We are once again in AWE of God. We went to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Alcohol/Drug Abuse Center last night. We met several of the people "in charge". Just before we met with the kids, Ed (whom I thought was the director - and now not real sure of his title) asked "shall we have a prayer?". Yes! I was just thinking the same thing. Ed prayed...... we knew this was all of God!!!
Four girls that we had been seeing at the JDC came in and one new young man. Some of the kids we were expecting were not there afterall (hadn't been accepted at the Treatment Center). One little gal was "plucking her eyebrows". !!!! Oh well, I think they were so glad to be able to do something like that again that it just felt good to have some freedoms. (There are 14 kids at the center - our Bible Study is optional for them).
Anyway....we went through our Bible Verse - Psalm 37:5.....talked about it. I shared some thoughts that I had had on my walk that morning...... And then we gave the story of Abraham's servant going for a wife for Isaac. This was a good lesson to discuss following God's guidance --- and how He WILL guide you. We also talked about the fact that God can use even jail for your good.....and so they should take this opportunity to allow these people to help them in their struggle with alcohol. After singing a little chorus: When I am afraid, I will trust in you.... the young man had tears in his eyes. He said it made him sad.....
When we were finished (and ready to leave) Ed informed us that this was the 1st EVER Bible Study in the Treatment Center. The Director (not Ed) is Traditional Lakota --- however, she felt that a Bible Study would be good for the kids. IS THAT A GOD THING OR WHAT ?????
We have had talks with our Pastor Tom, Ed (last night), Pastor Mike of First Assembly of Valentine ----- we are just "laying some love" on these kids and that is so good for them. And so that too is of God --- giving us that ability to love them and to let it show---- and to have them accept us and our love.
This group of young people will be there for the next 45 days. Then where they go will (I think) depend on how this treatment went for them....and how they accepted the treatment.
We know and you know that prayer is THE most important thing any of us can do. We can't thank you enough for your prayers!!! KEEP IT UP!!! God hears and He is answering in such awesome ways. :-) Pray too that the other 9 +- kids will want to come and hear what we have to share with them.
Gary and Barb
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
JDC "kids
Well I hit a wrong button so there is an empty post entitled JDC "kids".....but here goes.
Thursday night (2/12/09) was another blessing for us. We gave the message of Abraham being asked of God to sacrifice his son Isaac. At the invitation a young man hestitantly raised his hand. After the cookies and "yak" time we reminded him that he should stay and he said "yes, I'm going to stay". PLEASE pray for this young man. He said he didn't know right from wrong - good from bad and he didn't know if it was wrong to hurt himself. (I asked if he meant like to commit suicide and he said--yes). He also said he figured he would spend the rest of his life in prison. (We are wondering if these are things others have told him....) We are afraid that this young man is a result of being carried in the womb while his mother drank and drank........ I can hardly write this without tears in my eyes. After he had prayed the sinners prayer outloud...he let out a big sigh and said "feels good". We talked for some time.....shared Jeremiah 29:11 with him.....assured him of God's love...... We visited him again on Sunday. He had been reading the Bible --- hadn't gotten real far, but that's OK.
We shared Matthew 7:24-27 with all of the kids-----we got to see about 6 kids Sunday (one at a time). Would you believe I even sang part of the song......"The wise man built his house upon the rock......" We all got a good laugh :-) Anyway --- that passage is such a good picture of building your life on Christ and standing firm or building it on the things of the world and letting your life fall flat.
Several of the kids were going to be transported in the afternoon to the Treatment Center (for Alcohol and/or Drug Abuse) in Rosebud. They will have more freedom --- no locked doors. But they all know that if they were to try to "run" they will just hurt themselves. One gal was not looking forward to it because she didn't get along very well with the other girls.....didn't really like their personalities. And she would have to room with one or more of them. You may also lift that up in prayer.
We are so glad that we will be able to go to the Treatment Center. We have to confirm with the director -- but hope to go on Tuesday evenings if that works out. There are a couple of boys going that we haven't really touched base with but they have been coming to the meeting on Thursdays so will know us - otherwise I think we will know all of the kids there.
Robert received his first Crossroads Bible Institute lesson and he said it was going good. Pray for him also - that he remains committed to these lessons.
Well --- the sun is shining --- cold out --- but I think I will take a walk. Had company (cousin from Montana) and we ate way too much!! Need some exercise!!
Love and thanks to all!!
