Another Year begins in approx 6 weeks!

I'm posting the latest email that went out to this years crop of Mission Trippers: we're gearing up for another GREAT excursion... join us as we prepare!

Since some of you are ‘veterans’ this MAY be redundant but it can’t hurt to refresh and review – and WELCOME to those of you who are joining us for the first time:

Here are the books I would HIGHLY recommend on the Native/Lakota experience:

Moon of Popping Trees by Rex Alan Smith (1980) University of Nebraska Press
and/or
Neither Wolf nor Dog: On Forgotten Roads with an Indian Elder by Kent Nerbern (1994, 2002) New World Library

Both are extraordinary works and should be the foundation for our common understanding of the culture into which we'll travel/live.


Some “dress code” issues for the work site, as well as general requests from the Director of Habitat for Humanity:

"On the job site we cannot allow open toed shoes or sandals. We ask that there be no short shorts, spaghetti strap tanks or tube tops, or shirts with suggestive or offensive wording. Underwear should not be showing for guys or gals when bending over and clothes should be loose enough not to restrict movements when working. It is a safety hazard to have folks pulling up or adjusting their pants/shirts when trying to lift, move or bend while holding lumber or handing things to those working above or below them. We ask that the suggestive/offensive clothing also be refrained from while out in the community.
I would also like to remind folks that the best time to ask questions about the local community or address issues and concerns is at the Habitat facility within the privacy of your group setting. When our volunteers are out in the community and comments or conversations are overheard, it can have a negative reflection on our organization. For those who live here, some things that seem foreign to those from other areas are common place and are not seen as a problem. Comments like "how can they stand to live in all this poverty?" may be offensive to someone who sees beauty in being near their family and would not consider themselves to be living in poverty. I had a local man tell me that while this area may be considered one of the poorest in the nation in money, it is rich in many other things; it depends on what your view of poverty is. I offer these thoughts in hopes of encouraging all of us to think and to have better interactions between folks with more positive experiences for all. Sometimes we don't realize that comments can be perceived in ways they were never intended. Reservation life may be different than most of us are accustomed to and we need to make good relationships in the community by walking in love and understanding.”

I don't think any of this is an issue for us, but we need to hear the concerns being expressed.
Thanks for being mindful of the clothing issue as you pack/get ready.

The money issues are:
$50.00 for deposit to hold your spot was due by March 15th.
Checks are payable to Emmanuel; Adult Mission Trip on memo line.

$250.00 balance by May 30th - - to give Emmanuel enough time to cash them and cut a check for Habitat. Made out same as above.

I know we won't be packing for a while - (if you're like me, not until the night before the trip!) but here are just some reminders.

Don't forget to bring:

1. Layers of clothes: weather runs the gamut from cold (50's) & wet to upper 80's and sunny. (They have had blizzards and over a foot of snow in early MAY. Let’s hope that’s not the case this year, but better safe than sorry!) Pack @ least 1 pair jeans and sweatshirt/jacket. Raingear/poncho in pouch, something to keep you dry in event of torrential rain. Extra shoes in case one/or 1 pair gets sucked into the mire during said torrential rain.

Looking good is NOT the issue on these trips; (we'll have to count on our natural beauty!). Practicality and comfort ARE issues. We usually take 1 "casual, not great but better" set of clothes for church on Sunday.

2. Towels; and shower shoes/flip flops (for those particular re foot stuff in strange showers). The accommodations aren't as primitive as some Mission Trips, but again apply the ‘better to be safe than sorry’ rule.

3. Sleeping bag or sheets and pillow. Most of us have taken a sleeping bag and sheet; if hot, you can sleep ON your bag with only a sheet covering you; if it gets cold, you can climb inside!

4. Medication for the week. I know very few folks over 40 who aren't on SOME Rx. Make sure you have enough....Walgreen’s MAY be on every corner in St Louis, but NOT so much in So Dakota!

5. I'll have communal sunscreen, insect repellant, aspirin, Band-Aids/first aid kit, Kleenex, bar soap and shampoo (1 for men/1 for women's showers). If brand loyalty is an issue, bring your own.

6. FLASHLIGHT! Size/type doesn't matter; whatever you might need/want for trips to loo @ night or walks outside after dark.

7."Spending money" or credit card/debit card. For personalized snacks, drinks etc on the drive there and back and any "touristy" thing you might want to bring back. On previous trips, there have been local craftspeople with items. There IS the bookstore at Sinte Gleska University which is a wonderful source for books on Native American/Lakota culture and there's a higher scale store/gallery (Soldier Woman) with nice jewelry/beadwork.

8. Camera - disposable/digital or 35mm - your preference - - for those who want images for journaling/remembering later. Sunsets can be breathtaking and there will be an outing on our ‘play day’ that warrants pictures!

I certainly wouldn't recommend taking any items that are particularly valuable. We'll be the only group using the dorm during the week and we lock the door when heading to the work site, but many folks have access to the HFH office, partner families may be coming and going to help cook for us etc, so just use some discretion about what to bring. Ladies have locked up our purses in the van/taken them into the houses where we work; guys could do the same with cameras, wallets etc, if you want. I'm NOT aware of this being a big concern but thought I would at least bring it up.

Just a reminder from Glenn....
Don’t forget to include your cordless screw guns, tool belts/ aprons.... for those that already have them.
If you DON'T have one, don't feel badly or rush out to buy one! It has helped in the past that several people DID bring their own and that stretched the ones that HFH had to supply.
There has been past suggestions for knee pads - - no, NOT for praying - - for painting or scraping near the floor!


We'll each have a "prayer booklet" to use for the week, which WILL have some blank pages for journaling/notes, but if you want your own prayer book, Bible or personal journal, make sure to throw that in your bag as well.

There WILL be a commissioning service at Emmanuel to send us off; this year, the commissioning service is on May 23rd @ 10AM. DO try to make it; it's a powerful statement to our faith community to see folks willing to give up a week of vacation in service to humanity in the name of the Lord.

On June 19th:
We’ll meet @ Emmanuel at 6:30AM; hoping to leave by 0730.
Leaving that early helps capitalize on daylight drive time and doesn't inconvenience folks waiting on the other end who have to let us into the building.

Please remember to bring a sack lunch.
We’ll eat together on the road; it’s nicer to eat at picnic tables in a rest area than in a fast food joint.
IF you're leaving your house @ 5:55 am on departure Saturday and realize that you've forgotten to plan ahead and make a lunch, don't worry.... there is always plenty to share (think loaves and fishes); plus you can buy something at one of our gas stops along the way.

Since we’ll definitely be in two 15 passenger vans, after we stop for lunch, be prepared to change vans or mix it up a little! We have plenty of time to get to know each other and we need to use it!
Please be open to some new scenery and new relationships!

I THINK that about covers orientation, ‘stuff you need to know’.

Please don't hesitate to call me (or any other member of the Steering Committee – Glenn Dunn, Kathi Dunn, Betsy Williams or Sylvia Rogers) with questions or concerns.

We’ve scheduled an AMT potluck get together dinner for May 16th .
We’ll attend the 5:30pm service and then gather for dinner, talk about the trip, newbies can ask questions of the seasoned missioners – and there’ll be forms to fill out! Church insurance and HFH requirement ‘stuff’ – and we might as well get them done before we go!

(That weekend is the All Parish Conference but I’ve checked w/Angie in the office and there’s nothing scheduled for that night so we won’t be conflicting with anything. IF you’re attending APC it will be a long ‘church’ weekend but nothing we can’t handle!)

See you then!