Our last day at the Spirit Lake Ministry Center was actually a day of firsts too. The day dawned hot and steamy and those ever-present prairie winds took a vacation for the early part of the day as we worked fast and furiously to complete the work on our sites. I am happy to report that each site accomplished (and in some cases exceeded) the project that was assigned for them to do.
Here is a recap of of what each group achieved on their sites this week:
Buffalos - Their assignment for the week was to build a deck and wheelchair ramp for Reneta, she is the mother of Gandy who amazed us with his dancing on cultural night. Reneta is handicapped and had been waiting 5 years for a wheelchair ramp. Because of her handicap, it is very difficult for her to navigate the stairs leading from her house without aid. Thanks to this dedicated team, Reneta can now go sit in her yard or sit on her deck all on her own without help. It’s really about the simple pleasures. Reneta was so touched by their service that she chose from her star quilt collection, a quilt that she felt would work for both the boys and the girls on the site, that is also the reason that she felt moved to speak her stories at the cultural evening. Mike informed us that this is the first time that an elder had felt affected enough to speak to a group and it is the first time that a star quilt had been gifted to a team. A direct quote from Mike, “This is a big deal.”
Buffalo Group: John Kline, Marcia DeBoer, Joey Houghton, Tanner Wood, Haniel Grosshuesch, Steve Lidgard, Sam Ellison, Rachel Xydis, Eric Jensen
Braves – This team was assigned to finishing off the gathering room in the Christian Life Center. During the week they hung bead board for the walls, this was a bit challenging as the kids had to be very exact in their measurements as they cut holes for outlets and windows. There were sounds of joy at the success of each crucial cut. For the outside of the building, this team also built a railing for the deck that is attached to the building. The result of this teams’ hard work means that there is a room now available to Mike and Libby to hold services, have gatherings for the youth of the reservations, have a heated room in which to organize material for the Shoebox Christmas ministry, really the possibilities are endless and Mike and Libby are truly thankful to us for completing this room for them.
Braves Group: Tom Moore, Debbie Houghton, Hannah Kline, Luke Johns, Sarah Higdon, Noah Kaczor, Ben Brenner, Steven Rudnik, Meredy Grupe
Eagles – This team was assigned to build a deck extension and wheelchair ramp for Giles and Delores. Giles is ill with cancer and in a weakened state. He is very fragile and is not able to get around without assistance. His wife, Delores is his primary caretaker, but unfortunately she broke her foot, so she too needs help getting around. The wheelchair ramp will allow them to get in and out of their house without aid. When we went to the site the day after we completed the deck extension, they already had placed chairs out on it. Like I said, it’s about the simple pleasures. Now they can really enjoy that beautiful view of the land surrounding their property.
Eagles Group: Bill Houghton, Deb Wood, Quinn Johns, Rachel Metz, A.J. Gay, Patrick Gilchrist, Kate Centurione, Randy Strassburg, Zione Grosshuesch, Bobby Knutilla
Totems - This team was assigned originally to just clean out a home for Josh, Jana and their son Tony. Josh’s family had been basically homeless for the last year, so this was an exciting move for them. After cleaning the home, the Totems were so moved by this family’s situation that they decided they wanted to make the house even nicer for them by painting the house too. The highlight of the week for this team was taking part in a smudging/blessing ceremony of the house. Mike and even our bus driver Willie T gave their blessings too. Josh comes from a family of medicine men, he has had struggles in the past with alcoholism, but is committed to staying sober for his family and so that he can continue the tradition of being a medicine man, which he cannot do if his body is under the influence of any substance. Josh smudged the not only the house, but the group members too. Another first and a great honor.
Totems Group: Drew Angotti, Melanie Snook, Anna DeBoer, Lydia Kline, Eric Seitz, Spencer Kennedy, Maria Koukios, Austin Stout, Abby Kleinheksel, Emma Griffith
Zunis – This group was assigned to hang wallboard and on the walls and ceilings of the bathhouse, they were also responsible for painting all the board that was hung. Previous to this work being done, the bathroom was a gloomy, dingy place. It is so nice and bright now, it truly is a thing of beauty and will benefit every group that comes to work here in the future.
Zunis Group: Brian Fowlkes, Julie Roesch, John Houghton, Heather Jue-Wong, Michael Ross, Blake Martin, Annie Oldani, Kristi Bell, Katharine Brighton, Max Teener
And last but not least, we all took part on one day or another at the Sidewalk Sunday School, which I have stated before is the most important ministry that Mike and Libby do. Your children have touched (literally and spiritually) many children on the reservation. they played basketball endlessly, gave numerous piggy back rides, painted faces, had their faces painted (and sometimes other body parts too), acted out skits, read stories, did crafts and handed out lots of necessary snacks and drinks. This significance of this time together was evident in the delighted expressions of the children, both ours and theirs.
On our last night here another first happened. We received the gift of a star quilt from Libby and Mike. They were so impressed by the hard work and dedication of our teams that they could not let us go without letting us know in a personal way how much we touched their lives and their mission here on the reservation. The theme of the mission at the Spirit Lake Ministry Center is Love God, Love Neighbor. I think we all took that theme to heart this week and let it embody everything we did. Our goal is to continue to Love God, Love Neighbor as we venture home to our busy lives and let it embody our tasks in our daily lives too, to do so would truly honor the people who we were fortunate to serve for and work with this week.
