Sunday, Day 1

Well, it rained last year when we arrived in Valentine, this year it rained as we loaded up and headed out. Several folks had to use alternate routes due to NE roads that were closed due to water. However the rain did not appear to dampen any spirits. The excitement was high as we began to converge on St. John's in Valentine.

Oncce we arrived, and the trailers and vans were unloaded, it was dinner from Pizza Hut. What a pleasent surprise, the local Pizza Hut was running a special and the pizzas were 30% off the regular price. There was plenty for everyone.

After dinner and a few short meetings, the youth had an opportunity to explore the area around St. John's before gathering in the parish hall to prepare for tomorrow's activities and to get to know one another.

I think we have a great team this year and I look forward to seeing what God is going to do through us for the youth of Rosebud and what they will do for us. We are reminded that this trip is not about us taking God to them, but meeting God through them and sharing the wonderful experience of his love.

Throughout the week, we will try to post a brief update on the day's activities and provide a few pictures to highlight the things we did and experienced. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed being in them.

1,000 pounds of food donated by the Dean Fricke Food Bank for the food banks in Valentine and on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Youth from across the diocese collected several hundred pounds of additional can goods and dry goods as their way of saying thank you to St. John's in Valentine for hosting them and the people of Rosebud for sharing the love of God with us on our visit.

Ready, set, load! The crew from Omaha begins to load up supplies that will feed us and the kids from Rosebud. There sure is a lot of stuff. It will take a little creative packing to get it all in the trailer.

Before heading out on the road, the team from Omaha get a blessing and a farewell from one of the local parishes. Several of the youth are returning to Rosebud for the second year in a row.

We are safe and sound in Valentine from Omaha, Lincoln, Hastings, North Platte, Scottsbluff, and Mullen. Our team of 26 is excited and ready to get to work.

Deacon Robin and the girls are doing it

Even Greg and the boys are doing it

Here we are, all doing it...we are busy cutting out patterns for use during tomorrow's crafts. It was a great way for everyone to get to know one another.