Day 4

Our day began early at 8:15 a.m. for breakfast at the C.R.Y.P. (Cheyenne River Youth Project). Rain scattered around us and the storm we heard the night before was still lingering so orientation followed and we split into groups to begin sorting boxes of donations in the warehouse for the upcoming rummage sale. We had lunch, began preparing for the children and teens to arrive for “hanging out” time.  Most of us spent the afternoon at the children’s center playing games, doing crafts and basically just being with them. Most kids just come and go without an adult—not sure if the adult even knows they’re here!  Took some getting used to since signing your child “in” and “out” almost everywhere you go in KC is the norm! By afternoon the hot sun had done its job and the center’s garden was dry enough to work in. Several of the adults and kids put on work gloves and pulled weeds and such for several hours

 

Our day has ended with the region’s famous “Indian Tacos” which were prepared for the teens that come to the center at night.  It consists of wheat flour bread that is flattened and then put in hot oil and very quickly fried—surprisingly not greasy or heavy tasting. It is then topped with all the traditional taco ingredients and a wonderful home-made salsa that is sold right here in the centers store. We are preparing to leave the center now at 8 p.m. and make our nightly run to the Dairy Queen before heading back to the motel for a community gathering in the 20×20 lobby with one 19” TV and several couches! We all seem to be having different levels of withdrawal from the communal living at the Red Scaffold Community Center!

 

-Tim Reddin

“Became one with the earth”.