Goodbyes

Sunday I went to St. Francis to see Jersey.  She showed me her new bike that she won.  We took some pictures together.  Knowing I won't have time to see her again before I leave, I got her PO box number because she wants to be pen-pals.  Saying goodbye for now, I gave her a hug.

Monday morning was my last day at WBCWS.  I typed grant finance papers.  Then talked with some of the residents.  When time was almost up, I went back to the offices to say goodbye to staff.  As a thanks for volunteering, WBCWS staff gave me a dream catcher shaped like a buffalo skull.

Over my lunch, Mandy, Nicole, and I went to the pawn shop-probably for the last time this summer.  I bought a couple kids movies for another girl's day at Boys and Girls Club.  Haggling, I (hopefully) got a good deal on a gift for my little brother.

Around 6, Mandy and I went to a Superhero Night in He Dog for kids.  There were tons of games and prizes, kids dressed as batman, and good food like pizza.  Mandy and I ran the cupcake walk; winners got superhero cupcakes.  Daisy met us at there.  We face-painted each other.  After it was over, we went to Melany and Bethany's house for ice cream.  I washed off the face-paint at their house, but it had stained my face.  The rest of the night I had a pink beard and blue "LOL" across my forehead.  I felt gorgeous!  I don't think I'll see Bethany and Melany again before I leave, so I said goodbye.  Hok Te Win [Scruffy Dog Woman] was not near the porch when I left, so I did not get to say goodbye to the cutest ugly-dog I've ever seen.

Daisy, Mandy, and I came back home for a sleepover.  I washed my face again, but was still stained. Daisy taught me some Lakota words and how to rabbit dance like she and her mom do at pow wows.  We ended the night with the movie, Mean Girls.  

This morning, I made Daisy and I pancakes and washed my face a lot.  It finally all washed off!  Then we went to the grocery store to buy ice cream for girl's day.

At Boys and Girls Club, we painted, made a salad out of the lettuce we grew, ate ice cream, and watched Bridge to Terabithia.  Mid-day, Daisy's mom picked her up.  I said my goodbyes to them too.

Now, it is gloriously raining!  It's a night to stay indoors.  Without many indoor places to hang out, I might just stay in tonight and be lazy.

Saying all these goodbyes is sad, but I will probably see many of these people again!  I've already made plans to come back and visit my new friends.

Paulmart

Thursday morning I went to a teen conference that some WBCWS staff were going to be speaking for. The conference wasn't exactly what I expected, but I still learned some cool stuff.  I got to see a lot of friends I've made through WBCWS and Boys and Girls Club.  I sat by a couple friends I made at the zombie lock-in.  Between speakers, I learned how to use a lasso.  I got...okay at it.  It was a good time.  After the conference, I went home.  I had dinner plans, but I unfortunately got sick.  Canceling most my plans for Friday, I recovered.  I accomplished almost nothing Friday.  Feeling well, I went to a fire later Friday night.

Saturday I felt awesome!  I am so glad that I got well so fast!  I spent most of Saturday chilling at home with Mandy.  Around 5, Mandy and I went to the St. Francis Museum, something cool to see before we leave.  When we found the museum, it was closed.  So Mandy and I took pictures like we were tourists.  Next we went to Ghost Hawk (a body of water lake/river) where a group had taken kids from St. Francis to swim.  We found a small body of water that looked like a dam; we did not find anyone though.  So we took more pictures like tourists and left.  [Later we found out we were at the dam; on the other side of the street is the river where everyone was hanging out.]  Then we went to Paulmart!  Mandy and I have wanted to go to Paulmart for a long time because of the name.  In reality, it's just a gas station with a lot of the basic food nessesities: frozen pizza, baby food, the stuff you can make an okay meal out of, etc.  After I payed for my tea, cottage cheese, and sour cream, the man said "wopila."  I didn't know what "wopila" meant, so I smiled and nodded.  Then I asked my friend its meaning.  "Wopila" means "thank you."  Which means a nod and a smile is a fairly appropriate response!

