Beautiful Suinday morning....

It  has been a beautiful Sunday morning.....but we did not have church.   We got about 8 inches of snow and a bit of drifting.   We are vacant and so the "speaker/Pastor" had to come from at least 2 hours away and he wasn't too excited to come.  It was rather late to get our Elder up and ready to read a sermon --- so what with the cold and snow and the predicted wind ---- it was canceled.     So now - we gear ourselves up for a long day.....and especially long if we decide not to venture out to the Detention Center.  

Gary and I took a ride this morning --- to look for deer and just to see the beauty of the day.   We saw 2 eagles -- one a bald eagle... he was HUGE!!!  And the other was either a Golden Eagle or else a young Bald Eagle.....also a VERY big bird.  They are always gone before you get close enough for a picture....but we did get one of these pheasants who seemed to be out sunning themselves.

I always enjoy looking at the Hay Butte......so I hope you enjoy it also.

Gary has been pretty busy with projects and I've had a couple in the works also........his I can show you but mine are a surprise for a few special people -- so can't share right now.    But here are a few of Gary's ......he is surprised sometimes.........he walks out to the shop and another piece of equipment has arrived for him to fix.  Some of the stories of their "how it happened" are pretty interesting.

This one was a big "OOPS!!"  It's a panel  hauling trailer......Those hangers up top are not supposed to be pointing forward --- should be straight out to the sides.  Unknown to the driver -- at the time -- but he had the wrong sized ball on his pickup.....his was a 1'' 7/8 and the trailer needed a  2" ball.....SO when he hit a big bump in the road it popped off and those heavy panels kept on going.

The next four pictures are of "Gramma Geneva's Chair".....  She was not my Gramma..... But I definitely remember Geneva Walkling!  We were ever so happy that Gary could repair her beautiful rocking chair for Marlys and Vern. As you can see - the spooks were all broken out on the back side.   It took some ingenuity on Gary's part.  The middle picture is of his "steamer".    He steamed a piece of oak and then put it in a jig to get the right curve.   There were a few set-backs but it finally worked out.

This is the finished product from the back side.

From the front -- which everyone looks at.... it is a beautiful chair..... and I might add a very comfortable chair.  I checked it out in the workshop.  Now for a delivery back to it's home........

Another project was a new basement door for the parsonage.  This might be on hold until the weather gets a little warmer out.  This is an outside entry door and needs some installation work done.  I am happy that I don't have to help on this one.....takes more than I can give  :)  :)

So far we plan on going out to the Detention Center this afternoon to visit with some of the kids....but as we look out the window it's starting to blow.   Guess the good part is that we will be home before dark so I think we will continue with the plan.  Better make sure we are dressed for anything!!

We are ever so thankful for Andee and Julie who help us with JDC.  We plan on heading back to Michigan for Thanksgiving and we know that they will continue on with our Wednesday evenings while we are gone.  We don't have anyone for Release Time so will be back for that Thursday with the young kids.  Things are going pretty good with Release Time.  We are telling a Bible story to the 1st Graders and also to the 2nd and 3rd graders.  The older groups are working in a  Bible Study workbook and it's going good.  The 1st lessons were on the Ten Commandments and then how we need to use them for guidance even today.  Now we are into "what kind of friends we should have....."   It's all good stuff and we hope it's something the kids will take to heart.  We are also working on learning the Ten Commandments with some visual helps.

Thanks for the prayers and interest in what we are doing.  We feel blessed to be a part of God's Great Plan......telling the kids about His plan of Salvation.
Gary and Barb

FUN FUN FUN.......LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH!!!!!!

Tonight was our JDC (Juvenile Detention Center) night. We have been doing a Halloween Party for several years....maybe every year since we started going there---2008. Well, tonight was our night to party :) :)

We started the evening with a Bible lesson like always. Julie did a wonderful job using the Wordless Book to share the Salvation Story with the group......which consisted of 4 girls and 4 boys. One gal had come in with red eyes.....we could see she had been crying. I think it might have been a phone call that went sour....because they have that time just before we come on Wednesdays. As we were singing some songs --- Julie went out with her to just see what she could do to help. I believe Julie has this gals little brother in one of her classes at school....so there is a connection there.

After we were done in the “Barney Room” ---where we meet for our Bible Lessons.....we all headed for the gym. We started with a group activity so we could be assured that everyone was involved. This was the Balloon Stomp....boy were those balloons hard to pop. Everyone got into it and once their balloon was popped – they still stood around and watched the rest of the “stompers”.

