Another post!

                So, I need to get better at blog updating.  Once a week, that’s my goal. Ah well, some is better than none.  I’ve been doing a lot of teaching the last couple weeks, and I actually feel like I’m getting the hang of it a bit more.  Things are settling in a bit for me,  which has meant I haven’t needed to spend quite so long working on stuff after school every day.  So that’s encouraging.  Another good thing with teaching, is that the school has given me sort of a consultant to help me learn how to develop lesson plans, since I really have been learning as I go.  It’s a friend of mine, Dylan, who taught out here for a few years but now is doing grad school.  He is going to be sending me ideas and materials.  Should be really helpful, and he’s a super cool guy. 

                Also since my last post, I got to lead worship at the church in Parmelee.  I haven’t lead on guitar in a few years, so it was pretty cool to be able to step back into that.  And I think it will be good for the people there, because prior to me worship was on a tape recorder.  So, I’m thankful for the opportunity to help out!  I’ll probably be doing that almost every week.  I love that place.   I got to be a part of their alcoholics recovery group last Tuesday too, which was a pretty beautiful thing.  A bunch of people who have realized they can’t do it on their own, and are trusting in someone greater than themselves to help them.  Who realize that they need each other, and that helping each other is one of the first ways to help themselves.  Pretty cool.

                As I write this, I am just getting over the flu.  I missed school yesterday for it.  Not the most fun night of my life.  But this time, I can totally see God teaching me something through it.  I was being way too busy friends.  I mean, this last week, I would be at school for ten hours, which can tire me out, and then I would drive straight to Parmelee.  I didn’t make time for things like, I dunno, eating.  Nor was I prioritizing quiet time in prayer.  So, I got the flu, and got a chance to reevaluate.  Besides the busy thing, I also realized just how much I take health, and my very comfortable life, for granted.  I mean, for me, I am a huger complainer when I’m sick.  I just felt like it was the worst thing in the world.  False.  It wasn’t that bad.  I had a nice camper to stay in, and I could go buy whatever medicine I wanted.  I didn’t have to go work in a field all day or something like that.  And I hardly ever get sick.  I was reading a book by one of my heroes, David Brainerd, who struggled most of his life with sickness.  He said the worst part was that he couldn’t spend much time in prayer, fasting, and sharing Christ when he was really sick. I want that kind of undivided heart.

                 Thanks for reading everyone!  I am super blessed out here, there is nowhere I would rather be.  Hope to hear from you guys soon J  Take care.

               

PS.  Me and Copper have been running about a seven mile route.  He’s getting in shape.  I love that pup. 

Ponies, badgers, and otters

Hello All,

  Well, I don't know how to be a teacher yet, but I am getting closer.  I have been teaching every day, and I even gave my first test.  These last couple of days we have been covering the Native American struggles in the West, which has been pretty intense, partly because I am the only non-Native in the room.  Such tragic stuff (I recommend everyone read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee).   It's been good though.  Also, I've learned teaching is really a lot of work.  Grading...  organizing...  I am looking forward to getting more efficient at these things.   But, teaching is great.  I really like it.

  Also, I really like living in the country.  Walking the dog in the fields last weekend we found our first badger.   That was pretty exciting, that critter looked like he could mess a dog up.  So, we left him alone.  I love being able to go out to the fields at night.  Its so peaceful, and the stars are amazing.  Really a good place to worship and pray.

  Also, Parmelee is a sweet place.  Last week I was going to go help out with bible school, but we ended up breaking some wild ponies instead.  That.... was really sweet.  This last week for bible school (every tuesday), we took a bunch of kids to go paint over grafitti around the dam.  And then we made a bridge over a stream and went 'hunting' for otters.  I don't get bored here.  

 
  That's about it for now.  Hoping to go camping this weekend with some guys.  Take care everyone :)

A week of action.

  Much has changed since my last post, which I guess was only a few days ago. One new experience was  I got attacked by a Rottweiler.  So now, I have a sweet bite wound on my hand!  Also, on tuesday Copper and I went for a nice long through the beautiful SD prairie and saw where a wildfire almost came from to destroy our place, just last week.  Yesterday, Copper got his own bite wound from a different dog.  That one was intense for us.  Wild dogs, prairie rattlers, prairie fires.... welcome to the SD danger zone.

  A bigger piece of news is that I now have full time job.  Thank you to the 113 of you who approved of that on facebook haha.  Tuesday I went into the district office to ask about getting on the substitute teacher list, and it just so happened that a high school social studies teacher had quite just the day before.  So, they offered me a full time (long term sub) position teaching two sections of U.S. History and one section of Personal Finance.  Seventeen hours later, I was teaching my first class!  It was an action-packed experience, for sure.  I am really enjoying teaching, though it has its ups and downs.  It is such a sweet (and crazy) opportunity to just land in my lap.  I get to spend all day with 15-18 year olds, who are at least somewhat willing to listen to what I have to say.  I love that :)   On the flip side, I get pretty worn out at times as I try to learn to be a  teacher, on the fly.  I am getting awesome advice from a lot of different people in the building (all of whom are top notch, I really like them) and it is both very helpful and very, very overwhelming.

  So,well, I'm just going to try to keep it simple and the everyone will have to be all right with that.

  Thursday night I got to be a part of a little prayer meeting with two of my good friends who have lived here for awhile.  It was one of the best times ever.  A banjo, 3 dogs, 1 cat, and a bunch of turkeys were all a part. Plus a beautiful time of prayer for the rez and for new hearts.  Hearts to believe in the father like he deserves to be believed.

  With my new teaching commitment, I am trying to be very intentional in not losing my connection to Parmelee and the people over there.  Last night I had an awesome time hanging out with my friend Joe, and then walking around town with about 7 kids.  I brought Copper with me, and he was a big hit. Apparently he loves kids!  So that made me really happy :)  Several little girls asked if they could keep him.  Had to say no to that one.

Longboard, kids, copper.  Good stuff.

Copper making a friend.

 I brought along my two boards, and they had a lot of fun rolling around town.  We even stoppped by Kary's and spent 50 cents riding the mechanical horse.  Last night was a win for sure.

  Today, go to school to prep stuff, try to find a weight room, head back to Parmelee, and spend lots of time in prayer.


Cheers everyone, and thanks for reading!  
Glen