Not By Might...

Hello

I am finally home now after 2 weeks of traveling and I have to admit it is good to be home. I had a wonderful time with my lovely mother and it was so good to see my daughters and grand daughters. We had a short time together, it is never long enough. We celebrated birthdays and I even got to go to Sophie and Savannah's school for their annual carnival. 

My journey to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation started month's ago, actually years ago. There have been prayers going up for this 
First Nation by prayer warriors and mighty women and men of God for ages. I am just a part of that stream of prayers, which I was connected in and through the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus. 
I had been talking to my friend, KC Willis who has been ministering to the Pine Ridge area for the past year. She is planning on going full time to this calling and selling her Lip Stick Ranch  business. 

She has rented a building in White Clay NE, which is right on the border of the reservation. My prior post was on White Clay. 

LightShine 


Her plans at the moment are to use this building as a much needed re-sale shop and art center for the Reservation residents. 
Plans for this shop are to sell quality used items at affordable prices to those that need it, while maintaining the dignity of choosing and purchasing what they need and bringing it home in a pretty package. So they might be a part of commerce, either at the resale shop or in the art center. The art center will enable learning an art skill while having the capability of selling it online at the center. 
This seemed to be right down my alley and so praying about this, I felt the Lord's leading to somehow be apart of this in a small way.
... so this is my journey, I collected a car and trailer full of goodies, thanks to my family and friends and headed 16 hours to
 South Dakota... land of my childhood.

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Unloading...

The re-sale shop will have 3500 sq feet

Pastor Joe... youth minister. A heart for the young that God is using in a tremendous way.

So much work to do... sort and fold

Beautiful helpers!

 Home Sweet Home for our stay

It had a beautiful view of the prairie...

God is here... in this forgotten land.  He has not forgotten this Nation that has been swept aside. He is sweeping this land by His Spirit and healing this broken Nation... one lovely Lakota spirit at a time.

For I see a hovering over this land, angels standing in wait to go to war for this Nation that has seen no hope for so long. A remnant of people still strong in spirit, a healing that will bring a new beginning with this seventh generation.
 For it is not by might, nor by power,  but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.
(Zech 4:6)

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- Eph 6:10-18

God brought me here to learn, help and to minister.
Please join me on my next post and meet some lovely Lakota women with warrior spirits.
Blessings
Rebecca

Beauty For Ashes

Faces of Whiteclay

Hello

I am in Minnsota now visiting my mother,
 making my way home after a week on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

I will be doing a couple of posts on my trip, 

I will try to share with you this learning experience and

the beauty I found in ashes.

Isaiah 61

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

To appoint unto them that mourn, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

These are the faces of Whiteclay.

These are the faces of heart ache and lost hope...

 they have found there existance and survival in intoxicated sleep.

These are the brokenhearted that God has come to save through His never ending love.

The homeless.

They have names... family... stories...

if anyone would care to hear.

This is Dennis, he wanted me to care enough to take his picture and know his name.

I have looked into the eyes of dispair and know without God we are all without hope.

Eli... a sweet spirit that I came to love.

This is Frances, a Korean vet... "I am the only sober one!"

New mercies every morning.

Reggie, the proud one.

Waiting... waiting for an escape.

This is Mary Ann.

She sat on the street for days, waiting for her husband to get out of jail. She wanted me to take a picture of her love.

And finally the escape...

Maggie.

As I was walking one morning Maggie, yelled to me, "Please lady, I need to call my son. I need to know how my grand-daughter is. She was burned with hot grease and they air lifted her to Denver hospital." 

 Please pray for Passion Tobacco, we found out she is 18 months old and burned over 1/3 of her little body.

Maggie's friend, Tyrell.

A shelter for the homeless

My first glimpse of White Clay Nebraska...

400 yards from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Surrounded by controversy and political chaos.

Shattered by the poison it serves.

WhiteClay

Please join me on this journey of goodness and mercy...

how God has brought me to White Clay and the work He is doing.

Not by might - not by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts.

Blessings

Rebecca

Following My Heart

Hello

How do you like the new blogger settings, I know something new to get used to right? It has been so long since I posted, I didn't realize things had changed around here. I am trying to figure it all out and it feels a little strange but I am sure I will get used to it.

I am getting ready for my big trip to South Dakota, where I am bringing a trailer filled with clothing, cleaning supplies, some furnishings and kids stuff to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

 I will be meeting my good friend KC Willis there and she will be introducing me around the Rez. She has started a wonderful work there by the leading of the Lord in her life and now is devoting most of her time to the beautiful people of the Lakota Sioux.

 The Pine Ridge Reservation is the poorest zip code in the United States and these people need our help.

 KC has a vision to start a ministry center that includes a resale shop, commercial kitchen and art center. We all need dignity in our lives and these people most of all, being stripped of it in the past. Not just hand outs but tools to enable them to participate in some sort of commerce, whether it be buying affordable needed items at the resale shop or making art and learning to sell it on the internet. Not that giving isn't in the equation. 

I will be helping with this project the best I am able. I will be posting on my trip and keeping you updated on this exciting ministry. I am filling my etsy store with new items and all of the sales will go to this project. Please check out my 

Vintage Living etsy shop this is such a worth while cause.

In my last post I mentioned I was working in my studio and I had started painting again. I haven't painted in oils for 30 years and I have never painted faces. I had never tried portrait painting and never gave it a thought until my daughter Kerri started just recently. My daughter is amazing and I was challenged by her.

I had this little girl on my heart, her name is Liberty Yellow Bird. She is someone I am looking forward to meeting, so I decided to paint her.

Now, the oils were a challenge not to mention just trying to manipulate the paint so I figure I only have to get better... right?

I then painted my grand daughter Sophie who's birthday is coming up.

I am now working on a still life but I will continue with portraits and try to work on my skills.

I will be leaving on Friday and I will be gone for 2 weeks. I will try to keep you posted but internet connections will be tough.

Many Blessings to all of you and don't forget me now!

Rebecca

Random Shots of White

Hello

I have been busy in the studio this week painting... I finally picked up a paint brush again and it felt good. I have been trying my hand at oils, something I haven't done since I was in my 20s. It is somewhat difficult for me, since I have been using acrylics. After I get a few paintings under my belt, I will share. 

I thought it would be fun to do a White Wednesday post, I haven't done one for awhile. Kathleen, has been such a sweetheart hosting this now for such a long time.  Here are some random shots of white for your Wednesday.

The last of the lilac...

My first blooms of the season... so pretty!

Viburnum smells so sweet outside my door...

Yes, and it is getting to be that time again when we start preparing for the summer shows. I only have one booked this year and it is this one. My daughter Jody and I are going to be selling at The French Market again and we have some great hand-mades in the works.

This week besides painting I am getting ready for a trip to South Dakota. I am teaming up with KC Willis and going to the

 Pine Ridge Reservation the first week of May. 

I am gathering clothing, books, coats, shoes, tools and cleaning supplies in a trailer and hauling it across country to where it is so badly needed. The Lord is doing a work there and He has so graciously invited me to witness His beauty. If any of you would like to know how you can help, please email me.

Wishing you a lovely White Wednesday with Faded Charm!

Blessings

Rebecca