Every game was full of laughs!!!! Sometimes I laughed so hard it hurt. :) I think I don't have room in this blog --- or the time to write all the games' ins and outs.....so I might just let your imagination run wild here. But if you want to know more about one of them --- let me know and I will share all the “stuff” about them.

We played: Chariot races, Carrot Drop, Balloon Stomp, Beach Ball Volleyball (until the beach ball burst), Animal Bird Fish, Trash Can Game, and Table Top. EVERYONE had a blast. If you've never had Chariot races on carpet samples --- you've never had a real chariot race. Some drivers ended up OFF the chariot but hung on for dear life to the end.....others like Jymie (a girl we thought wouldn't probably participate) took off like a stallion and pulled her little driver to victory every time.

We ended our evening with Rootbeer Floats. One gal had been there on Halloween before when we made pizza – so “why aren't we making pizza, Barb?” These kids were wonderful and we told them so.....they were the BEST participating group we have EVER had. They said “please” and “thank you” and one asked if we had to take care of the chairs.....when I said “yes and they could hang them up”.....He and the other boys got right to it.

After they were done with the floats they wanted to sing some more. So we did. I said “we can't stay all night”....and one gal said “I wish you could”. Another comment was “this almost made me forget I was in JDC”. Even one of the officers came and grabbed a song sheet when we sang “Here I am to Worship”.

So if you don't think we came home smiling – you are wrong. We still start to smile and grin when we think of the night...... I think the kids are still thinking about it too as they lay on their beds.

Thank you, Lord, for allowing us this fun time with a great bunch of kids. Thank you, Lord, for Julie and Andee who come along side us and help. Thank you, Lord, for the Detention Center being so warm and friendly to us....allowing us the freedoms we have there to do an event like this. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunities you give us. Thank you, Lord, for your love for these young people. And thank you, Lord, for all the friends reading this and praying for us.

Gary and Barb

One of those times........

Today was a wonderful Sunday!!!  We had a retired Minister preach in our church and it was one of those times when you have NO trouble listening.  He was so easy to listen to and had such a good message.  What a blessing!!

Then it was off to the Detention Center to visit with the young people.  We were somewhat sorry to hear that one of the North Dakota boys was back.  But at the same time it was good to see him.  We always enjoyed visiting with him.  His heart is in the right place......just those temptations that are so hard to stay away from grabbed him once again right after getting his freedom.   We visited with six this afternoon.........and then at 6:00 we went back for "church".

There were 11 young people tonight.  That is the largest group we have had for a while.  Pastor Paul Mitchell was with us again and had another powerful message for the young people about "Truth".  They listened so attentively!!!  And then he prayed the sinners prayer.   He told them to pray it with him if they felt it in their hearts.  We have never had the kids repeat the prayer out loud before (unless we are one on one).....but tonight as he started praying one after the other began praying the prayer with him  --- out loud!!    Yes, we went home rejoicing.

And the singing!!!!  WOW --- Darian loves to sing and he sings out -- not afraid to be heard.  It just makes some of the kids start to laugh at first -- but then they realize how neat it is and they sing too.  It was quite the choir tonight --- love it!!!   Maybe you wonder what songs we sing........ For those tears I died.......Here I am to Worship......I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus.....and Sanctuary.....are the ones we sang tonight.  They would have gone on singing but it was time to end. 

One new young man came up to us --- shook our hand and said "I am sorry you have to see me in here".  

God is at work --- we see it!!
Thanks for the prayers!!!
Gary and Barb

Beautiful Fall Day.....projects

We've had some cold weather and windy days....but today, anyway this afternoon, is lovely.   The wasps are horrible - but at least they don't sting ---- I think they're just looking for a home in the siding.

My "cooking"  up in White River is just not happening.  This week Monday the one gal had a doc. appt. and  sadly to say the other one was suicidal on Sunday so they have taken her to Yankton for treatment.  I already know that I don't have to figure on the 13th...... many of the women will be gone to a Bible Conference.