Gary and Barb
Thursday night (2/12/09) was another blessing for us. We gave the message of Abraham being asked of God to sacrifice his son Isaac. At the invitation a young man hestitantly raised his hand. After the cookies and "yak" time we reminded him that he should stay and he said "yes, I'm going to stay". PLEASE pray for this young man. He said he didn't know right from wrong - good from bad and he didn't know if it was wrong to hurt himself. (I asked if he meant like to commit suicide and he said--yes). He also said he figured he would spend the rest of his life in prison. (We are wondering if these are things others have told him....) We are afraid that this young man is a result of being carried in the womb while his mother drank and drank........ I can hardly write this without tears in my eyes. After he had prayed the sinners prayer outloud...he let out a big sigh and said "feels good". We talked for some time.....shared Jeremiah 29:11 with him.....assured him of God's love...... We visited him again on Sunday. He had been reading the Bible --- hadn't gotten real far, but that's OK.
We shared Matthew 7:24-27 with all of the kids-----we got to see about 6 kids Sunday (one at a time). Would you believe I even sang part of the song......"The wise man built his house upon the rock......" We all got a good laugh :-) Anyway --- that passage is such a good picture of building your life on Christ and standing firm or building it on the things of the world and letting your life fall flat.
Several of the kids were going to be transported in the afternoon to the Treatment Center (for Alcohol and/or Drug Abuse) in Rosebud. They will have more freedom --- no locked doors. But they all know that if they were to try to "run" they will just hurt themselves. One gal was not looking forward to it because she didn't get along very well with the other girls.....didn't really like their personalities. And she would have to room with one or more of them. You may also lift that up in prayer.
We are so glad that we will be able to go to the Treatment Center. We have to confirm with the director -- but hope to go on Tuesday evenings if that works out. There are a couple of boys going that we haven't really touched base with but they have been coming to the meeting on Thursdays so will know us - otherwise I think we will know all of the kids there.
Robert received his first Crossroads Bible Institute lesson and he said it was going good. Pray for him also - that he remains committed to these lessons.
Well --- the sun is shining --- cold out --- but I think I will take a walk. Had company (cousin from Montana) and we ate way too much!! Need some exercise!!
Love and thanks to all!!
Gary and Barb
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Adventures in the mud...........
Saturday I was a good girl and washed the truck for my hubby... However, today was Release Time and we decided that the van would not make it through the roads. We had had a full day of rain and then a night of snow.....Now it was thawing. That meant that the roads were pure mud.....
As we headed out -- each in a 4-wheel drive truck.... we knew that things would be bad on the way out at noon....but worse at 3:30 when we came home. At this spot the water was just starting over the road as we headed for church. We made it in fine shape but one spot had water rushing over the road. What would that one be like later???? The kids thought it was great....girls in one truck and boys in the other. The girls were having a blast waving at the boys... "can they see us....are these windows tinted....hurry up - go faster -- catch up with them".
Our lessons went good. The 5-6th graders remain our favorite group. (Gary says .....what happened to the kindergartners??) They have just about all learned Psalm 121. I made a picture book... (ask Glenda about it --- I got the idea from her mom)... so that they have a visual of each verse. Last week we gave each one a little booklet of the Psalm for them to work on. I think you can imagine how great it is to hear kids recite that Psalm without any help from us.
Well, by 3:30 we were ready to head back home. It seemed like some of the mud was drying up..... but the spot where the water was rushing over the road had become a pretty good (bad) washout. An orange flag had been posted....but we made it through OK....glad we didn't have the car!! The next picture is of the same spot as the second picture. Now water was fully over the road - but no washout there.
We had about 2 miles to go when I took this picture and the worst was now over. For family and those who have been out here. This is in front of the Notebooms place.....l mile east and l mile north of us. The picture below doesn't seem to show the mud as having been very bad.....maybe it was because there was enough water with the mud to wash it off a bit. Tomorrow is another day to get out. We can see more orange flags on the road that we take to go to town. Wonder how big that washout is............???
We will be spending tomorrow in Valentine at my cousins Bull Sale. It's a big event and should prove to be very interesting. Hope you enjoyed our adventure in the mud.
:-) Gary and Barb
CUTE --CUTE-- CUTE
This is something that I thought EVERYONE would enjoy.......we have been having so much fun watching these little cuties and I caught this video exactly perfect. That is one of the two shelters that Gary built for Dwight....actually for the calves :-)!
Today we go to Release Time in two 4-wheel drive pickups. The roads are an absolute mess!!! Mud and washouts...... We aren't sure that the van would make it through.....we will have 7 miles of dirt/mud to travel.....
Enjoy Gary & Barb
Monday, February 9, 2009
So many times we say "thank you Lord"
We had a wonderful day again yesterday at the Juvenile Detention Center. We had a new set of guards and so once again things were done differently. We were ushered to our "purple meeting room". And met one on one with one gal.... Pray for her! She also has been raised in the traditional Lakota way and enjoys the "ceremonies. Not the Pow Wows but "ceremonies" where we pray". So you can about imagine how we struggled with that one. We didn't want to make her pull away from us so we went very carefully. She was one of the first who prayed to receive Christ. So as you can see there is a conflict going on there.
