the Boys and Girls Club

Currently, I am waiting for the kids at the Boys and Girls club to arrive. The director at the Boys and Girls club offered me a part time job as the art teacher. Because I do not have the full 30 hrs/week available to take the job, I have taken the flexible and rewarding volunteer rout via Mondays and Fridays. The coin of experiences at The Boys and Girls club has landed on both sides of crisis and victory.

A crisis I now know is developing art projects suited to the age of the artist. I’ve learned that the younger a child is the more satisfaction they receive from making something look exactly like the original and the more discouraged they become if it does not. The simpler the task is, the more they enjoy it. For example, gluing pre-cut shapes of construction paper together. I was not expecting this attraction to predictability and limits because I assumed that everyone, regardless of age, would prefer having a free-range creative project where they get to choose what the end product looks like. I also found that the older a child gets, the more capacity she has for expression, yet, in general, she requires much more coaxing to even try the project. Because of the social pressures that arise in later age, teen expression through art can be a stressful situation if the atmosphere is not completely accepting. In general, teens are shy about making mistakes for fear of ridicule, especially in front of their friends. The teens become excited with thoughts of creating movies, dance routines, raps and murals, but when the time comes to try something new their excitement seems to evaporate into avoidance or complete apathy. Because the art class is nothing they are required to come to, I’ve found keeping the teens motivated to stay committed to a long-term project a challenge. The same underlying fear is the reason that younger children like clear cut projects and teens are afraid to expose themselves. The victory comes when the atmosphere becomes one of encouragement where friends convince each other to try something new and grow as a result.

One friday the group voted to have a movie day. The popcorn was popped, the straws were bent, and Over the Hedge was rented. The movie seemed to have an ominous haze of crisis surrounding it as it was inserted into the DVD player, yet I decided to ignore my apprehensive feelings as my unease turned into curiosity. My curiosity was stilled as the story unfolded about a raccoon who steals stolen junk food from a bear (packaged chips, cookies, etc.), and because of his greed the bear catches him telling the raccoon that if he does not get all of the food back in one month he will eat him. In his search, the raccoon stumbles upon a group of animals who’s forest has been developed into a suburb. He manipulates the animals to steal food from the suburb for him. As if the story couldn’t be any more lost, The character who stands up for morals, the turtle, is constantly being humiliated, made fun of, ignored, and abused throughout the film while the raccoon is adored and glorified. About half an hour in, I could not watch anymore for I felt my very soul was wrenching. This movie mirrored the disintegrating morality of society with no sign of a fulfilling victory at the end. The only victory that remotely relates to movie watching is the movie we watched to following week: Cars.
Because of my experience the previous week, I was not happy about watching another movie, but I couldn’t refuse the pleads of those cute kids. This movie was about how a race car, Lightning Mcqueen, learns that friends are more important than personal glory. I was impressed with how the movie demonstrated responsibility and justice. During one part, Lightning drags a statue wrapped in barbed wire through the streets of a town causing a considerable about of damage, and lightning is required to fix the damages before he can leave. I was so proud because it is a common occurrence in cartoons that characters go on extreme damage escapades while severely injuring themselves with no consequences for the cultural comedic effect. I was also impressed with how the film illustrated the value in humility and service as lightning learned to help his friends instead of himself (countering what Over the Hedge had taught the kids). I am thankful for both the crisis’s and the victories for both are needed to learn and grow.

All in all, serving at the Boys and Girls club has been a positive experience It has proven to be a great place to have fun getting to know kids and teens while at the same time learning job skills and teaching skills.

Some Other Projects

My friend Dorla has taught me how to do beadwork and is helping me make a fancy dance Regalia. We went to a Pow-wow last weekend to get some ideas for the design. After observing the dancers I've decided on a dragonfly since dragonflys are dancing insects. Here are some pictures from the Pow-wow:


















I made another friend who invited me to a social night at her church. Her friends and I got into an amazing conversation about the Bible. That discussion showed me how little I know about it, so I am now determined to study it regularly because I could tell they were open to hearing about Baha'u'llah if I could have showed them quotes in the Bible to back up my claims. I'm using Thief in the Night and a compilation on Archive to help me.

