Sunday, September 30, 2012

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.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

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.
  
  

Sunday, September 9, 2012

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.