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...