what we did on our mission trip

WOW! What a trip! Carley and I had such a great time of bonding, serving, praying, giving, and much more!

We flew into Rapid City, SD (a small town of only 60,000 people, but very touristy because of Mt. Rushmore) on Friday and after getting rental cars, and settling into our hotel for that night we went to dinner. It was a local joint with lots of interesting items on the menu, including "Rocky Mountain Oytsters." I chose to pass this time because I hear that this kind of "seafood" "will leave you hanging for a long time!"

The next morning we went to Mt Rushmore, did our grocery shopping at Walmart and Sams for our week ahead. Then we were off to Lower Brule! We had a 3 hour trip ahead. Thank goodness for the walkie talkies and the "I'm going to South Dakota and I'm going to take a A WORD, B WORD, C WORD, etc" game. It really passed the time! By the time we got to Lower Brule Indian Reservation, we were tired and hungry.


The missionaries greeted us and let us use their kitchen to make dinner at 11:30PM! The next morning was church. We went early to pray and believe God for great things. I helped out in kids church and it was a great time. The children were responsive and interested in what Rebecca, the missionary, shared. One of them brought a cat into the service. When someone would take him out, he would find his way back. I have never been in a service where animals were welcome!! LOL

*Let me interject that the church had a great kitchen and we cooked all meals there. We bought enough food to feed our 11 team members plus the missionaries, Randy and Rebecca for 6 days. At every meal we feed no less that 17 people. God multiplied the food because no one went hungry! In fact we probably gained weight b/c there was so much food!.



On Sunday afternoon, we canvased the local neighborhoods, knocking on doors and inviting children to our MEGA SPORTS CAMP! It was a long day because we switched time zones several times. We were beat.

On Monday, the day we had been waiting for, we got up early to distribute more flyers where we knew there would be lots of children. We prayed, prepared, and panicked . . . we didn't know what to expect! When 1:00 rolled around the children started filing in. We had 75 kids! That was the most they had ever had at any event in that community before. We were extatic, exhuberant, and by the days' end, exhausted. We really didn't have the manpower to handle that many! So we rearranged a few things and worked out a few kinks, and the rest of the week we averaged about 40 kids.

I was so tired after Monday's Sports Camp that I slept 12 hours!! It was emotionally draining! Being in another culture is mentally exhausting. (It was worth every minute!)


Oh, I don't think I told you, yet . . . I was a basketball coach at the MEGA SPORTS CAMP!!! If you know me you are rolling on the floor laughing right now! I am super athletically challeneged and God has a real sense of humor! He definatley had me "outside my comfort zone!!!" That is what you are supposed to do on Missions Trips, right . . . be flexible! Do what needs to be done!! I can laugh about it now, but at the time I was almost in tears! God was my strength because, He knows that is the only way I could have made it through that . . . sports camp!


Tuesday we went to the Tribal Office and got a great tour and had lots of questions. One day we went to the Wildlife center, where they have lots of animals that were once real and are now stuffed. They had so much info about the local wildlife! We also went to the local Popcorn Factory. It was in a little warehouse. The Tribe is one of the largest suppliers of popcorn in the world! They sell to Orville Reddenbacher, ship it all over the world, and all the proceeds go to the tribe. We also did a hike up some AMAZING hills. We saw a rattlesnake and a BIG, FAT wolf spider. (There was so much neat wildlife there that we don't have in FL!)


On Friday after all the Sports Camp events were over, we went to the POW WOW! The people wore their native clothes and did traditional dances. It was an AWESOME cultural experience. I took lots of pics and videos.

Then early Saturday morning we left Lower Brule and headed back to Rapid City. Another 3 hour trek. This time we stopped on the way at The Badlands National Park. It was one of the most beautiful sights to behold. God used His exclusive paintbrush that has colors that you can't find anywhere else on this planet. His majesty revealed!

Then it was a long stop at Wall Drug! The world's biggest Drug Store, where you can get cold water for FREE!!!!! (IT's an inside joke!!)

When we got back to Rapid City, we had made reservations at this lowly motel that seemed like such a good deal!! (only $54 per night! Thanks Angel!) The shock of the motel, made my mind spin . . . be FLEXIBLE, JAMIE!!


We went to a cowboy dinner show for our meal that night. Then we heard about the evening illumination and show at Mt Rushmore and so we went to experience that. Do you know how COLD it gets in SD when the sun goes down? Like 50!! We were freezing!

The day we went to eat breakfast for $.99 at the place where they filmed Dances with Wolves. That was cool! Then we walked around a little craft fair to pass our time.

Then it was time to go to the airport. We made it home at about midnight! I was just happy to give/get hugs and kisses to my family! I missed them like crazy!

More about what God did in me . . . later