August 8, 2016

Faith, Fellowship and unity in Sisseton, South Dakota

Sisseton, South Dakota Summer 2016 
 10th Anniversary


Reflecting on our missions trip late this afternoon, as we are driving back to Rochester, Mn, I see blessings have been abundant for our trip this year. I am excited to share this story with you as I thank Christ Community Church and Dakota Alliance Church in providing this opportunity for our family to serve together, strengthen friendships and grow spiritually.
CCC church leadership connected our team to Isaiah Crossfield, an area teen who has impacted the lives of children across the world and we are thankful for his heart in sharing his passion with the children and teens on the Sisseton Wahpeton Reservation. Prior to our trip, we were blessed with a session in learning bike maintenance, and safety in setting up the first bike rodeo. During our time in Sisseton this week on Friday, our team held our first Bike Rodeo after morning VBS, and children had bikes repaired while learning basic maintenance, learned bike safety, and were delighted to ride and have fun. Thanks for your continued prayers for the youth in Sisseton for their salvation, safety, security and for their school year.
Genesis 22:14 that they would experience God as Jehovah --Jireh Their Provider.


Pictured: Dwight Crossfield and Bob from Bicycle Sports

teach our Sisseton Team bike maintenance one week ago.







Fellowship and traditions

Our church has sent a team to Sisseton, South Dakota for ten years, and this is our  sixth year as a family serving in Sisseton. Each time we travel, there is a bond of unity within the teammates as we are able to work together while building relationships through Christ. Over the years, CCC has helped  build a swing set, and a picnic shelter.   Year 2016 marks a ten year commitment for families traveling to Sisseton to support and encourage the Sisseton Alliance Church and the Dakota Alliance Church. VBS is held at the Dakota Alliance Church.  Tradition has been to tie dye t–shirts beginning the week of VBS. In the afternoon, we have had great success in hosting a “Finding your voice” session with the older elementary students.  Sand art is also an activity the children look forward to with great delight.  Last year we added Lego building during VBS and each year the students look forward to receiving school supplies donated by the children attending vacation bible school at Christ Community Church!




School Supplies from VBS CCC!





Finding your Voice 











                                    
                   Thank you to the Dance family who plans and prepares all of the sand art prior to our trip.










Prayer and Devotions:

Team members are up early for breakfast and devotions as our team is in Sisseton from Tuesday through Sunday. Prayer and devotions are held around 8:30 in the morning and then the team heads over to the Dakota Alliance Church to prepare for Vacation Bible School. This year, our team held the first prayer walk through downtown Sisseton.



Women's Spa Day, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you also should wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example. You should do as I have done for you. - John 13:14-15






Puppet Shows:

Kim and Jim held a fantastic puppet show during the bible lesson each week.! Kim made the puppets this year and wrote a wonderful script.





Mobile VBS puppet show!




Songs:
Claudia and Sidney led songs to the children who attended. There are many children whom we recognize and know from previous years, and I am always delighted to see how they have grown.





Church Family and Community Meals

All of lunch and supper meals are planned for fellowship with our church family and the community of Sisseton. A very special thank you to Charlotte Dance who planned and prepared several of the meals. Sharing our time together over meals is a very special time to visit and serve.  
Sunday afternoon after church services we have a potluck before heading home.



Evening Campfires
Our evening campfires build in a time of fellowship with church and community members. Children have the opportunity to roast marshmallows, participate in Jiffy pop contests and hear stories around the fire.



August 4, 2016

CO: Day 3/4

Still having a great time in Cortez, CO!

 Eating some Navajo tacos! YUM!

 Matthew (right) in his happy place.
 Team at Mesa Verde!
  Josh's suitcase and all his clothing....each piece wrapped separately and then wrapped to the outside of his suitcase. We made it look like a little robot for fun. First prank as a Middle School Pastor!
Team at their work site. They painted a house taupe that used to be bright blue! They also did a lot of organizing and yard clean up. 

August 3, 2016

Day 2: Found our Treasure at Dakota Alliance Church





Wednesday, August 3 

"Sing, Sing Sing" we were filled with joy today in spending our day at Vacation Bible School.


Listening, learning, and loving every moment.