After dinner, we went to Boys and Girls Club for a bonfire.  A group from a Bible collage in Oklahoma did worship.  Everyone had a good time.  Mandy, Bailey, and I hung out.  Bailey tried to teach Glen a Native song.  Then he showed us a song banned from a local radio station for being racist.  Bailey thinks Tim McGraw's Indian Outlaw is funny and knows most the words.  I think it's pretty catchy, plus I like Tim McGraw.

I have a week left here.  I plan to make the best of it!  I've already made a few plans.

Volleyball

Monday night I went to Parmelee park with Melany, Bethany, and Mandy to teach pre-teen aged girls volleyball.  There was a wide range of skill levels.  I spent a while teaching one girl how to bump.  I helped an eighth-grader work on her setting form.

Tuesday night in Parmelee, no girls came.  Sad.  Instead we played a game with a bunch of younger kids.  It was a lot of fun.  One girl brought her puppy, so I held it.

Today, I worked with a girl on bumping and then setting.  She can now tell me what she did wrong when her set is off.  Seeing your error is the first step to getting better!  She was setting really well for a good amount of time!  Then we all played a game.  It started out 4 on 5.  Then more kids from the community joined.  Then we had some spectators.  Then I almost hit a horse with a volleyball...I was trying to save it...oops!  After the net was taken down, Mandy and I stayed for a bit.  We hung out with Glen, a couple girls visiting South Dakota from Illinois, and a boy I met at the zombie lock-in.  It was good!

It was a lot of fun spending the time in Parmelee and playing volleyball.

Riding Horse

Friday night, Keyanee and Echo stayed the night at our house.  During the fun night, Keyanee asked for a dance party.  Music playing, they were reluctant to dance with us.  After relentless persuasion, they both danced with me.  After dancing, I went outside where Keyanee and Jonathan were playing basketball.  Mary (my friend who does camp for Parmelee kids) was lying on the driveway looking up at the stars.  I lied down beside her with my face skyward.  Eventually Jonathan joined us.  The three of us talked about life, God, and ministry.  Deep in conversation, I enjoyed the starry night.  

Saturday I went horseback riding with Mandy and Nicole.  My friend, Bailey, took us with the help of his friend, Gabe.  It was so much fun!  I'm not very good at riding horse; I struggled to get my horse to go fast.  Myself as an opponent, Mandy won the "slowest horse race [Bailey] has ever seen."  Surrounded by beautiful scenery, I not-so-elegantly rode.  I enjoyed perfect weather with lightning flashing in the distance.

I spent the rest of my Saturday going to church at Door of Hope, reading, and watching New in Town with Mandy.

This morning, I went to church in Winner (45 minutes away) with Melany.  Winner Assemblies of God held its service at the park today.  It was a perfect day for it.  During service, two Christ followers gave their testimonies.  After service, I met Pastor Randy, his wife, and daughter.  They invited Melany and I over for lunch.  The meal was great: roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, and watermelon.  I loved talking with Melany on the way back from church.  

I asked Melany if she would like to do a volleyball camp for Parmelee girls with me this week.  We decided to do it Monday through Thursday of this week at 7pm.  While in Winner, Melany and I shopped for a volleyball net.  Melany, Bethany, and I will be doing a volleyball camp for pre-teen aged girls.  I will be the one teaching (or coaching I guess).  I am very excited to do this!  While I was at the zombie lock-in a week ago, I taught a young girl how to bump and set.  When I had to go, I told her "You were already getting good; keep practicing and someday you'll be really good."  When I said this,  her face lit up.  That makes me want to teach more girls.  Many kids here have so much potential.  I want to show them that, then maybe they will pursue it.

Tonight I plan to hang out with Lyric before church.  Then Lyric and I will go pick up Melany.  After church, I will walk around Parmelee and tell girls about volleyball camp.

