It’s been an interesting week here at Lac du Flambeau. Mr. Ed came home from the hopsital and then had to return. Mrs. Virginia is lost without him. Here’s a shot of the two of them acting silly after he got home.
He should be able to come home again tomorrow. I hope so!
Mrs. Judy had eye surgery Wednesday and came home Thursday night. Her surgery went well but she has now come down with the flu. The house I am staying in while on the rez belongs to her. She has been beyond generous and I’ve really come to love her. Here’s a shot of where I’ve been living these three weeks.
I’ll miss this double wide on the rez…it’s MUCH better than the one I live in at home and it’s defintely better than the tents and tipis I’ll be sleeping in on other reservations this summer!
Friday night Mr. Buddy, Dar and Pam took me to eat supper. After supper Dar and Pam invited me to come back to their house for a visit. They’ve got a full house. A son, his girlfriend and her three children along with their daughter’s two children. It’s a home filled with laughter and fun. One of the sweetest sights I’ve seen the whole time I’ve been here was Dar singing a hymn to his grandson, Bryson. Let me introduce you to Bryson…
He is bright eyed and full of life! And, thanks to his grandparents, he will know the Lord! I believe we are looking at a future Christian leader in the Native American community!
Then there’s Hazel…a beautiful little girl with lots of black hair and eyes to match. She looks as if she’s questioning everyone and everything around her.
And this is a picture of Pam’s life! She loves it but all I can say is, “Better Pam than me!”
Today was great because we had two more children come to Children’s Church! They are Mrs. Virginia’s great, great nieces, Emily and Sky…
Their dad is Walter, Mrs. Virginia’s great nephew…and the operative word here is “great.” Walter is there every time Mrs. Virginia needs him. He is 34 years old and has six children that he is raising on his own…and he’ s doing it well. I have a great deal of admiration for him.
My beautiful niece, Kaylee, turned 12 on Thursday and she had her party yesterday. It was hot there and the kids played on a slip and slide that my brother made. I have to admit, it made me kind of homesick. I hate hot weather but playing around in the water on a hot day with my niece is always fun! The last two days here on the rez have been cold and dreary outside. The kind of days that make you want to stay inside and sleep or read a good book. Getting out of bed this morning was not easy until I got to church and saw this…
It just kind of puts everything into perspective doesn’t it? God shows us through nature how everything is always changing. Everything comes to an end and begins again.
The children on this reservation are the future of this reservation. There’s a church in a nearby town (not on the rez) that picks the reservation children up on Wednesday’s and brings them to a special children’s program at the church. The kids are learning God’s Word and I’m pleased with that. The church that is ministering to these kids is great but once again, the children are experiencing Christ in the “white man’s world” rather than in their own. I want these kids to know that Jesus resides on their reservation as well! Now is the time for that…I believe that this is the season of new life here at Lac du Flambeau….in nature and in the Church. New groups are coming in behind me; the members here are prepared to reach out to the children in this community and lives are being restored on this reservation. I’m so grateful that God allowed me to be a small part of it.
So, what’s next? I’m headed home…to a place where I’m not the only one who “talks funny.” I’m going to pick up my dog, love on my niece and nephew, have a fish fry at my Daddy’s, enjoy Mother’s Day with my Mama, go to a very special wedding, give Hudson and Denton a big bear hug, spend time with Josh and Nikki, have a slumber party with my Mama and Kaylee, get ready for a new baby girl, go out with friends and finish preparing to leave again in June. I’ll keep you posted…
as soon as I’m on the road again…
Mission Ventures 
Comments on: "New Life…" (4)
Glad to have you here in Lac du Flambeau Terry, you are blessing to our church and willingness to teach us rookies.
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Thanks so much Pam! That means alot coming from you. I’m already excited about what I know y’all are going to accomplish with the kids at Lc du Flambeau. Btw…I left all your literature, along with alot more stuff in a bag at the parsonage. I also left notes in the bag. Love you guys!
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Terry,
I apologize for responding late to your blog, but I have been traveling. Since my return, I have been inundated with work and with other matters.
I am so very proud how you allow the spirit to lead your life, an exemplary life from my perspective.
Romans 8:14 tells us that the true children of God are those who let God’s spirit lead them. You make me feel humble in my perpetual quest of working at capitulating to God’s spirit to lead my life versus my own self-interested earthly desires. You, Terry, exemplify for the rest of us how you have capitulated fully to let God lead your life in your constant conversations with Him, in your study of the Son and in your allowing the Holy Spirit to take control fully of your actions.
It is important that you hear from individuals like me responding to your blogs. I pray that others also share their support of your work and efforts to evangelize by writing their comments, too.
You have a big heart Terry. I know that all those good folk up north see and feel that oversized heart of yours’ and recognize how personal character creates courage as one of the Psalmist authors tells us in Psalm 31:24. God’s spirit leads your life and you show us that clearly by placing your hope in Him resulting in your being strong and courageous in your desire to spread the good news.
While traveling in India I learned this legend about a mouse who was terrified of cats until a magician agreed to transform him into a cat. That transformation resolved the mouse’s fear, until he met a dog. So, the magician changed him into a dog. The mouse who was turned into a cat who then was turned into a dog was content; until he met a tiger. So, once again the magician changed him into what he feared. But when the tiger came complaining that he had met a hunter, the magician refused to help, saying instead: “…. I will make you into a mouse again, for though you have the body of a tiger, you still have the heart of a mouse.”
Many of us talk the talk, but we are flooded with weakness and fear inside when the temptations and the difficulties are the greatest resulting instead of our wanting to use force to respond where love is called for; or to stockpile wealth where giving is necessary; or to run for security where a period of vulnerability can cause us to grow in faith.
Terry, you fulfill the scripture in Romans 5:5. You are right with God, and you not only talk the talk, but you walk the walk to show us through your actions.
Take Care & God Bless all the good folk at Lac du Flambeau.….
Jerry D
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Jerry,
Your post has definitely humbled me. Thank you so much for your kindness and words of encouragement. I certainly don’t always feel as dedicated and as close to God as I should; nor do I always feel strong and courageous. But I absolutely love what I do! I love the people. I love the road. I love not knowing what day it is. I love teaching God’s Word and helping others find their way. The work is hard and my dependency on God’s people to provide is not easy to do after supporting myself all of these years but I wouldn’t trade this life for anything! I am living my dream and people like you make it all the more special.
Blessings to you my friend!
Terry
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