Grace's teams have discovered in the last three years that there is a great deal of practical ministry needed on the reservation.  Our team will again come alongside a ministry on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation, south of Bismarck, North Dakota, helping a missionary couple that has been serving there for two years.  Their ministry will consist mainly of construction at the church and maintenance projects in the homes of Native American families involved in the Tipi Wakan Church. 

FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2007

Marcy writes:

Hello Fellow Prayer Warriors,

I'm so happy this morning that I have a good internet connection, so I'll type fast and hope I can communicate accurately what we are doing.

       The Lord has been faithful to supply our energy and our joy the past few days. There have been 2 funerals (remember there are only 500 people in this small part of the reservation). One was for a successful Indian rancher, very respected in the community. The other was for a beloved man who suffered tremendously with diabetes and was a friend to TipiWakan. The funeral for Max, the next door neighbor, will be on Saturday.   We may attend part of that ceremony with Boots and Jackie.

       Two of our team members have left now and Randy and I are here to finish the last of the garage work that we can - plastering and painting. Randy has worked on the wiring and plastering for the past 3 days. I have been inside painting the interior of the church with Jackie. We'll hang the Indian quilts up on the walls today. Several local folks have been by the church to see the transformation. We've had a chance to sit around the church kitchen table and laugh with them.
       It's been helpful in all the pain of the recent deaths. Last night Toni, a favorite church member, came to make us "fry bread", an Indian staple. Yum - it's sort a cross between Boboli bread and french toast. We dipped our pieces in syrup, but without anything sweet handy, it can be used like a tortilla for meat filling. There is no wrong way to eat it.

       July 4th brought loads of fireworks and unfortunately, much gang activity in the town about 1/2 mile away.
The blue and red gangs beat each other up. One young man is in critical condition in a hospital in Bismarck. Many of the helpers of the past few days are sleeping off their injuries, so we didn't see any young men yesterday at the job site. The problem of this small town area for the Indians is that there is a strong draw to return to the violent life of drinking and drugs. Very few can withstand the persuasion.

      Pray for Natalie White Lightning, with children Adam and Angie, two of the kids who accepted the Lord last month. They have just received their own home and are setting up housekeeping. For a time they were truly homeless and stayed with anyone who could take them in. Now they are starting from scratch - some local churches have donated furniture and supplies. Minimal at best. We love that family! They are really trying to stay above the hopeless life here. Everyday, they are down here at the church. Blessed people! Pray that Natalie can get hired in housekeeping at the local casino. She has an interview on Sunday afternoon.

      Sorry to be so long winded - the internet connection is so unreliable here. If you've ever emailed Boots and haven't heard back that is part of the reason. He can never count on a long stint on the computer. Plus, his broken arm is a hinderance. Jackie continues to heal daily. Now if we'd just get her off the church floor, painting the baseboards, she'd probably feel even better.

Love to all,

MONDAY, JULY 2, 2007

Marcy writes:

The garage project is framed, roofed and wrapped. On Sunday night we had a tremendous thunder and lightning storm and were under tornado watch for 8 hours. We are in the process of building a work bench area for Boots and insullating the storage area.
    On Saturday night we went to a Pow Wow in South Dakota. During the ceremony two little children received their indian names. There was also traditional competitve dancing to live music with drumming and singing. Tim left on Sunday.
    On a tragic note, Boots and Jackie's neighbor hung himself Sun. morning, just 10 days after his wife died. He left behind his son,) and his daughter. Pray for the children who are likely to be taken by Child Protective Services because no family is willing and/or able to take care of them.
    We have plans to paint the inside of the church (approx. 800 sq.ft.) as well as to finish the garage storage and office. A young man named Striker is working daily with us. Please pray for him as well.

Thanks for your continued support and prayer,

THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2007

Marcy writes:

Hello Faithful Partners,

We arrived in North Dakota yesterday after an uneventful flight from Denver with our teammate Craig. Greg drove his truck to meet us and Tim arrives later today.

Already the garage project has a wall up!  The guys were able to inventory the materials and get to work last night, finishing around 10:30 as it was getting dark.  Even up to the last few hours before we left, we were receiving encouragement about this trip, as well as a last minute large contribution.  We need wisdom for the many decisions which will come up regarding expenditures for the interior of the storage and office space.  Boots is thrilled that he'll have a proper office for the ministry work!

Please continue to pray that the Native men will come as they have promised to assist on this project.  We wish to work along side them, not just build and run! In the past few weeks since the cement pad was completed, people have asked about what is happening, so many in Cannon Ball are aware of the new building-in-progress. And pray for many opportunities to share the love of Jesus and boldness to witness to the lost souls among the Standing Rock Sioux.
Blessings and thanksgiving for your prayers and gifts,

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2007

Marcy writes:

Hello Faithful Prayer Warriors and Financial Supporters,

Thanks so much for praying and supporting us in the last few months as we've prepared for our trip to the Standing Rock Sioux Native American tribe in Cannon Ball, North Dakota.  We leave early tomorrow morning and return on Sunday, July 8.

Please pray on this mission trip:

For the Sioux people to be receptive to God's grace and lovingkindness in life changing decisions for Him

For our personal relationships, safety and energy during our building project

For Sioux young men to work along side our men on the project

For each of our team members (Randy, Marcy, Tim, Greg, Craig) to be sensitive to God's leading and responsive to Him daily

For Boots and Jackie and their various health issues.

Thanks so much!  We treasure your commitment to us in your prayers and gifts.  We'll update every few days at
gracebaptist.org
Click on Summer Missions, then North Dakota on the church website.
Blessings to each of you,
Randy & Marcy

PS  Jackie is gone from the reservation until Friday at an intensive Lakota language institute in South Dakota.  Pray for her safety in traveling and her ability to learn much in the short time she has to absorb the Native language of the Standing Rock Sioux.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2007

Team Leaders Randy and Marcy write:

We just learned tonight that the cement slab base for the garage project was poured today, a mere 7 hours ahead of a storm which produced 2" hail to the area.  Pastor Boots and Jackie are fine and are thrilled that the slab portion of the project is done.  

ON A MORE THRILLING NOTE:   4 gals - Linnae, Patience, TayLynn and Angie - all aged 7 - 9 years old, asked Jesus to save them from their sins and live in their lives forever yesterday.  They each prayed and then told Boots and Jackie of their decision!!!  Praise the Lord!  These young gals have been involved with TipiWakan since Boots and Jackie arrived 4 years ago, so they have heard the Gospel many times, but Tuesday was the day they responded!

Adam, Angie's 11 year old brother, sought Boots out on Tuesday evening to ask how to become a Christian.  We believe that our team member Craig, who spent a week preparing the forms for the cement, met Adam and talked at length to him about the Lord.  Again, this isn't the first time Adam has heard the Gospel, but he felt compelled to seek out Boots to ask how to become saved on Tuesday night!  He also prayed to receive Christ!!!   Please continue to pray for the people of Cannon Ball, North Dakota.  These youngsters may be the beginning of a wonderful movement of God in the lives of many on that hopeless reservation.