VBS 2019 Day 4 – This is it!

The kids are having such a great day at VBS! Our day started with inspired singing and stories, and went on to an inflatable obstacle course and hilarious water games. Have a great summer, everyone! We can’t wait til next year!

VBS 2019 Day 3

Day 3 – better than ever!!! Fabulous counselors and junior counselors – amazing kids! And a congregation that believes we’re called to feed people!!!

VBS 2019 Day 2

Awesome kids!

 

Pine Ridge 2019 Day 6

Our final day in South Dakota, we were out seeing the Black Hills and the Badlands with new eyes, keeping our Lakota friends in mind. We met Kelly Looking Horse at the Crazy Horse Memorial and celebrated with him his winning the art show top prize!

Pine Ridge 2019 Back Home Again!

Back in Excelsior today. Thank you, Mount Calvary, for a fantastic, God-filled, and fun mission trip!

VBS Roar! 2019 Day 1

Our VBS Roar! is off to a great start this morning with some lively music and dancing in large group. Our theme song for this year is I’m Trusting You.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Pine Ridge 2019 Day 5

We continued with our fence-building project bright and early. After lunch we visited Thunder Valley CDC where they are building a sustainable community centered on traditional values and incorporating agriculture, housing, energy generation, education, and youth leadership training. Our crew played with and served a meal to neighborhood kids in the afternoon. This evening we heard from Will Peters, a local high school teacher and musician. His stories, music, and friendly charisma really connected with our youth.

Pine Ridge Day 4

Wednesday started somberly. Our group visited Wounded Knee and heard from Kelly Looking Horse the story of the massacre that happened there in 1890 (and again in 1973). Kelly led us in a prayer of mourning and remembrance. We then visited the Lakota Nation’s KILI radio followed by the commodity food distribution center. In the afternoon we began work on a fencing project for a military veteran and then came back to help with Kid’s Time at the retreat center. In the evening local people came by and put on an art show. Another full and blessed day!

Pine Ridge Day 3

Another day learning from our Lakota neighbors. Basil Braveheart and Elizabeth Little shared their stories and insight into the Lakota understanding of the world and way of life. Then we helped host over 60 kids and their families for a summer BBQ party.

Pine Ridge Day 2

An amazing, eventful, beautiful day! After getting settled at the Pine Ridge Retreat Center we headed to Darrin’s buffalo ranch. We visited with his buffalo and heard the story of the White Buffalo Calf Woman. After lunch we headed over the hill and dismantled a chicken coop. Next up was learning traditional Lakota dancing then performing the dances at a nursing home with the Lakota Grandchildren’s Dancing Society led by Kelly Looking Horse and his wife. Then dinner and a movie and ending the day with small group discussion time. Thank you God for today.