Chewed out !!! :) So will try to do better again. SORRY!

I was chastised in a very goodnatured way - that I needed to do an update again. She was sick of seeing "Sept 19" come up. I know there are more of you thinking the same thing so you can thank her for speaking up.....no I won't tell you who it was :)

We have had a very good start with Religion Release Time. We feel bad that some of the kids that we had come to our Bible Study time for 3 years have opted out this year. But at the same time we have many new kids......so God's Good News continues to go out to different families. We are doing stories in the New Testament again this year.....wanting the kids to get to know Jesus more and more. So far we have had "Jesus turns Water to Wine", "Nicodemus hears the Good News, and "Samaritans Find Living Water". Our Pastors wife, Lynn Boersma, is helping out this year and her presence is wonderful. It is always helpful to have another presence in the room - the kids are a lot less restless! She is a former teacher and has those very valuable skills in control!! We also appreciate her help with the crafts.

The Juvenile Detention Center was full to the max this fall.....which means about 30 kids. Julie continues to help us out every week and we truly feel blessed by her faithfulness. She loves these kids too and presents very valuable lessons to them. We hope to make homemade pizzas on Oct. 31 with the kids and have some fun games while we wait for the pizzas to bake. We hope to put about 3 kids to a cookie sheet sized pizza, add some chips and pop and they should be happy. This will be at snack time - so we don't have to fill them full.

This past Sunday - October 23 - we began a Bible Study at the Rosebud Alcohol Treatment Center. We did this in the past but then they didn't have teens there for some time. We were really looking forward to this group because there were two boys that we knew very well taking treatment at the Center. However, they couldn't handle the freedom that they have there - and they both "ran away". Which means they are now being looked for by the law enforcement officers. We do have a very nice group of 7 young people and we actually know most of them from having been at the JDC at some time. Gary did the lesson on Nicodemus --- the need to be born again.....starting out new....changing on the inside. A good lesson for these kids. We could get a bit overwhelmed with all of our lesson plans......Tuesday, Thurs, and then Sunday. The only real problem will be the Sunday Lesson ---- the others are figured out every other week. The Alcohol Treatment Center will be every week for us....Julie will not be going along there. So if you would - pray that our minds can handle this. Thanks!!!! They graduate on November 23 ---- the day before Thanksgiving. We would like to be there for them.....but we would also like to be with our family for the holiday. So we aren't sure how we will work that one out.

I took a trip home via Amtrak to see my mother. She had a leg infection and is now in a Nursing Home for therapy. She is doing very well and hopes to return home in a couple of weeks. Gary had stayed home in South Dakota --- too many irons in the fire. The train ride went very well and we are thinking of using that means of transportation more often.

We enjoyed some company from Michigan this past week. Ross and Ken Nagelkirk, and Lee and Keith Lubbers - from our church in Overisel. They are hunters and I think they had a very good time. They were a fun group to have over. They took a lot of pheasants home with them and helped out the ranchers with the prairie dogs. They also got in on some cattle work and catching birds for a neighbor. All in all -- I think they might just be back again next year.

Gary and Toby were asked to be the ???? what is the right term????? "Man and his dog"......for a group of hunters that Dan T. had in from Illinois. Toby was the "birddog of the week". He did terrific!!!! I don't know if anyone got a count of all the birds that Toby retrieved those 3 days - just about all of them. He was one tired puppy at the end of the week. He's been getting a much deserved rest.

We were also the recipients of 3 bantams --- one rooster and 2 hens. They are sharing Toby's dog house --- no Toby can't even see them ----we put a steel barrier between them - or we know we would have had feathers flying in no time at all. We haven't dared to put them out on their own yet.....not sure we could get them back inside for the night. We can tell they were fed scraps because they really prefer potato peelings rather than cracked corn. Hopefully they will learn to accept the corn in time.

Our church sanctuary is being painted this week. It will be so nice not have to look at all those ugly streaks down the walls.

I think that just about does it for news....... I came home from Michigan with a cold - but that has cleared up and so far Gary hasn't gotten it. We are "enjoying our solitude"....as Ken Nagelkirk called it. Although it has been far from quiet lately.....neighbor weaned calves and we hear the bawling...... but it's a nice sound - much better than traffic. :)

Thanks for your interest --- maybe a few pictures will come later..........
Barb and Gary

Indian Summer !!!!

I hope you can view this video. We went to a "bull futurity". VERY interesting as you can see. This is a 2 year old bull. (I put this one on the blog because it was short - long doesn't always upload good - and I like the music!) The bulls are judged on their performance and at some date in time they are sold for rodeo-ing. Some go for as high as $30,000.00 It was a fun afternoon.

This week I would say we are having Indian Summer. LOVE it!!! Sunny, warm but NOT hot, light breeze----wonderful. The Pastors wife, Lynn, has been trimming down her flowers and I have been the recipient of a couple different bunches. Hopefully next spring they will come up.

Release Time begins tomorrow. We have decided not to do the Kindergartners this year. We will give them a year to adjust to "rules" of school life. So tomorrow we will have 1st-2nd graders and then 3rd-4th. Our first lesson is on "Jesus changes water into wine".

