Stories From The Youth

Here are a few of the stories that the youth wrote about their personal experiences on the Rez. (Also, the settings have been fixed so that you should be able to leave comments now without registering. We'd love to know what you're thinking!)

This trip to South Dakota was my second and this year was just as life changing as last year's trip. This year was slightly different than last year's trip, in that I had an opportunity to actually sit down and tutor the children that are not where they should be educationally. I also enjoyed how we took two "classrooms" that looked more like prison cells with boring white walls and turned them into a kindergarten and first grade classroom with the alphabet, numbers, shapes, flowers, and colors on the walls. Another great experience was actually, believe it or not, waking up at 4:30 in the morning to go up on a hill to watch the sun rise. It was beautiful and very peaceful. I also love the bonding we do with our fellow youth. This is a fabulous experience and I highly recommend it.
~ Maggie ~

I really loved going on this trip. It was a very eye-opening event in my life. I was able to learn about the Lakota culture as well as how bad off the people are there. It was amazing to be able to share one's love with all the people and watch them grow. I made a lot of friends and learned a lot about how to have more of God and less me! My favorite thing about the trip was playing with the little kids and having a good influence on their lives. I look forward to keeping in touch with everyone and building strong relationships. This was an amazing trip despite the long car ride!! God bless!
~ Chloe ~

At first, I was unsure about going to SD, but in the end I am 100% glad I went! Everyone there was so nice and willing to help. It was so neat to meet the people of the community. Helping put a smile on the kids' faces would give you a great and positive feeling inside. If you are unsure whether to go, just do because you will have a blast! This trip changed my perspective on other people.
~ Anne ~

This trip to SD was very enlightening. Last year's trip was very fun, but I think I learned and grew more this past week. I made many new friends and learned a lot in a spiritual sense. The Lakota people helped me progress mentally and spiritually, and I thank them for that. I also thank the many adults who helped us on this great expedition. I also was able to bond with the landscape of SD and with the people who ran the whole camp. Thank you 2PC for the experience.
~ Preston ~

This trip was an eye-opening experience for me, and not in just one way. Seeing the living conditions and lifestyle of these people made me realize just how fortunate I am and makes me want to do more to help people in need. Also, it strengthened my faith and gave me an opportunity to bond with my church family. I am so thankful that I was able to go on this trip.
~ Ema ~

This trip was amazing. It was a great experience and I'm so glad I went. I am so much closer to God now too. Seeing the living conditions made me appreciate the things I have. I met so many new people too. It was an overall great experience when we tutored kids and painted. I loved this trip!
~ Caitlin ~

I am so glad I went to South Dakota. It was a fun experience. It made me really be thankful for everything I have. Some of the kids on the reservation don't even have parents. This whole experience was fun and it brought me closer to God. I really enjoyed meeting new people and strengthening old friendships at the same time. I would recommend it to all of my friends.
~ Virginia ~

South Dakota changed me! It taught me to always be grateful for what you have. Also, God is always with you and you need to have more God and less you. I'm glad I went because if I didn't I would still be selfish. In the end, South Dakota was a great all-around experience.
~ Katie ~

I had the most fun I have ever had on a church trip. I love the drive up and back. There was a lot of funny moments. Then it was so much fun up there helping people who don't have as much as we do. I wish we could have more time up there working. Best road trip/ mission trip I have ever been on.
~ Conly ~

The mission trip was an indescribable experience. I had so much fun. It brought me so much closer to God. While working in SD I knew that I was doing what God wanted me to do. I felt so at peace. I also met so many new people, and became closer to everyone from my church. I loved every part of the mission trip.
~ Devin ~

I really like the mission trip. It was scary when we got in the Arch but it was fun. Those kids we worked with were awesome. It was so cool to help the community. Some of the kids really liked coming and having fun with us.
~ Ricketa ~

I really enjoyed my trip to South Dakota. Can't wait to go again.
~ Anna ~

Well I had a good time at the mission trip. I am so glad that I went. I learned more about God and I made new friends and my favorite thing was kissing the buffalo. And I love riding in the cars because we didn't stay in one van. But I had so much fun.
~ Christina ~

This year's trip to South Dakota was very different from the past. We stayed on the Reservation this year which allowed closer bonds with everyone: leaders, students, and the community. Also, staying in a different location allowed for various activities. This year we got to visit Wounded Knee, a buffalo feed, a beautiful sunrise hike, and a community cookout. We got to see and experience God's works and love through myriad ways. From morning devotions (devos) to nighttime Club and bonding, it was amazing. On this trip I personally noticed many changes, spiritually and how they acted, in myself, the other campers, and even the kids that we helped. I would like to thank everyone who helped make this trip happen and also those who helped me grow.
~ Kate ~

South Dakota was an overall life-changing experience. When I arrived at Pine Ridge, the living conditions astounded me. I had never imagined how bad some of the natives' conditions were, and much less had I imagined living in conditions almost as horrid as theirs are. When I saw how happy the kids were with their poor living conditions, it made me more thankful for what I had. This realization caused my faith in God to sky-rocket, along with my gratefulness on what He has praised me with. While working with the kids and painting one lady's house that was elderly and in a wheelchair, my relationship with God strengthened immensely. By spreading His love throughout the community, I became closer to Him in so many ways. Not only did I get closer with God, but I also got closer to many people from different churches and the kids on the reservation.
~ Sarah ~

I loved this trip. More the begining than ending. But I liked the worship. Thank you God. I loved saying that. I liked the acceptance from everyone and everyone was everyone's friend. I loved God's creation. I loved singing His songs. I learned that I can always be a better friend and where my priorities lie. And how I can listen to ministers and holy people all I want but that is only half of learning from God. I have to read the Bible, too. All of it. I loved fellowship. I loved the ups and downs. I love everyone I went with. We have all grown closer. Thank you, God.
~ Katie Marie ~

