Homestead Presbytery team serves in North Dakota
July 2011
by Janice Stege, volunteer work team leader
A Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Mission Team comprised of 14 members from three different churches in Homestead Presbytery, journeyed to Tokio, North Dakota in July 2011 to assist with flood relief efforts and to lead a Vacation Bible for 40 children on the Dakota Sioux Indian Reservation. The churches who participated in this mission included Southern Heights Presbyterian Church and Eastridge Presbyterian Church, both of Lincoln, Nebraska; and the First Presbyterian Church of Schuyler, Nebraska.
Members of the team helped with Vacation Bible School. Photo by Janice Stege
The Spirit Lake Nation is a Sioux tribe, and its reservation is located in east-central North Dakota on the southern shores of Devils Lake. Established in 1867 in a treaty, it consists of nearly 500 square miles of land. In 1998 the unemployment rate was at 47.3%. The major water feature of the Reservation is Devils Lake, which comprises 90,000 acres of area stretched over 200 miles. Flooding occurs annually.
Bdecan Presbyterian Church is the only Presbyterian Church on a North Dakota Indian Reservation. This small church hosted the Mission Team with a warm welcome, provided several evening meals, shared their Indian culture and customs, and assisted with Vacation Bible School. In addition to VBS, the Mission Team built a platform in the Church’s sanctuary, erected a new outside door in the Food Pantry, painted and erected two outdoor signs, and installed a new kitchen sink in the manse.
As a Mission Team we were challenged by going out of our comfort zone, still serving in the United States but in a completely different culture. In reflection, the Team found this experience to bring us to trust even more in God and be thankful for His provisions.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds…” Romans 12:2
Note from PDA:
Bdecan Presbyterian Church, the only Indian Presbyterian Church in North Dakota, is located on the Spirit Lake Sioux Reservation in north central North Dakota. Teams are invited to assist in a variety of projects (may not be disaster related.) Email Rev. Kevin Kaufman or call (701) 662-3584 to find out how your team can help, or visit the Lake Region Parish Web site and click on Bdecan Presbyterian Church to find a mission team application.