I really only blog about events, but not relationships I'm building.  I can't blog about relationships because that is not for the world to see.  Building relationships with others is the most important thing I'm doing.  The events I blog about are not the reason I'm going to miss this place so much; the people are who I'm going to miss.  It's the individual who I can be a light to.  

Accumulation of Knowledge

Last night, Nicole had three girls over.  After I finished blogging, I went outside to see what they were all up to.  I found the four of them dying their hair with koolaid on the driveway.  I once tried this with Ariel, my cousin, a couple years ago.  It didn't work.  Apparently, you have to have boiling water, not cold.  It was working for the girls!  They told me I'd look awesome with pink bangs.  I decided to go for it, but pink lemonade didn't stick.  We used cherry next.  I only left my bangs in for two minutes.  They (after showering once) are still red tinted!

I often blog about what I've been doing, but not what I've been reading.  I typically contemplate writing about it, but decide not to. This post is dedicated to my recent accumulation of knowledge.

I've been reading the book Gospel by JD Greear.  It is extremely good!  If you want to understand the gospel better or "reintroduce" yourself to it, I highly recommend this book.  Referred to me by a pastor, Gospel helps reveal how sinful I am and how amazing God is.

"Only in the truths of the gospel can a heart turned in on itself burst alive in love for God."

"An idol is not necessarily a bad thing. It's usually a good thing that we've made into a god-thing that then becomes a bad thing to us."

"When Paul thought about a need for grace, he didn't think of others first-he thought of himself."

"As You have been to me, so I will be to others."

The last quote is referring to God and his grace for us.  That is then related to forgiving others.  It is a prayer.

Lakota Journey interns have weekly reading assignments that are chapters from various books.  Once read, us four interns discuss them.   Yesterday we had our weekly discussion about a chapter from Keep Going: The Art of Perseverance.  In the chapter an Indian grandpa is teaching his grandson about life's up's and down's.

"The fact is, the sun does not always shine.  Gentle breezes can grow into tornados.  Too much rain can lead to flood, and too much sunshine causes the drought.  Life is life-it is what it is.  It offers no certainties, except that it will go on with or without you. The sun will rise and set every day. Though clouds obscure your perception and you do not see it coming up and going down, it will do so nonetheless.  So do the seasons follow their unerring cycle, waiting for no one or nothing.  The seasons turn into years and the years into ages.  Neither waiting nor caring if you join them, but never denying your choice to do so. They will go, and so must you because your journey is waiting.  And in your journey you will learn reality and balance."

I've also been reading Esther, Matthew, and pamphlets from WBCWS that relate to what I want to do.

Now I will stop blogging because some lovely girls, including Keyanee (refer to my last post if you don't remember her), just arrived for a sleepover.  Already painting our nails while pizza is in the oven.  This will be a fun night!

Tomorrow, I might go horseback riding!

An Omen

Sometimes the start of your day reflects how the rest of the day will be; sometimes that is not the case.

Our medicine cabinet is mounted on the wall behind our toilet.  I have a fear that I will drop something (toothbrush, toothpaste, face soup, etc.) into the toilet.  As I was brushing my teeth this morning, I tried to place my toothbrush holder in the cabinet.  Being groggy like I am most mornings, I fumbled it.  Helplessly I watched as my toothbrush holder splashed into the toilet.  Ewwwww!  My obvious next thought: "Really?  Is this how this day is going to be?"  But wait!  I have good news: toothbrush holders float!  I immediately grabbed it and washed it off...I've yet to put my toothbrush back in it.  (I think I'll wash it a couple more times first.)  After showering, I found out I'm not the only one who dropped something in the toilet this morning.  I won't say who or what though.

