Today we took a two hour boat ride at Gates of the Mountain in the area where Lewis & Clark explored so long ago. The cliffs went straight up from the waters edge -- we saw amazing landscape and wildlife including eagles and osprey.
After the boat ride, we drove to Helena and are now relaxing @ St. Paul UMC--what a gorgeous facility -- it is only 3 years old and the youth room reminds of us of our home at CUMC.
We will get an early start tomorrow morning. We hope to be back in Salt Lake City by 5 p.m. We will call our families to come and get us as we get closer to Salt lake.
Friday, July 17, 2009
And We're Headed Home . . . .
Last night, which was our last night in Heart Butte, there was a community BBQ which was a lot of fun. After eating, we had a foot washing in which staff members first washed the feet of a few of the adult leaders, who in turn washed the remainder of the adult leader's feet. The adult leaders then washed the feet of their family group. It was very spiritual and emotional and we grew very close together during this time. We all broke down and sobbed and cried and hugged for a long time.
This morning we cleaned up the school and said good bye to all of our friends from the churches from around the country--Gainesville, Florida; Owatana, Minnesota; and Port Orchard, Washington. It was very difficult to say goodbye.
As we were getting ready to to leave, McKenna, a young Blackfeet girl, came runnung up to Michael, grabbed his leg, cried, and wouldn't let go. Michael hugged her and she still wouldn't let go. She told him that during Kids Club that he was the only one that made her happy. What an experience for all of us, but especially Michael.
We are now heading towards Helena to Gates of the Mountain for a two hour boat ride later this afternoon. We will spend the night at St. Paul UMC in Helena and will be headed home tomorrow. We are looking foward to coming home and seeing everyone tomorrow evening.
This morning we cleaned up the school and said good bye to all of our friends from the churches from around the country--Gainesville, Florida; Owatana, Minnesota; and Port Orchard, Washington. It was very difficult to say goodbye.
As we were getting ready to to leave, McKenna, a young Blackfeet girl, came runnung up to Michael, grabbed his leg, cried, and wouldn't let go. Michael hugged her and she still wouldn't let go. She told him that during Kids Club that he was the only one that made her happy. What an experience for all of us, but especially Michael.
We are now heading towards Helena to Gates of the Mountain for a two hour boat ride later this afternoon. We will spend the night at St. Paul UMC in Helena and will be headed home tomorrow. We are looking foward to coming home and seeing everyone tomorrow evening.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009 -- Day 4 @ Heart Butte
T
oday is our last service day at Youthworks. The kids split up into workgroups again today. Some of them went to Kids Club, some to finish painting the elder's house in Heart Butte, and some helped set up teepee poles and picnic tables for an upcoming Sundance festival.
One group was blessed by a Catholic Deacon named Charlie (one of the native elders). It was a very spiritual moment for that group.
Last night, the whole group drove up to Glacier at Two Medicine Lake for a pizza party and a little R&R. The kids had a chance to hike, hang out at the lake, or walk around to the trading post.
The pictures from today were taken at Kids Club. The pyramid and the wheelbarrow race and the "horse race" with adults and teens as the horses were a series of relay races for the kids.
oday is our last service day at Youthworks. The kids split up into workgroups again today. Some of them went to Kids Club, some to finish painting the elder's house in Heart Butte, and some helped set up teepee poles and picnic tables for an upcoming Sundance festival.One group was blessed by a Catholic Deacon named Charlie (one of the native elders). It was a very spiritual moment for that group.
Last night, the whole group drove up to Glacier at Two Medicine Lake for a pizza party and a little R&R. The kids had a chance to hike, hang out at the lake, or walk around to the trading post.
The pictures from today were taken at Kids Club. The pyramid and the wheelbarrow race and the "horse race" with adults and teens as the horses were a series of relay races for the kids.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wednesday, July 15 -- Day 3
Another work day for all of us. Up at 7, off to work groups about 9. We're painting a house for an elder here in Heart Butte and another one in Browning. At times there seems like there's more paint on the kids than on the house, but at the end of the day, the houses are looking amazing! These kids are really hard workers! At one of the houses, the family has brought out food, sodas and popsicles for the kids. They also invited the kids inside to show them their leather and beadwork. We're all definitely being exposed to the native culture in a personal way.
Last night we had Youthworks Olympics. All the different workgroups (there are 6 of them with kids from all the different groups), competed against each other in field games. Great fun was had by all! All of the kids are working together and enjoying the new friends they're making!
Each evening during "Club Time" (worship and devotional), the kids get a chance to recognize the wonderful things that they see in their peers with a "Flannel-tastic!!!" They also recognize each other with a "Yay God!" when they see God working in each other. It's been a moving experience for many of them.
That's all for now.
-Gayla
Tuesday, July 14 -- Day 2
Da
y 2 of Youthworks...Our kids were up at 7 again to start their day. After building clean-up, breakfast and morning devotional, we split back into our work teams (groups of about 10 kids, mixed together from the 4 church groups here). The groups that were painting set off about 9, while the Kids Club group got to drive into Browning to shop at the trading post. More painting today, but without the fierce morning thunderstorms (thank God!). Several of our youth are getting really attached to th
e native kids in Kids' Club. It's going to be hard to say goodbye.
