Ten weeks. 74 days to be more specific. 1,776 hours I've spent here in Oklahoma, very few of which were spent sleeping and I wouldn't take a moment of it back.
This summer has been absolutely phenomenal. I've had the opportunity to work with nearly 600 youth and adult leaders, watching God grow in their hearts through this wonderful, tiny little town called Pawhuska. I wish there was a better way for me to be able to describe the community members here than a few measly words. There are so many wonderful people here who have bent over backwards to help us in any way they can. Being on an Indian Reservation has taught me a lot about myself and how to meet the needs of others but more just how to love. I've been pushed to love with abandon in ways I've not had to before. The children who come to our programming here come from family situations most of us can't even imagine. They all just need to be loved.
The youth! They have been hilarious. The things that they say, the thoughts that cross their minds, I have to continually remind myself where I am and what I'm doing. They have brought so much light to my life. How many times have I gotten side splitting cramps from laughing so hard? In an attempt to share this madness/ultimate awesomeness with you all, here are some photos from this summer:
I think I picked up one piece of advice while spending my summer in the Osage Nation, something so seemingly simple, yet so profound: Learn to love along side, not from above.
The idea that people don't want to be fixed. No one wants to feel like you're coming to give them hand-outs. Most people don't even like to accept help. It's hurtful and difficult to admit that you need someone else to help you. Yet, approaching it from a different angle changes everything. As I've lived through this summer and think more and more about the race, I become more engulfed with a passion for working aside people of every community. I don't want to walk in, fix you, and leave with a swift wave of the hand and a grin. I'm here to love you and learn about you. I want to hear your story and work with you. I want to understand where you're coming from and feel what you've felt. I want you to feel, hear, love, and learn from me too. Everyone has something to share.
I've spent a lot of time listening to Tenth Avenue North lately. Their lyrics seem to get me every time. I don't know what it is.
"Empty my hands, fill up my heart. Capture my mind with you."
"Love is here, love is now. Love is pouring from His hands, from His brow."
I don't know how I'm going to say goodbye to this community. In only a few short hours, our last group of participants are leaving and we will begin packing the site. We'll hop in the car and head up to Minneapolis to debrief.
I think I may suffer from culture shock. With all my heart- peace out Pawhuska! I will return.
