TUMBLEWEEDS

   I have been noticing the tumbleweeds this year. Matter of fact, I became so entranced with them, I conned Ray into pulling off the road one beautiful day and picked one up to bring home. I took that tumbleweed and placed it in one of the bay windows, clustered white lights under it, draped sparklies on it, and used it for a holiday decoration. I think it is absolutely delightful-but I am a little 'strange.' :) 

    I always thought that tumbleweeds were a particular kind of weed that grows all summer and tumbles in the fall. Actually, I notice that 'tumbleweeds' are many differing kinds of weeds: some are delicate and frondy, some are more substantial. They all store seeds in little seed packets on their stems, and those seeds are distributed randomly throughout the ditches, along fences,  and (alas!) in the fields that they tumble through. The next spring, there are lots of little weeds that become tumbleweeds that fall. They are quite prolific, thanks to their wonderful experience of blowing hither and yon as the wind tosses them about.

     I must be honest: I sometimes feel like a tumbleweed, blown in directions and situations that I do not orchestrate. I just find myself there, and my job is to make the best of it. I hope that I plant good seeds as I tumble about. I am sure that is God's plan for all of us as we live for Him.  Hopefully, I am learning to relax and 'let go' to plant a seed of hope, friendship, happiness, love, joy and laughter with those I meet and see each day.

 When the day comes, and I am 'in the fence,' I hope I can sparkle with the crystals of happiness to bless those who pass by.
   We had a good day at Lower Brule. Thank you to those who prayed for us today. May God Bless You and grant you happiness and joy in this beautiful season!

THROUGH THE FROSTY WINDOWPANE

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as I am known."  ~I Corinthians 13:12~

   I awoke this morning to a strange stillness for being this close to downtown Mitchell. I could hear the wind whispering around the corners of the house, and the light was diffused as it came through the windows. I raised the blind to look outside: sure enough, it was white, white, white. As a matter of fact, all I could see was white. The windowpane was frosted and glazed. When I came downstairs a while later, I could look out through the windows and see shadowed forms of trees. I had a strong feeling that I knew what the outside was like, but I put on a coat and went outside to experience it. The outside was focused sharp and clear when I stepped out the door, and the few things that were not draped in white were standing in defiant contrast to the snow. Ahh...the beauty of snow!!

   A phone call to a contact person at Lower Brule confirmed that he was just ready to call us to report the weather conditions out there. No church today. We always miss it when we cannot go out to Lower Brule; but we are very aware of the fact that it is the nature of the people with whom we work to contemplate during quiet times, and  we feel that this is a good chance for them to reiterate what they have heard. This is also a good time for us to 'regroup' and worship in the quiet. A day of rest is in the Master Plan of the Creator.

   The above quote is at the end of a chapter detailing the characteristics of our love for each other, as God intended it to be. Obviously, some things in life cannot be understood here; but we keep on keeping on, loving, loving, and loving. We only understand 'in part.' Sometimes, we think we would like to know what is ahead in our lives, what will be the next move, etc. We humans also love to have reasons and explanations, but faith and trust can only thrive where reasons and explanations do not exist. When I step 'outside' to the world beyond this world, I will see clearly. Life will be focused and clear in sharp contrast to the 'whyness' of now. Can I rest in this fact? Can I 'let things be' as they are without fussing, grumbling and trying to 'fix' things? I need to remember, as I pull back the blinds and try to see what cannot be seen, that all will be well when I can see clearly.

     I have not posted for the last couple of weeks; so I will post some pictures of Sunday School during that time.

    Thank you for your interest in Lower Brule. May God bless you!! Remember to trust while you 'see through the glass darkly,' for we all will soon know, even as we are known.



I HEAR BELLS!