I have decided that I will not put the kids names in here anymore.... We want to protect them too..... God knows who you are praying for.
But then we also had a group of 4 girls come in and there was a totally new face in the group. We visited with them --- just small talk :-) -- and then we shared a scripture verse and prayed with them. When we got done praying --- the new gal had tears in her eyes. I asked if she was OK.....and she shared some things about visiting her mom (or could it have been NOT visiting--- I couldn't get everything she said). But she really started crying....but "was so glad we had come". She hugged us when they left...and we told her we hoped to see her that evening for church (she hugged us after church too).
Church went very well. We were only the 6 of us, and about 8 of the boys were busy making drums so they weren't there but we had a room full!!! We sang some songs (Pastor Tom had his "bongo" drum along which the kids really enjoyed), Pastor gave a short (but good) message, his wife read a poem and then we had refreshments. The kids seemed to enjoy it all.
New PRAISE GOD!!! We will be going to the Rosebud Treatment Center (alcohol and drug abuse). Several of the kids we have been meeting with at JDC will be going there the 15th and we wanted to stay in contact with them.....Talked with the JDC director --- he contacted the director at the treatment center ----- he talked with us ---- and so God has opened another door for us. If we feel that we want to we can even go when they have adults. The treatment goes for 45 days.....with youth and adults alternating. Please keep this new ministry in your prayers!!!!
And then for today. My two cousins, Dwight and LeRoy Logterman are having a big bull sale on Wednesday. 55 black angus bulls (one year olds) and 40 hereford bulls (two year olds). Today the bulls had to all be loaded into 2 semis......and wouldn't you know it.....it has been raining since 4 a.m. (or there abouts). But God is concerned even about that and the semis have made it to the paved road --- through about 3 miles of mud!!! So once again we say THANK YOU LORD!!!! I haven't heard the full story of how the loading went but there were stories of other years in the past...... looks to me like this year was a much better loading process.
Tomorrow is Release Time with the two older groups. We are telling the story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Gary and I said to each other that this seemed to be a hard story.....but we heard it when we were little and so we felt these kids could hear it too.
It was so nice to talk with 2 families from ORC yesterday. We love all of you! Thank you so much for such awesome support!!!
Gary and Barb
I have decided that I will not put the kids names in here anymore.... We want to protect them too..... God knows who you are praying for.
But then we also had a group of 4 girls come in and there was a totally new face in the group. We visited with them --- just small talk :-) -- and then we shared a scripture verse and prayed with them. When we got done praying --- the new gal had tears in her eyes. I asked if she was OK.....and she shared some things about visiting her mom (or could it have been NOT visiting--- I couldn't get everything she said). But she really started crying....but "was so glad we had come". She hugged us when they left...and we told her we hoped to see her that evening for church (she hugged us after church too).
Church went very well. We were only the 6 of us, and about 8 of the boys were busy making drums so they weren't there but we had a room full!!! We sang some songs (Pastor Tom had his "bongo" drum along which the kids really enjoyed), Pastor gave a short (but good) message, his wife read a poem and then we had refreshments. The kids seemed to enjoy it all.
New PRAISE GOD!!! We will be going to the Rosebud Treatment Center (alcohol and drug abuse). Several of the kids we have been meeting with at JDC will be going there the 15th and we wanted to stay in contact with them.....Talked with the JDC director --- he contacted the director at the treatment center ----- he talked with us ---- and so God has opened another door for us. If we feel that we want to we can even go when they have adults. The treatment goes for 45 days.....with youth and adults alternating. Please keep this new ministry in your prayers!!!!
And then for today. My two cousins, Dwight and LeRoy Logterman are having a big bull sale on Wednesday. 55 black angus bulls (one year olds) and 40 hereford bulls (two year olds). Today the bulls had to all be loaded into 2 semis......and wouldn't you know it.....it has been raining since 4 a.m. (or there abouts). But God is concerned even about that and the semis have made it to the paved road --- through about 3 miles of mud!!! So once again we say THANK YOU LORD!!!! I haven't heard the full story of how the loading went but there were stories of other years in the past...... looks to me like this year was a much better loading process.
Tomorrow is Release Time with the two older groups. We are telling the story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Gary and I said to each other that this seemed to be a hard story.....but we heard it when we were little and so we felt these kids could hear it too.
It was so nice to talk with 2 families from ORC yesterday. We love all of you! Thank you so much for such awesome support!!!
Gary and Barb
Sunday, February 1, 2009
FAVORITE
Our blogspot seemed rather blah!!!! so I thought I would share one of my favorite sunrises..... I am making a collection of sunrise and sunset photos.......:-) ENJOY!! Barb
p.s. feel free to save this to your own computer :-)
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