Freedom House and Cooking and all that......and Release Time

I know that many of you are wondering about the 'cooking classes" up in White River --- because several here have asked.  So once again I apologize for my tardiness in updating.

My first trip up to White River was ----- do I call it a fiasco????   Well, not quite - but almost. I arrived at 11:00 -- but they were still busy with the Bible Lesson - so of course, I waited....but that meant I wasn't going to have quite as much time to do things that I had planned.  I had asked for some type of ground meat to be available --- it didn't matter for the soup if it was hamburg, ground chicken or turkey.  But there was none.  So what is plan B --- I don't know - I didn't have one.  There were 2 large packages of chicken legs and thighs and they had been thawing in the refrigerator for a couple of days.  Chicken doesn't keep long --- so "it should be fried up" --- was what the whole group agreed on.   My brain did a little jump start and I decided that I better just use some of the chicken and make chicken / rice soup.  I had everything I needed except the rice......so a little trip to the grocery store in town.

It was a warm day and the little kitchen warmed up real good with all the frying going on.   But in the end we had some good chicken soup for the following day.....ate some good food for lunch....and got the chicken saved from spoilage.    So --- not quite a fiasco.....

The following week was "time off" for me --- there was only one client and Wendy said I could just pass. She would take care of things. 

So yesterday I was there again.  Once again things were not perfect ---- but I was not to be worried...... I just went and made my purchase at  the Wigwam (grocery store) and we had a good time.  There are only 2 clients -- instead of the hoped for 6.  But these two gals are committed to making some changes in their lives--with Christ in the forefront --- so the numbers don't really matter.  Clarissa has had a stroke at her young age (maybe 40's) and has lost the use of her one arm but she gets along pretty good.....yesterday I looked up from our lunch time visiting and she had all the dishes done.

We talked about what they would like to learn and banana bread came up. Priscilla said "I have never made that".   So then I asked her what she did with overripe bananas --- "do you just throw them away"..... Yes.     So next week we are going to make Banana Bread.... possibly from frozen bananas.  They look gross -- but work great.

Thanks for remembering the Freedom House and the ladies. 

Release Time began this week.  YIKES ---- that was a learning time again too.  We tried something new with the 2nd and 3rd graders.  We had chosen a Bible Workbook.  We had 13 kids --- only 2 that were new to us.  But we discovered that maybe a Bible Story would go better. It was hard to keep everyone focused on the verses we were reading and Gary and I would walk round and round helping them find the verse back.  We didn't have much time left when we finally got finished.  One boy had gone to the bathroom and when he came out we said it was time to get on the van.   He said "WHAT - did I miss the singing!!!!!"    We do feel that some of the kids enjoyed the workbook ---- but others were zoned out after 15 minutes of it.  So changes will be made next time for this bunch.  We are already doing a Story for the 1st graders - so there will be no problem in making a change over.

We still hope to use Workbooks for the olders 2 groups.  They are smaller groups and better readers so we figure it should work.  Thursday will be the day for this bunch......again we know all the kids - most of them have been with us from the beginning.

Keep us in your prayers  :)   :)
Gary and Barb

Rejoice and Pray with us

We invited Paul Mitchell --- a new Pastor in the area---- to join us at the Detention Center tonight.  He spoke a powerful message of the need to have Christ in your heart.  Throughout his message he gave his own testimony....of how Christ had worked in his life.  Toward the end of the evening he prayed the sinners prayer and told the young people that if they said this prayer with him that it had to come from their heart.  Afterwards, he said that they needed to tell us if they had prayed that prayer.  So when we passed out the prayer request sheets we said they could write it down ---- that they had prayed the prayer.  One young man, King, not only wrote it down that he wanted to stay with us afterwards but he came to us and said...."did you read what I wrote - I'm serious - I mean it". 

We had 2 girls also stay with us.....Reece and Calista.  Please keep these young people in your prayers.  Paul spoke to them about "the battle"...... but how powerful God is and He will be there to walk with them.

We are so encouraged to have met Paul and his wife Gloria.  They are so ready and willing to help us in our Ministry in whatever way they can.  Paul is a full blood Lakota - but raised by a white family.  He has a testimony that the young people can relate to and he isn't afraid to share it with anyone.
Please also keep Paul and Gloria in your prayers.

And we can't ever say thank you enough for all the prayers you lift for us.
Gary and Barb

Brother Bills visit and update on the Freedom House

Bill flew in on Wednesday and stayed until Saturday morning.  We had a lot of fun. In the evenings we played some card games, Farkle, and Big Boogle .....laughed and laughed.    He and Gary did some Dove hunting and were successful.  There is not much of a breast on them but it IS tasty.....not gamy at all.  I had a big roast in the crock pot and I wasn't going to change my menu ......Bill wasn't all that worried about missing out on the Doves....he's eaten plenty of game meat.  But Gary and I had them Saturday evening -----shiskabob style.  Pieces of zucchini, onion, green pepper, cherry tomatoes and then the dove breast that I had soaked in salt water first.  I coated them with a little olive oil and then sprinkled Scotty's seasoning on them.... YUM!!!

