Dinner at the Chicken Shack

Seventeen of our team of 19 has arrived in Sisseton, unloaded the food, lumber and vbs supplies at the church, filled our bellies with dinner at the Chicken Shack, and are now settling into our rooms at the Super 8 for a good night's rest before our first day of VBS tomorrow morning. Chris and Syd Williams should be arriving shortly to complete the team.


I am watching the women's gymnastics team compete in the Olympics as I write. The drive and determination of the athletes is amazing. The teamwork and care for each other is obvious. The culture of the Native American community here is quite a contrast to that. With a high school dropout rate over 70%, an epidemic of alcoholism and drug abuse, absentee fathers being the norm, and many suicides, it is so hard to understand, and even more difficult to know how to help. I am so impressed with the attitude of those on our team who have been here before. They have warned me not to expect too much. We won't "accomplish" much, they tell me. We are here as friends. We are here to encourage the pastor and his wife, who go on year after year dealing with the social issues of the community, seeing very few "gold medal moments". We are here to have fun with the kids and give lots of hugs.

God is here in Sisseton. His ways are not our ways, and we are trusting Him to use us this week.

The gymnasts just got their medals. The flag is rising and the anthem is playing.

Nite, nite.