I then went to St. Francis to pick up girls for girl's day at Boys and Girls Club.  I went to Daisy's house and found out she wasn't there.  After, I went to Keyanee's house.  I ended up with a full car of girls heading to Mission.  When I got to Boys and Girls Club, Daisy was already there!  That made me very happy!  The events of girl day:

-Water colored.

-Painted our nails.  Painted by a six year old, my nails are green with sparkles.  They look pretty good!

-Watched A Cinderella Story.  I bought it at the pawn shop yesterday.

-Ate ice cream and chocolate during the movie.

-Had a contest to see who could draw the best princess.  After painting Fiona, the winner got candy.

-"Dead Body" contests in the bowling lanes.  This is a new game as of today.  You drag your laying-down partner by the hands down the lane.  When the "dead" partner can tap the part above where the pins go, you switch being "dead."  Whoever gets back across the black line first wins.  Basically, a relay race of dragging your partner.  I won 3 of 4 times.  The fourth time my six-year-old partner gave up and called me fat.  I was impressed that she got me half down the lane!

-Then the boys returned.  The girls generously shared their chocolate and ice cream with the boys.

On the way back home, we started talking about boys.  Keyanee and I made a deal (that we shook on!) neither of us will date another boy till we turn 18.  The other girls thought that wasn't fair since I'm older by a lot.  But I disputed its fairness.  Awesome deal!  It's pointless when you are young anyways...especially 11.

I came home to tacos.  Thank you, Mandy!  

Good day!

Maybe dropping my toothbrush holder in the toilet wasn't a sign of a bad day; perhaps the fact that it floated was the omen of a good one!

Birds

Yesterday at Boys and Girls Club, I did a lot of water coloring with a couple little girls.  I now have many more pictures to hang; they also received many pictures from me.  While eating popcorn, we all watched Chicken Little.  Then we played in the old bowling alley.

After dinner, Mandy and I went to the pawn shop!!...but it was closed.  We crossed the parking lot to Family Dollar so I could get face wash.  The local grocery store didn't have any.  I could not find face wash in Family Dollar either!  Mandy and I searched the whole store.  Giving up, I got in the check-out line with plans to use Mandy's.  That's when I saw the face wash at the very front of the store!  We got ice cream and candy too!  We then went home and watched One Night With the King, the story of Esther.  I do not know how incredibly accurate the movie was, so now I need to read the book of Esther soon.

After a meeting for assault, I went to Boys and Girls Club.  When I arrived, the kids were at the pool.  Arriving at Mission pool, I was greeted by Redgirl and several other kids.  Without a swimsuit, the kids tried convincing me I don't need one to swim.  They got me sufficiently wet by splashing me and giving me wet hugs.  Since I still had my car, I drove back to the Club while the kids walked with other adults.  After reading time, we did a craft: draw your favorite plant.  Richard and I drew a tree together (it looks pretty sweet).  

Friday before the zombie lock-in, I hit a gorgeous yellow and black bird.  It died.  Today, on the way home, I was admiring an awesome black and grey bird with really long legs.  Then it flew under my car tire: it died too.  Since I am very prone to hitting them, birds should fear me.

Poor birds...

Zombie Apocalypse

Last night at a teen lock-in, I volunteered with other staff from WBCWS.  The theme was surviving a zombie apocalypse.  I now have a super awesome shirt that says "I Survived Zombie Apocalypse Training" with zombies on it.  After picking up a couple girls who needed a ride, I arrived at SGU's multi-purpose building at 8pm.  By this time, I had already drank one double-shot Starbucks coffee drink from a gas station.  I was really tired before the night started, but that was all it took to get me through the night's events:

-From 8pm till 11pm, I signed kids in and got permission slips from parents.
-Marathon of The Walking Dead and other zombie movies began and continued all night.
-Students did get-to-know-eachother exercises.

-11pm everyone is locked in.

-Self-defence training.  We learned how to take down the slow zombies, fast zombies, a mob of zombies, and people trying to take our supplies.  This included getting out of a chokehold...it was legit!

