Prairie Light Youth Camp Day ONE

WOW -- according to the counters we have never had such a large number of kids on a Monday.  101 -- One Hundred and One ....then add all the helpers..... and they alone fill our little country church. 

Our group meets at the Lakeview School and has Basketball Camp at 11:00 --- then we take then one mile to church for lunch.....then we load them up again and go to Rosebud (about 7 miles) and do our activities and have our Bible Lessons.   Yesterday  - out of 18 registered  - we had 7.  Actually a nice small group to start.  We do expect more today.

These are pictures of our group while they were working on the J E S U S plaque.  Lots of nice work done!  Then a few games and a Bible Lesson....some singing and a snack.....then we take them home ourselves.

I'm sorry that we don't have pictures of all the little ones at camp.  We never get to spend much time at church when they are all in one spot doing an activity......we are sort of off on our own. 

We had a couple of nights (Sunday and Monday evenings) with testimonies of different people.....our new Pastor, Pastor Paul Mitchell, Kitty VanderWey and several others just sharing how God has worked in their lives......  It's been very meaningful to hear all of these testimonies!! 

We ask you to continue to pray for the young people....and for the leaders.......    for patience with all the kids....for boldness to speak Gods word....and for the Holy Spirit to work in all of our hearts during this week.

Thanks!!!!    Gary and Barb

Pastor Mark, Dawn, Michaela, and Evan HAVE ARRIVED

Yesterday was a much anticipated day......both for our Lakeview Congregation and for Mark, Dawn, Michaela and Evan Langenbach.  They called here around 12:30 to say that they were in Murdo.....which is approximately 1 hour north of us.  They weren't real sure about how to find their way on the last leg of the journey ....so...."would we meet them in Mission to guide them home".    Of course!!!
        Gary went to meet them and I called around to let "helpers" know when to come to the parsonage.  They pulled in about 1:45 - 2:00......in the big yellow Penske truck and their "new" SUV.  The long trip from Racine, Wisconsin was over for them.   Now to unpack.   There was plenty of help --- young and strong...."old" and determined all came out to help.  We were done by 4:00.  We were all thankful for the nice day......perhaps a little bit hot but at least it wasn't raining!!!!

I really don't envy them the next couple of ......??weeks.   Gary said they offered to put their beds together but "no - they were fine".   Many, many boxes were put in the "right" rooms.....but ....oh my!!!!  what a lot of work to get them all emptied!!!!  
           They have arrived just in time for Prairie Light Youth Camp.  Perhaps lots of activity will be good -- hope so!!!
           Tomorrow Gary and I are going to be helping Don S. put blinders on his last batch of pheasants.  Pastor Mark was invited and I think he will take Don up on the invite.   It's a good way to get to know more of the neighbors.
         I will try to keep updates going concerning camp.  We are ready         ......have 18 registered for our group --- so we should end up with a good number.  More girls than boys --- but I think that will be just fine.   We appreciate all your prayers for this coming week.    Our helpers this year are Don and Jeanie       .........Ken and Patti if you are reading this  --- if you remember Mackenzie (the gal who prayed to receive Christ last year with us)....she is signed up again.   :)  :)  It will be good to see her!!!
       Thanks!      Gary and Barb 

Brennan having a good time!!!.....and camp coming up.

We've had such a good time with our grandsons - Colton and Brennan.  It almost seemed like perhaps Brennan wasn't so sure this was a grand place to be like brother Colton thought...but as the first week passed by  --- you could tell he got more and more comfortable with us and with South Dakota.   The prairies do grow on you!!!    So we will share a few fun photos of Brennan and his adventure.

They are working on his sucker spear handle....in the creeks in Michigan it's a fun fun time to go Sucker Spearing.  But Gary feels it's becoming a "lost" form of entertainment.  Dad Mike will have to take Colton and Brennan spearing now because they both have a new spear to try out.

Can't go home without something made out of Cedar.   So both boys now have a really nice "treasure box".

YES!!!  We got Brennan involved in moving some cattle for cousin Dwight.  He really enjoyed that!!

