Day 3

The morning started out wonderful. A bit cloudy as the sun came up over the horizon, but it was so peaceful. The forecast was for rain this afternoon to late evening, so when we woke up the team we all looked forward to a grand day. It is Tuesday, the day the boys get up and give the kitchen team a break by cooking scrambled eggs and ham. They did an awesome job and after the girls were up we all enjoyed a really nice breakfast. Oh, don't let me forget to mention the cinnamon rolls. The smell of them cooking was enough to wake up any tired traveler.

With breakfast behind us we loaded up the trailer and headed towards the Church. About 10 minutes north of Valentine, just as we were entering South Dakota, the rain we weren't expecting until afternoon must not have paid attention to the weather report. It began to drizzle and we could see the clouds gathering to the west. At the church, we unpacked and began preparing for the day's activities. Within 30 minutes of arriving at the church, the drizzle turned into a rather strong downpour and with the rain, team spirits, once high, began to fade.

Several youth began to wonder what was to come of our day. Fr. Tom tried to assure them that there was a real good probability the rain would pass in time for us to have a great day, it was hard to believe him with all that was going on around us. Then, about 10am, the rain turned to drizzle, the clouds began to break up, and out came the sun. By 10:30, we were walking the grounds clearing the area of trash and getting ready for the arrival of our guests. The painting team came up with a plan to begin painting after lunch and dread turned to excitement. That is until Fr. Tom returned with an empty van. None of the guests he went to pick up were to be found. You could almost feel the wind leave the sail. But Fr. Tom said that Sharon had gone to another part of town that he was sure would fill her van; and he was right. About 15 minutes later, Sharon showed up with 10 youth, some who we had not seen yesterday but that many of us have seen over the years.

Shortly after they arrived, parents began dropping off even more youth, and by the end of the day we had 39 guests who joined us and the service project team finished painting one side of the church. The roller coaster of excitement offered us an amazing ride. At our low point, we worried if anyone would come, and by the high point (albeit the saddest point when kids went home) we were blessed with so many. During our evening discussion following bible study, this unexpected response was beyond amazing, some even said it must have been a God thing. One young lady said that maybe it was a test, to see if we were really committed to the work we were doing or just here for the fun of it. Sticking it out she said was our reward a renewal of friendships and the start of new ones.

 Leaving Church of Jesus, everyone looked forward to the pool or the showers. However, due to the cooler temperatures of the day, the pool never opened and there were a lot of youth asking what were we going to do. The answer, we were all in it together. Some did a sink bath, others used deodorant, and still others, well, let's just say nobody really complained. It was only later we were joking around saying that Fr. Tom should have turned on the garden hose and given them a full on and refreshing shower. Fr. Tom figured they said this just to get the hose turned on and use it on him, so he gladly passed and said maybe tomorrow.

With spare time on their hands, youth walked to the store to buy sodas and supplies. Dinner tonight was Chicken Teriyaki with fried rice and egg rolls. Sharon and Steve did great work in the kitchen and with the help of the kitchen team, dinner went off without a hitch. A little more free time for the youth and then at 8:30, it was time for bible study and our nightly group discussion. As mentioned earlier, the study and following discussion were really wonderful. One question tonight was where did they see God today. The answers were amazing and insightful.

With the day's activities coming to a close, tomorrow's VBS team began planning some of their activities, and the worship team looking over Compline. During this time, Mother Tar joined us and after getting settled in was able to sit and enjoy worship led by our youth. All in all this was an amazing day. Karen and Lisa did a great job working in crafts for almost double the number they were expecting; and Greg and Jacob (along with our service project team) completed much more than they ever imagined. With God, all things really are possible. Tomorrow our trust is in him knowing that by doing so, the things we do, the things we experience, can be even greater than they were today.