Adult Mission Trip - Post Trip Pictures and Comments

The Dakota people are quite interesting. Very friendly and welcoming to us, although they said there is still a mistrust of the white race.

With regard to their spirituality, three separate speakers, in describing their prayers said they never pray for Blessings for themselves. Prayers are for others!

Kay Hoppers

The final total of projects completed by the Sewers:

27 Pillows, 19 pairs of curtains, 7 lap robes, 7 single valances, 3 pair of valances, and 7 receiving blankets. This group really added something special to this mission trip. Oh, they also auctioned off several items and the mission group donated another $202 to The Tree of Life Ministry as a result of the further generosity of this group of missioners!

Adult Mission Trip - Post Trip Pictures and Comments

A fun time was had by all. Martha and Bill enjoying a moment following a wonderful meal at the Cattleman's restaurant.

Post Trip Pictures and Comments

The plumbing team had one of the most depressing situations and just kept at it. Here is the team: Andy, Mary and Jeff.

Martha and Carolyn sorting in the clothing room on the first day.

Our final picture with Peter as we were preparing to leave. An awesome time was had by all!

A few from Willard.

A collage of some of my favorites - the food pantry, our time in Wall, SD, Peter on the new bench and our special supper of fry bread and buffalo soup.

Laura Batdorf

Our contribution to the community garden at its new home in our favorite, shady spot.

Our contribution to the Community Garden - a bench with a tree design. This bench was placed under a tree in the middle of the garden which became a favorite break place. Peter, our crew chief, is trying out this gift before we placed it in the garden.

Laura Batdorf

One table of our delicious meal at the Cattleman's Club. Best steak north of Texas and I'm from Texas!

Barb Lipke

Day 7

A good meal was enjoyed by all! We went out to eat in Pierre at the Cattleman's Steak House. It sat across the street from the Missouri. It was a fitting ending to another good day of work.

David Kieffer

This has been a truly remarkable experience. This morning, however, clarified why I am here.

Throughout the work I have looked around and thought to myself, "Sure, I know these people are poor and depressed but the least they could do is pull a weed or pick up the trash." Today I visited the house where one of the teams is plumbing. This house, which is inhabited, has no power and no water. There is plastic at the windows. The floor is precarious. My career has led me to many poverty stricken areas in Columbus but nothing compares to this.

Maslow's Hierarchy of need comes to mind. How can someone pull a weed or pick up a piece of trash when they have to worry about heat and sanitation and food preparation.

Truly the hands of our team there, Andy, Jeff and Mary are Christ's hands.

Toni Rausch

Still Day 5

We'd love to hear from some more of you! It's really not that hard. Spread the word and encourage others to go to the blog and then comment.

Not knowing the people, I am amazed at how welcoming the group is. I am really having fun with the group!
Barbara Jones

I am so appreciative of the fact that we were able to drive through the Badlands. It was beautiful! I so wanted to touch the land to see what it felt like. Was it like sand or harder? It was both. We got to get out at the Visitor's Center and some of us walked on it and even climbed.

Martha Trout

We made it! This was a first time experience for many of us and was everything we had hoped it would be. We enjoyed lunch here as well.

Toni Rausch

Day 5

Oh, what a beautiful morning! (Oh, the sacrifices we're willing to make in order to get the blog on!) Bill

Today is my birthday. While I usually celebrate it with dinner with friends at Villa Nova, I'm thrilled to be spending this birthday with fellow missionaries (ane newly made friends!) exploring the Badlandes, marveling at Mt. Rushmore and perhaps having 5 cent coffee and bread pudding at Al's Oasis.

Susan Lowe
P.S. I did, I did, have bread pudding and 5 cent coffee at Al's Oasis!!!

Our two fearless leaders! Peter is the crew chief for Tree of Life and he is everywhere! Dan did a really fantastic job of planning our trip. His attention to details relative to our lodging and meal stops was wonderful! Great job, Dan!

Dorothy Croy

This was the vehicle we travelled in on the way out and has been our transportation to our worksites. There was a lot of getting acquainted that happened as a result of sharing this space.
Cathy Davis

Our sleeping quarters. Pretty comfortable but when you're as tired as we are at the end of the day it doesn't take much! Sleep comes fast and the mornings are early. We have left for our mission sites and our day of tourism at 7:00 a.m. each day.

Willard Becker

Meal time is always a special time of nourishment and community building. We are enjoying homemade lasagna that Leah Shoemaker made. It was delicious! You should see us eat breakfast and make our lunches at the same time. What a time of laughter and creativeness! Let's see, should I add a piece of turkey or ham to my peanut butter and jelly sandwich today - an orange or a banana - or should I try one of those MRE's John Hoppers brought?

Barb Lipke

This is the sunset many of us enjoyed on Monday evening. It was awesome!

Additional Day 4 Happenings

Lisa fixed us a Native American meal of fry bread and buffalo stew. It was very good!