This trip provided a great opportunity not only to make friends but to experience God in whole new ways. Getting to help the Lakota people was awesome, and the fellowship and friendships made were wonderful. It was also a sobering experience to see what we have done to them as a people as well as how they are forced to live. The most influential part for me was the time spent with God outside the norm and having more time to be a relational person. Overall it was an awesome trip and definitely worth doing.
~ Clay ~

Buffalo Kiss

Here is a video taken by Cathy, a leader of one of the Wisconsin groups, of a "buffalo kiss" for anyone who is out there wondering what it would be like to feed a buffalo with your mouth. Hopefully we will have the stories from the youth posted later today or tomorrow.

We made it!

After an exciting, eventful week, we were all sad to leave the Youthworks camp, the Lakota people, and our new friends from Wisconsin. We cleaned the camp, took group photos, said goodbyes, had one last big group hug, and headed out. Little did we know that our trip home would be exciting and eventful as well!
While driving up to the Crazy Horse Memorial, we rounded a bend in Wind Cave National Park to see an entire herd of buffalo crossing the street. While feeding the buffalo at Poker Joe's was exciting on Monday, this was an even more amazing experience to see them in the wild. We did get to see Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore, and spent some time shopping for souvenirs at the world famous Wall Drug.
Unlike last year, while making our trek across South Dakota, we did not run into any major storm systems. One of our vans did, however, run into a deer! Luckily no one was hurt (except the deer and the Dark Knight rental van) and we were able to make it to Sioux Falls for the night. We picked up another van in Omaha Saturday morning (everyone was SO excited to visit Nebraska again!) and continued our journey home. We were almost back at the church (literally had just gotten onto 581) when a car merged over a lane directly into the side of the big, white bus. Once again, we were fortunate that no one was hurt, but it did delay us getting back to the church. Several of the youth said that it just meant that God wanted them to be able to hang out together just a little while longer. Overall, even with the accidents, this was still the best trip we've had so far. Over the next few days, we will be adding more photos as well as stories from the youth and adults about their experiences this week. Stay tuned!

Our Week

Internet service has been down lately so it's taken a while to update. We did not get to hike Camel's Back on Tuesday after all, due to severe thunderstorm warnings (not tornados!), so they allowed us to get up at 4:30 this morning (Thursday) to take a sunrise hike and watch the morning begin over the bluffs. Every single person in our group got up and participated in the hike, and it was well worth it. What a great way to visualize God's presence!

Last night we went to the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre and heard Emerson Elk, a Lakota descendant of Black Elk, speak about what happened there. It was interesting to hear about this historical event from a Native perspective. We were able to walk up the hill to visit the mass grave.

We have spent the rest of this week tutoring, painting, playing with children, and bonding with new friends. We are sad to be leaving the children and friends we have formed relationships with, but are excited about our journey home. Tomorrow we will see the Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore, and stop at Wall Drug, which is officially the tackiest, cheesiest place in the country!

Buffalo Feed

Last night, we took a trip to Poker Joe's where Darren told us the Lakota story of the White Buffalo Calf Woman. We were able to see a white buffalo that was actually born here on the reservation, one of only four born in this century. We also rode the buffalo bus out to the field where Darren showed us how to feed the buffalo with our mouths (otherwise known as kissing the bufalo)! The picture on this post is of those who made it into the Buffalo Kiss Club. Most of us preferred to feed them the old-fashioned (and less gross!) way with our hands, and some of us prefrred to just watch. It was so much fun!

Yesterday we had our first day of work projects and everything went very well. Some of us painted houses and the school, some of us worked with Children's Club, and some of us tutored the children in reading and vocabulary. It is amazing to watch our youth work with the children here on the rez. They are so caring and patient with them.

This evening, we will take hike to the top of Camel's Back.

Photos!

We were finally able to upload some photos of our trip so far. I am not sure if they are showing up in the slide show on the right, but if you click on the link to our Flickr site, there is a folder of photos for SD 2010. Hope you enjoy them!

We are having a great time so far. We all slept well last night and are ready to get to our work sites this morning. We will have groups tutoring children from the school this morning, painting houses, and working at Children's Club this afternoon. Pray for us as we begin this exciting time.

We're Here

Yesterday we made it to St. Louis and went all 630 feet to the top of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, more commonly known as the St. Louis Arch. We also drove through 3 more states, which brings our total to 8 so far.

We drove past the MANY cow pastures and cornfields of Nebraska today and made it to the camp around 5:00 mountain time (7:00 Roanoke time!). So far internet access is slow, and free time is hard to find, but we will try to update when we can. Just remember we are very busy! Thanks for thinking of us and praying for us often.

And We're Off!

24 Youth
8 Adults
4 Vehicles
5 States (so far!)

What a day! We had a great day traveling yesterday, a scrumptious dinner at a Steak and Shake, and beautiful scenery. Everything was fantastic until we ran into some extensive road construction in Kentucky. We did make it to Grayville, Illinois though, and a Super 8 has never looked so good!

Today we will cross the Mississippi River, go to the top of the St. Louis Arch, and begin our journey through the cornfields of Nebraska. We have not had time to add pictures yet, but will do that as soon as we are able. Thanks for thinking of us!

Here We Go Again!

This Friday the youth from Second Pres, along with Northminster Pres, will once again head out west to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Check out the comments and pictures from last year to see what this trip is like, and keep us in your prayers as we prepare for this amazing journey.