Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Mountain top Worship: Breckenridge Colorado

Our final day of the trip was spent in Colorado at 10,000 feet elevation. We worshipped on the side of the mountain. None of us were in any hurry to come back down. 

 Matthew 6: 25-34  
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom(I) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


We are arrows pointing to heaven. May our lives point toward Christ in all we do and say.

Breckenridge, CO

Homeward Bound.



Mt Rushmore & Crazy Horse

Maddi & Luke try on hats :)
Our last few days took us to Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse Mountain in the Black Hills. We also stopped by Lutherans Outdoors of South Dakota's camp Atlantic Mountain Ranch. The beauty of God's  incredible creation is all around.

Danielle at Mt. Rushmore

Such a great group of youth!!

Miss Kathy


Now where do we go??

Pastor Curt

Atlantic Mountain Ranch of Lutherans Outdoors of SD

Westward Ho!


Atlantic Mountain Ranch



New Friends

Rachel's mountaintop experience
Crazy Horse Mountain


Crazy Horse: Model + actual mountain

Feeding the Buffalo--Don't Try this at Home

Our last day in Pine Ridge we went to a buffalo ranch where we heard stories of The White Buffalo and also had the opportunity to feed the buffalo. Please do not try this at  home! A memorable experience we will never forget! [It was hard to get pictures when something that big is that close!  Videos to follow!]

The harsh Pine Ridge landscape

We are in the back of a pick up truck trying to lure the buffalo toward us

The buffalo weren't quite sure about us to begin with...

Bonding

Gotta admit, never have had a buffalo in my lap before....

Buddies!

Kissing a buffalo


Ewwwwww.........


An experience we will never have again!

Leading Kids' Worship for the Community

Our group led two worship services for the children of the community with singing, prayer, skits and a puppet show

Worship for the younger children on Wednesday.

After worship, everyone shares a meal.

Our group provided dinner music


Playtime after worship


Sharing in the culture

Danielle with the Talking Stick
 Each night we shared in a talking circle, telling about those times when we saw God, our revelations, and sharing our hearts with each other. We used a Lakota talking stick to do this.




Valerie (sorry, I can't remember her last name) came and shared her talents of porcupine quilling with us. It was an amazing art form using the quills of porcupines to make jewlery and other craft items. Here, Pastor Curt designs a cross with Valerie.


Pastor Curt discusses quilling with Valerie

The Badlands

We shared a traditional meal with Rev. TwoBulls and his daughter Twila at Standing Rock on the outskirts of the Badlands.

Kathy in front of the Episcopal Church where Rev. Two Bulls is the priest. 


"Mitakuye Oyasin" means "we are all related."  The medicine wheel prevalent in the culture represents "The red people, the yellow people, the black people, and the white people." Yes, we are all united in Christ.

Reverend Two Bulls sharing Lakota stories with us on the outskirts of the Badlands.