Stories from the Youth

One of the best parts of work camp for me were the people I met. From the kids at Kids Club to the new friends I met, they were all incredible in their own way and changed my views. The kids at Kids Club were all different, but amazing. The first day we walked into a place not knowing much of what to expect and having to eat lunch with complete strangers. I met this girl named Lorraine where in the end we had a connection and didn’t want to leave each other. Even my most stressed out times, if I saw Lorraine running like the wind just to hug me, it put a huge smile on my face. Also the friends I met at Work Camp were all different and helped whenever they could. The staff always had smiles on their faces and the youth and adults were ready to share their love for God. Although this is only one meaningful thing to me, there were multiple more that changed me and my views towards life overall, and the way I view God.
~Kate Robertson~

Morning devotions were one of my favorite parts of the trip. Between chasing after kids in Kids Club, scraping paint off of an old church, and singing songs in Club, you didn’t have that much time to reflect and think about what you were learning through those experiences. That’s why I loved devotions so much. At around 8:15 every morning we headed out to our spots around the church with our Bibles and our devotional booklets. It was there where we could really think about our theme for the week: Freedom. That 30 minutes every morning that I spent reading the devotions and praying made the most impact on me because it helped me remember why I was doing what I was doing, and who loved me so that I can love others. It was a great trip altogether, and I hope I can remember what I learned so that I can apply it at home.
~Clare Robinson~

In the meeting for South Dakota Willy told us that we would have to be talkative. When I heard this I became a little nervous. I am usually shy and quite. Through the whole bus ride I was wondering if I would be able to come out of my shell and talk to people that I don’t know from the reservation, or from other churches. I thought if I started to talk to a stranger they would think I was weird. I only talked to the people in my church youth group until I heard a speaker talk about “fitting in”. He told us that we should be free to be ourselves and not care whether we “fit in” or not. After that I started talking to people out of the youth group, having the chance to meet new people who want to serve God just like I do. I hope I will be able to take this lesson and many others I learned from the camp and apply them to my life at home.
~Virginia Anderson~

The mission trip to South Dakota was a very meaningful and fun experience. I was glad to be able to meet kids and families and be able to serve them under God. Another great experience was the wonderful people I got to meet and all the awesome bonds formed. I hope to go next year!
~Bob Hughes~

The mission trip was a really great experience. Getting to play with the children and painting houses really makes you feel like you made a difference in someone’s life!
~Annie Watts~

This mission trip has been very inspiring for me. It was full of laughter, hard work, and inspirational moments. I especially enjoyed working with the kids at Kids Club. It was great to be able to play with them and make some very special bonds. I learned a lot on this trip and I look forward to the possibility of going next year.
~Sam Prescott~

This was my first mission trip and it was amazing. It made me feel amazing to be helping others who may not be able to help themselves. My favorite part was working with the kids during Kids Club and just hopefully brightening up their day. I also really enjoyed working on the church, putting a fresh coat of paint on a very vandalized church. I have met some new and great people through this trip. Overall this was a great experience and I thank everyone who helped make it a success!
~Maggie Futrell~

The mission trip to South Dakota has been an awesome experience. Working with the kids and giving them care and love was an honor. It was also an honor to work on the exterior of an old church which had a lot of meaning. This trip was a lot of fun interacting with other youth and building friendships. I truly saw God in the members of the community and each of our helping hands in Kadoka, SD.
~Annie Miller~

As 22 people climbed on a tiny white bus and an old blue mini-van – the journey began! The giggles, the junk food, the jokes, the travel lodge, the fun, the friendships, it all became a wonderful opportunity to carry hope and Christ’s love to strangers in South Dakota. The beautiful countryside was just an added bonus. Thank you to Willy & Angela for organizing a great trip and memories that will last forever. Thank you to our Youth, who are hard working and dedicated to our church, their spiritual path, and each other. Thanks to my son for letting me join him on this adventure and thank you to the other adult chaperones who made me feel welcome and helped me find coffee!
~Cheryl Martin (adult chaperone)~