I'm improving my guitar skills because the children often ask me to play. I'm learning the songs in book three, and the children are making up their own songs about Baha'u'llah and virtues. I recorded some of them. I attached them as 'Song by Children' on my Multiply website at http://hannahxhannah.multiply.com/

Core Activities Update

I'm torn about how to write on this blog. I would like to tell stories about things that happen and people I meet, but I think it might be backbiting if I talk about specific people - even if it is good things. I'm sorry if it is not going to be as interesting.

I'm slowly creating friendships with the parents of the children that visit me at my house daily. I think we are at a comfort level now where some of the parents would be open to having classes in their own homes instead of mine. The assembly has brought up the concern that I am with the children alone at my house which isn't safe for them or for me, so having classes at the children's homes is crutial.

As for Ruhi, Everyone in the Baha'i community is at different points in the Ruhi sequence. It isn't possible at this time to have regular meetings to do Ruhi together because of schedule conflicts, so I will be visiting everyone individually until we work out a way to do it together. We have met twice on Wednesdays for a book one with seekers (six people all together). I'll keep you updated on how that goes.

Breezes of Confirmation is in! There are six jr. youth girls that have expressed interest in it. I'm going to ask them if they would be interested in learning a step dance too.

The Warm Hospitality of the Natives

"We should tell her about Baha'u'llah!" Frankie said with wide eyes as he introduced me to Jay, his friend that had been taking him to church, "Since he was in pampers."

We were standing out side the school basketball courts after shooting some hoops when Jay drove into the parking lot. Frankie told her about the children's classes we had been having to "learn how to improve the world by lighting the candles of our hearts through the teachings of Baha'u'llah."

We continued to stand in the parking lot and talk about how to work together to improve the world as her kids played on the playground with kid's from the children's class that had been playing basketball with Frankie and me. She told me how she had given her life to Jesus Christ and turned her whole life around. She is now married with four kids and lives in a nice house right out side of town. Her story was very inspirational, and the enthusiasm with which she told of the confirmations she has received through the power of prayer gave me hope and energy.

It was beginning to get dark, so we said our goodbyes and promised to meet again.

The next day she stopped by my house and invited me to come over for dinner. She introduced me to her family and laid out a tasty and satisfying meal of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and corn.

"It's not Indian, but it tastes good," she said with a laugh.

"It will be as soon as you eat it," I thought.

I secretly wanted to turn my food Indian too when I ate it. I decided that I must have Indian blood in me since we are all humans, and continued eating my food while listening to her family talk about home-schooling, sports, and the tests of living a spiritual life while raising a family to look to God for hope and answers.

________

Frankie took the Hidden Words with him when he left to go to bording school in Pierre. I've never seen anyone so happy to own a copy of the Hidden Words. He didn't want to take it at first because he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to take care of such a precious book.

"A smashed cake tastes just as good," I told him. "You can't go on a journey without taking food with you, and where you're going everyone is hungry. They need you there with this cake to feed them, smashed or not."

Frankie has the sweetest most genuine smile. I really hope I can show you a picture of him soon.

________

Yesterday Earl was out working on the yard again. I asked him if he needed any help.

He said, "No, but you can help me eat these pickles I made last night. I drove all the way to Bizmark to get the spices." Earl really is a generous man. We sat in the shade eating pickles and chatting about his grandkids. After awhile he said he needed to go inside again, but this time I stopped him and told him about the study circle we were going to have the next day at Rick's house. He looked interested in the material, but he said he wasn't much for talking to people he didn't know. I was surprised he said that because he was such an easy person to talk to. I suppose sitting and studying doesn't sound too appealing with people one has never met. I hope that as he learns more about the faith and meets more of the Baha'is he will change his mind.

