Weekend Outing & How to Love Our Dorm

While there haven't been many big events this week, there were definitely some memorable ones.

On Sunday, our whole crew drove out to Wolf Point, where both the choir and the band performed at Community Bible Church. The church graciously invited us to their Harvest Festival meal afterwards, which was delicious!

We did some shopping in town and then headed back to the dorm.

A few hours later, we jumped back into the white van and headed toward Bill and Trisha Reddig's house for a fun night of games and pizza. A GREAT time! Right away when we got there, most of the students headed downstairs to play pingpong while Trisha got the pizzas baking. After some delicious food, several of our crew gathered around to play a mean game of Spoons (pictured above). Of course, the room filled with shouts and laughter.

Here's a short clip to share our experience with you. :) Keep your eyes on Dimon. She's sneaky! ;) Poor Aleyna didn't quite grab fast enough, even though there was an extra spoon on the table. Ibrahim grabbed that one really fast! Whoops!

In many ways, the rest of the week has carried on pretty ordinarily. This weekend, the girls head out to homes in the community for Girl's Dorm Weekend Out. The guys will be ruling the roost around here until Sunday evening. I'm sure they will create many great memories.

In taking advantage of a short post, can I share with you a few creative ways in how you could take part in loving our dorm, in making us part of your own?

Ways to Love LCSH Dorm:

1. Pray for us by name. 

It's been said that "prayer moves the hand of God, and the hand of God moves the world." Please pray God's hand would move in our world?

2. Write the students encouraging notes. 

Remind them that they are awesomely made, incredibly loved, warmly welcomed to just be who they are in this community. "Grace to be and room to become." Written words mean SO MUCH!

3. Invite the crew over for a game or movie night.

While some are great at hosting our 15 crew, if it's overwhelming, maybe hosting the guys or girls separately would be more your thing. We don't require much, but it sure is a sweet thing to have others in the community intentionally welcoming our group into their homes and lives. "It takes a village to raise a [teenager]." And you may just have a special place in their lives that the RA's don't have because of their unique position and title. We need each other!

4. Food!

We are always blessed by extra food dropped off, whether that's a pan of brownies or extra vegetables, we're always so grateful!

5. Allow us to teach you something new.

A lot of us come from very different backgrounds, and we don't quite fit in this unique culture. Please allow us room to make mistakes and to be our own unique selves with our unique pasts, struggles, and talents.  We will need your grace and loving appreciation. These students know things that this community could benefit from hugely. What a gift to learn from them!

6. Come to the girls' volleyball games. 

Sadly, the girls don't get a lot of cheering with volleyball, but we have some incredible players! Come watch! Our next game is today at 6pm. See you in the gym?

7. Connect one-on-one with us.

If there's a student you connect to or that God has placed on your heart, take an opportunity to treat him/her! Invite him/her over for ice cream or coffee. Intentionally get to know these kids. They're AWESOME! And while I may be a little biased . . . I really do think they're pretty great. :)

If you're reading this as an alumni, what would you like to add? What made you feel loved and significant while you lived in the dorm? Please leave us a comment! We would love to hear!

Celebrations and Halfway Points

"Hospitality is not so much a task as a way of living our lives and of sharing ourselves." 

- Christine Pohl

The Lustre dorm, home to fifteen of us, has an unspoken open door policy. It's not that we are willing to let just anyone in. Our home is meant to be a safe place after all, but for those who are invited {and willing . . . smile} to enter our place of chaos and learning and laughter, we offer the open door of our building and the open door of our lives. There is not much pretending when visitors come knocking. We won't claim to be perfect, but we'll try hard to be sincere. I love that about our crew. We are all learning what it means to be open-hearted. I hope that you'll stop by sometime. Pull up a chair and share your story. We can learn from each other.

This Sunday, Miss Sherri Mizell, the junior high teacher at the grade school, did just that, so graciously accepting our invitation to eat lunch with us girls. The guys were still out for dorm weekend out. She braved our craziness, and we LOVED having her! She was a source of wisdom and laughter and just fun company. 

From L - R: Dimon (9th grade), Maya (12th), Aleyna (10th)
Serena (12th), Miss Mizel, Ibrahim (he suffered through
 lunch with us! *wink*), Katie (11th) and Joyce (11th)

The guys came back that evening, and it was good to see them. After being separated for a weekend, we were missing them. 

Chen (12th) brought back some hot food (think full-fire
Jalepenos) from his weekend, and he convinced Maya (12th)
to brave the heat with him. Some pretty funny faces resulted. ;)

The week carried on fairly normally. It was midterm week, so several of the students had several tests. So crazy to think that they are halfway through the quarter. Time is whizzing by.