-Then two girls and I did face painting to "zombify" people.  Some of the ones I did looked okay...but one was my masterpiece: guts coming out of his eyes (per his request).  It looked so freaky!

-At 1:30ish, nobody was asking me to paint their face, so I joined some girls passing a volleyball in a circle.  It had been tempting me for a while.  My fingers have been itching to play.

-Super warm and sweaty, I retired from volleyball.  Watching from the sidelines, I ended up playing catch with a football.  Third catch jammed my finger.  I kept playing.  Right away it started swelling.  Luckily I thought to take my ring off before my finger grew a couple sizes.  My now puffy finger feels naked without my ring.

-Then I played volleyball again.  It didn't even bother my finger much!

-Sat and chilled for a bit.

-While fetching a bottle of water, a staff member asked me if I knew how to ref.  I told her I play basketball.  At about 4:30am, I was the ref for three basketball games going to 15 (including the championship game).  I've decided that I'm an awful ref because I don't call many fouls.  I also can't multitask: someone else kept score for me.

-I then chilled for a bit.
-Breakfast
-Clean-up time.

-After taking leftover food to WBCWS, I went home and to bed at 6:30am.

Waking at 3:30, I've just been relaxing.

Church tonight at 7pm!

Written on a Toasty Day

Going to Glen's house yesterday morning, I met up with Charlotte, Glen's sister.  (Glen is the director of Boys and Girls Club in Mission)  When I got to Glen's at 8:30, they had saved me chocolate chip pancakes from their breakfast party.  Yummm...  After I finished eating, the six of us went on Glen's porch to shoot his gun.  (His backyard is a prairie type field.)  I have shot BB guns and paintball guns, but never a real gun.  I shot a gun for the first time!!  What I fabulous way to start my day!  Then Charlotte, Glen, Mary, and I all went to Sinte Gleska University's museum of Lakota history.

I arrived at WBCWS by 10am.  Right now, I'm working on typing up a contact list of their donators.  Being at WBCWS, I learn a lot about Lakota culture, office work, running a non-profit, domestic violence, and sexual assault.  If you want to learn more about White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, check out http://www.wbcws.org/.

After going home for lunch, I went back to WBCWS to meet up with a couple workers there.  Our party of three went to the Missouri River-about two and a half hours away-to go to a ceremony of girls becoming women.   We were only there for one evening, but the girls doing the ceremony will be there for four days.  We went to talk to the girls about relationships.  There are many unhealthy relationships. Teaching girls to respect themselves and boys to respect girls is very important and will reduce the chance of a violent relationship.  Then a Lakota grandmother told us a story of how hitting a woman used to be handled in Lakota culture.  Another Lakota grandmother told us how a perpetrator was handled.  On the way home, our party of three stopped at McDonald's.  I'm not usually a huge fan, but I live in a town where the only chain fast-food place is Subway...so it was kinda exciting.

This morning, I went to WBCWS.  I used the typewriter to do grant reports again.  I now consider myself experienced with a typewriter: my reports look much neater now, and I got it done much faster.

Then I went to Boys and Girls Club.  We did work in the garden.  Four kids and I painted another "car wash" sign.  We painted it yellow and purple: Viking's colors.  We played in the broken bowling alley attached to Boys and Girls Club.  A couple girls painted my arms with their names in purple.  What a day!

After Boys and Girls Club, Lyric came home with me.  She is so awesome and sweet!  We had dinner and watched Phantom of the Opera.

I am sweating as I type.  I  thought you should all know.  It's an awfully hot day...good thing God made ice cream!

