Lakota Sioux Mission
PARTNER WITH US
News from the Lakota Mission Team
Please keep us in your prayers as we travel to South Dakota September 17th to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation for a week of spiritual growth and hard work. Our eleven team members are: Earl and Millie M., Pat and J.D. E., Frank and Joyce O., Bob and Sharon G., Karl and Rita H., and Sean B. (Pat and J.D.’s grandson). Please pray that we can do exactly what God wants us to do out there.
The following is an excerpt from Pastor Karen Rupp’s last email to us. Karen is the amazing person in charge of the Retreat Center on the reservation where we stay:
“We will have an intern on site – he’ll be arriving early August…James Muske from Luther Seminary in St. Paul. James was here the second session of J-term for his cross-cultural immersion experience and I think he’ll be a great partner in ministry here. Several calls have come in asking for assistance with home repairs, some more extensive that others. I’m not sure how many we’ll get done before your trip.
The numbers of young people coming regularly grew to over 65, so we’ve started having ages 7 and under Monday-Wednesday and ages 8 and over Thursday-Saturday. We’re doing a short message and puppets on Wed. and then the meal and on Thu. we’re doing the young people’s worship service and a meal. Your presence means a lot to the young people and to me!
We just received a gift box from your group on Wed. and I’ve been doing some distributing. There is always such delight at being remembered! I’m told the Ansampi Bleza Memorial Ride at red Shirt Table is set for the 19th.
I’m very much looking forward to seeing you again, continue keeping you in our prayers, giving thanks for your ongoing prayers, words of encouragement and support of the Pine Ridge Ministry.
Blessings, Karen”
The 2010 Mineral-Mt. Pleasant Lakota Team will have our final planning meeting on Monday, Labor Day morning at 9:00am at Mt. Pleasant. We are so thankful that you are supporting us with your prayers and fundraising to help cover the cost of the trip. A special thanks to those of you who sponsor Lakota children. Though you may not receive personal thanks, as you can see from Karen’s email, you DO make a difference. We are so blessed to be a part of such a loving congregation/charge. Millie M.
Opportunities to Make a Difference
You can make a real difference to the people of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Maybe you have read about life on this Reservation. Maybe you have listened to members of the Lakota Mission Team over the last eleven years describe their experiences. Maybe you have been to Pine Ridge over the years or you would like to go and cannot make the time commitment for the trip for many different reasons.
The Reservation remains in difficult economic shape with very high unemployment and with many housing units in disrepair and most severely overcrowded…many units are housing three generations.
You can now make a specific contribution. As you know, members of the Team pay their own way: the costs of transportation, food and lodging (they take their own tents). In addition, their labor is free. So, the contribution you make is only for the materials.
Please take a look at this menu of opportunities, to see how you can make a difference in the lives of the people on the Reservation.
OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION COST SELECTION
Wheelchair Ramp Deck plus turn-a-round $15/ft in length $540
Door Replacement Most units have 2 doors $225 each
Window Replacement Some units have 6 or 7 windows $125 each
Re-shingle Roof 10 roofing squares $500
Re-siding House All sides of house $900
Paint outside of House All sides of house $150
Paint inside room Most have 3 to 4 rooms $50
Replace Ceiling 10’x10’ $200
Replace Hot Water Heater $200
Kids Fun Afternoon Crafts, food and juice drinks $30
Community Dinner With residents and Team members $250
Please use my contribution where it is most needed
NOTE: You may choose to contribute just a portion of the cost of any activity on the list as any amount would really be appreciated.
You may also make a long term contribution to provide a scholarship for a student at the Oglala Lakota College. Over the last 6 years the Lakota Mission Team has contributed almost $50,000 in scholarships.
In any event, if you target your contribution, we will follow-up to let you know how your contribution was utilized. Please send your check (made payable to The Lakota Mission Team with a notation as to how you wish your contribution to be targeted). Contributions are tax deductible.
Thank you for your support from The Lakota Mission Team.
