Looking Back
This was our family's 7th mission trip to Sisseton. Each of the trips bring back special memories and help develop relationships with the people that live there. Each trip has had different tasks and experiences and this one was no exception.
Some of those relationships are with the children. They love it when you remember their names from the year before, but openly welcome the new ones coming along. It was great watching Joel LaCroix with his lap and arms full of kids. My heart melted when I held one little boy and told him I liked to snuggle. 'I like to snuggle, too.' was his reply. Knowing that some of the children wait all summer for this VBS makes the work worthwhile.
Some of those relationships are with the adults that attend the church. Over the years I understand more about the brokenness around them and how I need to pray for them. We are there for such a short time, but God is there all the time. One of our team members was feeling quite discouraged by what she was able to do while she was there. When I brought this up to 2 of the women, they told me several very specific ways that she had ministered to them.
My tasks this year were quite different from other years. If I was a Mary those other years, I was a Martha this year. I taught the preschool VBS for 6 trips and I loved working with the little ones. This year, someone needed to cook and I decided that someone should be me. It was really busy cooking for an unknown number of people every day, but I loved it. As I cooked, I could hear them teaching the little ones around the corner. It made me smile.
Our theme this year was His hands and feet. My hands and feet (and sometimes clothes) were usually dyed by the tie-dye that we did. Swimming and washing dishes took away most of the color from my hands, but I would like to see the value of what we all did have a lasting impact. Even if nothing I did there makes a difference in Sisseton, going to Sisseton has made an impact on me and my family. My son asks for months ahead of time 'How long until we go to Sisseton?' I want to be the hands and feet of Christ to the world around me. Even more, I want my children to learn to be the hands and feet of Christ. This yearly trip doesn't take the place of daily living for Christ, but it is a very deliberate time for our whole family to work together for Him.
The very cool skylight in the tribal government center
Stomp rockets were a big hit at mobile VBS
