Not everything about a missionary`s life is "typical" ministry work. A good part of our day here at the Rec is spent cleaning, cooking, making phone calls, doing paperwork or fixing stuff around the house. However, in all these daily activities we seek to glorify our wonderful God who put us here to be His "Salt & Light" in the community.
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ORU Team October 13-19, 2018
The college team from Tulsa drove through our first blizzard to get here and sure made this week worth it. They played with the kids during open gym, tore down our bunk beds, fixed fences around the Rec property, helped with hail damage repair on trailers and houses in the community, cleaned the apartment and attic, helped out at Oyate Christian School, and I am sure I forgot a few more things. Thank you guys for all tour hard work, your contagious smiles and - last but not least - the awesome food you shared with us again!
Centro Cristiano Vida Nueva June 13-16, 2018
The dedicated mission team from Colorado put up a storage shed by the Oglala Elderly Building, hosted a large give-away at the RecCenter, and helped with our daily community lunches and during open gym. While we might not have understood everything they said, we sure were blessed by everything they did - muchas gracias, amigos!
Bike Give-Away June 5, 2018
In sweltering heat, more than 1,100 bikes were unloaded from a semi truck and then given away to anyone from the Oglala community and beyond. This donation was provided by our friends from John Lovelace Missions, who came this week to hold a huge VBS, replace the gym roof, and help out with other service projects in and around the RecCenter.
Oral Roberts University October 15-20, 2017
Lakota Outreach Team July 16-20, 2017
Family Carnival with Lakota Team July 17, 2017
Our friends from Denver are here again, and they are so ready to bring on the fun! Horseshoe tournament, bouncy houses, balloons, sno cones, cotton candy, face painting, and of course the traditional bbq made this a great night for everyone young and old from the Oglala community. After a hot day (not so say, many hot weeks) even the heavy thunderstorm tonight was welcome! Thank God for His provision and timing, and for letting us be His hands & feet today.
Soccer Match Oglala vs. Watertown June 19
One again we met for an epic battle under the hot summer sun. Final score 2:0 for the Oglala home team with late goals from Colton and Leon.
Korean Team Community Night August 17, 2016
Lakota Outreach Team July 17-22, 2016
This week was packed! And hot!!! Thanks to the mission team from Denver who kept up their good spirits; they really did a great job with all their outreaches which included free community lunches, crafts circle, bike clinic, reading corner, dirt bike rides, and more. The Oglala youth also enjoyed two days at the lake where the team from No Limits taught them how to wake board and water ski - please check out their website for more information. To top it all off, we took 53 children swimming to Angostura on Thursday.
Family Carnival July 18, 2016
As every year, the Denver team organized this fun carnival with family cook-out, horseshoe tournament, bouncy house, face painting, balloons, cotton candy, sno cones, games, and lots of time to hang out with friends and family. The looming thunderstorm clouds were successfully prayed away, although we could definitely do with some cooler temperatures. After sunset, the horseshoe kings were finally crowned and a fireworks display ended the day.
The helicopter stole the show for a while, but what a fun surprise for the kids! "I can't believe we really get to sit in it!" one young fan said while waiting in line for his turn. Wopila Tanka (Many thanks) to the team from Black Hills Life Flight!
The helicopter stole the show for a while, but what a fun surprise for the kids! "I can't believe we really get to sit in it!" one young fan said while waiting in line for his turn. Wopila Tanka (Many thanks) to the team from Black Hills Life Flight!
Beyond the Walls Team June 27 - July 1, 2016
Soccer Friendly June 21, 2016
We stirred up some dust tonight when it finally cooled down enough for the traditional soccer match between Oglala and Watertown, SD to take place on the sun-baked ball field outside the RecCenter. Even though we call it a "friendly" it was a fierce battle! Down 1:2 at halftime, the home team evened it out not far into the second half, then took the lead - and finally won the game 4:2!
Lakota Outreach Team July 19-24, 2015
Centro Cristiano July 8-11, 2015
This was the second year for the team from Gypsum, CO, and again they were a huge blessing to us and the Oglala community. Some of them put a back stop and fence around the new baseball field, while others organized a give-away; one of the young men shared his testimony during our Friday nite teen devotions, and we also had the chance to help out at a FCA soccer camp.
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Girl Trip to Denver
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Lakota Outreach from Denver July 20-25, 2014
This was the hottest week of the year (yet?), and definitely one of the busiest! The mission team from Denver has been doing outreaches through the RecCenter for 18 years and established strong ties with the Oglala community. This week they offered children's programs in the gym, a women's circle with beading and other crafts, and daily community lunches; they also did some small work projects around the Rec, and took the Oglala kids on another great swim trip to Angostura.
Gardening with Heidi June 2014
A garden is a lot of work, but since the reward is sweet and juicy and hot and yummy, even hard work can be fun! Heidi teaches her volunteer helpers everything from preparing the soil, planting, weeding, and taking care of the plants. Hopefully the kids learn to appreciate healthy garden food and also have open hearts to see more of God through His creation.
March for Jesus May 24, 2014
A strong wind blew into our faces - in definitely more than one way - as we marched the mile from Pine Ridge, SD into the small and infamous town of Whiteclay, NE. Organized by Norma Blacksmith, all Christians from the area were called to march and participate in lifting up the name of Jesus on the reservation and beyond. The turnout might not have been great when it comes to numbers, but we believe that it was not about us walking but Jesus in us, and no one is greater than He!