Native American Christian Music

Sunday I rested: sleep in late, listen to an Oakhill Christian Church sermon while I painted my nails, read my Bible, got a hair cut from a fellow-intern, etc.  Around 6:30pm, I finally left the house to go to church in Parmelee.  When our party of 4 got to Parmelee, we decided to walk around.  We were greeted by 4 young boys.  After throwing hay in our hair and on our clothes, the boys came to church with us.  After service, the boys started making paper planes out of the order-of-worship papers.  Obviously I joined!  Davis, my brother, typically excels in making paper planes; he even had a book of different ones to make.  Davis' planes typically beat mine...more like always.  By some fluke, I made an awesome paper plane, which made me seen super cool.  A young boy, Jud, and I hit it off because of the planes.  We made planes together; he made me two mini ones.  Then I made him an origami fortune teller.  After two more boys asked me to make them one, I just showed a boy how.

Home, Nicole and Mandy had just started a Lakota legends movie.  I grabbed some cereal and joined them.  (Tonight, we will finish the movie.)

This morning, I went to WBCWS.  One of the workers was playing Christian powwow music.  He then explained how it came to be.  In order to assimilate the Lakota people into American culture, the U.S. government attempted to force Christianity (particularly Catholic) onto the Lakota.  They would not allow the Natives to sing powwow music unless it was about Jesus and Christianity.  So the Natives sang powwow songs about Jesus.  In conversation, he continued to say that good came of it because the music is very calming.  I'm not for forcing a religion on someone; if someone has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, they will worship him by their own choosing.  But it's good that we have these songs now.
Here is a link to listen to a Native American Christian song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDoyIjRVf30

For lunch, I went to Starlite with Nicole.  We waited 30 minutes for our fast-food because they went to go get hotdogs so they could make her corndog.  Uh....

Then off to Boys and Girls Club.  We only had four kids today.  A girl and I made a tower out of dominos, then saw how many books we could stack on it.  It was impressive!  We also did some work in the garden.  Then the same girl and I read a couple chapters from the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. (We skipped book one.  It's my least favorite.  I wanted her to like the series.)  Before clean-up time, her and I colored together.

Camping in the Black Hills

Arriving at Crooked Creek Campground near Hill City in South Dakota on Thursday, we found a slightly crowded campground with open camping (put your tent wherever in the designated areas).  Desiring isolation, Mandy and I drove around the campground until we found a more secluded spot.  This just happened to be in the middle of the campground.  We camped where the creek makes a backwards "L."  We situated the tent and car so that it was just far enough away from the creek so no one would camp there.  Selfish?  Maybe, but I don't want to hear my tent neighbors snore.  We then began to eat dinner: PB&J's.  While eating, an older gentleman came over to our car and said if we help him move the picnic table in his campsite, we can have it wherever we want.  I suggested we place the table next to the fire pit located between his tent and ours.  Exchanging names and what brought us to Hill City, we decide to eat dinner at the table and chat with him.  His name is Bill.  He is a very awesome guy, so I am going to spend the next paragraph telling you about him.  Throughout the three days we were there, we chatted with Bill a lot and exchanged hello's whenever we saw him.

At age 65, Bill is biking (as in bicycle) across the states.  After starting in early June, his end goal is Montana by September 29th.  Upon the request of family missing him, he will then stay home for a year and learn Spanish.  Then his goal is to bike from home to the tip of South America.  WOW!!  Previously, he was a construction worker and single parent.  After his last daughter graduated college, he decided to start traveling and taking back his life (basically).  He lived alone on top of a volcano in Montana for a summer.  Every 2-3 weeks, a man would bring him supplies on horseback.  Bill meets many people on his cycling adventure, he said "Many of those people say 'they could never do what he is doing.'  But that's not true.  I believe that you can do anything you put your mind to."  I admire Bill for  having dreams and following them!  He inspires me.  If you don't have dreams, open your eyes to the many amazing possibilities!  If you do have dreams, work towards them!

After eating with Bill, we left camp for Mt. Rushmore.  To avoid the parking fee, we drove past Mt. Rushmore, parked less than a mile up the highway, and hiked back.

