Tangible Progress You Can See!

This last year has been a great encouragement in many ways. Returning work group members and

staff at DWM are thrilled to see tangible progress in the lives of many of the youth on the

reservation. When DWM first began, many youth at the ministry were just 5-7 years old. They have

now grown into teenagers and have made great strides in spiritual growth.

These youth are now “young adults” and are involved heavily in weekly volunteer efforts at DWM,

leading praise and worship, organizing and implementing communion meditations and communion

serving, running the sound booth (microphones and projector), writing and printing Sunday morning

bulletins, producing slideshows of camps and special events, cooking and serving a pancake/egg/

sausage breakfast each Sunday for over 120 community members, leading devotionals on occasion

and readily assisting as needed.

Their involvement also extends to the Hunkpati Leadership Project (HYLP). This year five students

are in HYLP and work onsite directly for DWM. In addition to these five, there are fifteen others

that are employed at jobs either part-time or full-time at Al’s Oasis as cashiers, cooks, dishwashers,

and bussing tables; Bowers Mint Farm as farmhands on an expansive Christian owned farm; CORE

Engineering and Consulting as laboratory assistants; McDonalds as restaurant staff; Lynn’s

Dakotamart as cashiers; and the Army Corps of Engineers as maintenance staff.

Six youth will be attending college this fall, with four of them being returning students. The growth

of all of these young adults whether remaining here in Fort Thompson or venturing outside our

community to obtain training and education, can be seen in their leadership abilities, their growing

care and concern for individuals within our community, their attentiveness in the physical care of

DWM facilities and their willingness to lend a hand, no matter what the job.

This summer, two DWM young adults are also attending National Guard Basic Training in Fort Sill,

OK. Recently through letters, they shared how important reading their Bibles daily was helping

them through their training. They also shared specific passages from the Bible that God is using to

speak to them and how they were applying godly principles to their daily lives in order to be

successful during training.

What a victory to see tangible spiritual progress in their lives. We are so proud of all of them!

M AY /JUNE 2013 , (VOL . XII , NO . II)

PO Box 438 Office: (605) 245-2685

Fort Thompson, SD 57339 Website: www.d-w-m.org

E-mail: info@d-w-m.org

“Serving one another in love” — Galatians 5:13

Providing Hope and Vision for the Future

P AGE 2

Building Relationships:

Our fourth week of Cantemawaste youth camp was held for 8-10 year old boys. The camp was

staffed by work group team members working together from Coal Run Church of Christ, Pikeville,

KY; folks from Huron, SD; a college student from Ohio; and Richie the barefoot cook from Indiana.

A great time was had by all. Thanks so much for sharing Jesus with the boys! June 19-22

Our third week of Cantemawaste youth camp was held for 8-10 year old girls. The camp was staffed

by work group team members working together from Heartlands Church, Lincoln, NE; New Life

Church of Christ, Bellville, OH; and Tomoka Christian Church, Ormond Beach, FL. Another great

week of camp! Thanks to everyone for their generosity in making these camps possible! June 12-16

Our second week of camp was held for 11-14 year old boys. Local Diamond Willow Ministries

members and staff joined together to lead this week's camp. May 29—June 2

A group of guys completed a hiking trek from Arrowhead Springs Creek to Joe Creek. May 24-25

Our first week of Cantemawaste Youth Camp was held for 11-14 year old girls. A group from

Kingsway Christian Church in Avon, IN along with a smaller group of young ladies from

Hagerstown, MD came to staff the camp. May 22-26

HCC Hope Missions made a trip to Diamond Willows Ministries to build a concrete retaining wall

at the Ikce Oyate Christian Center. In addition, this group put up some siding on the “Farm House”

as well as worked on the church and duplex fascia. WOPIDA TANKA (thank you very much) for a

job well done by all the HOPE Missions team. April 19-27

Kimball Church of Christ from Kimball, MN and Hartfort Baptist Church from Hartford, MO came

and worked on the "Farm House." They were able to: Shingle the entire house; Hang, tape, mud and

texture drywall; Complete rough-in drain plumbing; overhaul electrical system. On top of that they

made time to have youth out for a fun day of face painting and playing. Thanks again for your hard

work and supplies that made this a successful time. April 18-21

Northridge Christian Church from Milledgeville, GA and Blue Ridge Christian Church of