One could tell that, through the smiles on the children’s faces and the stories of the proud owners of the newly painted homes, that we were called to be nowhere other than Pine Ridge. Meaningful to me was that we were not called to help out those from our own way of life, but to help out the Oglala Indians from a completely different culture. Before this venture, I knew next to nothing about modern Native American culture. Though they live in modern housing and dress similar to our culture, they still cling to their sacred land and their heroes. All this new information made me realize how fortunate I was to be able to out there and experience history first hand from these people while at the same time giving them a few more comforting smiles, a new coat of paint, and hopefully, love that they can latch onto and reuse in their community. Thank you Willy and Angela for accepting me onto this trip two days before we left and giving me the chance to get a little peace of mind through acting as Jesus’ hands and feet.
~Wilson Kuhnel~

This trip is always an eye opening experience for me. It strengthens my faith in God by showing me his hands working through my peers. I see the need for us in Pine Ridge. Many of the children you meet at Kids Club have not been shown God’s love as I have, and I feel it is our duty as Christians to show them that love. This trip also helped me become a stronger person by helping me understand the feeling of being a minority and being put outside of your comfort zone. During one of our evening activities we went on a hike in the Badlands. This was one of the most beautiful sites I have been to, evidence of God’s wonderful creation.
~Derek Sheehan~

This work camp experience was, as always, a blast. I thoroughly enjoyed the change of scenery and culture. I felt like I really had an impact on the Kadoka/Pine Ridge community. I am extremely thankful for this chance to serve others and serve God.
~Tyler Anderson~

As soon as we realized that the bus had been filled with diesel, I realized that we would be spending the day in a travel plaza a short 3 hours away from home. However, I think this was probably one of the best things to happen to our group; we had 7 hours to bond in the Morton Travel Plaza. I got to know my fellow senior highs much better, something I had really been looking forward to. Once we got on the Rez, I knew this week would go fast, almost too fast. I spent two days playing with the kids at Kids Club. Though we got beat up a bit, I had a feeling of hope for these kids, who are mostly unsupervised. I felt like we were really making a difference in their lives. I didn’t want to leave, but my heart was lighter knowing that Youthworks will be there all summer and for many years to come. I heartily thank everyone that made this trip possible. You not only helped those on the Pine Ridge Rez in need, but also provided your youth group with the experience of a lifetime. Thank you so much!
~Taylor Robinson~

This trip changed my life. It helped me understand the importance of living to serve others. This was my first mission trip and I would like to thank the people who enabled us to be able to help the impoverished people on the Pine Ridge Reservation. I will certainly come back if the trip is offered again.
~Preston Martin~

Playing with the children and serving the people on the Pine Ridge Reservation was a very inspirational experience for me. This trip helped me get in touch with my faith and strengthen my faith as well. I would like to thank anyone who helped make this trip possible and I would definitely like to come back next year.
~Blake Anderson~

The mission trip to South Dakota was an amazing experience. Working on the reservation, painting houses and churches, and playing with the children on the reservation really made me feel like we made a difference in the community. I also really enjoyed getting to know people from other churches and I also enjoyed forming a closer bond with our youth group. It was a great experience and I can’t wait to do it again!
~Abby Moomaw~

This was a great experience and I would highly recommend it to both youth and adults at the church. It truly is life altering.
~Jay Vaughan~

What came to mind when I thought about how our youth treated each other and those we assisted in our mission were two words: Tolerance & Respect. No matter what came their way they were tolerant to delays, long hours of riding, and cramped van rides. I was proud to be a part of such a grand group of youth. There were countless times when we had shown respect for each other’s ideals and feelings on our S Dakota trip. From the school playground where we were abused by the kids (physically and verbally), to the adult leaders who gave direction and received full cooperation in corralling and the directives given. The evening youth ministry was very moving and to see the morphing from the first night to the last, it was astounding. It shows how the Love of God can work through each other and break down barriers. We all hope that we have touched and made life a little bit better for the people living on the Reservation. Prayer is powerful. Mission experiences transform this power into moving work that walks the walk. It would be an honor to be a part of Second Pres's Mission work again in the future. The youth are truly growing in God's Light and it warms me to think these folks are God's Disciples.
~Gary Sheehan (adult chaperone)~

We're Back!!

