Friday, July 24, 2009

Emotional Farewell

With many tears we are leaving the Reservation. Tears for the children we are leaving, tears for the friends we have made, tears for the injustices of this world and tears for a God that was so clearly present this week. We have truly bonded with the kids of Cheyenne River and will miss them dearly. Here are a few last pics of our time on the Reservation:
This is a perfect example of kids raising kids. Everyday at the Youth Center this 9 year old girl would bring her siblings to the playground. They ranged from 6 to 2 months old and there were 6 of them! She would stay for many hours and push her baby brother around in a stroller. This particular evening she took the baby out of the stroller and said "Here, watch him. You look old enough." This would never happen in "our" world.
This picture was taken during the concert on Thursday night. This is Lindsey and she loved my camera and followed me around for most of the week. I taught her how to take pictures and how to videotape so she became my little shadow. She was at my feet as I was taking pictures during the concert and when I looked down this is what I saw...so sweet!
One evening I walked some kids home and came across this tiny little girl standing on top of a car. I stood there for awhile not believing what I was seeing and waited for an adult that never came. These chidren are essentially on their own with no supervision.
This little girl came up to the Youth Center as we were leaving to tell Emma goodbye. It was so painful to watch this little girl cry and cling to someone she has only known a short time. Needless to say, we were all in tears!
And so our time on the Reservation is complete and it is time to pack up and try to acclimate back to our "normal" lives. I will be forever grateful that our family was able to share this amazing experience together. My prayer is that we won't slip back into our lives full of entitlement and greed and that we will keep the faces of these children forever in our hearts. What a life-changing experience!

5 comments:

Yvonne said...

These pictures are so sweet and heart wrenching - funny I never really gave the American Indians a thought before you went there. Never dreamed that their lives were in such poverty and they have been neglected for all this time. Opened my eyes. Mom

blog said...

Good Job Good and Faithful Servants! You have set a example that has encouraged us all to step out of our comfort zone. I am so glad that you and your family had this opportunity ans so thankful that God is really working in all of your hearts! Thank you for sharing this with us! the pics are precious and I know you will look at them 1000 times a day! Thanks again! Love you all! Now you need to come to Magnolia Texas for your next Mission Trip.. This reservation needs some lovin from The Crowell Clan!

blog said...

Good Job Good and Faithful Servants! You have set a example that has encouraged us all to step out of our comfort zone. I am so glad that you and your family had this opportunity ans so thankful that God is really working in all of your hearts! Thank you for sharing this with us! the pics are precious and I know you will look at them 1000 times a day! Thanks again! Love you all! Now you need to come to Magnolia Texas for your next Mission Trip.. This reservation needs some lovin from The Crowell Clan!

Grandma Brian said...

I am so proud of all of you for dedicating part of your summer to serving others. What a wonderful example you are setting for the girls.

Unknown said...

hey! im in here 6 times... i am truely the 7th crowell! i am Honored to be apart of the coco crowells! :)
love you all!
your 5th daughter lol!