The beginning of  Christmas: Lights, bright red berries and flowers, sparkly white, aromatic greenery, smells of sweet food, brightly colored packages, happy music, and BELLS!!  There is an aura of magic and the teasing of the imagination in the light tinkling sound of bells. I was looking for a craft project for the Sunday School children of Lower Brule while I was wandering around Hobby Lobby. Oh, joy-a clear plastic cylinder filled with little gold jingle bells! I picked it up and happily placed it in my cart, and jingled my way around the store looking for other treasures, drawing puzzled attention from other shoppers when they heard me jingling toward them. Today was payday for the bells when the children spotted the craft of the day. They happily tied them on a string and tied it in a circle with iridescent curling ribbon. They were a happy lot of kids. We had a good Sunday School today, as the children were so quiet while I was telling the Bible Story. Our story emphasized that God takes care of us when we trust Him, and they were expressing their understanding that God is on our side when we belong to Him. What a precious knowledge for us all to understand and believe!

   Please pray for a man who asked prayer for himself this morning in church. He is under severe pressure in his life, and he has been calling for Ray to pray with him during the week as well as asking for prayer for himself when he comes to church.

JOY IN THE JOURNEY

We certainly enjoy our Sundays at Lower Brule. Ray looks forward to the morning service and his time with the guys after the service, and he always enjoys picking up the Sunday School kids and taking them home. I'm so glad he likes doing that; as I find that to be a noisy, out-of-control time. I enjoy praying, singing, telling Bible stories, and doing crafts with the kids. It's a win-win for both of us. We drive home happy.

Some of the children came early, and they 'copped' my camera.

Confession is good for the soul, I've heard.  I have not posted for many weeks because I was not sure if anyone was interested in hearing our reports. However, I decided that it is good to keep a record, anyway, and the numbers on the weekly reports show that you have been checking the page even when I fall down on the job. So, here we go: Report Time Again. :)
This morning was cold, but not as damp as it was everywhere else we traveled today (we traveled to Fort Thompson to get the bus, and we traveled the interstate to and from).  We have noticed that the weather patterns are unique in the little valley where Lower Brule is situated. The church was warm and cozy, and the piano was well-behaved and responsive this morning. :} Such a sweet little lady came to keep me company in my seat during service this morning! She calls me 'Grandma,' and she is very bright and interested.

This afternoon Sunday School looked rather daunting when the children came dashing and shouting, pushing and throwing themselves on the seats. I hate to 'get after them '(I do if I must); but we started the Sunday School and kept up a fast pace, and the children settled in to pay attention. I told them the first half of the story of Esther the Queen, and they helped me by being interested and asking good questions. We then went to the basement and finger painted (whose crazy idea was that??) What fun they had!! A little face-painting went along with it, but everyone cleaned up pretty good. They proudly and carefully carried their creations home with them. Ray came back from delivering them home happy and unbesmirched or painted, though I wore a few extra colors home with me. We love the children and the friendly people of Lower Brule. Please pray for these people.

I'll admit it-I was touched when I saw that some children had left a message for Sharlite and Ray on the front church steps because we were not there when they came calling. They came later and talked to us. How sweet!

THE BEGINNING OF FALL

   Today the fall colors are beginning to become golden and red. The drive to Lower Brule was a treat to the senses. I only stopped a couple of times to take pictures, and I think that is quite impressive. Somehow, I don't think Ray was completely impressed, though. :)

   This week has been one in which we have heard from people connected with Lower Brule that we have not heard from in awhile, and we are always happy to hear from them again. One of those people was a former student, and he is doing well and going to graduate at the end of this semester. I am so happy that he has done well, and he is already helping his own people in his internship. He so kindly credits me with teaching him much, and it lifts my spirits every time I hear from him.

  The children were lively today, but they were sweet; and we enjoyed a long time of craft together after they sang and listened to the beginning of the story of the Daniel and the three Hebrew children. They didn't seem to want to go home, and I thought we would never get done. :) They stayed an extra half hour or so.

   Thank you for your interest in Lower Brule. Please pray for the mission.

WORK DAY

Look, the door unlocks and opens smoothly! :)

   Ray and I decided that it was time for a work day at the church at Lower Brule, as the weeds had grown against the church, the door would no longer latch and barely lock, and the cobwebs had taken over the church. We left Mitchell around noon on Saturday, and we put in a good afternoon of work. Ray took out the old door while I mowed up close to the church and gave the inside of the church a thorough cleaning. Two little Sunday School girls came to check what we were doing, and they stayed to dust and polish the church pews. It was nice to have some personal time with them. At the end of the day, the sun went down as Ray was working on putting a first coat of paint on the new door.

