When we said that we were going back to North Dakota in November most people looked at us like we had told them we were going to the moon. Why would you want to head into one of America's bleakest environments in winter? Simple. MAM left a piece of it's heart in North Dakota in a small town in the middle of Standing Rock Reservation so we didn't have a choice.
It was great to be back in Fort Yates and with a bigger team and a change in our agenda. After our trip in the summer, MAM has felt strongly that we should find ways to support Lance and Line and the young people in the community. This trip was all about exploring our partnership and seeing what support and services MAM might bring while providing some training for adults and programs for the youth and children.
Our Friday was filled with lots of children and young people from the local area - playing games, doing craft, enjoying the snow and some devotions and testimonies to round off the end of the day. Tytus and Jamie, our children's workers, ran some awesome activities for the children building trust and relationship very quickly - it was a joy for the rest of us on team to see them in action. There was an institution quickly established in the shape of foursquare - if ever there was a second of free time over the weekend Lance and all the guys on our team would be playing regardless of whether there were any youth there or not!
MAM also had opportunity on Friday to meet some of the teachers and social workers from Standing Rock Community Middle and High schools to see whether they would be interested in our curriculum for the students. There was a good deal of enthusiasm for what MAM could bring as outsiders to the local community - offering safe space for the young people to discuss their issues. The teachers felt that our lessons might help them gain some purpose and goals to look towards to take their eyes off of their bleak circumstances and give them a reason to keep going when things are difficult. We hope to run a trip back to the schools to run our programs in 2015.
Saturday was a very different day with most of our focus going on training adults in dealing with the many issues that they face on the reservation. With April, who is a licensed counsellor, taking the lead we sessions on suicide prevention, counselling, self harm, addiction, sexual abuse and self care. Meanwhile, Tytus and Jamie ran some great activities for the children to keep them occupied while the adults were learning.
Sunday was a more restful day where we were able to learn a bit more about the church and the reservation. George and Micah led worship at the church service where we joined in celebrating as Macy, one of Line's sunday school group, was baptised. We were all inspired by Pastor Ruger who despite being in his eighties drives 90+ miles to the church and back again every Sunday to lead the service - a very caring and wise man. It was a real privilege for our team to be worshipping among this small group of faithful believers who are holding out Jesus' light in that dark place.
After a whistle stop, very cold, tour of the reservation from Lance we had a great closing meeting with Lance and Line with time to share, worship and pray together. We have all been struck by the depth of relationship we have built with Lance and Line and their lovely family - and we were all so inspired by their relentlessness in loving the children and young people that God has put into their care.
Once again, we found it hard to leave Lance and Line's little sanctuary and all our friends there - it was an extraordinary time of fellowship and learning for all of us. MAM will be back.
It was great to be back in Fort Yates and with a bigger team and a change in our agenda. After our trip in the summer, MAM has felt strongly that we should find ways to support Lance and Line and the young people in the community. This trip was all about exploring our partnership and seeing what support and services MAM might bring while providing some training for adults and programs for the youth and children.
Our Friday was filled with lots of children and young people from the local area - playing games, doing craft, enjoying the snow and some devotions and testimonies to round off the end of the day. Tytus and Jamie, our children's workers, ran some awesome activities for the children building trust and relationship very quickly - it was a joy for the rest of us on team to see them in action. There was an institution quickly established in the shape of foursquare - if ever there was a second of free time over the weekend Lance and all the guys on our team would be playing regardless of whether there were any youth there or not!
MAM also had opportunity on Friday to meet some of the teachers and social workers from Standing Rock Community Middle and High schools to see whether they would be interested in our curriculum for the students. There was a good deal of enthusiasm for what MAM could bring as outsiders to the local community - offering safe space for the young people to discuss their issues. The teachers felt that our lessons might help them gain some purpose and goals to look towards to take their eyes off of their bleak circumstances and give them a reason to keep going when things are difficult. We hope to run a trip back to the schools to run our programs in 2015.
Saturday was a very different day with most of our focus going on training adults in dealing with the many issues that they face on the reservation. With April, who is a licensed counsellor, taking the lead we sessions on suicide prevention, counselling, self harm, addiction, sexual abuse and self care. Meanwhile, Tytus and Jamie ran some great activities for the children to keep them occupied while the adults were learning.
Sunday was a more restful day where we were able to learn a bit more about the church and the reservation. George and Micah led worship at the church service where we joined in celebrating as Macy, one of Line's sunday school group, was baptised. We were all inspired by Pastor Ruger who despite being in his eighties drives 90+ miles to the church and back again every Sunday to lead the service - a very caring and wise man. It was a real privilege for our team to be worshipping among this small group of faithful believers who are holding out Jesus' light in that dark place.
After a whistle stop, very cold, tour of the reservation from Lance we had a great closing meeting with Lance and Line with time to share, worship and pray together. We have all been struck by the depth of relationship we have built with Lance and Line and their lovely family - and we were all so inspired by their relentlessness in loving the children and young people that God has put into their care.
Once again, we found it hard to leave Lance and Line's little sanctuary and all our friends there - it was an extraordinary time of fellowship and learning for all of us. MAM will be back.
