Fort Thompson, SD - Native American Issues (Post 5)

We started our Friday morning as we did every morning: we got ready for the day, Chauncey stopped by, and we scarfed down whatever scraps we had left over from days prior.  We arrived at the Golden Age Center, the Habitat site we had been working at all week, ready to complete our week of service.  Jessica, Kelsey, and Sean joined June, a volunteer who prepares and delivers meals to elders in the community, on her daily route.  They delivered around 45 meals to about 30 different homes!  Many residents who received theses meals were extremely grateful and welcoming, often questioning about our stay in Fort Thompson.  Back at the Habitat for Humanity site, Issy, Megan, and Jim sanded the drywall and bonded over the fact that each had family members who served in World War II.   The remainder of the group assisted Dorothy in the thrift store.

Everyone went back for lunch at the church at noon. 

After lunch, we drove over to the Boys and Girls Club to show our appreciation to Ronda for all that she does and gave her a gift (a super awesome Mizzou sweatshirt!).  We then went back to the Habitat site to finish up some work with Dorothy for one last time.  After we finished our duties in the thrift store, Chauncey accompanied us to a couple of museums and art galleries in Chamberlain, about 20 miles away.  We saw some unique and amazing native artwork and learned about the history of the Lakota people.  Of course, we also hit up the gift shops to buy presents for everyone back home afterwards.  We worked up quite an appetite after our educational excursion so we went to downtown Chamberlain for some coffee and pastries.  Throughout the entire afternoon, there was light snow mixed with intermittent sunshine, making for both a beautiful and odd sight.

Jessica and Kelsey made delicious chili for dinner.  We had the privilege of both Chauncey AND Dorothy joining us for dinner. We gave Dorothy a card to say goodbye and to show our gratitude for her.  After dinner, a group of us made it just in time to watch the sunset over the lake.  We sat out by the water throwing rocks and joking around until it got too cold.

As I write this and reminisce over our week, I can’t help but be blatantly cliché about our experiences.  I am sure I can speak for each of us in the group when I say that we are very grateful to have been given the opportunity to come up to Fort Thompson, South Dakota, for a week.  It wasn’t only a week of service, but a week of friendship, laughter, hope, and learning.  This community has impacted me, and I am sure everyone on this trip; an impact that I am positive each of us will bring back and manifest in Columbia, in Missouri, and in our hometowns.  Like I said, I love clichés, and I will leave you with this: this is not a goodbye, Fort Thompson, it’s a see you later.

Love,

Sean