Gary has to go back to Rapid City on Wednesday for another CT scan. It has a name - I think it's a PET scan. Anyway...they can't figure out why he had the bowel blockage....so they are hoping this will give them a clue. We will have an answer right away. Other than that ---- he is feeling fine. Eating "soft" foods until Wednesday.....but don't feel sorry for him.....he eating good :) :)

Thanks for your continued support and prayers!!!
Gary and Barb

Special Prayer Request!!!

We just got back from the Juvenile Detention Center. Last week there were 9 kids --- today there were 17. Some "old timers" were back. It is always nice to see familiar faces --- but very sad at the same time.....especially when they want so badly to do better!!

As we passed out Prayer Request sheets - I wished I had my camera (which is NOT allowed!!). Every boy ( there were maybe 6 or 7 in that group) had the chair from in front of him pulled onto their lap and every head was down and there was some very serious writing going on. It was beautiful!!!

And so we have a special prayer request for a couple of the boys. Both of these boys are old faces to us. We don't want to give out names -- but at the same time want you to be able to put a "name" to your prayers. So this first young man we will name "Woody". This is what he wrote: "I pray that God can help me through my alcohol assessment. It may not look like it but i'm hurt'n so much words can't explain. I'm sorry." You know -- these kids have to put on a face for their peers....... "Woody" wanted to change and make a better life so badly when he left several months ago. Please pray for him.

The other young man we will name "Lost" --- (he has lost a LOT of weight and we had to look twice to recognize him!!) This is what he wrote: I need prayers, my whole summer was a mess. I need help. I got in a car wreck (he had 30 stitches in his head). I lost a lot of weight, I'm scared. I want you to see me on Sunday. I'm starting to get even more scared."

We had no girls tonight.......there is only one in the JDC right now and I'm sure she did NOT want to be there with a bunch of boys and her being the only girl.....so you could also pray for "Cheri".

God is All Powerful, All Knowing, Loving, Compassionate, Everywhere Present, Provider, Creator.................We leave these young people in His Almighty Hands.....they are GOOD hands to be in. Thank you so much for your prayers lifted up for these young people. They are dear to us -- but so much more dear to our Heavenly Father!! We know He wants them to succeed!!!

Gary and Barb

Sunflower Time

Tulip Time hasn't got a thing over Todd County. Our whole 1/2 mile long driveway is bordered by sunflowers.....in fact many of the roads are that way. Our driveway is one lane now - some of the sunflowers are over 6 feet tall (not the ones in this picture). It's really pretty. And the best part is that we don't have to do any work for this beauty ---- God thru His nature takes care of it all.

YUP --- today is our Anniversary - August 30, 1968 ..... 43 years! Jeepers - I remember celebrating my parents 35th and thought they were "old".....now here we are past that!!! Gary asked what we were going to do today to celebrate...... WELL --- we moved some heifers ----- that was cool.....especially seeing as how we didn't have any troubles with them......no breakaways. They just went along very nicely. Tomorrow they get preg checked. Our 1st calf is now among those heifers.....she will have a calf (hopefully! - we will know tomorrow) come late winter/early spring.

Yesterday I canned / froze green beans. Our garden was mostly destroyed by the hail and then the grasshoppers......and I had just said to Gary "maybe a neighbor will have more beans than they need". Sunday at church Don S. asked if we needed beans. WOW!! I hadn't even really lifted it up as a prayer ---- but there it was - an answer. I think I now have enough beans put away for 2 years!!!!

Gary is working on a welding project....... big repair job on a bale loader/wagon (don't know the technical term for that piece of equipment) ------ but it's used to load the big round bales. I heard the words "this will be a challenge"....... but Gary likes those kind of projects - so he is busy at it already.

School started here in Lakeview today. So I will be bringing the permission slips for Release Time. We usually let the kids settle in to the school routine first and then we start. Our Pastors wife - Lynn - has said that when she is available she will help us with craft time. So we have some bigger crafts planned for this coming year. Lakeview School has a much larger enrollment this year - up to 72 kids last time I heard. So we could run into a problem of having more kids wanting to come than the van will hold......I guess we will take one of our own vehicles then. Really hate to turn any of them away.

This past evening there were only 9 kids at the Detention Center.......which is good...... but the sad thing is ----------it was the weekend of the Rosebud Fair and so many kids get into trouble there. In fact, on Sunday some of the boys were telling us who was in booking. So I know that I had better not skimp on the cookies.....

For a while we were wondering if summer was totally over.....but it's sunny and 93 degrees today. We really need more hot days. Our tomatoes are just now starting to ripen....and I REALLY want to make a batch of homemade salsa. HHHhhmmm.......maybe a neighbor has more than they need.............:) :) :) --- never know!

That's about all for now. We are doing great and look forward to all that comes along in the fall. We aren't really seeing many deer (for all you deer hunters out there)....but the weeds are so tall and there is a LOT of cover for them --- so we're sure they are out there.