Last night, an older woman from the Blackfeet community came to speak to us about her culture. Several members of her family came to sing, dance, and drum for us. We all enjoyed the evening and participated in the dancing and drumming as well!
Barb blowing out the candles on her birthday cake!
y 2 of Youthworks...Our kids were up at 7 again to start their day. After building clean-up, breakfast and morning devotional, we split back into our work teams (groups of about 10 kids, mixed together from the 4 church groups here). The groups that were painting set off about 9, while the Kids Club group got to drive into Browning to shop at the trading post. More painting today, but without the fierce morning thunderstorms (thank God!). Several of our youth are getting really attached to th
e native kids in Kids' Club. It's going to be hard to say goodbye.
Last night, an older woman from the Blackfeet community came to speak to us about her culture. Several members of her family came to sing, dance, and drum for us. We all enjoyed the evening and participated in the dancing and drumming as well!
Barb blowing out the candles on her birthday cake!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Monday, July 13 Day One of Service Ministries at Heart Butte
We have made it through our first day at Heart Butte!!As you can see from this photo, Morgan, Josh and David spent their day painting--they were at Erma's house in Browning, MT.
Michael also spent his day painting a house. Others in our group have been doing various things today--one group scraped a deck and washed a wall to paint tomorrow. Another group painted the Community Center, while another participated in Kid's Club, which provides activities for the children on the reservation ranging in age from 5 to 12 years.
Each group will continue working on the same project tomorrow that they worked on today. On Wednesday we will each be reassigned to another job.
Oh, and did we mention, today is Barb, our Youth Director's birthday (we won't say which one). As you can see from this photo of Barb and her son A.J., she doesn't look any older!!
What a privilege to be with her today on her birthday. We can't think of a better way to spend such a special day than helping others.
Happy Birthday Barb. We love you.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Heart Butte
Today we went kayaking and swimming before our devotional and departure to the reservation at Heart Butte. Our group is doing well having bonded together for the last three days: We're well organized and watching out for e
ach other. Tonight we'll be introduced to what we're going to do.
ach other. Tonight we'll be introduced to what we're going to do. 
The dog in this picture is our greeting committee, saying, "Hi Christ UMC and welcome."
I don't know if we're going to be able to send pictures each day, but we'll try.
Pastor Tom
Pastor Tom
KOA St. Marys and Glacier National Park Again
We visited waterfalls and the East Glacier, which is evaporating as we speak and will be gone by 2030. On our way, we saw Goose Island, which is in the middle of one of dozens of large coves of St. Mary's Lake, which is quite big. While we hiked to a beautiful waterfall, many of us saw up close and personal a deer buck, 
foraging leaves from lower branches. Last night during our devotional we asked each other, "Why is tonight different from any other night?" And most of our group said, "It's different because we're more bonded now, just today in fact, because of all the time we've had together." We're ready now for the reservation, where we'll be doing a lot of work from 6AM to 10PM. Wish us luck.
Pastor Tom
foraging leaves from lower branches. Last night during our devotional we asked each other, "Why is tonight different from any other night?" And most of our group said, "It's different because we're more bonded now, just today in fact, because of all the time we've had together." We're ready now for the reservation, where we'll be doing a lot of work from 6AM to 10PM. Wish us luck.Pastor Tom
Friday, July 10, 2009
Glacier National Park
Hello All,We made it to Glacier National Park after seeing the Lewis and Clark Museum. We had a wonderful meal of spaghetti and bread before some went swimming and others went wildlife looking. We're here for two days before going to the Blackfeet Mission on Sunday. Keep us in your prayers as we begin the Lord's work very soon. More to come.
Tom
And We're Off--1st Night--Great Falls, Montana
Good Morning,
And what a trip we've had so far! 10 hours in the van together - no iPods, MP3s, or videos. Just old fashioned talking, talking, talking. Most of us actually made it to bed by 11PM, although some the youth wanted to go without sleep and chat all night under the stars, until it started to rain, forcing them inside tents and vans for the remainder of the night. I bet some will be falling asleep on our next van ride today.
All is going well. We don't have any pictures this morning, because I'm unable to get on our wireless here. But we have some great ones, and as soon as I can, I'll get them to you.
More to come...
Tom
And what a trip we've had so far! 10 hours in the van together - no iPods, MP3s, or videos. Just old fashioned talking, talking, talking. Most of us actually made it to bed by 11PM, although some the youth wanted to go without sleep and chat all night under the stars, until it started to rain, forcing them inside tents and vans for the remainder of the night. I bet some will be falling asleep on our next van ride today.
All is going well. We don't have any pictures this morning, because I'm unable to get on our wireless here. But we have some great ones, and as soon as I can, I'll get them to you.
More to come...
Tom
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