Arizona Reservation Mission Update

Hi Everyone!

We are all doing well here. The kids had strep throat last week. We took them to an immediate care and got them on antibiotics so everyone is feeling much better. We have been helping with the groups at the ranch and on the reservation. Wednesday Greg baptized 2 guys at the jail. We finished painting Chris James house and one of the guys in the group finished most of the electrical work at the worship center. Today, Christian stained the trailer, Carter killed quite a few wasps with the hose and Kennedy helped with Damian and Kaitlyn.

Sunday afternoon Sylvia (the gal that lived with us 2 years ago) called me. She wanted me to know that her mom had decided to give up custody of her sister Sheila’s children. They are a ward of the court. Grandma can’t see or hear very well and she has lots of people living with her. Sheila escaped from jail after being temporary released for a funeral. She is off somewhere with her boyfriend and hasn’t checked on the girls since. Sylvia wanted to know if I would talk to her mom about taking Kaitlyn (age 2) home with us and leaving Neviah (age 8 months) with her mom. She thinks she can take care of Neviah because she is still in the playpen and not into as much. We will see about that. I called her mom and went to meet with her on Monday. She took me to the case workers office to discuss it. In a matter of 15 minutes I walked out with Katilyn in my arms and I was granted 72 hour custody pending a court hearing. Today we went to court……David and I now have guardianship for 1 year. If mom gets herself together we will have to bring her back at the end of that year. If she does not, we will probably be given guardianship until she turns 18.

Shelia (Kaitlyn’s Mom) asked me to take her when she was 8 weeks old while we were visiting on spring break 2 years ago. When we visited this April she asked me to “take her.” So I think this was meant to be. Katilyn always cries at church and this past few weeks she came to me and did not cry the whole time. She loves David and most of the time would go to him before me. Greg and Beth were very surprised the court granted us custody. In most cases they do not place the children off the reservation. We have prayed for God’s will in this situation and we will continue to pray for her mom and family here in Arizona. Someday she may have to return here and we want the best for each of them. I attached a picture of Kaitlyn and a devotion from Dave’s “Wild at Heart” book he read Monday night.

We are leaving to come home Saturday and will arrive home Sunday or Monday. We can’t wait to see you all!!


Love,

David & Gina

Following Photos from Week 1

Week 1 group photo

Above is week 6 youth at first meeting Sunday night.

Above photos are of week 5 baptisms.

Midwest Flooding

DRT HAS BEEN RECEIVING CALLS FROM CONGREGATIONS IN THE MIDWEST REQUESTING OUR ASSISTANCE. MANY DIFFERENT AREAS ARE EXTREMELY FLOODED AND IN NEED OF HELP.
VOLUNTEERS ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED!! WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ASSESSING THE NEEDS SO PLEASE KEEP CHECKING THIS BLOG FOR UPDATES AND PLAN TO COME VOLUNTEER WITH US.

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URGENT FUNDING IS NEEDED FOR THIS DISASTER AS WELL AS UPCOMING DISASTERS THIS YEAR. DRT PUCHASES THE FOOD THAT IS SERVED TO ENTIRE COMMUNITIES IN THE DISASTER AREAS AS WELL AS BUILDING MATERIALS, DEBRIS REMOVAL, ETC

This information taken from DRT's web site

Florida Bible Camp Week 5

Gina, Dave and Kids Mission Trip to Reservation

Today, we had church on the reservation. We had two baptisms in the river. It was neat. People were there to “party” at the river and they had a big surprise when 45 of us showed up for baptisms!! We all sang “Now I belong to Jesus” and it was very touching. I attached pictures of the river and a picture of Kennedy with Nicky and her baby sister Vicky. Vicky has 4-5 holes in her heart. She is having surgery later this summer.

Have a great week.

Gina


Wednesday we went to Rainbow treatment center. (For people with drug and alcohol addictions) We also had church on the reservation. On Thursday and Friday we did the running for supplies in the worship center. We worked on getting the worship center ready for the group of 30 people who arrived late last night. They are all sleeping there instead of at the house. Today, the guys worked on dry wall and the gals put a 2nd coat of paint on the house. Our kids were very busy! Christian and Kennedy painted. Carter killed wasps……J Christian and Beth Smith planted flowers and Carter killed more wasps! Carter also found a snake on the road to the worship center! A Bull snake. I guess it is not really a poisonous snake, but it would make a child pretty sick. A boy from the group picked it up by the head and let Carter touch it. He thought it was cool…..Mom did not! Dave and I cooked tonight for a group of 46 and then we all sat around the fire for devotions.

Next week we are going to be on the reservation working. …..2 bus runs a day because there are so many of us.