Thanks for your prayers and support.
Gary and Barb

A very busy summer --- now back to "normal"

Our "busy schedule" all began in May with mom's 90th Birthday party. It was a fun time and we finally have this picture to prove that our whole family was there. Brennan (Mike's 5th) came to the party with an ear ache and had to leave for a doctors appointment.....but was back and feeling better before the party was over. So for those of you who don't know us too well - I will put names to these faces...... Back row from the left: Mike, Rick, Tim with Marti holding Oliver, Dennis, Holly. Middle Row: Brennan, Julie holding Halle, me holding Sawyer, Gary, Colton, Clayton. Front Row: Trenton, Sidney, and Austin.
Clayton and Sawyer belong with Holly and Dennis...... and the rest are Mike and Julies. Rick is now in Thailand (teaching at a University) and so it was a very special treat that he was home for a visit before leaving for the other side of the world! YES!!! We know --- mom isn't on the photo. OOPS!!! But then our minds aren't always with us anymore either. :(

Then came our Boundary Waters trip and you can look back for photos of that adventure....... then Prairie Light Youth Camp......then back to Michigan for a " :) slave week". We gave Mike and Julie a "week off" and we would babysit the six kids. But they were only gone for 3 days and we all had a fun time..... Their pool did blow out - emptied in about 20 minutes because of a 12 inch rip in the seam......but we managed to entertain the kids anyway. Thankful for Lake Michigan!!!!

And then came our trip to Glacier National Park with friends from Overisel Reformed Church. What a beautiful place northern Montana is!!! As you can see we totally enjoyed our week and did some hiking and some rafting - among other things.......the zip line being one of them .......it was actually six zip lines. Yes, we do some crazy things! But they all proved to be fun!!


Our guide was a lot of fun.....and we really didn't have to work very hard at all!! No one fell out of the raft either - even though this picture makes it look like we might have had to hang on for dear life.







We hike the Highline trail. If any of you know what that is like than you have a better understanding of what we did. The trail is 11.5 miles long, the view is fantastic....but the steep sides and straight down - long ways to the bottom - made for all eyes on the trail!!! The last 4 miles did us in ----- down hill is harder than up hill for some of us. Makes the toes too snug in the boots and was just plain hard on these old bodies. But we are all healed up - and it was a grand adventure. The only bears we saw were at a distance.


We are thankful for the wonderful fun we had this summer.....but at the same time we are glad to get back to our "mission" here. We need to settle down to the normal routine. We are getting ready for Release Time when school starts. We have the lesson materials and have some of the crafts figured out.

We also continue to go to the Detention Center and it was good to get back to see the young people again.

We thank God for the group of friends that we were able to spend time with this summer .....some came for a short visit at our home and that was fun --- others invited us along on a trip of a life time (Glacier).

Thanks one and all for your time, support and prayers!!!! Gary and Barb

Some photos of camp..........

Started on Monday with the A-frames.















Gary doing his lesson on the "Gold Page".














The teams boards aren't as easy as they look.














We stayed busy several mornings drying the tables so that kids and adults could eat around them.














Sue helped Aleese make a "Witness"bracelet".














The kids made a "Jesus loves me" plaque.














Yes - everyone got to know our lovely roads.














Our wonderful cooks made good meals for us!














Basketball is a favorite - especially of the older kids.














Our group gathered in the Pastors garage for singing and Bible Lesson.














Glenda and Barb led the singing and the kids did great singing along.














The rocket launchers were fun and everyone got pretty wet. Seemed that the wind was against the launches .....not too many made it into the target.














Looks like the after burn.........














Teams of 3 kids - Load Master, Gunner, Range Master......














AND THEN a free for all water fight. It got pretty intense!!!!














YES INTENSE!!!!! Some weren't even allowed into school until they dried off..... but it was all good fun!!!

Hope you enjoy our photos......
Thanks again for the prayers.

Gary and Barb and the Wonderful Crew!!!

PRAISES-PRAISES-PRAISES

We can't praise God enough....angels are rejoicing in heaven!!! We went to JDC (Juvenile Detention Center) last night. Gary gave the "Wordless Book" lesson on the Gold Page......heaven and what IS in heaven and what IS NOT....and also included an invitation. We told the boys that if they wanted to receive Christ as their Savior to write it on their prayer request sheet and we would see them yet that night. FIVE boys wrote it down. And the one boys request almost took my breath away. Mike has been in the JDC for "forever" it seems and at first he wouldn't even take a prayer request sheet. We have been visiting with him on Sunday afternoons off and on......it is SO AWESOME to see God at work.

Please Please Please pray for these young men and also one girl......a couple of them just needed reassurance of their salvation (they have prayed with us before)..... Luther, Adam, Jesse, Jacob, Mike, and Serena. When they leave the JDC - they go out to that horrible environment that they call home. It is VERY difficult for these young people. But we know that God has a plan!

Today will be our last day for camp.....we are taking all the kids swimming at the Valentine pool.

Bruce and Glenda will leave for Michigan this afternoon after camp and Sue will leave us Saturday morning. We will leave for Michigan on Sunday afternoon with Trenton and Austin. We appreciate all your prayers.....we feel them!!!!

Gary and Barb and :) crew