TOO Tired!!

It's been an exhausting past few days... my brain is pretty much mush right now, but I'm writing since we're sitting in the basement waiting out tornado weather. One touched down in the town that's only 15 miles from here.

.....

And then I stopped for worship and decided not to finish until now! I've been on the go for a while so I'm pretty sure I'm just going to veg out this weekend. I drove out to Omaha, NE to try and see the University of South Carolina play in the College World Series. I stood in line for over 2 1/2 hours to try and get a ticket. I was able to buy one off a scalper! I got in, started taking pictures (it was a really good seat!), and waited on the rain to pass. I sat there over 2 hours in the rain.... it was not fun :( I finally ended up leaving. I didn't think they were going to play, and I think it was unfair that they did end up playing in the mess. But it was an adventure, I'm proud of myself for making it in and trying something on my own, and I wouldn't trade anything for that experience!

Monday was filled by going to Rapid City to pick up a piece to be able to connect my computer to a projector and getting the meal for the kids for tonight. Rapid is the closest "big city" to the reservation. It's almost 2 hours away! INSANITY! :) Tuesday I spent all morning preparing for my first advisory committee meeting, had the meeting, then cleaning up from the meeting. It went well, though, and I'm happy for all the feedback I've already gotten. This is an amazing community... I'm so thankful to have this opportunity...

Today, I went over to Makasan to help out with a VBS that was going on. It was fun, and I got a few ideas to add to my project. Had it occurred to me, I may have made this other project we're working on my project: a sleepover for some of the older girls! They girls came up with it. I'm excited to participate, though :) And to help make it possible. Everything is going well. I can't believe I've been here over a month... time is flying by faster than I ever expected it to... I need to get started on my Approval essay... I have to write a sermon for July 4th! That's going to be interesting. Prayers would be appreciated as I begin this endeavor.

I'm pressing onward and forward... learning how to play guitar... still reading a lot (unfortunately, I should be reading stuff for school instead of what I'm mostly reading!)... God is good!

One of these days I'll finally be
In a place where there's no more need
No more pain and no more grief
No more foolish disbelief
And all the joy there will be
When at last we finally see
One of these days ~FFH

Baptisms and Mud Bogging

Yup. That's definitely the kind of day it's been! It was nice not to have to worry about preparing a message for the kids tonight. Pastor Karen took over it tonight because we performed 3 baptisms tonight; for a mother and her 2 children (father is already baptized). I know I've recently seen an adult baptized, but tonight moved me more. I think it's this community. I love it even with all the problems. There's problems and violence everywhere, I find it no different here... just a little poorer in many situations. It was amazing the questions the kids raised as they witnessed this grown woman stand up and say, "Yes, I do believe in Jesus Christ and I want to become one of His baptized children!" I smiled a lot tonight. Especially when the kids gathered around our font to watch.

Before all this happiness, though, there was much awkwardness and embarrassment! Pr Karen and her hubby Paul closed on their house today, so I was charged with taking the family that is here this week up to Red Shirt Table. No problem... I know how to get there... one of the few places burned in my brain considering it's the only place I've ever seen an eagle! Well... it rained last night... a lot... on Red Shirt Table. We were able to get to the church with minimal slippage back and forth. The slipping shook me pretty hard because it made me think back on the "biggest" accident I had in high school: one of my friends and I had gone shopping up town and we were running late so I was speeding down a back road I wasn't familiar with; I took a curve faster than I should have, over corrected, and spun the truck 180 degrees into the bank on the opposite side of the road. My first thought was, "Oh crap! Daddy's going to kill me!" My second was concern for my friend, who happened to be on crutches from having knee surgery! Fun times :P

Anyway, we made it in, had an amazing presentation (as always) from Rev Two Bulls and his wife, great lunch, and then went to leave. Instead of being smart and going where I knew I could get out (even though I would've been sliding) I tried to go over a different way... and buried part of two tires in about 6-8 inches of mud! We had to be pulled out. My feet were very muddy! I still need to clean it out from under my toe nails! All I could do was laugh. I should've known better! lol

Final Musing: please continue to keep me in your prayers as I ponder the candidacy process. That's all I'm going to write about that. Thanks to all who keep up with me and get any entertainment or knowledge from my musings.... Love and peace to you!