T-shirts ready for tie-dye



VBS opening Day 1 Luke 12:34

Our song leaders Sidney and Claudia

Precious Puppet Excitement 


Tie-Dye T-shirts "cooking in the sun"
                                                               
Afternoon painting

                                                                  Endless smiles

                                                                     Evening Campfire
                                                             
                                                              Finding Your Voice Painting

Evening Campfire & Jiffy Pop


CO: Tuesday

An update from Trisha Rindels, Director of Family Ministries:

We are in our second day as I am writing this. There are churches from AZ, IA, and TX here. It has been great getting to know the other students and leaders! Everyone is working really well together. There are four groups and our students are split between two of them. So we get to serve alongside students from other churches. It has been a great experience so far and we have been challenged to show God's love in every way as we serve the people of Cortez. 

Josh, Matt, Nathan, and I have served with Kids Club and at a local nursing home over the past two days. The first day was a challenge. We were reminded of how much every person needs the love of Christ and that this week we have the opportunity to show that to them no matter what. The highlights were that most of the kids responded really well to our students and our students jumped in with both feet to play, teach, and just be with the kids. Today (Tuesday) was an incredible day in every way. We went to a local nursing home and were blessed to get to visit with the residents there, paint the ladies' nails, and take them on walks. It truly filled my cup and I know our team really enjoyed visiting and hearing the residents' life stories. Today at Kids Club, it was much easier with the mix of kids that attended and we all loved spending time with them. 

Danae, Bree, Madison, and Noelle have been at a work site (Shirley's house) in Dove Creek for the past two days. The first day they painted Shirley's house with three coats of paint!!! They worked hard, drank lots of water as it was a hot day, and were in awe of how much they got done! Today they went back to Shirley's home and helped with various projects around the yard. It was an eye opener for our students as they made a scrap metal pile, stacked wood, bagged garbage, and many have not experienced a place quite like Shirley's. This was a way to bless her and her family as she has been a blessing to all the church groups with her talents this summer. Tonight she will bring her pottery to sell and make us Navajo tacos for dinner. We are excited!! 

A few prayer requests: 
  • Josh got sick yesterday but is feeling better today. Pray for continued health for him. 
  • Pray that we will sleep well so that we are well rested to do God's work here and give it our all. 
  • We were unable to go to Mesa Verde on Monday due to weather so we are praying the weather will hold out for us and that we could go tomorrow night on our free choice night. 
  • Prayer that God would continue to use us to make an impact on this community and that our hearts would be open to what God wants to teach us through this experience. 

Thank you for your prayers!
-Trisha




August 2, 2016

Arriving is Sisseton, South Dakota





  2016 Sisseton, South Dakota CCC Missions Team

Tuesday, August 2- Sunday, August 7th






2016 "I found my treasure at Dakota Alliance Church

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field (Matthew 13:44).


       Vacation Bible School begins tomorrow and we are thrilled to be in Sisseton to serve.  We were blessed with a beautiful 90 degree day to enjoy a drive to South Dakota. Our team is staying at a place where there is a green field of corn that stretches across miles of acres. The lessons this week include a few of the Parable's Jesus told about the Kingdom of Heaven. There are no treasures on earth that compares to what the Lord has for us. In 1 Corinthians, 2:9, the bible reveals "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." Each year, I am gently reminded by the Lord how he brings together a team with a variety of gifts and talents to walk humbly while serving together. We have been blessed with beautiful families who have served in the past and each moment together is treasured beyond words. Thank you for joining us in prayer for courage and strength as we go forward and build relationships within the community of Sisseton. I am looking forward to seeing how the youth have grown over the past year and hear everyone singing  and dancing together again. I do know they will be delighted to see the puppet show and tie dye t-shirts.

 Sisseton Wahpeton Oyote Reservation Location Link

Wednesday am: Tie Dye T-shirts,
                                       Skit and Puppet Show

                         pm: Finding Your Voice



Prayer Requests:
Thank you for your prayers for our health and safety, and that we may be a blessing while serving in unity.  

August 1, 2016

CO: We made it!

We've made it to Cortez! We're already having a blast. We picked up Noelle N. in Sterling, CO, so now our full team is together and ready to serve this week. Travel went well. We even stopped at a place with free puppies-We all fell in love! We also got to celebrate Nathan's 18th (!) birthday! Since we doesn't eat cake, he got a quesadilla. So happy we got to celebrate with him!

Please continue to pray for us this week - that God would do bigger things than we can even imagine!