Mission & Music Trip 2022
Mission & Music Trip 2022
This is our 15th Senior High Mission & Music Trip and our 3rd time to work on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation (a branch of the Lakota people) in Mission, South Dakota. We think this particular trip, and learning about Native American Culture, is so important. We try to go to Mission, South Dakota every 5 years so all of our youth can have this experience.
The M&M Trip helps all of us awaken to the needs in different parts of the country. We become Christ’s hands, voice, and feet in places that need it most. We also bond together as a group, building even stronger relationships, growing in our relationship with God.
It takes a lot of work and hands to accomplish this trip! Planning starts early for food, transport, safety, logistics, lodging, equipment, etc. Unless we are on the road, we prepare all our own meals at our host church. Our group is divided into small groups who take turns in preparing meals, cleaning, and presenting an evening vesper service. Our host church (for the 3rd time) is Christian Life Fellowship (CLF). We sleep on air mattresses in their sanctuary and make it our home for the week.
We will present 4 worship concerts on the theme of “Lead with Love” while we are in Mission. Three of the concerts will be in churches – one of which doesn’t have any plumbing, but does have electricity. The fourth concert will be at the White Buffalo Calf Women’s Society (a safe shelter for women and their children who have been victims of violent crimes). Poverty is a huge concern on the reservation with 58.7% of the population living below the poverty rate (whereas those living below the poverty rate in Overland Park is 3.8%). Rosebud Reservation is in the 4th poorest county in the United States.
For the mission part of the trip, we will be helping build a new church, painting and some dry wall in CLF’s school, White Eagle Christian Academy, and cleaning out a vacant church where squatters had occupied. We will also do some sightseeing by visiting the Badlands, Wall Drug, and Wind Cave National Park. On two evenings we will participate in Native American cultural events: learning how to make dream catchers; and witnessing a Native American Drum Circle.
Attending the M&M Trip are: Alison Alka, Andrew Alka, Chris Alka, Linda Bruns, Elizabeth Bures, Lauren Callender, Laurie Callender, Lindsay Callender, Jake Cummings, Miles Dalton, Carrie DeVries, Derek DeVries, Kelly Kowalczewski, Madeline Mahoney, Wisdom Manaka, Miles McDonald, and Brad Schmit.
Please pray for our group, so that we may be God’s hands and feet in the world, as well as open our minds and our hearts to what God wants to teach each of us throughout the week.
M&M Trip Daily Updates Archive
Click date to read a summary of the activities and experiences of our M&M Trip.
M&M Trip 2022 Photo Gallery
