVE it when old time campers come back to help --- here is Mark LHB helping his nephew.   (Mark has graduated from High School but still enjoys coming to PLYC.

The girls made "plastic mesh" treasure boxes. And they did a FINE job too.  It was a very pleasant time working with these girls because they were really in to it.

 Here is our crew.... Sue Pfnister, Ross and Jessica Nagelkirk, me and Gary with the Rosebud Lutheran Church in the background --- wish we could have gotten the top of the steeple in the pic.

 Our fabulous cook -- Rozzie Danhof ---- GOOD FOOD!!

Charlee working on here "box".

  Beach Ball Volleyball --- the wind did a number on the players every once in a while.....

 Another shot of the girls with their boxes almost finished.

Another one of Amber Elk Looks Back's creations ---- with the kids's names in God's treasure chest.

It's time for breakfast here and so I am being called into action.
THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS!!!!  Keep them coming.
The PLYC Crew

A walk down our driveway

I needed to do two things this afternoon......get in some walking .....and the other --- A photo shot of the beauty along our driveway.  The variety of wildflowers is unending!!!!  I have only a few to share with you...... and I say that with tongue in cheek..... I took 55 pictures on my 1 mile walk.

 This is the reason for my photo shoot.....I couldn't have planted them myself to look more beautiful.

 I know that we HATE the Creeping Jenny --- but they are really kind of cute in their own way and their fragrance is wonderful.   They are pink / white.

 "Their only a milk weed plant"...but look at their flowers closely and they are amazing!

 AH! the wild prairie rose........dark pink....

 ......light pink......and white.  I don't remember seeing the white ones before.

 This is a plant that I usually see along the fence row. Touch on this picture to make it bigger and look at the amazing tiny little flowers.

 These are a rather strange looking plant -- but there should be lots of little pinkish/purple flowers soon.

 Good ole' clover.....

 Here's another shot of the end of our driveway.....

 Really can't get enough of the roses!!!!

 The sunflowers are just starting - and they are the "short" ones yet.....the taller ones will come later.

 Never saw these before --- but then you have to get real close to the ground to find them and I was on the lookout....

 Rose buds   :)

 And this ---- I should look in Clarence Nollett's Book on Prairie plants ---- I'm sure it's in there.

 This is a close up of the same plant.  It's the only one I saw out there.

 I know !---- these are a hated thistle --- but I love the pretty flowers anyway --- and then there was a white one and a purple one......

 Black Eyed Susans are everywhere.

 I think the cone flowers are one of my favorite --- just after the wild roses.

 Can't forget the grasses -- they have a beauty all their own.

 These looked liked "Straw flowers"...

 A couple of weeks ago --- the fields were FULL of these.....I could only find these 2 blossoms and then my photo went fuzzy on me.....poor focus on my part.

And I should know the name of this plant --- a type of clover I think.  I never knew that it went from yellow to white..... If I'm correct --- it's good for hay when it's yellow and then goes bad when the flowers turn white.
I hope you enjoyed the tour of our driveway.  I did venture off into the pasture two times - but they WERE along the driveway.    God's Creation is AWESOME!!!  Take the time to notice it!!

Barb

GOOD, GOOD times

First good times ----- We had good, good times tonight at the Detention Center.  Only 6 kids --- but they listened so good and sang so good and participated so good.  Our lesson was on Enoch who walked and talked with God and.....God took him.   We had a good time of questions and answers -- Review Questions and then some more questions for some of the kids.  Lots of laughs too because we took a hula hoop along tonight.  It was to play a game with for starters and then, of course, we had to see if anyone could actually do the "real thing".  And guess what ---- one of the boys was a star hula hooper  :)  :)  One of the girls got it going but she was so embarrassed that she quit right away.  Good bunch of kids.  Keep them in your prayers because one of the boys is questioning.....thinks he wants to go the "Lakota Way" -- because there is no heaven or hell....he especially (of course) doesn't like the hell part. He doesn't want any family member to go to hell.  I told him then he should be sharing Christ and the Good News with them.  He is learning the "Lakota Way" from his Grandpa --- so who can argue with an "elder". According to him = you just come back over and over again.    But :)  :)  :)  tonight this young man said he was trying to find the story of David and Goliath in his Bible but "it isn't in there".  So I told him -- and showed him -- I Samuel 17.  "got it"  So - glory be - he is still reading the Bible!!!!!  HURRAH!

Also, at the Alcohol Recovery group tonight......  When we get there --- the kids have had at least 3 hours of "instruction"....... they are NOT happy campers!!!  Heads are down --- they look totally wasted --- they want to go home!!!!  So tonight we started with that same hula hoop game (too long to explain it....) and then we also had them see who (2 teams) could build the tallest tower....the lesson was on the Tower of Babel.  One boy would NOT play the hula hoop game but as we got going he looked up (head was down on the table) and got a smile on his face (probably wished he was playing).....  The towers didn't get too tall - but toward the end Gary and I stepped in and did a little helping and got some smiles and laughs.  They just needed to get that heavy load off their shoulders.....  Then they participated pretty good.

