We spent Resurrection Day on Rosebud Reservation this year. We attended the Memorial for Teresa Stead, a dear Pastor friend who had the honor of going on to be with her King last year. When we lived on Rosebud Teresa went the extra mile in welcoming us to the Reservation with a Thanksgiving meal and continued to be an encouragement to us by accepting us among the people.
The Sioux traditionally have a memorial one year after the death of their loved one. It signifies that the time of mourning has past, activities that had been put on hold during the time of mourning will now be resumed. When we received the invitation in the mail our hearts truly wanted to honor the family by being present.
Teresa was highly esteemed on Rosebud, through the years Teresa and Bob, her husband, were foster parents to over 600 kids. We saw the article in which the tribe honored them a few years back for their servant hood to these children. Pastor Teresa was all about letting others know who Jesus was to her, she was not shy in her faith by any means. She and Bob traveled in her latter years taking the message of contextual ministry wherever they were invited. They encouraged all people to recognize this was a viable avenue in winning many Native Americans to Christ. They had traveled here to Oklahoma several times with that message.
I am always amazed when I am confronted with how the Sioux honor the deceased loved one by giving a special gift to those who were important in her life and the family in their time of grief. The family honored many people specifically and then in the typical Sioux way they went into the crowd giving to all in attendance. When you experience that extreme generosity displayed it is overwhelming .
We were able to spend some time with a few of the girls, who are now young women, from the youth club days on the Reservation. The mother of one of the young lady's offered us land if we wanted to move back to Rosebud. God knows we would walk in obedience to Him if He called us back, but He has us continuing our work here in Oklahoma, with Rosebud always being in our hearts and on our minds.
Rosie is the daughter of my friend and sister, April, who died a few years back after her long battle with illness. Because April took me as a sister, her grandchildren call me Grandma and Howard Grandpa. Rosie has a good job right now, but has a strong desire to leave the reservation and raise her children away from the trappings of reservation life. Please remember Rosie and her two children in your prayers.
As we traveled home we talked about how difficult it is, emotionally, to go back for short trips because our heart is to see change brought to the Reservation. Change for the good and at this moment in time we just don't have revelation on how to bring that lasting change other than continuing in relationship. We are consoled by the fact that our Creator's desire is even greater than our own to see change come to Rosebud, change where the message of Christ can be shared and received, change where joy rules instead of depression, change where abundant life can be lived out. Pray with us for that change to come to Rosebud.
Oh is it ever heating up here, we have had 15 days over 100 degrees. It is unusual to see these high temperatures so early in the year.
In those temps Howard has been assisting the church with getting a foundation ready. A church group from PA. will be coming the 4th of July week to build a large (24' X 20') storage building on the church property. The Indian mission church here is participating by taking responsibility for the foundation, while Hebron will provide the funds and labor to build the actual building. The two churches are working together to fulfill one goal. Sounds like Kingdom work to me!
The church is also preparing for the annual V.B.S. as the Florida team will arrive this Saturday, June 18th, to assist with that. The two churches have built a good working relationship. We are so blessed to see these two churches working together again to fulfill one goal. Kingdom stuff again, I love it! We will let you know how those two teams faired in our next newsletter.
Howard started a video class a few months back opening it up to young folks who are interested in learning about video. The class was initially going to be three young folks but in the end just one is able to attend but I think I remember reading "don't despise small beginnings"
I love Howard's creative thinking, as he pondered what kind of first project he could have his student film in order to go through the whole process of filming, editing, and producing a video. He came up with the idea of an instruction video on how to repair cement stairs. Our steps were in desperate need of repair.
Oh what a guy, they look great now and Matt has much video to edit. He already has learned a lot about video production just through this one project.
Check out the video project: Click Here
Howard had his last eye surgery at the beginning of May. We were disappointed that the blur has not cleared up. The Doctor said they have done all they could do and what damage is there is assumed to be permanent damage from when the retina detached. We respect our Doctors but we also believe in our Great Physician and are believing Him to completely heal Howard's eye, please believe with us.
My hearts is to be an encourager, so please allow me the privilege of encouraging you with the Word as I was encouraged by it.
In Gen 41:52 It speaks of Joseph naming his sons. First he names Manasseh (making to forget). Because he says "God, has made me forget all my toil and hardship and all my father's house. It goes on to say the second he called Ephraim (to be fruitful) For, God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
If you are not familiar with Joseph's story please read about Joseph's land of affliction beginning in Gen. 37. Be encouraged that you may be in a place where you need to forget all your toil and hardship. God is able to help you focus on the future you have in Him, making you forget the toils of the day.
He also desires for us to be fruitful in our land of affliction which is defined in world book dictionary as the state of pain, trouble, or distress; misery. In "your land" of affliction God will make you fruitful. In the mist of your pain, in your times of distress and misery God is able to make us fruitful.
There is a real live enemy who fights for our mind daily to tell us otherwise, but he is a liar! Whatever Jesus did for one He is willing to do for you!
Thank you for your prayers. I received a letter this month from a sister in the Lord I had not seen or heard from in many years. She shared that she still reads our newsletter and prays for us. She blessed me beyond my ability to express in words.
To think that there are those of you I may never hear from but you are still praying, it is so encouraging. Thank you, thank you, thank you, God is answering your prayers.
© Copyright 2010 Agape Lane Ministry
Please submit any comments or questions about the website
to our Webmaster at: webmaster@agapelane.org
This site designed, and developed by Agape Lane Ministry
Contact Us
