Where are the teepees?

We are here in the Osage Indian Reservation on our Youth Works Mission Trip. It took us about 10 hours to get here from Houston. The students were not to impressed when we got into Oklahoma because it didn't look much different than Texas. I'm sure every student had their own idea of what they should expect from Oklahoma, but I think most of their preconceptions about the Osage Reservation were pretty similar. When we entered the reservation there were questions like, "where are the teepees?" and "are we going to be shooting bow and arrows?". They were all surprised when we came into a small town with schools and churches and buildings. We are staying in a very pretty but old church here in Pawhuska, with awesome stain glass windows everywhere. The town here is very small but feels like a very nice community.

I say all that though to let you know that our students are a little outside their comfort zone this week and most of them have no clue what to expect which can be scary. What feels like home to Juliann and I is more of a distant country for some of our students. I will say though that I have not heard one student complain about anything yet. They are all doing an awesome job on working together and being respectful of each other. They did not complain about the 10 hour drive, the not so good food, sleeping on floors, being split-up in groups, or even about cleaning dishes after meals. (that wasn't me complaining by the way. I just wanted to let you know what they could have complained about).

I think this is going to be an awesome week. I can't wait to see these students serve other people this week. I know that God is going to grow this group of students. I just pray that we will be able to bring a servant heart back to Houston when we are done here. Please be in prayer for our students this week as they step outside their comfort zones and let God lead them.