Alek (9th) enjoying some hot
chocolate WITH his marshmallows.
I think he likes marshmallows.
I think . . . ;)

On Thursday, JP Roquet (Christian hip hop/rap artist) and crew led chapel in the gym. It was definitely a memorable, exciting chapel. The man was very talented with an incredible story of God's grace. It was so encouraging to hear how Jesus got ahold of JP's heart, especially at a really low time in his life. JP told the story about how he was ready to  jump off a bridge to commit suicide when a man stopped by, knowing his name and asking for three minutes of his time to share with him a message that God had laid on his heart, specifically for JP, even though the two had never met. What an incredible story of God's pursuit! You can find more about JP and his music here: http://www.reverbnation.com/jproquet.

Another highlight of the week was traveling to Scoby as a dorm to watch our volleyball girls play! Sadly, we lost our games, but there were definitely some intense plays. Saturday, they had a game in Frazer, and while they couldn't win their games overall, they did win 2 out of 5. So close!

Serena (12th), Taylor, and McKaylah stand closest to the net, while Geneva, Caitlyn, and Dimon get ready near the back.
Coach Orr, Alli, Maya (12th), Joyce (11th), Karoline, Aleyna (10th), and Silas (11th) watch on expectantly. 

The rest of us joined the team for pizza in Scobey afterwards. Fun times!

Waiting for some Scoby pizza.

Taking a break from their energetic conversations for a picture.

Another big highlight of the week was sneaking into the school on Wednesday night as a group to surprise Mrs. Toews (our weekday supper cook as well as a dorm committee member) by decorating the kitchen with balloons and streamers and signs. It was her birthday on Thursday, and we have so much to celebrate with her life. We are so grateful for her!

We are also grateful for YOU! Thank you for taking the time to stay updated, to pray. Would you continue to pray that Jesus would open our hearts? To each other and especially to Him? This dorm has belonged to Him for many years, and it continues to be His. Please pray that He would receive our best welcome. He sure deserves it! He is so good to us.

Upcoming Events:

Sunday: Choir (& All Dorm) Trip to Wolfpoint 

Thursday: Home Volleyball Game

Friday: Home Volleyball Game

Friday - Sunday: Girls Weekend Out

Third Week In

Nathan (Fr.) holding the bird
while Alek (Fr.), Serena (Sr.)
and Mawin (Sr.) look on.

On Monday morning during breakfast, the dorm heard a loud, interrupting THUD against the outside of the window. It caught our attention immediately, and several pressed against the glass to spot the cause of our disruption. There on the ground was a little bird that had just been rudely awakened to the deceitfulness of our window. He was lying on the ground, looking a little dazed.

Alek, one of our freshman guys, urgently ran to the little bird, picking him up, and planning immediately how we could take care of it. Nathan, another freshman guy, gently took the bird from him and attempted to feed the little animal a crumb of bread, analyzing its limp foot and folded wing. Somehow, the little bird got the name Gary Lustre, and it was decided that he would be placed on a branch outside, out of reach of our Lustre farm cats, with the hope that he would take flight after having rested. When the guys got back from school, little Gary was gone. We're hoping he's flying well again, having learned his lesson.

It is incredible to see how our students respond to the various situations they're presented with in the dorm, in school, in sports. I've been stuck on a quote from The Life Artist, that "who you are is much more important than what you do [and I would add, what's been done to you]." I really get to see my kids, who they are, as situations arise, as things happen to them. I loved seeing the gentleness and care and imagination that came from this small interruption to our day. I also love seeing the love of the Father reflected in these guys. Can't help but think of His words:

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." - Jesus (Matthew 10:29-31)

On Tuesday, the Juniors and Seniors spent the first half of their day at a College Fair in Glasgow. On Wednesday, school picture day, the weather forecasted SNOW! So wild! There were a few flakes that fell. By the weekend, the weather warmed up a little, hanging out in the fifties during the day.

Katie (Jr.) smiling with a fancy
looking costume on her head. 

On Friday, the girls headed out to a volleyball game in Opheim. Sadly, Dimon had rolled her ankle in a previous practice, and it wasn't healing well, so I (danae) took her to the doctor. We also brought Katie along for the ride. The doctor sent Dimon away with a brace that will hopefully help her foot heal correctly, though we'd love prayers for that! The Friday previous, we had taken Aleyna in for a hurting wrist. The doctor also gave her a brace. These girls are tough volleyball players. We're hoping for no more injuries!

After the doctor's appointment, we girls decided to make the most of our Friday afternoon in town and stopped in the thrift store where Katie found a great costume that Dimon and I thought fit her well. :) We visited the library, two grocery stores, got a bite to eat, etc. Eventually we headed home where the volleyball girls met us a few minutes later.

