We will try to catch you up on the last two weeks. I wanted to report last week, but my camera decided to be temperamental; and I had no pictures to show you. We left on Saturday for Fort Thompson where our camper is stored at some friends' house. We had brought camping supplies and had plans to mow up the church yard and trim it nicely, as it had gotten away from us. Upon arriving, we discovered that the people had had a little work bee and mowed, raked, and trimmed before we got there. They were all so glowingly happy when they came in for the morning service, as they felt a sense of ownership. When we found the work done, we went out to the dam and grilled our supper. We found it a bit challenging as the wind had come up and kept trying to blow out our cooking fire. When we returned to the camper parked in the Lower Brule campground, a storm was setting in. We settled in for a quiet evening, and it was a quiet and comfortable time. The blue of the sky faded almost perfectly into the bluegray of the choppy water in the river as the storm moved in. We woke up refreshed on Sunday morning, and we enjoyed a very nice morning service. We took a good afternoon nap in the trailer and had the privilege of stopping in for the evening service at Fort Thompson. We returned home feeling like we had a refreshing working mini-vacation.

This Sunday was a beautiful drive out to Lower Brule. The river was blue and sparkling in the sunlight, and the rolling hills contrasted greens and browns all the way along the river. We were very happy when our friend Harry told us that he had been to Sioux Falls to visit his doctor who gave him a good report. Harry has been through a grueling surgery and a slow recovery. He gave a clear testimony to us when we visited him in the hospital soon after his surgery.

While we were getting ready to start the service, we had a couple of visitors who visit us frequently, and I thought it would be fun to show you how patiently they wait to greet the people. :)


Esther and I took the van out to pick up the kids, and we always enjoy our time with them. They are lively, imaginative children. :)It was a somber morning, as a young lady had been accidently killed early this morning. She was the niece of one of our men, and she was also a close friend of the mother of some of our children. They were all very shaken and talking much about her death. She left four little children. Please pray for our people and the people of Lower Brule this week. The men promised to keep Ray informed of the wake and funeral services because they want him to attend.