International Soccer Friendly May 22, 2014Two teams with players from different nations and nationalities competed against each other in this fast-paced and high-scoring soccer friendly. Some of the guest stars flew in from Slovakia; the rest of the teams consisted of high-ranking soccer players from Oglala, Denver, and Lower Brule. The upcoming Soccer World Cup is nothing compared to this match! After the game everyone enjoyed Indian Tacos and had a good time.
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Soccer Oglala vs. Watertown June 20, 2013
We could have parted after 90 minutes with a fair and friendly 2:2, but... Since the audience was calling for penalty kicks, Oglala goalie Callie's strong nerves and arms helped to actually win the match 3:2 for the home team! The winning goal was scored by our guest player from Lower Brule, Roman. Thanks, man! What a great match - and we`re still all friends!!! :-)
Kids' Carnival & Family Fun Day June 12, 2013
Face painting, fun games and crafts, water balloons and - last but not least - a family cook-out made this a wonderful day for all those who joined us from the Oglala community. Thanks to the Honor Net team under leadership of Jake Jones from Tulsa, OK we also got a new pavilion set up on the playground to provide shade on more sunny summer days to come. With all those blessings in mind, still the most beautiful thing to see today was how all the hugs shared in the Love of God brought so many bright smiles to the children's faces - there were even enough hugs for the little puppies! :-)
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Gardening with Heidi June 2013
These summer days are just perfect to get the garden going. Beans, onions, potatoes and corn are already planted; now Heidi is busy with her two little helpers for the day, getting the tomato plants into the ground too.
Planting a tree May 22, 2013
We are double thankful: First our Heavenly Father sent snow and rain to bring the much needed moisture back to South Dakota, and then an elementary school class from Chemnitz, Germany donated a tree to us! Ganz liebe Grüße und ein herzliches Dankeschön an Euch Kinder! Thank you for blessing the RecCenter and the people of Oglala with your great gift! We are hoping to watch the tree grow and sit under its shade during many happy summers to come...
Worship Burn April 12-13, 2013Friday 6 pm through Saturday 6 pm
We just started into the 24 h Worship Burn with Ken Verheecke and band. Once again this event comes together as musicians / worship leaders from the area join us here in Oglala under the leadership of Native Nations Ablaze (www.nativenationsablaze.com). God put it on their hearts as a passionate vision to "raise a sound of worship on tribal lands". We are expecting to rest in the presence of God as the worship burn continues through the night and all the way until tomorrow evening. Please pray with us that worship will break the power of darkness on the reservation, and God`s light will bring freedom! |
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New Deck behind the Rec July 23-26, 2012
Thanks to the construction crew from the Lakota Outreach Team from Denver, CO and a handful of helpers from Oglala, we got a new deck built at the back door to the RecCenter. Can`t wait to use it for the first barbecue. :-) Two of the Lakota workers shared their testimonies with the team Tuesday morning - it is amazing what Jesus is doing in their lives! Working together on the deck was a great chance to fellowship and participate in building the Kingdom of God in a hands-on way.
Lakota Outreach week July 23-26, 2012
After the rough start on Sunday with a power out and a mini tornado, things smoothened out weatherwise and we enjoyed a great week of fellowship and fun here at the RecCenter. Once again the Lakota Outreach team from Denver, CO blessed Oglala with various events such as a VBS, basketball camp, crochet and beading classes, a family night with a horseshoe tournament, rap concert and BBQ, and service projects to the community. It was a very busy week, but in all that has been going on it was always good to remember the focus of our ministry, or - as one lady from the Lakota Outreach team put it - "We are not so much here to teach how to crochet but to share the Love of Jesus." Thank you guys for coming and sharing!
Community Outreach July 16-19, 2012
While the heat seems to be getting to everyone, we still enjoyed a great week with Cherry Hills Community Church from Denver, CO. Every day after serving homemade lunches to everyone who comes to the Rec, they set up tables in the gym offering workshops to the children and adults. Among others, there was a pre-school learning center, bike repair workshop, community quilt project, bean bag sewing class, nail painting, and origami. They also brought a photographer who took pictures of Oglala families free of charge. Thursday was an outdoor "Olympia Family Day" with competitions like potato sack race plus a family barbecue and movie night. We had about 150+ in attendance! Last but not least, the team fixed up all the floors and laid new tiles in the old gym building. What a blessing it was to have you guys here. Thank you so much!
Boxing Smoker May 26, 2012
This Boxing Smoker hosted at the Rec was organized by the Kills Small family in memory of Elijah Martin, a young man from Oglala who took his own life a few years ago. It was a suicide prevention event, showing our youth that success in life comes with courage. All the fights were fair and it was a lot of fun watching the smoker and just hanging out with friends.
Building Projects 2011
Once again, our summer mission teams from all over the US blessed us with their tireless effort, muscle power, and generosity. Thanks to everybody who helped put on the new steel roof, build bunkbeds, break through the sanctuary wall, and remodel the stage area. We truly enjoy the benefit of their work! What an awesome place this old "Rec" is becoming!!!
Oglala PowWow 2011
Going to the powwow is like meeting family...
