JUMPING FROM A CLIFF

Happy to say, I have never experienced jumping off a cliff, and it is something that I hope I never do experience. However, we have made a leap that we are excited about. We have accepted the responsibility of the Wesleyan Sioux Chapel in Lower Brule, South Dakota. Lower Brule is situated on a huge bend in the upper part of the Missouri River, about a half hour drive north of Chamberlain which is on the I-90 Interstate. We have assisted in various areas of the work in the past five or so years, as interested people tried to revive the work that had been closed for several years. We began our work in Lower Brule by going every third Sunday of the month and holding services in a home until the church was purchased by the Faith Missionary Association. We then drove with people who were interested in planting a work there to play the piano, teach the children, hold a Vacation Bible School, and sing. Ray assisted by preaching when he was needed. Esther assisted with the children and by playing her violin. We worked with a young couple until two weeks ago when they felt that God was leading them to resign. We felt that our time with them was a treasure that we will remember. The Faith Missionary Association has now asked us to take the burden of the work.



The church is situated in the middle of housing built for the Native American people of Lower Brule. It is easily accessible to the people, and it has been an asset to them in the past. Our task will be to contact the people and to create and nurture relationships with them. We have a deep love for the Native people, and we served seven years on a reservation in the southern part of South Dakota. Many of the people on the reservation in Lower Brule have families to whom we ministered in earlier years. We are confident of the power of God to help us and to change the lives of the people we serve, and we are looking forward to our adventure in the year ahead as we "jump off the cliff."

We will try to update this blog each week with happenings from our weekend in Lower Brule.