A Common Sight

 This is a common sight across the street from where we live, corner of 2nd. Ave. and "D" St. West.  








Even on a cold day and even when school is in session, kids and adults are hang'in out on street corners or behind buildings.

As you can see there are plenty of dogs here 4 or 5 for every person.

Youth Survival Night

Youth Survival Night sometimes is more about if the adults in charge can survive. There are lots of active kids who come mostly to get their hands on a ball and to be with friends.
Other churches provide a youth night so we have some competition, but since we moved from Weds. to Tuesday nights now they can attend more than one church sponsored youth night.  The blue church Baptist) a block away has one too.  The kids refer to the LDS church as the white church.

This night the Elders played Dodge Ball with them which is a hit with the pre-teen to mid teens age.

Can you tell the Elders from the youth?  Don't miss the one in the center with the red ball cap on backwards.  That is our Navajo Elder who has played college basketball.

Brother Nelson our Native American who takes charge of Youth Night, does a cooking skill in the kitchen each week.  This night he showed the kids how to make tuna sandwiches and how to open a can using a knife.

Of course getting something to eat is always popular with kids.  He calls them in to the kitchen 3 or 4 at a time to demonstrate then they prepare their own.  Next week is Mac and Cheese.

We are trying to provide a safe place to be and also to teach them some survival skills.

As Spring approaches plans are to teach them some gardening skills, outdoor survival and also we have planned to have a few events to invite the whole family like a family picnic.





In a classroom the younger ones, mostly girls, were stringing beads to make bracelets or key chains.

Sister Pipe is trying to come with a craft each week for others to do.  These girls are finishing up dream catchers that they started last week.


I come prepared each week to do group games if the interest is there like
Charades, Hangman, To Tell the Truth.  Sometimes we play UNO or Checkers.

It depends on how many are there, their ages and who wants to do what.

March 2014 projects and activities

 Elder Allsop dismantled and rebuilt our little trailer putting in a new floor and rewiring the lights. It was handy hauling limbs he pruned with chain sawed to the landfill.  The town park is in badly need of clean up.  

 The town park is in badly need of clean up.  Many small and not so small trees are growing and intertwined in the nice chain link fence surrounding the outdoor basketball court.





Now the snow is melted, Poplar doesn't looks so good in many neighborhoods.  Shown is a way too typical yard.  With the wind and help of dogs, trash gets distributed well.

                    Cub Scout Activities                                                              

 We have been looking for a location to give the Cubs practice raising and lowering a flag and to practice and outdoor ceremony.  We noticed a building that is housing for the Veterans.  They have a three flag display in the front yard and they gave us permission to use their sight for practice.

 As you can see the outdoor Flag raising activity was a learning process.  I hope you find this as humorous as I do.  After another trial, they finally got it right.

More Fun with Quilts

 I have been helping our Relief Society President quilt a STAR quilt for her new expected granddaughter due to arrive in May.  She pieced this quilt, only her second one then three of us quilted it.  She wanted to get it done by the end of the month for the baby shower.  It turned out great.

Big Farms - Big Equipment

On a recent trip to Glasgow, 70 miles Northeast of Poplar we were amazed at the many implement dealerships.

 We couldn't even calculate the total cost of these businesses' inventory.

Considering the size of these farms, one would have to have sizable equipment to get over the thousands of acres some farmers own.

Yes, John Deere was well represented.  You could have your pick of about every model of tractor.

Getting ready for Spring, there was an impressive display of riding mowers.  We could use a couple of these for our planned clean up projects in Poplar.

Art work in the Schools

 At Poplar Middle School where I go every day to help in the 6th. grade math class, on display in the showcases are these paper mach buffalo and native paintings.  The buffalo is an important native symbol.  It represents strength and power.

I learned years ago when we had an Indian Placement Student, Johanna, that the Natives are very good at art and love to do it.

Along the walls in each of the schools are signs such as these with the Native word underneath.  I am assuming it is the Sioux language.

This is one of the ways they help teach their native language and traditions going.

Some parents raise their children "the native way" and some not so much.

I am just gathering this information from conversations I have heard.

I have mentioned how STAR quilts are such a treasured item here.

These satin quilts are on display in the school also.

Now that I have pieced a couple of these STARS for a quilt, I know how much time they take.

There are several on display and for sale at the College bookstore.  The satin quilts are priced $300-$500

March Transfers, two Elder's leave.

We lost two more Elders this Transfer

 Elder Salvador was sent to Burlington, Wyoming and Elder Johnson to Roundup, north of Billings.  It's sad to see them go, but fun to welcome new ones to the area.

 We had our Send-off party at the Branch building as part of Branch Family Home Evening.
L-R  Elder Keith, Elder Salvador, Jessica Pipe, Debbie Pipe, Jared Pipe, Elder Pace, Elder Johnson, Pres. Hollom and Bro. Hank Nelson.

A dear Sister Parshall seems to always give a native looking beach towel to the departing Elders. Elder Johnson shows off his gift.

Elder Salvador rolls in on the office chair to enjoy the yummy treats for the party.