Report to Central Plains Mennonite Conference Outreach & Service Committee August 15, 2011
Todd and a young friend
This summer I was hired by the White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church in Busby, MT. A grant was provided by the Central Plains Mennonite Conference, through the Outreach/Service Committee. I began work on June 6th, 2011, starting with Vacation Bible School here at our church in Busby. For that week, I was assigned with the 5th-8th grade boys and girls. Throughout the week I helped with recreation such as; capture the flag, tennis, basketball and other activities. I also helped with class as well as arts and crafts. This was a very good experience learning and working with new people, and getting to know many of the kids I never had the chance to meet before. We had 88 kids enrolled. The following weekend we traveled to Moline, IL for the annual Central Plains Mennonite Conference Meeting. There we sat in discussions groups around tables with everybody that attended the conference. My table was mostly older adults, and they provided most of the discussion topics and answers. It was hard to participate in some of the topics because I didn’t know much about them. Although I didn’t participate much I sat back and observed and listened. In the weekend there I learned more about the Mennonite Church and how people think about immigration, the use of alcohol, drugs and violence, etc. Through this experience, I understand better what an Anabaptist is. The following week we provided recreation for the kids that would come throughout the day. I helped with activities such as basketball, tennis, volleyball, football, kick ball, etc. We also played various games of tag. Cutting the grass was a weekly job, and I was able to learn how to use a riding lawn mower, which made the job so much easier, and as well as a weed eater. The beginning of July, we started to set up camp at Crazyhead Springs for our annual Family and Junior camps that our church sponsors. We set up campers, tents and teepees, basketball goals and volleyball nets, the generator, kitchen and staff house. Our Family Camp started on July 13 and featured a special speaker, Terry LeBlanc, from the Mik’Maq Tribe. He spoke in our morning classes about approaching Christian ministry from a Native worldview and in the evening campfire he shared his story of becoming a “follower of the Jesus way”. The afternoons were free for recreation, resting or doing whatever. I, together with the 3 other summer workers, helped with leading recreation. Then the 3rd week of July, Junior Camp started with kids ranging in age from 9-13. This year we had 83 campers enrolled. For a whole week we camped in tents and teepees, and had various activities daily such as group devotions, class time, recreation (archery & capture the flag), swimming and a movie and camp fire each evening. Junior Camp was the highlight of my summer because I was able to work with many different boys and hopefully be a good role model for some of them. I was a counselor for the 9 year old boys. I offered a helping hand to any kid that needed help, or someone to talk to. I tried to answer all questions asked to the best of my ability. My hope is that I made a lasting impression on at least one kid and that someday he will try to do the same. The hardest part of the summer, was breaking down the camp at the end of July, which was very hard work. The weeks after camp, some days work dragged on when we were doing odd jobs. Repairing and repainting fence, cutting fire wood and putting away camp equipment were just some of the few jobs we had. One of the things that was emphasized was leadership development and so on the final Sunday we 4 workers planned and led a Sunday morning worship service. Looking back on the summer, I learned so much and it helped shape me into a better person. Being a college basketball player, I already know the importance of a work ethic, hard work, responsibility and team work. This summer job reinforced my beliefs that with these four factors, you can achieve a lot of things. I was satisfied each and every day of the job, because I learned something new and did something new. Someday I’ll be able to look back at this summer and say I became more of an adult.