Columbia, MO worked on the "Farm house" re-construction project. The entire plumbing system

was removed and new facilities installed. In addition to a plumbing update and bathroom remodel,

both groups worked on removing a bunch of debris from the basement and yard. March 23-30

(To read more about News at Diamond Willow go to www.d-w-m.org, look under “What’s Going On”, then “Journal” )

P AGE 3

Cantemawaste Youth Camps a Big Success!

The Cantemawaste Youth Camps have been an elaborate undertaking for everyone involved. It has

taken months of preparation, prayer, and God’s provision to make the camp possible. We have

many of you to thank for the accomplishments of this camp.

The work groups that have come to augment our camp staff have done a wonderful job filling all of

the needed staff positions. A camp like this does not happen without the loving dedication of these

group members.

One of the desired results was that we would, along with our regular youth, see many new children

here at Diamond Willow Ministries this summer. That outcome has definitely been achieved. We

have seen a great increase in the number of individual lives reached over previous summers.

We have 4 more camps to go and expect that we will continue to see youth that we have not had a

lot of opportunities to spend time with before. Cantemawaste Youth Camp was established to bring

joy, hope, and the fulfillment of knowing the love of Jesus into these lives.

Cantemawaste roughly means “something good in the heart”. When we let the word of God take

hold of a child, God will do the rest. Our role is to give opportunity to every child, opportunity to

fail, opportunity to try again, opportunity to express their talents - singing, drawing, crafts, etc.,

opportunity to accept the love of Christ in their life. Given that OPPORTUNITY, we believe that

ALL children who receive Christ in their life will be successful, and will fulfill the God-given

purpose for which they were created!

Thank you all again for your encouragement while we made the transition to this new camp

structure. We especially thank you for your prayers while we continue to evolve the camp

structure.

Prayer Points.

Please pray for all the new connections that have been made between DWM and youth in the

community. Pray that these connections would be lasting and life changing.

Continue to pray for the Cantemawaste Youth Camps. Pray also for the remaining groups and

individuals that will be traveling here yet this summer.

Praise God that renovations are nearing completion at the “Farm House”. Matt and Jessica

Knight who relocated here to help at DWM will be moving in soon. Thank you to all the groups

that came to work on the house and to all those who donated funds and materials.

Diamond Willow’s annual, on-site board meeting is coming up. Pray for safety as our board

members travel to DWM in August.

CROW CREEK SIOUX RESERVATION

PO Box 438

Fort Thompson

South Dakota 57339

Office:

(605)245-2685

E-mail:

info@d-w-m.org

Website:

www.d-w-m.org

DIAMOND WILLOW MINISTRIES, PO Box 438, Fort Thompson, SD 57339

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Pierre, SD

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Making a Difference, One Life at a Time.

"Growing up in a Catholic school I felt that religion was forced, but

Diamond Willow helped me tremendously by being saved and letting

God reenter my life. I no longer feel pressured to be someone I’m not.

Diamond Willow has opened my eyes to God and made me a better

person. This place is home, where anyone can come and hangout no

matter what’s going on in their life. It’s a safe haven for most children on

the rez. Diamond Willow is a family, and I feel God has led me here to

witness his work being done every day."

There are five teens that are working onsite at DWM this summer as part

of the Hunkpati Youth Leadership Project. These youth are a

tremendous help with camps and other activities over the summer as they themselves learn more

about leadership. One of these youths is Rea. The permanent DWM staff is especially thankful for

her attention to detail and her ability to stay organized in the midst the commotion of all the youth

activities and Cantemawaste Youth Camps.

2013 has already been an exciting year for Rea as she was baptized early in the year, and

graduated from Crow Creek Tribal High School in May. Way to go Rea! No wonder she

always has such a big smile on her face. Rea is going to attend college and pursue coursework in

pre-law. Her goal is to become a lawyer.

We Treasure Your Partnership & Prayers!