“We are here. We are doing God’s work. Pray for us. We want Tree of Life to function for a long time. If Tree of Life were not here, people would suffer,” said Sonny Prue, Director of Tree of Life, Mission, South Dakota.

It has been a busy summer at Tree of Life Ministry. Tree of Life has long been a place of welcome, dignity, and practical support for people on the Rosebud Reservation. The ministry provides essential services such as a soup kitchen, thrift shop, and assistance with basic needs for 20 communities—services that are relied upon daily by individuals and families facing significant hardship.

This summer, Tree of Life hosted five Volunteers in Mission (VIM) teams. Four teams were new volunteers to the ministry. Teams that traveled to the Rosebud Reservation replaced a floor for an elder, did some plumbing repairs, completed bathroom repairs and drywall, and finished a roofing project. 

“I go out and assess the needs in our communities. We line up the supplies and the teams to do the work. This summer we battled the weather. When one group was here, it was 106. We made it work. We worked in the evening and made sure there was plenty of drinking water,” shared Prue. “The teams worked hard to complete the projects. They see that the needs are real; they want to help and complete the repairs. We couldn’t do it without our VIM teams coming.”

Teams stayed at expanded and refreshed housing in Mission, S.D. Before the volunteers arrived, staff spent time cleaning, painting, and making other upgrades.
“I had a lot of compliments about the accommodations. We spent time before this summer upgrading where the teams stay.  We also made sure that security was in place for the team and that someone was available to the teams all the time,” explained Prue.

VIM teams engage in cultural experiences. One team experienced archery.  Other teams experienced hand games, Inipi—sweat lodge, and art.

“We give what we have to offer. It is wonderful to make the connection and share,” Sonny said.
Tree of Life hosted a golf youth camp this summer. A golfer from Kyle, South Dakota, who is Lakota and working toward going pro, led the camp. Local businesses and individuals provided generous donations for equipment and food.

Sonny Prue, director, Tree of Life.

“Sports are important to keep our youth healthy, mentally and physically,” explained Sonny. “There is not a lot of opportunity during the summer. We were able to provide a successful camp that ended with a tournament.”

The garden was put on hold this summer. Spring brought warm weather and then some flooding. There was little time to plant a garden and get housing ready for VIM teams. “I focused on getting ready for the VIM teams. Next year we have some local volunteers that will manage the garden for us,” explained Prue.

The food pantry is up and running four days a week. The pantry served 400 families last month. The Warm Welcome kitchen prepares and serves a meal to 100 people each day. The Tree of Life Boutique is open in Mission, South Dakota.  At the thrift shop, people purchase clothing and household items at reasonable prices. The ministry acquired a 15-passenger bus that delivers boxes of food to elders and items from the thrift shop, free of charge, to meet the needs in outlying communities.

“We serve the 20 communities now. We added Milks Camp and Ideal. Those people need our help. We want to reach people that don’t get into Mission. So, we use the bus to deliver services to them,” said Sonny.
As Prue and others at Tree of Life pause to take a breather after a busy summer, they ask for your prayers. They also need personal hygiene items and diapers.

“We have a need, especially with personal hygiene items and diapers. We have not been able to get diapers for a while. We know we need them.  But most of all, pray for us,” Prue said.