Yesterday we had a tour of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which was pretty cool. We all got to kiss the bricks on the finish line (as it is an Indy tradition), stand on the victory podium, pose at the press conference table, and see the media rooms, private suites, garages, and the hospital. There is even a golf course inside the track!

We had lunch in Ohio which was our 9th state in 10 days, and we made it back to the church in Roanoke around 10:00 last night (Sunday). But wait... it's not over yet! In the next few days we will be adding stories from the youth about their experiences this week, and uploading many more photos. Please check back often and see what's new!

A big thank you to our church, our families, and everyone else who has supported us and prayed for us throughout this amazing journey.

Saturday Update

We are now in Indianapolis where we had a great meal at the Hard Rock Cafe. We drove through some pretty intense storms yesterday in South Dakota, but we did make it to Iowa safe and sound thanks to our awesome drivers. Luckily the storms did not start until after we had visited Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Wall Drug.

Tomorrow morning we will tour the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and then head HOME!

Thursday Update

Last night we had an amazing hike in the Badlands. Check out the photos on our Flickr site (see the link on the side of this page). Today we finished up our last day at work sites. Two of our groups have been painting a church on the Rez that was originally a one-room schoolhouse here in Kadoka in 1915. It was moved to Wanblee on the reservation in 1969 to be used as a Methodist Church and has been there for 40 years. We met the pastor's wife who helped the church get started, and she and her husband are now leading that church again.

Tonight we had a cookout in the park with several members of the Kadoka community and played some volleyball, frisbee, and on the playground. Tomorrow as we leave camp, we will head to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, possibly Wall Drug and Sioux Falls, and finally sleep in real beds with warm showers in Sioux City,Iowa.

We're here!

We made it to Kadoka, South Dakota on Sunday just in time to unload and have dinner. The drive was very cool even though we didn't get to stop at two our scheduled visits. At one point we were driving in Iowa and could see Nebraska on the other side of the river!
All of the Second Pres folks have been working at Kids Club the past two days where we play with the kids at a school on the reservation. This morning we also got to visit a nursing home here in Kadoka where Wilson and Bob led the scripture and devotion time, Tyler played the guitar, Sam played the piano, and we all played Bingo with the residents. Several of our guys also led the residents in singing several songs. It was great!
Last night we also went to the famous Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota where we had a scavenger hunt. We are hoping to hit it again on the way back so we have more time to shop. If you haven't heard of Wall Drug, look it up - it's really something! Tonight we will have a local native speaker talk about his faith and how it has impacted his life here on the Rez. Tomorrow, as long as the weather holds out, we will get to hike in the Badlands. We have driven by part of the Badlands on our way to Kids Club and it is amazing! Also tomorrow, our groups will be sent to work sites where we will paint houses and do small repairs.
We are all having a great time so far, even with the shower system which is at the pool showers in the park across the street, where there are two stalls in each that shoot out REALLY cold water! Internet access is rare and precious here so we may not be able to add photos or more updates until Friday, but we will keep trying!

Day 2 Update

Well, the bus has been fixed and is on its way back to the hotel to pick us up so we can hit the road. We will not be able to make it to the Arch, and we will more than likely have to change our hotel arrangements for tonight as well as we readjust our travel schedule, so we might not get to the Ice Cream Capital of the World either. BUT everyone is safe and rested and excited about being back on the road and we WILL make it to South Dakota tomorrow. We have a great group and have received several compliments from strangers about our kids' behavior, patience, and positive attitudes. Onward!

Departures and Delays (Day 1)

Soooo.... West Virginia was so nice (especially the Morton Travel Plaza) that we decided to stay a little longer! Actually we had a little setback and had to have the bus towed and repaired, so instead of sleeping in Mt. Vernon, Illinois tonight we are staying in Charleston, West Virginia. Fortunately, Cheryl and Bob pointed out that there were some pretty bad storms in Illinois that we missed, so at least that's a little bright spot.

We're not sure what tomorrow will look like, or if we will be able to get to the Arch or not, but we will be on our way somehow to get to South Dakota by Sunday. Please keep us (and the bus!) in your thoughts and prayers, and hopefully we will be able to update sometime tomorrow and let you know what's going on.