I've decided that next year it is going to be mandatory for parents to come along on the mission trip. After you see how hard your child can and will work, you will never again accept any excuse as to why the chores are completed. This morning we had four push lawnmowers available and around 10 youth jockeying for their turn to mow. Later in the afternoon during the heat of the day, another mowing project came up that only required two mowers. I felt bad having to tell the multitude of volunteers that I couldn't take all of them. I also had to turn away volunteers to dig the trenches on top of a hill in blazing heat for the fireworks show tonight. After lunch, we let the trench diggers rest and took twelve of the students to Birney (a small community about twenty-five minutes from Lame Deer) to do some more prayer walking. Even though the temperature was quickly climbing to the mid-nineties, God provided a steady breeze and some cloud cover to make the walking much easier. While we were prayer walking, a few of the youth that had helped clean the house earlier in the week went back to return the repaired lawnmowers and visit some more with the family. When I picked them up, a couple of the girls asked if they could buy some dog food and bring it to the family because the dogs were clearly malnourished. How can I say no to a request like that?

We did have a family and a couple men come by the church for the pamper party and men's night. There was only one lady, and I haven't had the chance to find out the details of the party, but I am sure that she was given the pampering of a lifetime. A brief thunderstorm prevented the men from hiking, but they were able to take a drive to a couple of the firetowers and see some spectacular views. George joined us again along with Joseph who was at the church service on Sunday. We were asked to help with some booths at the festivities for the fireworks show, so some youth took care of the three or four children at the church, while the others helped take donations for the fireworks show and sell raffle tickets for a local business. It was a neat opportunity because it gave the teenagers and adults a chance to really see what life is like for the natives in Lame Deer. Pastor Dean has said several times that this is an international mission trip, and the students have really been able to see how different Lame Deer and the reservation is from the world they know in Cleveland, TN.

The night concluded with an impressive fireworks display and some great fellowship with the community. I have found that the natives are quite skilled in volleyball even at a young age. My challenger was there briefly, but he did not stick around for our game of three-on-three basketball. Maybe tomorrow... Unfortunately, due to the late hour, I am not going to be able to put together a slideshow., but I do have a brief word of testimony from a couple of the youth. Thanks for checking out the blog!

Mary Klepzig (Special K):

God has really spoken to me this week. One of the family’s we worked with, that Josh has already mentioned, has been laid on my heart. The kid’s house condition is awful, but the joy the family has amazes me. The joy everyone has up here amazes me. It makes me so thankful for what I have. I have fallen in love with this family.

Mason Hunt:

This week God has really just been working on me. I have realized that I have everything I need and I complain WAY too much! Also I have learned that I need to let go of my pride, and just stop worrying about what others think. One last thing is that this week I have really gotten a lot closer to the student ministry, and got to spend time with people that I normally don’t even talk to. I have really really enjoyed this week, and I am sooo not ready to leave tomorrow!