I have been keeping busy though with lots of other activities. Yesterday I was invited by Sheri Tinant to see about making a pheasant wreath.  I  had saved 3 pelts so I didn't have to go begging......just begging for her expertise!!!  I'm pretty happy with how mine turned out and Sheri has 4 beautiful ones herself!!  Gar said
"did she make 4 while you made just one?!?!"  No - she's been busy for a while!   I had a rattlesnake hide that I wanted to include in my wreath.  I almost ruined it -- but found a way to save some of it and get it in the wreath.   So, yes people, --- I still have a snake skin (piece of one) in my house. This one is a real honest to goodness Arkansas Rattlesnake.....so not a local one that I came across.  It was a "gift"  :)  :)

I also enjoy "paint by number"  ....... this one has been in the works for a little less than a year.  I think that old barn wood frame really sets it off.  This will be a Christmas gift for a special someone ---- not telling who though.

Gary had a project of his own.  Kim M. had asked if he could do a few alterations on a cabinet that he wanted to put the sound system on at church.   It took some doing to find the right drawer closers.....but persistence paid off and he finally found them.   The cabinet did not have drawers and that's what Kim wanted.

Would you believe he made these drawer pulls!!!  Hammered them out of a flat piece of steel.  I never cease to be amazed at what he can accomplish.

Tonight we will be going to JDC.  I think we have a real fun lesson for the young people.  Part of it will be the lesson on the Wise Man and the Foolish Man.  We will have 2 houses.....one built on a rock and the other built on the sand.   The rain (out of a squirt can) will come down in torrents and that house on the sand will fall FLAT!!     We also have an activity for them to do on paper about building their life strong - on Christ.  I think that for those who need visuals --- they will have several tonight.  And yes -- we will also be teaching them the song....the wise man built his house upon the rock....and the rains came tumbling down......

We did this same lesson on Sept. 27 at the Rosebud Worship......did I tell you that?????  We had made 15 little houses to give to the little kids and we had the biggest bunch of young people ever.   SO we were short on the houses.....but only by one.  Little Taleah will get one next time!!!

Release Time is on its way.  We are blessed with lots of kids.  One teacher - the 2nd and 3rd grade teacher - has ALL of his kids coming - all 14 of them....in ONE GROUP.  We will not be working out of the workbook as we had planned ---- that didn't go very good with such a large group!!!!   Instead we will do a Bible Story like we have been doing all these years.  The workbook did work good with the older groups so we will continue in that.  We do feel that we have to find a little time for some fun with them.  It shouldn't feel too much like school --- workbooks and all that.  So we will be busy with planning for some fun times each week. 

Thank you for keeping us in your prayers!!!! 
Gary and Barb

Just a few neat things.......

This past Wednesday evening at the Detention Center, Andee gave a lesson on Revelations 21.  She did a verse by verse "explanation".  And, by the way, she did a very good job.  We only have 4 kids at this time, so there is time for questions and answers (if we have them).  One comment by Andee really struck me - something new to think on.   She said that "all the glory we receive here on earth  - we will one day give to Jesus."  Wow -- made me think......I have a hard time when people say "oh you are doing such a good thing".......  But now I realize I can give that all to Jesus - and will in person one day.   Makes those comments seem more appropriate now!!!  and hopefully easier for me to know what to do with.   :)   :)  Thanks Andee for those encouraging thoughts.

Then today ---- the kids - the 7th and 8th graders at Release Time made us grin.  We were talking about the 10 Commandments.  So when we got to a big word like "covet"  - we explained it......"take the Lords name in VAIN" -- we explained it.   So when we got to the word "adultery" ---- no one knew what it meant.  "Must be something for adults" was one comment.   So we gave a clear explanation.   I said that I was married to Gary and that I was faithful......if I went and had an affair with another man----- I would be committing adultery.   So then they had to know how long Gary and I had been married.  They guessed a while and then we told them ---- 46 years.   WOW --- that's a long time.....and they broke out in clapping.   :)  :)    Gary said "quit it - you're making my glasses fog up".

We also did a little review today ----questions about last years lessons on Moses.   They did outstanding!!!  I think there was only one question that the one group couldn't come up with -----
Who was Moses' brother?  The one bunch even got that one.  Makes us know that they listen because for the most part it was the first time they had heard the story of Moses.

So these little perks keep us going.  We will have a challenging year.  We have large groups and the school has asked that we do a little switching of how we do the kids......  We have always done the two young groups one week and the older groups the following week.  They would like us to do one of each every week.   So we will have to have our heads on straight -- our thoughts clear and ......YIKES.......can my brain handle all these curves.   YUP I think we will make it - with God's help.

So THANKS for keeping us in your prayers!!!
Gary and Barb

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