Saturday, the volleyball girls woke up early to leave at 6am for their tournament in Circle. They arrived home tired and disappointed at their losses. This upcoming week, they'll have two brand new games. We're cheering hard for our Lady Lions! The season isn't over.

This weekend (Friday through Sunday evening), the guys are in various homes in the community for guys' weekend out. In the meantime, we girls are enjoying ice cream and brownies and other yummy treats, but don't tell the guys. Our secret. ;)

On Friday night, some of the girls moved a massive beanbag to the bottom of the first set of stairs and took turns jumping on it from a few steps up. :) They enjoyed flying through the air and taunting each other to see how big of a jump they could make. There's a mental block when you're standing on stairs about to jump, so they had to cheer each other on pretty hard. ;) The beanbag is massive, so it caught them easily each time. Below is a video of their shenanigans. Volleyball players, Kylie (shown in the video) and McKaylah, spent the night with us before their big day on Saturday. It was fun to have them. :)

Upcoming Schedule:

Sunday Night: Guys Come Back

Tuesday: Away Volleyball Game

Thursday: Away Volleyball Game

Thank you for following along!

The Latest Happenings

As I think through the past few days, I almost kick myself for not posting daily. So many things have been happening around here!

A week ago today, Lustre Christian High School crowded into our school bus and drove away to Beacon Camp where we spent the school day playing softball, eating some delicious food, and listening to a staff panel that sought to answer questions students had written ahead of time. We discussed how you can really know you're saved, how alcohol can be viewed from a Christian perspective, what it looks like to listen to God for your future, etc. There was also a discussion time concerning chapel as Principal Young sought to cast a new vision and new perspective.

The next day, a new member joined our family! Nathan joined us from Ohio as a freshman. We're so glad to have him!

Joyce (junior) is hanging out at
a park near the lake, watching the
crazies from her perch. She is also
on our volleyball team this year.

Saturday morning, girls' alarm clocks were going off way before six am as four of our girls prepared to participate in their first volleyball game! Serena, Joyce, Aleyna, and Dimon headed off to Culbertson to play in their first tournament. While they didn't win any games, they got a good feel for how they play as a team, and they are much more prepared now for their FIRST HOME GAME TODAY! :)

Several of the guys wanted to support our girls, so Ibrahim drove them the two hours to cheer hard. Maya also joined them. She is a part of the volleyball team but was in the process of making a decision as to whether or not her future plans would coincide with playing. She decided to stick with the team. They're lucky to have her.

Sunday after church, the dorm committee treated us to a fun time at Fort Peck lake. The sun was shining, but the breeze was pretty chilly. It didn't keep the students out of the water though! Several of them ran right in, splashing each other on the way. They came out with their teeth chattering, but they seemed to have a great time. Dawson Olfert and Tony Fast brought along boats for the kids to do some tubing and skiing. That was a highlight.

Left to Right: Serena (senior),
Chen (senior) and Maya (Senior)

 After playing in the water, we moved out toward a camping area where the Dorm Committee roasted some hotdogs and set out the fixings. Some started a volleyball game while some of us just sat in the sun and talked. We headed back tired and happy. It was a good day.

Monday was a treat with no school. Several slept in, but soon it was time to get to some homework. In the evening, several of the kids were hoping to go bowling, but we never could get ahold of the bowling alley. They were closed. The kids still thought shopping would be worth it, so we all piled into the school van, and off we went to Glasgow.

Tuesday came bright and early, and it was time to head back to school. The week has been whirring by though. Friday's almost here again.

During the girls' devotions, we start out by sharing something we are thankful for from the day. There's a great quote by G.K. Chesterton: “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” 

"Happiness doubled by wonder." I love that.

When we give thanks, we're opening our eyes to see the beauty around us and to not only see it but experience it. Experienced beauty is happiness. Acknowledged beauty doubles happiness in wonder.

I am so thankful for the 13 students God sent into my world. I am thankful for their laughter, their energy. I am so thankful for how they teach me what it looks like to welcome and love people. I'm thankful for their quirky humor and for how smart they are, each of them. I'm thankful for their bluntness (honesty), for their questions, for their courage. This family is a special one. 

Upcoming Calendar:

Tonight: First Home Volleyball Game! Thanks to those who came out and supported us. While our ladies lost, they sure played hard and did a great job. Can't wait to watch them on Saturday.

Saturday: Home Volleyball Game

Sunday: MB Church Potluck 

This is free entertainment for you. :) The students hung out at a park near the lake until the Dorm Committee arrived. This tire swing kept the kids busy for quite awhile. :) It's the little things . . .