We have been helping Les Brewer with his Recovery Group on Tuesday evenings.  We take any young people that come along with the parents to a different room and have a Bible Lesson with them and sometimes a nice craft.    We took some shirts along and Myra and Brennan worked on them that evening.   Brennan is finishing his up.

Oh man!!!  Climbing trees -- what fun!!!  That's grandpa up there with him in the top of the tree.  Brennan is thinking that Evan (new Pastor's son)is a very lucky boy to have such a neat fort to play in.    We worked at the parsonage a lot and Brennan didn't find this tree until almost the last day.   I finally had to go looking for him -- wondering if he was OK......just a boy playing in a tree fort   :)  :).




                Saturday Brennan will have to go home.......we will meet his mom or dad in DesMoines and then head back for some other company.    :)  :)  Bruce and Glenda  Peters will be going through this way as they head to Rapid City to spend some quality time visiting with their family (all coming from different directions).   We will probably only get to spend a few hours with them but it will be great!
               We will then have one week to finalize plans for Prairie Light Youth Camp.  We have a good handle on it and some excellent help.......more on that later.
               We appreciate all your prayers!!!  Please keep camper safety in mind and God's Spirit to move among us.   Thank You!!!!
Gary and Barb

Way too much fun :)

We thought this was the second to the last day that Colton would be with us.  Thought we would be traveling to DesMoines on Saturday and switching brothers.  But changes have been made --- Colton gets to stay one more week and then Brennan will be able to stay two weeks too.  Otherwise, Brennan was going to get the short end of the deal.

So thinking Colton's time here was coming to an end -- Grandpa decided on a "grand finale". 

I hate to think what he will have to come up with after another week.

Thanks Kim for letting the boy's (Gary and Colton) have so much fun with your Mitsubishi.

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!

Our congregation is VERY happy......we have a pastor who WANTS to come to serve in Lakeview even after spending a very gloomy, dreary, rainy weekend with horrible roads.   We are excited to say the least.  It was a struggle for them (they had two calls ) but they truly feel that God is calling them to this place.

So we have all been busy ever since we received the news.  The parsonage is in GREAT need.  Total paint job on the inside.....new kitchen countertop,  new light fixtures, new carpet, new front door.....   They will be picking the colors for the kids bedrooms and the kitchen....the rest they are trusting to our "good" judgement.  We have until the week of July 13 ---   GET  'R DONE!!!!

Everything is green, green,.......we have gotten lots of rain.  Our garden was drowned out while we were gone to Michigan, but we have replanted and everything is up.   We ate some carrots out of the greenhouse yesterday.  Yes...they were small  - but very tasty.   Tomorrow some of us will put in a garden for our new Pastor and family.  Everyone has a little something left over  -- buying what we don't have.   One gal will bring fencing materials......way too many bunnies on the yard not to fence it in.

We have  been enjoying our grandson, Colton, for the past week and a half.   Saturday we will drive to Des Moines to switch with his brother Brennan.  Colton is a bit upset because we are saving some things for Brennan ....... Colton has come about 5 times now.....this will be Brennan's first.

Today is rainy -- 2/10 of an inch....a very nice rain.  So it makes for a good day to bake some buns.   Better get busy.

We would appreciate prayers for our new Pastor and family..... Mark and Dawn Langenbach and their children Michaela (10) and Evan (7). 

Gary and Barb

FUN time in Michigan....May 22 thru June 5

I must say we had a good time in Michigan!!!!   And what a lot of people we saw!!  Three cousins parties (Peters, Becksfords, and Verduins).......a track meet (Go Trenton --- his relay team came in 4th in the State and Trenton received All State in Track and All State Academics----I don't understand all that but I'm sure most of you do) ......farming for Mike........haying with Dennis.......repairing machinery for Dennis.......out for breakfast with good friends ......a fun Memorial Day party with family......lunch with kids at school (5 of the grandkids).....riveting on Bills airplane......a wedding to celebrate....a game farkle with some good friends....... a great school musical and then just plain fun with our kids and grandkids.

Maybe the best way to do it is to put some photos on this blog......we have a new computer here ---- so will give all of this new stuff a try.

