Red Lake, MN – August 18-24, 2024

This was the last week for long term volunteer Head Cook, Dorothy Miller from Decatur, IL; Assistant Cook, Janice Sackenheim from Berne, IN; Crew Leaders, Matthew Kreeb from Fisher, IL; Jerry Engel from Christiana, PA; David King from Broadway, VA and Project Director and Office Manager Don and Rachel Horst from Newton, KS.  Our weekly volunteers from southern Indiana, arrived in a timely fashion Sunday evening, bringing our total number of volunteers this week to 20, (plus sweet little 3-month-old Maliyah).

Monday finishing touches were done at the Thomas and Lyons houses.  At the Juarez house, old siding and rotten sheeting were removed; 3 new windows and one door were installed as well as house wrap and new sheeting hung.  Old siding was removed at Strong’s house, house wrap and new siding installed.

Highlights of the week included having Nate Taylor, Executive Director of Endazhi Nitaawiging, “A Long Time Coming” charter school, come speak to our group on Wednesday evening.  Interaction with family members of the homeowners, especially when presenting a beautiful comforter, ladies from Matt’s home church made.  Several took a tour of the Red Lake Nation Fishery in Redby on Friday afternoon.

Always a delight to have young volunteers come, learn, bond and give their best to the tasks at hand.  As we leave the Red Lake Nation we are grateful for the opportunity to serve here; for the eye opening information shared and a deepened appreciation for the Native Americans.

Rachel Horst reporting for the Red Lake team:  Dorothy Miller, Janice Sackenheim, Jerry Engel, Matt Kreeb, David King and Don Horst