Mission, S.D.  --  Senior high youth and adults journeyed many miles and hours in the car to get to Tree of Life Friday, September 16, 2012.  For 43 youth and adults from the Dakotas Conference this was a journey on that highly impacted their spiritual and emotional life. 

It was a journey to help the families and individuals that live on Rosebud Reservation.  Homes were prepared to be warmer for winter. Homes now have plastic on the windows. Large cracks and holes are all caulked.

The journey to Tree of Life Ministry changed the perspective of those that experienced it and rocked their value system. Participants reflected:

“I got a new view on how much I’m blessed to have.”
“It was amazing to see other people who have lived through so many hardships be so happy”
“It opened by eyes to the poverty that can be just down the street.  I want to do more now.”
“I realized the impact of extreme poverty and the injustice of it”. 
“Seeing the way some of the Rosebud people live really changed the way I think about equality – we are all the same.”

Small group time was informed by Ray Buckley’s book Dancing with Words.  Becky Holten, Director of Camping and Youth Ministry stated, “We looked at how events in our lives are shaped into stories we tell to others.  Together each small group shaped their story from their experiences at Journey and then selected one individual to share that story during the closing worship on Sunday morning. It was a powerful worship experience and a powerful journey for those that participated.”

The individuals that participated have a new story to tell shaped by their experiences at the Journey.   Be watching for more stories from those that participated. 

“A special thanks to Mission United Methodist Church for their hospitality.  We held our large group and small groups there as well as cooked and ate all our meals there too”, noted Holten.

Submitted by Becky Holten, Director Camping and Youth Ministries
Dakotas Conference of The United Methodist Church