 Are these great looking grandkids or what!!!  Top row from the left.... Clayton, Brennan, and Sawyer
Sitting on the wagon from the left..... Colton, Sidney, Oliver, Trenton, Keller, Halle, and Austin.   Wonderful Kids!!

 Farming for Mike.....looks like downtown suburbia.......

 April and Ryon had a very lovely wedding.....this turned real messy .....

Missy and her husband take the stage ---- what a fun couple!!

Lots of good things happening.....

Were to begin......

This past Sunday was Mother's day and also our day to go to the detention center.  Paul Mitchell was planning on attending with us and he had given Gary an "assignment" of giving part of the lesson.....Gary's part would be on Children Obey your Parents.   We arrived at the JDC rather early ...... .but Pastor Paul didn't come.  We really wondered what had happened because he never misses.  Turned out he had spent the whole night in Sioux Falls with a couple whose newborn was on life support and it was being removed.  He was exhausted ---- he left us a message but we weren't home to receive it.

However, we had a lesson prepared and so we went on in to the kids-----   We were asked to have the girls separate from the boys.   So we started with 5 girls...   :)  :) one is named Barbara Jean (love it).  When we finish a lesson we always sing about 3 -4 songs.  Officer Zolie joined in with us - her favorite is Here I am To Worship.   Then we asked if they wanted to come into a circle and pray.    "Yes".....  Two of the girls willingly prayed out loud and Officer Zolie also prayed.  What a blessing!!!

The boys were boys --- always a lot of laughter with Ransom (yes he is still with us).  We would ask if you would continue to lift up Ransom.  He's one of those kids that you can't help but like .......but life is just one big laugh to him.   Also ---- Bryce seemed quite ....how do I put it....... deep in thought as we discussed honoring your parents and making it right when things have gone bad.  You never know how a child is going to be reached ----or how they will take things that are presented to them.  We just keep trying to do what we are lead to do.....and pray that God will use what we say - for good.

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Mothers Day weekend we were blessed to have Candidate Mark Langenbach and his family - wife Dawn and Michaela and Evan (10 and 7) with us - from Racine, Wisc.  They arrived Friday evening and left again Sunday afternoon.  Friday was a lovely day and Mark enjoyed the "blessed quietness" outside at 10:00 in the evening.   Then the rain started........and it rained and rained and rained...... 2 inches by the time Sunday afternoon arrived.  However, even through the mud and wet - they were able to laugh and joke with us.  We thoroughly enjoyed them and  feel that they had a good time also. On Saturday we took them on a tour of the county side (yes - through the muddy, muddy roads - in a 4 door 4 wheel drive truck) and then had lunch and supper with two different families of our Congregation.   We enjoyed a wonderful service Sunday morning with a Potluck following  with lots of fun fellowshipping.   We then had to get them from our house - and the muddy roads -- to pavement.   They had a little car and were a tad bit concerned about it's ability to make it through the mud.  However, all went well and they went merrily on their way.  Now for God's leading --- for all of us.  If you would keep our Congregation and Mark and Dawn in your prayers - we would appreciate it.

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Having a sawmill on the yard has been fun.  As Gary cut off a stump of one of the red cedar logs --- I saw a flower!!  So I made sure that piece got saved.      THEN ---- Gary - being the "saver" that he is had doweled two boards together but said "I don't know what I'll do with it."    Well ---- I saw the stem for my flower. 

Below is the finished product.

If nothing else - it certainly is a conversation piece.  I might take it to the Fair -- just to see what others think of it.....maybe even get a ribbon to hang on it.   :)    Now wouldn't that be special.

Gary just came in to say that Don's kitchen remodeling is officially DONE!    "Looks nice".  Yes it certainly does.  And then there is more NEWS!!   But that will have to wait.    Got ya wondering don't I !!!!!

We will be heading to Michigan next week.... leaving here on May 21.  Things are getting busy already - even before we arrive plans are being made for some "Cousins" reunions.   Sounds like a busy week --- I told Gary that we might have to make it a longer stay this time.

See some of you soon.

Gary and Barb