It proved to be a challenging job

   Today was a new day, and we felt our hearts lifted in the morning worship time. We appreciate those who gathered in to worship with us. After the service, we drove over to the river and rested beside it and ate a sandwich.
    Sunday School was very large today, and we were not prepared with enough crafts. We separated the children into groups and did different crafts for each age group. I will try to do better so that we are not surprised this way again. The children are so sweet, and they were so interested in their little crafts today. I rode in the bus with Ray when he took the children back to their homes, and they love to sit near me and talk.  I enjoy their company. I noticed that Ray has some 'fans' who like to sit up close to  him and talk, too.

The pencil box craft was all set up and waiting for them.

   We still have several projects that we would like to get finished at Lower Brule before the sweeping winds and cold weather whoosh down on us. Please pray that God will lay it on someone's heart to help with the preparation for the winter months at the mission. Thank you for your interest in Lower Brule.

  
  

LESSONS IN A WALK BY THE SHORE

   I walked by the river shore today, hoping to find a treasure- perhaps a unique piece of driftwood, or some other wonderful find. The day was balmy, and the sun was smiling; but the wind was stiff, and the energy from the wind was transferring into waves sloshing against the shore. The whooshing sound of the incoming waves, and the spray in the air were refreshing. I walked quite a distance and found  a rare gnarly piece of driftwood, as well as a twisted piece. I walked slowly back to the car, not really wanting to leave the peaceful feel and sound of the river, and a beautiful little flower arrested my attention. I stood for awhile looking at it and thinking, "What is that bright little flower doing on that barren and ugly bank?"

It was alone, but glowing and healthy. I realized that a seed had somehow defied the elements and clung tenaciously to the rocky soil and coal pieces until it sprouted and became a plant, and ultimately bloomed into a bright yellow cluster of flowers that mirrored the sun in their little faces. I had to take a picture to share with you. Lesson 1: I can grow and glow alone and untended if I determine to brave the elements and barrenness.

   I noted several brightly blooming wildflowers as I wandered along the shore. I climbed the grassy bank and noticed a yellow wildflower sporting its perfect beauty as it thrived among the grasses which had succumbed to the drought. This flower had searched for the little drops of water, and had thrived and blossomed on the drops while the surrounding vegetation gave up and died. Lesson 2 for me: I can search for the little drops in life that will help me to thrive on the positive and help me to grow into beauty in the midst of defeat and death.

   For several weeks, I had taken note of the skeleton of a huge tree that had been uprooted and carried by the flood and deposited on the riverbank. Over the year, it has become smooth and polished as it lay there until it has become a sculptured marvel that could not be perfected by any gifted sculpter. "How did it become so perfect in form?" I wondered.

 It was windy today, and the river was heaving and rolling. I would sometimes hear a crashing and roaring that would cause me to jump to 'alert' status; and I would see the fury of the waves crashing and rolling along the trunk of the tree to end at the polished root and subside in a murmur of spray and foam.

Aha! This is how the tree is sculpted to  smooth perfection and beauty! Another lesson: those who can take the crashing, furious waves of life, wearing day after day at the heart and the soul will be polished and beautiful in soul and spirit-a virtual showpiece for God! Now that is a precious thought!

    We had a fun and active Sunday School today. It seemed necessary to offer lots of interactive activities, and the children rose to the spirit of fun. After the lesson, we went downstairs, and they spent a long time creating with fun scissors, cool paper, leaf-shaped punches, stamps, markers, and glue. We love the children that God has sent to us. They are often the beautiful little flowers, blooming among circumstances. Please pray for them and for us, as we bloom wherever God has placed us.

Thank you for your interest, and please pray for Lower Brule.

"IF IT BE, GIVE ME THY HAND."



