And we are home...

So, the group from St. Francis Mission on the Rosebud Reservation is now home!

Our apologizes to those who tried to follow us on our journey to Alkali Lake on the Blog. It turned out that we had very limited internet access while we were there and the days we spent traveling along roads that had poor cell phone coverage...so much for mobile blogging. 

A great time was had by all. When we arrived to Alkali Lake we were greated by a large camping area where we pitched our tents for the two nights we were there. Jim and Robert were able to participate in a sweat on Saturday morning which took most of the morning and afternoon. 

Several good speakers were at the Alkali Lake Round Up and much information was gained from the sobriety movement up at Alkali Lake. 

Everyone enjoyed themselves at the sobriety dance...especially the first night which featured everyone from Rosebud out in the Arbor dancing away.

On our way home we stopped off at St. Ignatius Mission and at Devil's Tower in Wyoming. Great trip home. 

I think everyone agrees that the best time of the trip was the trip itself! Everyone got to know everyone and a lot of bonding occurred. 

Photos of the trip to follow later this afternoon...

Keep praying!!!!!

Alkali Lake awaits

Patrick Haggerson and daughter, Helen, arrived here in Alkali Lake on Saturday night. Since then Patrick has been doing his usual work in the community and has been joined by Helen during the evenings to prepare the campsite, help Arthur D. put up a teepee and prepare for the arrival of the Betty Ford Center staff, Alumni and friends.

Yesterday (09-07-08) Mike N., Deb M (Patrick's wife), David B. and Greg D arrived from Palm Springs on the plane. Jean M. and Sterling Z. arrived from Los Angeles. Arthur D. and wife, Jeannie had a wonderful sweat lodge ready for us in the evening.

Today, we will tour the community, go in the sweat and take it easy. Russ P. flyes in From Vancouver this afternoon and Lyle P. (guest speaker from Atlanta, GA) arrives this evening. Kate S. (guest speaker) and her husband, Michael, will be arriving from San Diego. We'll have a meeting and sweat lodge and will keep our family from SFM/Rosebud in our prayers.

All is well, we're learning on a daily basis how to live, laugh and love!!!!!

Billings MT

Here is a run down of todays events...

Left KINI at 8:00 am.

Picked up Jim S at White River at 8:45 am.

Off to Rapid City to pick up some items for the digital camera. Saw Fr. Hatcher and Fr. Richard there....shocked them!

We went to St. Joseph Labre's Mission in Ashland Montana. he place is huge and well done... Saw the Museum and gift store and the church. Also saw "Soaring Eagle" the retirement center. Great stop!

We then went on and saw the Battle of Little Big Horn National Park. Way cool! Jim and I walked around and a Canadian guy came up and shared with us all of the information he knew about Lakota people...all of which was wrong! :-) Funny...

Decided to stay the night in Billings MT and head out tomorrow at 6 am. We think we are going to put in another 10 or 12 hour day so that we can be closer to the Canadian border on Friday so the trip to Alkali Lake is shorter.

Good night!

ON OUR WAY!!!!!!!

Wed. 730 pm Central time. We just left the Battle of Little Big Horn Monument and are heading west. Trying to get to Billings MT tonight. Spirits are high and all is going well