Alex

This was my second year venturing out with the Second Pres Youth Group/Senior High trip to South Dakota, and the trip was just as amazing this year as it was the last.Once again, our journey to the Pine Ridge Reservation was a jam-packed bus/van ride filled with plenty of incredible sights and stops (St. Louis Arch, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse...to name a few). However, while the ride out there was an awesome way to spend time with my fellow youth, the real fun didn't begin until we arrived at the Crazy Horse School in Wanblee, South Dakota. Just like last year, we met youth from elsewhere in the country (Minnesota this time), divided into diffrent crews, and were led by four college students spending their entire summer at the site. In short, the week was filled with brown and pink paint, crazy (yet loving) kids, FREEZING showers, adorable puppies, incredible sunsets, jagged Badlands, hot (yet sometimes bipolar) weather, moving songs, plenty of laughs, and, of course, little sleep. And, while all of this was fun (lots and lots of fun) there were two events that stood out to me above the rest. The first was getting the chance to learn about the Lakota culture from Willard, whose house we were painting (and who had all the puppies!). Thursday afternoon, he took my group (the Rez Dogs)aside and explained to us the similarities and differences between his way of life and our Christian religion. He learned at a young age that we were all from one Creator (who their culture calls Thunkasila, excuse my possible misspelling). He told us how women were sacred to them as the nurturers of the sickly, and why the eagle was sacred to them because of the Great Flood, when instead of an ark, his people fled to peaks and muntains. We learned about sweat lodges and their way of prayer, and so much more that my quick summary is not near enough to do it justice. In short, it was incredibly wonderful to get the chance to learn of a culture so often misunderstood yet so similar to ours in many ways, despite the apparent differences. Second was the foot washing on Thursday. Although I knew what to expect because of last year, it didn't lessen the impact I felt. Our leaders have their feet washed by the counselors, and have a prayer said to them. Then the leaders do the same to us. It is not easy to describe the swell of emotion and how incredibly humbled you feel. But it brought almost every single one of us to a cascade of tears. The trip in itself brings us close to God, renewing and strengthening faith, but the foot washing is powerful, and helps to wash away doubts and fears. I'm sure we could all feel God's presence in that small, crowded room. Following the foot washing (which is still something that requires experience rather than explanation to fully understand) our church group gathered together to share our "roses, buds, and thorns" of the day and the week. Our highlights, what we were looking forward to, and what gave us difficulty. As it had been for the earlier part of the week, and last year, this was one of my favorite times as it draws all of us closer together as a group. By the end of the week, I was once again in awe of all we could accomplish. The bonds with the children were incredibly strong, and it means so much to me to know that we've helped to make a difference in their lives simply by showing love and compassion. The smiling faces of the homeowners as we place the last bruh strokes on their house are humbling, as you realize how thankful they are for the little things. Both years I've been, I've left feeling like a changed person. The things that I've touched on in writing this can't compare to the actual experience. The amazing sense of togetherness and the knowledge that I can actually make a difference in someone's life, no matter how small. Now, riding in a van after departing the Reservation for possibly the last time, I can look out the window and see God's beauty everywhere, and feel God's love for all people stirring in each of my 2nd Pres companions. Though I know that change is coming to our youth group, no matter what happens, these two summers in South Dakota will remain as some of my best high school memories, and thinking of the summers spent here will help me keep my faith strong and full.