Sunflower Fields Almost Ready to Harvest

     Every Sunday is different in Lower Brule, and this mystery is part of the pleasure of our going each week. Different people drop in for services, and we might not see someone for many weeks or months, and that person will come again when we are not expecting him. On the other hand, someone we have never seen in church will sometimes show up. Sometimes, not so often, no one will show up on Sunday mornings; and Ray and I have chosen a book to read and study together when that happens.

    This morning was one of those rare mornings, and we studied A Wesleyan-Holiness Theology, authored by J. Kenneth Grider. We chose this book together, as we were wanting to

'brush up' on the theology that we have embraced in our lives. We have noted in the last several years, especially, that many ideas are touted as 'theology' and 'doctrine,' and we are left scratching our heads. This book has a clear and in-depth study of the history and facets of Wesleyan-Holiness Theology. I'll only briefly share a few gleanings so far in this book if you will allow me-1) experience

2) its existential interest, and 3) its catholicity.

   1) This theology emphasizes an experience of a relationship with God even more than a framework of specific thought: The Apostle's Creed does not read, "I believe that," but, "I believe in God the Father," etc. (Grider, p. 29).

   2) Wesleyan-Holiness theology is interested in the existing human situation. It is interested in life situations of individual persons. It is interested in truth, therefore, as a way of life lived according to God's will...in goodness as consisting of acts that produce a fulfilling life in ourselves and others. ...It is content to live with what is rationally muddy. It is content to let God change our anxiety-producing situations or help us live victoriously in the midst of such situations (Grider, p. 30).

   3) In discussing the differences in opinion and thought-including differences in theology and doctrine- John Wesley wrote: For God's sake, if it be possible to avoid it, let us not provoke one another to wrath."  In Wesley's Works 8, "The Character of a Methodist," he poses the question: 'What is a Methodist?' after which he writes a four page definition of such without suggesting one doctrine as the mark of a Methodist. Wesley finishes this subject with this statement: Is thy heart right, as my heart is with thine? I ask no further question. If it be, give me thy hand. (Wesley, "The Character of a Methodist," in Works 8, p 340-347; quoted in Grider, p. 34).




"If it be, Give me thy hand."

   I am hoping I have not bored you, but I especially love the thought that we can enjoy the fellowship of anyone whose heart beats to the love of God and the love of others. I appreciate my friends who are willing to reach their hands across a table and grasp mine and pray for a specific need in my life, as I do for them; or who, in the midst of other business, promise to remember a need of mine in prayer as I promise the same to them.

    We were happy to offer our hand of love to several childen who came to Sunday School this afternoon. They are an exuberant lot, though today was a little subdued. School has begun, and they feel a bit 'down,' perhaps, that summer freedom is curtailed. They complained a little about going back to school, but I'm sure they will survive. :)



The kids decorated their own cookies to take home with them. :)

   Thank you for offering your hand in love and fellowship as you share the work in Lower Brule. Please reach across the table (so to speak), and offer prayer for the people of Lower Brule. Thank you, and God Bless You!!

CULTURE

Field of Sunflowers

   I suppose one of my very most favorite things to do in life is to watch and study people: Any people, anywhere. Ray, Esther, and I were waiting at O'Hare Airport in Chicago for Esther's flight to Florida, and I found it a most interesting vantage point to study people. We played a quiet game in which we would name in a low voice to each other our guess of each passing person's vocation. It was intriguing. Culture is another interest of mine. I love to study the culture of many countries and places; and, for that reason, I love to talk to a large cross-section of people-country people, city people, people from the west, people from the east, and people who did not originate in the USA.      

   Today was a treat of culture, as we drove around the little village of Lower Brule and observed the many people who were engaging in many different activities. The little village was pulsing and busy with many, many people. I hope you enjoy the pictures we shot as we drove around to the many activities.

Parade

Collecting candy from the parade route

Pow-Wow

Pow-Wow Tepees

Rodeo and horse auction

Rides

Thank you for your interest in Lower Brule as you continue to pray for it, and may your heart burn within you as you walk and talk with the Master this week.