And then an update on the Freedom House where I will be "teaching" some cooking skills.  I was supposed to start today....however, we are waiting a week to begin.  Waiting for one of the clients to get out of jail......  THEN - an also......The gal who will be cooking on Thursdays is unable to be there on the 18th ----- so she asked if anyone could trade with her.  I said that would work for me.   SO --- I will now be starting my "teaching skills" on the 18th instead.

Supposed to get cold tomorrow....hot today.  Not sure which one I want.......  I guess we might as well get ready for the cold.  But I'm not going to put the summer clothes away just yet!

Have a good day!
Barb

PRAYER REQUEST

I have been invited to take part in "Everlasting Seeds of Hope" ...." a place where healing can happen  through God's Word and His Grace".    My part will be as a cook.  :)   :)  My Grandma Logterman and my mom would be proud ---- they LOVED cooking and trying new recipes.

So on Mondays for 10 weeks (beginning Sept. 8) I will share my skills with 6 Lakota women who by the way have committed to following Christ.  These women have many wounds (physical, emotional, mental).  I hope to share the love of Christ with them - along with the love of cooking good food.

The foods that we will share will be simple, easy to do, inexpensive, but very tasty !!   :)  And then also - to share those extra tidbits of helpful kitchen skills that so many of us take for granted because we grew up in a home where those skills were used....and so we learned.  These women grew up in dis-functional homes and so even the simplest things will be helpful for them.

And so - I would ask for your prayers for the Everlasting Seeds of Hope.......for us 4 cooks.....for the 5 leaders.....and for the clients.   Also that perhaps there could be a couple of substitute cooks for those times when one of us can't make it.  So here is a list of names ---- it's always nice to have a name to pray for....  Leaders....Wendy (also Founder), Etta, Delores, Chris-----and the Cooks..... Barb, Linda, Margaret, and Cathy.

We had our first meeting this morning and it was so good to meet other women who have their own Ministry on this Reservation.  Linda and Cathy work with the United Methodist church and have an after school program for elementary kids in White River.  Linda is the Pastor of the church.  Margaret does a Wednesday evening Bible Study / Game night for kids in Mission.  The Leaders that I listed are also very busy with many different Ministries.   So I feel blessed to be a part of this new venture.

Thanks for the prayers!!!
Barb

Fun visit in Michigan---August

It seemed like it was past time to get back to Michigan and visit our family.  Some of them had been out to South Dakota to see us.....but there were many more that we wanted to see again.  We left on a Sunday afternoon and arrived Monday early enough to get started right away with a fun time with our Overisel friends.  We all met at the local ice cream shop......I think there were 13 of us slurping on the good stuff and reminiscing and sharing and laughing-----good visit!!!!

Gary got hooked up with a project at our son Mike and Julie's place......making window frames for one of the buildings.  He likes to stay busy and this was just the thing.   He could spend time with the grandkids (they were a great help and also entertainment) and keep himself sane  :) all at the same time.

We took some of our carrots along for Holly, Dennis and the boys.  They love them ----and we had more than enough to share.   So I spent one of our days helping Holly get those carrots in the canner. They looked so pretty all done up......and will taste yummy this winter.

I also spent one whole afternoon with the girls at Lake Michigan.  It was an absolutely beautiful day for the beach.

So - we have Bette, Margo, Sue (who was visiting from Colorado) Glenda, my empty towel, and Sally --- what a great bunch of friends.  Thanks for the fun time.  The warm water was an added bonus!!

 

We went to Kalamazoo on Thursday to spend time with Marti, Tim and Oliver and Keller.   We went to a park and played on the playground because Marti was having their carpets cleaned. 

 Oliver had a good time on the ropes......

....and Keller mostly wandered from one thing to another.....kept us hopping  :)   But isn't he a cutie --- he has changed so much from our last visit.  But we were "ok" with him right away and that always gives us a good feeling

Marti and Tim made the purchase of a camper.  They have plans for some fall trips to different places.  We are sure they will have lots of fun and what a great thing for the boys ---- camping trips make for such good memories.

 Holly had been making plans for a "Peters Get-together".  The farm is now 100 years in the Peters family - so a Centennial Farm.  There could have been more ???? what would they be --- grandkids of Gary's nephews....... could have been more of them there - but we had a good turn out.....and a really good  time.  Holly put out lots of Grandpa and Grandmas old things out on display....toys that Grandpa made,  old Valentines from when Gpa was in grade school and so on.  We also went on a hayride.   Haven't been on one of those for years.  Gary got to drive the good old Allis Chalmers again - so it was a good time had by all.