Driving to Custer, we saw Crazy Horse Memorial (from the highway).  Since we got directionally confused, we saw Mt. Rushmore again...and again backtracking the right way that we thought was the wrong way.  Waiting for fireworks to start in Custer, I had a Dairy Queen blizzard.  The firework display was short, but I was impressed as it is such a small town.

Heading back to camp, we got lost and ended up driving through Custer State Park on Needles Highway.  I drove 10-30mph the entire 12 miles of curvy road.  It took a while.  At one point, I mentioned my fear of hitting a buffalo.  Which somehow led to seeing Bigfoot and if we almost hit him.  I decided that hitting a hairy man in the road would be scarier than the other animals mentioned.

We eventually made it back to camp!  Night #1 was lovely for sleeping.

We set out for Harney Peak around noon.  Hiking by one, we enjoyed perfect weather for completing something on my bucket list.  We found a small cave.  The trails sparkle as if God threw glitter on them.  Trees, boulders, and occasional creeks surrounded us.  Cathedral Spires towered over us to our right.  Reaching the top of Harney Peak, I discovered something more amazing than I anticipated.  I wanted to go (not because it's the tallest peak in SD) because it looks like a castle.  The view is absolutely amazing!  We had lunch on top of a little stone water house.  There was a small pond next to it.  Deciding I would find the spring that feeds the small pond, I drank the rest my water.  Searching for the spring, I realized it's a water reservoir fed by rain.  Remainder of the hike, I had no water.  In all, Mandy and I completed a 6.5 mile hike!

Leaving, we contemplated accomplishing another goal on my bucket list: crash a wedding.  That did not happen though.  We were sweaty, not dressed for the occasion, and there weren't many seats left.

Back at camp, we started a fire to cook a feast: hot dogs, soup, baked potato, and pancakes.  Right after we got the fire going, it began to rain.  There went our plans to hang out with Bill and it got harder to cook.  In the end: our soup got warm; my potato wasn't edible except the very outer edge; I burned myself on my pancake and dropped it in the fire; our hot dogs were good.  We then went in the tent while it rained.  We played a super long game of war ending with a war.  We read until it was too dark to read. Then at 9, we went to bed.

Night #2 was miserably cold.  

At 5am, I joined Mandy in the car.  We laughed about the unfortunate situation for half an hour.  Back to sleep.  At about 8:30, I woke up sweating with the sun on my face.  Showered and camp taken down, we said goodbye to Bill and left at 10am.

At 11am mountain time, we stopped in Rapid City for food.  We went to Murphy's Sports Bar and Grill.  I had a delicious 1/2 lb burger with fries.  After lunch, we went to Art Alley, an alley where you can graffiti legally.  So awesome!  Then we walked around downtown.  We spent a long time in a really neat Indian art gallery.

Our next stop was Walldrug.  We soon found a cute coffee shop.  When I ordered an ice-blended coffee, the worker asked if I wanted a shot of espresso in it.  When I responded with "Uhhh...," Mandy said, "Yes!"  She explained that I was driving slowly which means I was tired.

We got home right before 7: just in time for church.

Though our trip had its ups and downs, I in no way regret going!  It was a fantastic camping trip!

3rd of July

Today, at WBCWS I typed papers for grants on a typewriter.  I'm pretty good at using typewriters now.  I'm learning so much!

Coming home for lunch, I arrived to all the other interns there!  As I ate noodles, we discussed our 4th of July weekend plans.  After much discussion, Mandy and I decided to go camping in the Black Hills for the weekend!  After 2 or 3 campgrounds said they were booked, we made last minute reservations for Crooked Creek Campground, roughly 6 miles from Harney Peak.
Our agenda for the next two days (that we may stray from):
-Leave tomorrow morning at 10am
-Drive to the campground
-Set up the tent we borrowed
-Go to Mt. Rushmore
-Ask people there where we can go for fireworks
-If no one knows, befriend someone who has fireworks..if we are feeling gutsy
-Watch fireworks and get a good nights sleep
-COMPLETE SOMETHING ON MY BUCKET LIST!!  Climb Harney Peak on Friday!!!
-Campfire and sleep
-Saturday...do something fun!  And drive home.