I've been here grounded far too long

I'm ready to see the open wide

Ready to sing a different song

I've seen my troubles 'long the way

I want to sail towards the sun

I want to turn another page

I'm on my way

I'm ready to fly,

I'm ready to soar

I'm ready to leave this world behind.

I'm ready to open up the door

I'm ready to fly

I'm ready to spread my wings across the sky

I think it's time

I'm ready to go

I'm ready to fly. ~FFH

I know, I know, they're getting far between...

I've been spending my extra time reading so I wouldn't be focused on being homesick. It's really helped. I'm more fired up and frustrated right now than anything to focus on other things. I'm praying very hard right now. I'm not going into things here, but prayers from others would be nice, too....

It's been busy around here. Last week I went out and bought the stuff for walking tacos for the kids and bought enough! I was quite proud :) Sometimes I either go WAY over or WAY under. This time it was pretty good, and not too too much left over. Thursday through Saturday I was in Rapid City for SD Syond Assembly. I really enjoyed getting to see how they operated. I met Bishop Zellmer. He was throughly awesome! He crossed his legs during the closing worship and when I noticed this thought came into my head: "*GASP* His legs are crossed! Would Dr. Hawkins walk up to a bishop and make him put his leg down!?" I was entertained :)

SD used electronic voting for the first time and I REALLY liked it! It made votes faster and more decisive. I enjoyed all the people I met by manning our booth. I actually met a pastor who graduated from LTSS! I promise, this is rare for SD because, well... look at the other seminaries that are closer than LTSS! She invited me to come to her congregation, and she said we may could work it out that I could preach if I come... that's the 2nd time I've been asked/told I will preach this summer! Maybe I should... but it concerns me that I haven't had a formal class for it... we'll see...

We finally have a group in for a week. They went to Wounded Knee tonight, so I decided I would go back with them. I'm still processing my feelings... it's such a sad, tragic part of history... and I wonder if I visit for the right reasons...

We stopped by Lost Bird's grave and Kelly told about her. We cleaned her grave off, and pulled up all the weeds. There was an elderly woman there who had the people she was with take our picture. This kind of scares/concerns me that she did that. We went up in a prayerful, respectful way... we weren't causing trouble... we weren't encouraging the vendors who were set up at the bottom of the site... intrigued still :/

God, give me strength for the days to come. Guide me in your path and your ways. Show me what is right, show me what I should do. Help me to be still and listen. Thy will be done. Amen.

Oops... I didn't realize it's been so long...

I've been meaning to update, but have been reading at night so therefore put this on the back burner! Everything has been really great. The kids are beginning to realize that I actually am going to be around... so they're working on testing me! Our humor is slightly different, so some things from me they don't understand... but music has been universal :) It's been one field I've connected with several on and it makes me happy...

I honestly never thought I would get as homesick as I am. I'm good, I love it here. I wouldn't trade it for the world! But deep down I feel it, and if I let it, it would get to me. Time is flying; there's no reason to be upset or count the days. I'm living day by day, soaking up all the blessings God is giving me!

This past weekend I went to see Carhenge in Alliance, NE. It's pretty much what it sounds like... a replica of Stonehenge made out of cars! It was interesting and I met a nice woman in the souvenir shop who I talked with for a little while. She has an uncle on the reservation... I should've found out who he was. That was pretty much all there was to Alliance.

I still can't believe how open the land is out here! And how small the towns are... I really thought I came from po-dunk... but not compared to the closest cities here! Rapid City almost reminds me of Columbia, but it's a little more spread out. I may explore more later... and I'm really debating whether to ask about going to see Eclipse at midnight... I really want to go, but I'd end up staying overnight in Rapid City because I wouldn't want to come back this far so late.... It's tradition to go at midnight... I'm still weighing the pros and cons...

Precious Lord, take my hand

Lead me on, let me stand

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn

Through the storm, through the night

Lead me on to the light

Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home