We made a really good choice on Sunday morning by deciding to attend Westminster Presbyterian Church in Devil's Lake. After the service we had a conversation with the minister, Kevin Kaufman, who told us that there is no Presbyterian Church in Warwick, which is where we were headed next. There is a Presbyterian Church in Tokio, however, and Kevin put all of our information together along with the information he received from the woman who we were to meet, and he sent us off another way. We drove out across the water...yes, the water. Devil's Lake has been growing bigger during the last several years and swallowing up much of the land around it. To get out to the Spirit Lake reservation (which was our destination) you have to drive over the levees and there is the lake, on either side of the roadway, without much shoulder. You can see fields and houses literally being swallowed by the lake.
We visited historic Ft. Totten on our way. It was there we learned a lot about the history of the area. The fort was once an army installation, and then at the beginning of the 20th century it became a school for the Indian children. It took me back to my days working at Chemawa. One of the old barracks has been converted to a charming inn, and we might go back and stay there one night during the next couple weeks.
Many thanks to Pastor Kevin's guidance, we found our way to Bdcaen Presbyterian Church in Tokio. The church was started in 1883. The old structure is still standing and is now used for a food bank. Next to it is a structure build 6 years ago by the Presbyterian Church of Fargo, N.D.
It is a struggling congregation, run mostly by one family, whose family gave the land for the church. Most of the members are women with huge families to support on not much income. There is much work that needs doing around the church itself and also in some of the homes. There are several church work parties from all over the country that are coming this summer. We two are about the first of the volunteers.
I have taken on the yardwork tasks. There is a great deal of property, which all needs mowing and weeding. There is also a cemetary across the road that needs some mowing. The congregation has a tradition of gathering on Memorial Day to fix up the graves and have a celebration. I'm hoping I'll have things looking good by then. Paul is working on some tougher projects.... fixing up a playground and building some closets in the church.
We literally are out in the middle of nowhere... these were the words of one of our hosts. There is now cell phone or internet reception, no T. V. We really do have to take a break and be away from it all! We are actually living in the church building. We sleep in the sanctuary on air mattresses, and use the kitchen and bathroom facilities. It is actually quite comfortable and cozy. There is a wildlife sanctuary just down the road with tons of interesting birds. Very few people live near us. It is very quiet, except for the wind which howls all the time!
Every evening our hosts, the main family of the church visits us. They are seeing after our needs and gathering the tools we need to do the work. They are teaching us a great deal as well. We have been invited to weekend celebrations....a graduation, and party, and the memorial day event.
Every other day or so, we will be coming into town (Devil's Lake) to get supplies and to check in with the rest of the world.
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