But we're also excited by the opportunity to do some work here at the Makasan Presbyterian Church and Multi-Purpose Center tomorrow. We have a variety of projects lined up, from basic yard work to rebuilding two sun shades over picnic tables to staining benches.
Today started around 7:15 a.m. for the seven boys and men, plus Christine, who already had cereal and cantaloupe out and coffee made when I got out of the shower. The girls wandered out a bit later, but since church didn't start until 10:30, it was a nice, relaxing start to a day of rest.
One of the most popular times of the morning was around 9:15, when hot cinnamon rolls came out of the oven. Conner really got into his, as you can tell from the photo at left.The church service was a special one led by two interns from a seminary in Minnesota who are returning to classes this week. Since it was their last Sunday here, they led the service -- even preaching the sermon together. It was a spirit-filled service with a theme of having deep faith in Jesus that he can work miracles, just as he did for the Canaanite woman, who persisted in her request that Jesus heal her demon-possessed daughter (Matthew 15:10-28).
There also was lots of great music, including this moment with the church choir (our hosts are pictured here -- Pastor Asa on the far left and his wife, Tresita, in the center):
After church, there was a special potluck lunch in the Multi-Purpose Center to thank James (to Asa's left) and Ruth (to Tresita's left) for their service to the small congregation. James has been here a year, and Ruth has been here for two stints during the past six months, including all summer.
Although Jimbo, Clark and I were scheduled to go look at work projects after lunch and before we went to Wounded Knee, I quickly learned today that best-laid plans are pretty much meaningless once you are on "reservation time." The main mistake I made was in thinking we would arrive at Wounded Knee on time at 3 p.m., so I directed Shelli and Kelly to bring Zack from Rapid City via Highway 44 and meet us there. Of course, by the time the potluck ended and we packed our dinner for the trip (cold-cut sandwiches on hoagies, chips, string cheese and an apple -- Christine ROCKS!), it was already nearly 3. Then, just as we thought we were headed out, Asa decided he needed to drive his pickup away and get a tire inflated. (Everyone back out of the vehicles. So much for that rushed lunch packing ... though I think we're as efficient as the Kiwanis Club putting on the pancake breakfast already!)
Finally, after a rough ride along a very torn-up, under construction Highway 18 to Pine Ridge, we arrived at the Wounded Knee massacre site, met up with Shelli, Kelly and Zack and learned all about the history of the massacre from Asa (see http://www.lastoftheindependents.com/wounded.htm and http://www.hanksville.org/daniel/lakota/Wounded_Knee.html for the full story), including the fact that this mass grave likely contains around 320 Native American men, women, children and babies. What a horrible -- but, unfortunately, only small -- part of our history!
While helping Conner fight a headache from being dehydrated, we proceeded on to the Mandersen District's powwow site. Although it was only around 5 p.m. (we thought the powwow started at 6 ... turns out it was actually 7 ... or 7:15 ... reservation time again), there was a military flag ceremony and a variety of horse races going on (including this one, where a rider faces backward down an open field, they go around a pole and race back -- the first team to return wins a horse!).
But it also was more than 90 degrees with 90+ percent humidity. Let the complaining begin! I must have been asked at least a dozen times by at least three of the youth (one of which was my first-born) when we were going to leave. Of course, Sydney was here last summer and wasn't that interested in seeing a second powwow. (I also think the Indian Village at Cheyenne Frontier Days took some of the luster off this activity for some members of our group, though I have to say once it began it was cool to experience in an authentic setting!)
Loved these guys hitting the big drum during the opening grand entry! Very cool chanting that went along with it too!
After about an hour, we headed out, made a quick milk-and-eggs stop at a Shell station in Pine Ridge, then (in what seemed like a good idea initially) went south, then west to avoid the Highway 18 construction. Although the paved road was a roller coaster ride that occasionally would have given Elitch's Mind Eraser a run for its money, it actually could -- and did -- get worse. After turning north, we ran into a "road closed" sign (not literally, thank goodness!) and had to detour onto a very long section of gravel road. And since we were a caravan of three vehicles, two of us ate dust and had a hard time seeing the roadway, while the inside of Jimbo's truck got to wear a 64-ounce soda spilled right after the gravel journey began. (I definitely know who had it worse, and it wasn't me!)
Despite these detours, though, we made it back to the Makasan Center around 9:15 p.m., and Jimbo led the group in a devotional and reminder of the rules. What a great mission trip leader he is!
Some initial thoughts about the experience here on the reservation so far:
The Lakota people are a mixture of both warm, welcoming folks who are glad we are here and wished us well during our stay this week, and those who never said two words to us -- just like us white people!
We're not looking forward to it being 96 degrees here tomorrow, but it should make us appreciate Wednesday's 78-degree high that much more!
No comments:
Post a Comment