Sowing the Seed

We started the weekend by driving over to Lower Brule early Saturday morning and visiting the neighbors around the church. Since we are only two :), Ray and I decided to distribute visitation cards, starting from the houses that surround the church and working outward. We found most of the people to be very warm and friendly, and we were invited into several homes. We didn't visit as many homes as we had set for our goal, as we each were drawn into a lengthy conversation with the occupants of two homes. One home that started out as a cold welcome turned out to be a most interesting conversation with a very intelligent man. He shared some very insightful and revealing information about the Native American culture. We are always interested in their culture, and we appreciate when one of them shares with us. He came out of the house and wanted to meet and introduce himself to Ray after we talked for awhile. A mark of many Native American men is their ability to sit and think on many things, and they often have insight that we 'busy bees' miss. I would like to share an insight of his that he shared with me that shows a good dose of Indian humor. We had a hearty laugh when he shared it with me. He explained that he wondered why the Indians keep their old cars around their houses and in the driveways when they no longer run. He said that he figured out that it is a circle reason-dog, horse, car, and back to dog. The first Indians had dogs, and when their dogs got old, they kept them around and took care of them. Then they got horses, and when their horses got old, they kept them and took care of them. Then they got cars, and when their cars get old, they keep them like they kept their dog and their horse. Now they keep the car out in the driveway, and the circle is finished when the dog gets in the car. I always wondered about those old cars we could never part with--he said, "It's the old horse theory!" I love it. :)

The church is located in the heart of housing, and we have neighbors all around us. They know whenever we're there, and they watch us. I was happy this morning before church when a lady I don't know slowed down in her car as she went by and called "good morning!" while I was picking up the 4th of July trash in the yard. When we can locate and afford to buy some outdoor speakers, we would like to play nice church music from a CD on Sunday mornings about a half hour before church and play children's music before children's service.Children's service was a little tough this week. We had two little girls who needed individual attention, and they were tearing around the church, out the door, and into the street. We did not have staff to keep them busy, and so we had to take them home early. Ray explained to the mother that they are just hyper today, and we will be happy to have them come back. We have needs here at Lower Brule, and God knows them. He knows who will love the children, and who can provide the help we need. I try to never operate with force or bullying the children into good behavior, but the children must be under control. This takes time and a relationship with the children. Because of our small staff, it looks like we will have to restructure the services. We will try to keep you informed of this. The picture below shows the children "retelling" the story of the tower of Babel. A few interesting things were added-for instance, the woman on the top of the tower. I'm sure I didn't tell them that. :) Maybe they were mixing up the Statue of Liberty with the lesson because Lady Liberty is referred to so much during the 4th??