Second good times ----  We were invited to Prairey Walkling and Jameson Brennans wedding on this past Saturday evening.  We just about didn't go because I was also asked to give a Childrens' Message in Rosebud at a Community Service.  But we decided we had about 40 minutes that we could be at the wedding.  The wedding was on the prairies out in a pasture just south of the family home.  WHAT AN AWESOME location.  God's nature is so beautiful if you just stop and take notice.  Oh! I did hear something about Prairey making sure that dad had all the prickly pear cactus chopped out. Pastor Utecht did such a nice job of connecting the prairies with the Walkling family and then, of course, with Prairey.....and how God is faithful (as he has been to the Walkling family these 100 years) and that there are hard times on the prairies and there will be hard times in a marriage.....and much more. We had to leave before the wedding was completely over ---- but Gary and I got in the car and looked at each other and said we will never look at a church wedding in the same way.  The only decorations that we could see was a hand made cross right by the minister and the bride and groom.  I have some pictures to share but they really don't do it all justice.

 The old wooden cross...... made by  Pastor Utechts family.  Pastor Utecht is an old (he's younger than we are!!!) family friend.  And then add that windmill in the foreground .......

 There was some seating as you can see.....there was even a "middle aisle" for the bridal party to walk down.  And then --- there were tail gates  :)

 The bridal party ----- seven attendants.....

 The flower "niece and nephews"...

 Prairey and her dad, Vern.......

 Don't you just love the blue sky and the clouds.......  It was a splendid day......

 Then, of course,  the team to take the bridal party back to the reception - held at the Walkling home.

I LOVE simple things and what a sweetly simple way to give directions to the wedding!!

The third good, good time ----- It was at the Community Service on that same Saturday night.    I had the Childrens message on "The Fall" (Adam and Eve in the Garden).  There were about 10 little kids and 4 teenagers (and then the adults)....... Native kids don't always sit still for a lengthy message.  But I had flannel figures and I think it made a big difference --- the kids were great and sat quietly.  Then we had some Review Questions and WOW --- they had really listened!!!  They knew the answers....and the teenagers answered some too. 

And then the good, good times of watching our Banty hen and her seven little chicks.  She has given us a "variety package"......it looks like we might have one banty chick, 2 pure white chicks, 2 red rocks and 2 white sussex chicks.....time will tell.  She is a GOOD mama ---- fun to watch her take care of them and show them how and what to eat.

And the last good, good times is that Gary is staying busy with helping the neighbors.....repair of a hay hauler, a dining room chair, a hay rake, a " back up" baler (for when the other one breaks down), the pheasant business, and now a generator. Keeps him tired - but happy.....and me too   :)

OH YEAH!--- Happy Birthday to Tim Sparling (our son-in-law) July 2, and Rick Peters (our son) July 3

All these things put a smile on our face and a song in our hearts!!  God is so good!!

Gary and Barb

Elk has a new home

In 2002, Gary shot a BIG elk - a 6 x 6....in Wyoming.  We had it mounted by a man in Fennville, Michigan.  He has an idea of how he wanted to do it and we let him have his way......the elk is bugling.  Gar built an oak "box" for the elk to set on and we put a "road kill" fox in the bottom portion.  And he "lived" in the Elk Room ever since.  You HAD to call it the "Elk Room" because it took up most of the room.  When Holly and Dennis and Clayton and Sawyer bought our home......the elk stayed.....he had no other place to go.  And so --- the Kroeze family put up with him in their home for 5 - yes!-- FIVE years.  I think he had some Christmas bells hanging from his rack sometimes.......

 Well --- it was TIME - past time - to move that big guy to a new home!!!  We checked with Cabelas - but they said "No" (their loss).  So in May when we took our trip to Michigan to visit our family -- we moved him to South Dakota.  Don Schelhaas ok'd him for residence in his hunting lodge.  Thank you, Don!  (And I bet that goes DOUBLE from Holly and family!!!) Below you see Jerry making sure the big guy was safe over our bumpy roads.

Then came the task of hanging him on the wall ---- jeepers we wish the lodge had a little bit higher ceiling.......  But we got a fit ---- barely!!!!----- one of the points just touches the wall.....couldn't have been an 1/8 of an inch longer (the taxidermist had done his job well!!!!)

We all sat back and looked him over ------ I guess he's happy in his new home.....just so the Schelhaas family remains happy with him..... If not --- I don't know what will happen.  We aren't too concerned!  :)
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Had a good visit with the Alcohol Recovery Group on Wednesday afternoon...... It's so neat when the kids listen attentively (as they just about always do).  Last Wednesday evening we were blown away by the boys at the JDC --- EVERYONE of them (8 boys) were ALL singing - every song.  It was WONDERFUL!!  Those times are such a blessing to us --- sometimes we get to wondering if we are doing anything good......We thank God when He sends us those encouraging times!!!!  Thank you for remembering the young people in your prayers. 

We are gearing up for Prairie Light Youth Camp!  July 15-19.  We are beginning our phone calls and sending out Registration Forms to families.  Please keep camp in your prayers also.

Our garden needs some warmer weather - but the Greenhouse is LUSH!!!  

Gary and Barb