I'm going to look over Anna's presentation again from book 6 and try a new approach. I haven't gone into much detail about the Faith with Earl yet. Hopefully my prayers will be sincere, and my heart will be open enough to let Baha'u'llah give me the right words to say next time. Earl said himself that he is waiting for God to fix the world. I wonder where he sees himself in that plan.

The Time Has Come...

I'm sorry I do not have any pictures for you yet as it seems I left my card reader in Iowa. Pictures are being taken, though, and I will post them as soon as I get access to a card reader.

Yesterday my landlord, Earl, was watering the grass, so I walked over to talk to him. Earl has lived for many years, and with his kind heart and generous nature, he is always looking for someone to talk to. I asked him why he chose to live on the Rez.

Walking back and forth across the thirsty lawn, he told me of his travels across the country in the 70's, "Back when people would offer you a piece of pie if you stopped to ask for directions and gas was cheep."

He had lived in almost every state, yet he chose to live out the rest of his life on the Rez. Fishing and hunting as a part of the culture and the small number of people here were two reasons he chose to stay.

At that point he turned the water off, turned to me and said, "Where else would I go? The same problems that exist here occur everywhere else in the world. Many parents leave their kids for somebody else to look after and leave them without any guidance. Those children grow up to create the world we now live in. At any rate, I know God is going to fix up the world any time now."

He then indicated that he needed to be heading inside. As he closed the door to his house, he left me with the aching need to let him know. Baha'u'llah had come to give us the guidance we need! The time he was waiting for has arrived!

Children of God

Yesterday I went to the elementery school to see if I could get a job there. They said I could be a substitute teacher on the days I didn't have class or I could be a tutor. I don't know how consistent of a job this will be, but at least it is a start.

When I was walking home from the school I pasted a boy sitting by himslef in the park. His warm smile was very welcoming, so I went over to talk to him. He told me his name was Frankie and that he was nine years old. While we were talking we looked over to see Mary, a Baha'i from Nicaragua that came to Mclaughlin for two weeks to serve the community, walk into the park, sit down with 4 children, and begin to play a game. Frankie and I decided to go join them. The seven of us played a game to learn each others names and a virtue we saw in each other. Then we sang songs, learned a quote, and played more games.

Later that night around 11:30 Frankie came over to my house because his mother was not home. He told me about how he wished he knew a little man who would give him a wish. His wish was to create a whole new world where people were kind to each other, didn't steal, used nice words, and didn't fight. He also sang me a song that helped him when he missed his friends who had died because of fighting. He picked up my prayer book and asked me what it was. I showed him some prayers for the departed, and we said some together. After we prayed for awhile I showed him The Hidden Words and told him that in that book Baha'u'llah had granted his wish. He smiled and looked ito my eyes with excitement waiting to find out how his wish had been granted. "If we follow the guidence of Baha'u'llah our hearts will be filled with his love," I said. "With his love we can build a world of peace."He opened the book and read one of the Hidden Words. As he read the words tears came to his eyes. He pointed to them, smiling, and said, "These are tears of joy, and this is a book of God."

Children's Class

I started classes at Sitting Bull today so I should have regular access to the internet from now on.

Every Sunday the Baha'i community of McLaughlin hosts regular children's classes with three age levels of some 18 kids. I got to be with the 5-6 year olds this time and learn about truthfullness.

This week I will begin to visit the children, and with permission from their parents, conduct smaller chilrens classes in or around their homes. Having a children's class in the home of the children gives me a chance to work with each child one on one to learn about their specific needs while at the same time meeting their parents and giving their parnets a chance to get involved with the classes. The class will consist of a simple 15- min art project with a lesson about a virtue. If at any time the children loose intrest I will not push them to finish, but continue to spend time with them, playing and talking.

I've Found My Home

My heart is so happy.

I'm finaly here, but I cannot write much because I am using up the phoneline of a friend. We found the perfect place to live, so that part is all worked out. I've met many new wonderful friends that I can't wait to tell you more about as I learn about them.

This place posseses such kindness and purity. My heart feels free like it has never felt before. I looked over the missouri river as I was driving here and watched the birds soar over the water. I feel just like those birds.