Kyle's reflections on their 2nd trip to Parmelee

During our short stay this time around in Parmelee, we got to see some old faces and a lot of new ones too. This little girl named Cadence attached herself to me and kept calling me her buddy, never wanting to leave my side. I had a good time getting to hang out with her, learning how to play trouble with 3 pieces, and always being able to beat Cale in anything. When we played outside together on the playground one of her little friends came over and started talking with her. She was telling Cadence that she was going to go get her older sibling so she wouldn't get picked on at the playground. Cadence told her that she didn't need to worry because she had her buddy with her, which was me. After hearing that and thinking about it, I thought how terrible it was that they were being picked on at the playground. I have been praying for both Cadence and her friend so that they would feel safe and not get picked on for being younger or whatever other reasons.

--Kyle

Nicole's reflections on 2nd trip to Parmelee

Oh it is amazing how God can put things in perspective for you just like that! We had an amazing trip to Parmelee this last weekend. It was wonderful to see the kids that we got to know this past summer and we also met several new ones. We left Friday around 5pm and went to stay the night in Bassett, NE. We had a group of men and women from O’Neil, NE that were coming with us on Saturday to work with the men from Parmelee to cut wood for their homes. As we drove into Parmelee and looked at our surroundings, I heard cheers from the back from our high schoolers about how excited they were to be back. To look at the run down delapidated houses it really put into perspective the amazing things God has done for me. As we drove into the Boys and Girls Club we were all so excited that our signs that we made this summer were still hanging and that they had no grafitti on them. (Which really is amazing since the gangs in the town were tagging everything with a pitchfork symbol.)

Within 30 minutes of arriving, local kids were running to play on the great new playground. It was amazing to see that they still remembered us from this summer. Kids were jumping on our backs and hugging our necks. One of the little girls, Faustina, said, "I sure missed you guys; I wish you could stay here forever." We had many things that we saw that were sad, but there were so many things that were just so awesome to see had changed since the last time we were there. We saw more parents come and bring their children and then return to pick them up. We heard stories that the police officers said that they had not seen a community turn around so quickly, that some of the parents are now taking more of an interest in their children and thier town and they are even protecting the new playground and the basketball courts.

As more and more of the kids arrived, we noticed that many of them did not have sock, mittens, or hats and it was 24 degrees outside and blowing snow. One little guy had slippers with holes in the bottom and no socks wanting to play outside on this playground. While the others stayed and played with the kids, a couple of us went and purchased some socks, gloves, and hats for these kids. They went very quickly. While we played, several of the men went to cut wood with the team from O’Neill and several of the women from the community came and made us a meal. It was such a show of love and gratitude for us being there. It was very special.

I have just fallen in love with the people in Parmelee and it is just amazing to see the love pour out of our high schoolers as they love on and really care for all of the kids and the adults in Parmelee. We are planning on returning to bring them winter items and Christmas presents in December and would love for anyone who really would like to go to let us know. We want to share this amazing experience with you!

--Nicole

Youth reflect on their weekend trip to Parmelee

A beautiful little girl named Autumn has been the one person I can’t stop thinking about since our trip this last weekend to Parmelee. Autumn is the sweetest five year old girl who simply loves hugs and talking as much as she possibly can. Throughout the day we noticed that something was just not right with the Autumn we remembered. She was a little out of it, unable to make clear sentences, and her eyes kept crossing. It all became clear when we remembered her parents were not as loving as ours. Although we’re not positive, we think that Autumn had been given alcohol before she ran over to the Boys and Girls Club. It completely broke my heart to see such a beautiful girl in this situation. As we drove away on Sunday for home, the picture of Autumn and her brother, Hunter, still haunts me as they waved goodbye and blew kisses, probably wondering what they had done wrong to make us leave.

When I got home, to be completely honest, I was so upset with God. Why does he let this happen to her? I mean, can’t he change this situation? I wanted to shout where are You? Do You even care? And those questions are the ones that won’t stop running through my head. However, through all of this, I do believe that God is revealing himself through our own want for peace for these kids. Although I’m still not sure the answer to these questions, I believe that as God’s chosen people, we can overcome their parents harsh ways with kindness. I mean, aren’t we living in God’s plan!? And even though I want God to take more action in my beautiful Autumn's life, I remember that this is God’s plan and when the time is right, he will touch Autumn’s life and her community’s life in a way that we can’t imagine and a way that only God is capable of doing.

--Jami

A few people from the youth group, along with myself, took a short, eight hour road trip to Parmelee, South Dakota this past weekend; a place where most of us have fallen in love with. After going on the mission trip in July, we can’t seem to stay away. Our goal in going to Parmelee was to hang out with all of the children and continue to show them the love that we have. I know, the majority of us already want to go back, and can’t wait to plan the next trip.I have no idea what these kids have been through and I probably never will be given the chance to feel the pain they suffer. They are strong, stronger than I will ever be. I realized this while I was up there this summer, but it was definitely stressed more this last time I visited. While we were there it seemed as if there was a blizzard, fifty mile per hour winds, and ten degree weather. It was freezing, but okay, maybe not that cold. I have never been that cold in my life though. So, it was more like a few flurries, in the forties and just slightly windy. There are clear differences between the two cultures. The families in Parmelee are use to going without a heater or wood to warm their house. Children were outside in their shorts; they came without long pants, coats, gloves, hats, socks, you name it. I had a conversation with a fourteen year old boy named Daniel, about how over time, he has just gotten use to the temperature; your body doesn’t seem so cold after a while. We take so many little things for granted.

There was so much change that we saw within the trip. Dennis told us that he has never seen a community turn around the way Parmelee has. We personally saw some of the kids change in a positive way, but then others in ways where you could tell they were headed down the wrong path. It beats me up knowing they need a little love and guidance to help them out. We saw more parents picking the children up from the Boys' and Girls' Club, there were many more people attending the church service than the first time we were there, and the signs we hung during July, they were still graffiti free. It is so hard leaving the kids knowing they need us. They are strong, but they have to be that way to survive. They need love and we are able to give that gift to them so easily. I hope we can do everything possible to keep showing these children that there is hope. They don’t understand that they have helped me learn a lot about myself and they keep me strong.

--Maggie