I'll blog about all my fun when I get back!

After lunch, I went to Boys and Girls club.  We had a car wash again.  I held a "CAR WASH" sign next to the road.  Real smiles sometimes became fake smiles; genuine waves slowed to a lazy wave.  I think I received more nods and waves than people actually washing their car.  We raised lots of money for Boys and Girls Club!

For supper, Mandy and I made bacon, cheddar, and potato soup for fellow interns and guests.

Guests gone, the four of us interns discussed our weekly chapter of a book.  We then prayed for each other and hardships here.  My prayer requests:
-That I will constantly remember why I'm here and my goals.
-Help to make long-term decisions that aren't pressing but are huge.
-Wisdom...lots of wisdom

Now, I'm chilling with Nicole and Mandy.  After a saddening conversation, I want some of the chocolate chips Mandy is eating.  So...I'll wrap up blogging for the night.

On the upside:

I'm going camping tomorrow!!!
&&
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY...eve!!!

Timpsulas

After church in Parmelee Sunday evening, Mandy, Nicole, and I went to St. Francis to hang out with kids.  Knowing me since the week I first got here, Jersey greeted me.  When I first met Jersey, she had shoulder length hair.  Greeting a girl rocking a shaved head with side-swept bangs, I momentarily struggled to recognize her.  It looks awesome!  I contemplated copying an eight-year-old's haircut...maybe someday.  She told me she had her hair cut like mine, but then cut it even shorter.  After greetings, we played volleyball while a young boy threw firecrackers at us.  On the rez, most kids do firework wars and such  things.  I've yet to get hit tho!  Soon it was time to head home, but the kids were trying to convince me it wasn't that late.  Mountain time in St. Francis screws with my phone and therefore confuses me.  Though my phone and the kids insisted it was only 9pm, Mandy confirmed it was really 10 in Mission.  I then had to convince the kids that I have to go by time in Mission, not St. Francis.

Monday, I bought timpsulas, "turnips of the prairie," from a friend of mine.  My friend told me their season is almost over, so I obviously had to jump at the chance to get them.  They are really cool looking because Natives braid the roots together so its one long, hangable string.  Timpsulas are edible or can be used as decoration in a kitchen.   My new decoration that might eventually be eaten was a great way to support my friend.

Today, twelve-year-old Daisy, a friend from Boys and Girls Club, came over for lunch.  I had leftovers; she had pancakes.  We talked about food, the Philippines, and camping.  Mandy, Daisy, and I then went to Mission's pawn shop in search of a movie for Boys and Girls Club.  Judging it by the outside, Mandy and I thought it was pretty sketchy.  Going inside, we were pleasantly surprised by cleanliness, three kind men and a dog greeting us from behind the counter, and a pleasant atmosphere.  "Don't judge a book by its cover!"  Searching for a movie, I couldn't decide between Gnomeo and Juliet or Chicken Little.  Discovering the movies are three dollars each, I got both.  Now I have more kid movies!  Score!  What a discovery!  The pawn shop is now my favorite store in Mission.

For dinner, Nicole, Mandy, and I went to Ihoby's for chili.  Ihoby is here doing ministry work with a different group.  After meeting at a bonfire, we discovered we are practically neighbors.  She is a happy person to be around.  We will hopefully return the favor by having Ihoby over for dinner soon!

Mid-writing this post I went to dinner, my first start got erased.  Now completing the second try, I have noticed how many ways you can say one thing.  Some things didn't make it in the second post.  What stayed the same has been worded drastically different.  Perhaps try two was worded better considering I was forced to gather my thoughts twice: twice-gathered thoughts seem to be more organized.  Or writing on a full stomach is better than writing hungry.  Hmmmmm...