We also had a crazy time with Mike and Julie's family on Monday.  Gary made several pairs of stilts with the leftover wood from the window frames.  So everyone got into the act --- hopefully I will be able to put a video on here so you can see some of the action for yourself.

We also had fun at the playground by Overisel Church.  What a neat playground!!  Holly and Clayton and Sawyer went there and waited for me ........ I had to talk with Pastor Scott about the "talk" we would give in church the following Sunday ---- which went good.   It's always a joy to come back to Overisel Reformed and see all those people who are praying for us and are interested in what we are doing out here and then to be able to share some stories about how God is at work out here.  We can't say thank you enough for their continued financial support and all the prayers that they lift up to God on our behalf.

I guess that about does it for the fun we had ------ we did take Colton home with us for a couple of weeks.   That update will come after we take him back (half way ---- mom and Austin will meet us around Des Moines).  We are having a lot of fun -- and so is he - but more on that later......
Gary and Barb

Skylights in Barn - just about done.....

Yesterday, Gary got a lecture (not really - just a comment) that he was "too old" to be up on the roof of the barn.  -------- you just don't know that old boy.....  :)  He  worked up in the air for years at General Motors --- never told me much about it .....but anyway -- he's comfortable up there in the heights.  I just try to be there when he comes down the ladder.   Speaking of which......  There was no comment that I  was too old to be the "go fer" up and down the ladder......"I am running out of nails, I need a pencil,  would you get me the caulk gun....and so on".   We thank God for our good health and strength of body....we do feel it wavering at times.....but gonna use it until it goes.   :)

 Two more skylights to replace --- ran out of materials.......

Going to a wedding this afternoon  (Hillary Logterman and Zachary Raker) in Kilgore.....then tomorrow there is a Potluck at church -----and then we head out for Michigan to see the family and friends.

Gary and Barb

Some projects......and a day of fun.

Gary had a couple of projects lately and so did I .......  we will share them with you.

 The bale hauler had a big crack ..... got bent somehow.  Those alfalfa bales are a bit extra heavy compared to grasses.  So that might have been part of the problem.   The other factor---- it just might be getting old and tired.

A little time in the evening and it was a done deal --- ready to go pick up all those bales. 

The hail storm that did the big number on our trailer and my Grandpas house.......windows, siding, roof.......also did a number on the skylights in the big barn.  They leaked pretty bad.  So Gary wanted to replace them.  If you can figure out the following picture......those are the old skylights in the roof.  The next photo is of the new ones - on the south side wall.

Boy does that make it nice and light in the barn.  Now he will have to replace the roof lights with new steel.  So the job isn't done......

Here is a view of the south side of the building.

 There was a request for a "freeze brand box".  This box will be partially filled with either gas or alcohol with dry ice added.  Makes for a VERY cold piece of iron - that freezes the skin  or - is it that it freezes the hair folicals....don't know for sure.   Anyway - it makes for white hair and on a black animal - Black Angus --- it looks kind of classy.

The box was lined with a sealant  --- hopefully preventing any leaking.

Those were Gary's latest projects...... The following is mine.

 A few years back I really wanted a new couch.  This one is the only one we have had  ---- that makes it 46 years old.  HOWEVER,  Gary reminded me that it was still in good shape.....still comfortable.....built better than new ones.....etc.  He had a way of making my want for a new couch disappear.  Now I see this good ole couch as an antique that we need to take special care of. :) I mean it's as old as our marriage ---- so gotta keep a good thing. RIGHT?!?!  So I finally found some material that I thought would make a good change.    This is (I think) the 3th time that this "good ole couch" has been recovered.   I did it 2 times and had it re-done once by a skilled person.  I think mine will pass pretty good.....not professional - but decent.    I also recovered the pillows .......

Now what do we do......  Got the chickens all butchered.....last two today.  Been canning........
OH YEAH ------ yesterday we went kayaking with some young people.  Had perfect weather and the kids had a lot of fun.

This is Rosie.....

Whisper and Landan going under the dock.

Wendy - who purchased all the kayaks last year, set the date.....we brought some kids and she brought some -----together we had a good time. Two of the kids had attended PLYC ......one we knew from the  Recovery program and the other gal was a new comer. We had sloppy joes, macaroni salad, chips and drink.  Everyone ate till they were full.  And everyone went kayaking.......some sooner than others........takes a little thinking about if you've never done it before.   We hope it do this event again before it gets too cold out.

Thanks for your support-interest-encouagement.........
Gary and Barb