Dear Friends and Prayer Partners, 03/24/13
These people are literally the poorest in the nation, living 60 miles from the nearest grocery store, gas station, or ambulance service. The two roads in are rough gravel full of large pot holes. They seek work but it is usually far and seasonal and transportation is difficult. Their vehicles don't last long on these rough roads and there is not enough money to fix or buy another.
The world has passed them by- they are forgotten. Not even their own tribe cares much for them and rarely offers assistance. The Catholic, Episcopal, Mormon, and UCC churches were closed years ago. There aren't enough people or funds to keep a church open, they say. The Mennonite church is kept open by five brave single young women. Their pastor has also left. There is more fish in a bigger sea somewhere else. Denominations say it is easier to win people to Jesus in other countries around the world. The people in this village have been abandoned.
Three years ago this region suffered three major blizzards a week apart. This village suffered greatly and barely survived. While the rest of our region and nation focused on aid to Haiti, our nearby neighbors in this village were struggling to survive. Their plight was told on the local and national news but few paid attention. We need to go to Haiti, they said. This village was snowed in with 27' drifts in several places. No plow could get through. The power poles were knocked down. There was no heat, no water, no electricity, nor food for weeks in sub-zero temperatures. It took two full weeks for their tribe to ask if they had survived. They were too small, too insignificant- they were passed by.
A relative of the people called to ask if we could lend a hand. Yes, we will try! With a caravan of 5 old vehicles loaded with donated food God had sent in, we headed out for the 200 miles journey in sub-zero temps to offer our aid. Little did we know there would be no gas station or food once we left Rapid City. It was a remote place where we were going! Groceries for 200 families were delivered and God's love was shared to four desperate villages. The people were shocked! Who are you and why do you care? Why don't you pass us by?
The doors were opened. We returned in a few months. Six men gave their hearts to Christ because we cared. We returned again. This time the entire village came and let us tell the Christmas story and give gifts. More stood to accept Christ. They signed up for a weekly DVD recording of our church service in Rapid City. Please come back again, at least once a month, they said. We returned again and again, and each time more people accepted Christ. "You care!" they said.
The local medicine man got mad. He came to our service to pray against us to his god. These people must be stopped, he said. Too many people have stopped their traditional Lakota ways, and they quit praying to grandfather spirits. This is where it all began- the Lakota religion and the white buffalo calf woman brought the pipe to the Lakota people right here, he said. To be Lakota, they must continue their Lakota religion! So he came with arms crossed, and a mean glare again and again at Pastor Larry as he brought the Words of Life. His dark countenance told his story.
During Easter service last year, he came. Once again, he heard those words- the story of Jesus, His love, His death, His sacrifice. The invitation was given- "accept the One who gave it all for you", Pastor Larry said. "He's the Only true Sacrifice for you." The medicine man shook his head. Can it be true? He bowed his head. Tears came down his face. It is true! He looked up at Pastor Larry and caught his eye. He pointed his finger to his heart, and then up to the sky. His toothless grin said it all. He had found what he was looking for, and it was Jesus! He picked up the pen and signed his name, asking for the weekly DVDs so he could learn more. His sweat lodge he then tore apart.
Again today we made the long trek. A bad storm yesterday almost stopped us. Could we make it there and back today, we asked? The weather looked promising but the roads were still icy. We prayed and headed out, loaded with boxes of food to distribute, a prepared dinner for the community, supplies for communion, palm branches to celebrate with, and eggs for the Easter egg hunt. We would do it all together - Palm Sunday, Communion, and Easter Sunday all in one!
The 70 believers came, walking through the mud across the village as we unloaded and set up. The children held their bags, waiting eagerly for their eggs. The adults quietly gathered and talked- they had come for their monthly church service. But today was a special one.
Unusually reverent and attentive they were, and kept the children close and quiet for once. A holy hush settled in over the crowd as Jesus came by and ministered to each one. Their hearts opened to the Words of Life, an invitation was given to pray and confess their sins. Communion was served- almost everyone stood to accept the Lord's forgiveness and the Lord's Supper.
The former medicine man came forward to shake Larry's hand. "I'm still going strong with the Lord", he said. We checked- the sweat lodge was still gone!
God was there. He cared and He didn't pass them by.
"Is it worth it?", we often ask. "Is it worth it?" the guests often ask when they visit. "It is too far, the people are few, the cost is high," we're told.
But then Jesus comes. Several elderly women have died, and yes, they prayed. The 45 year old woman also died, and yes, she prayed. The young woman suddenly died in a car wreck, and yes, she came to church. We trust she prayed. We almost wrecked on ice coming home, and yes, we prayed. The former medicine man has quit holding his sweats, and yes, he prayed!
Is it worth it, we ask? Yes! Because Jesus came and He didn't pass us by.
May you have a blessed Easter week. Please keep us in your prayers.
In His Strength,
Larry and Dale Salway
Cheryl and Tito Arguello
Doug and Jean Trennepoh.
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