Wednesday, December 28, 2005

I'm actually posting on here!!! whoaaaaa

So I went for a walk the other day. There are woods right behind my house. Beyond the trees there are a bunch of reeds and then there's the lake (Nett Lake). During the summer the area is swampy. However, during the winter, everything is frozen and it is absolutely gorgeous. I meant to take more pictures but i just got sick of carrying around a dumb camera. So i shut it off and just enjoyed the AMAZING scenery. From our house you can walk clear back to the lake if you're willing to climb around in the woods. The lake is pretty much always frozen this time of year so walking on the lake can definitely occur. The only draw back is we can't really goof off on the lake because white folks(or anyone else who isn't a native) aren't allowed on the lake w/o a native with them.

anyway... The first picture is just a random place in the woods. The snow was kind of melting and it was so awesome. Everywhere i walked i could hear the *puff* of falling snow from the tree branches. So peaceful.

ok that's kind of a lie. In the summer, these woods are swarming with bears (the same ones that hang out in our backyard) and i was a little freaked that a bear was gonna come out even though they are definitely hybernating right now.

i'm such a pansy :)






This second picture is a view of the way out to the lake. After climbing through trees there's this huge section of leafless smaller trees and then a bunch of reeds. the pic is kind of looking through the last section of evergreens and into the small trees/reeds. it's so pretty. I hope everything is still frozen in march when you guys come up because it's so much fun tromping around back here.





so yes...that's pretty much it. I really suck at posting on this thing but that's ok. i know you guys will forgive me. :)


Random but very relevant:

"
And the moon is a sliver of silver
Like a shaving that fell on the floor of a Carpenter's shop
And every house must have it's builder
And I awoke in the house of God
Where the windows are mornings and evenings
Stretched from the sun
Across the sky north to south
And on my way to early meeting
I heard the rocks crying out
I heard the rocks crying out

Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands
Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land
Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made
Blue for the sky and the color green that fills these fields with praise

And the wrens have returned and they're nesting
In the hollow of that oak where his heart once had been
And he lifts up his arms in a blessing for being born again
And the streams are all swollen with winter
Winter unfrozen and free to run away now
And I'm amazed when I remember
Who it was that built this house
And with the rocks I cry out

Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands
Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land
Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made
Blue for the sky and the color green

Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands
Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land
Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made
Blue for the sky and the color green that fills these fields with praise"

"the color green" by Rich Mullins

have a good one guys. I'm gonna try to put a few more on here before i head back. ...try...

:)


-dave

Thursday, September 22, 2005

beautiful








see the double rainbow? so beautiful! God's creation is incredible!

The house in the picture is right up the street from ours. These pictures were taken on our front porch.

The people and the village itself are comin soon
-dave

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Better pictures of the lake...











These are much better pictures of the lake...


More to come!
have a great day guys
-Dave

Sunday, September 04, 2005

Nett Lake....the actual lake...




The above picture is of Nett Lake...the lake. It is a rice lake from which only natives can harvest. The vegetation in the fore ground is just a bunch of reeds. However, if you look closely you can see another line of vegetation right underneath the place at which water meets the trees. Those are rice stalks. To harvest them, the natives go out in canoes and take wooden bat type things with them. They take a bunch of the stalks and pull them over the canoe and then they beat all of the rice from the stalk into the canoe. It's pretty good stuff. REAL wild rice is soooo much better than that wimpy white rice.




This is called "spirit island." It holds a lot of significance to those in the tribe that follow the tribe's traditional spiritual beliefs. Apparently it has a lot of history behind it. Members of tribes pretty early on in the natives' history signed their initials and carved stuff into some of the rocks.

Because it is such a sacred place, whites aren't allowed on the island unless they are escorted by a native. That goes for the lake in general too.

...and no...it hasn't been a big temptation for me to go out on the lake because it's a really shallow lake and the fishing isn't good enough to make it worth the trouble. :)





sorry about the bad weather/background in these. I'll put up some better ones later. However, be forewarned...when we go to visit over springbreak, it'll be iced over with bunches of snow over top of it.


More to come! any questions just ask...

have a great one guys
-dave

Friday, September 02, 2005

The Church






Nett Lake Baptist Church. This is the mission. My father is the pastor of the church. My mom does most everything else :). Emily leads worship on Sundays and Scott spends his time with the youth. My family is responsible for the upkeep of the church and basically keeping all the programs and other things running. I don't really know what else to put, so if anyone has any questions, don't hesistate to ask on here. I would be more than willing to answer any of them.





The van was donated by the area casino. It has been a big blessing. To me, it just seems like the van is a perfect example of how God can work anything for His glory. Gamblers' wasted money has been turned into a shuttle for bringing the youth to and from church. Amazingly awesome if you ask me...

if you have any questions, just ask!
have a great night guys
-dave

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Bears can climb trees?

Why yes! Yes they can.


Bears are truly amazing creatures. There is a bear sanctuary very close to the reservation called "Vince Shute's Wildlife Sanctuary." Because the sanctuary is so close, there are always some wandering around the rservation. I'm gonna try to get some photos of these guys wanderin around in our backyard on the reservation.



Definitetly more to come...