Mission Trip to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
I’ve found these last few months, (honestly these last few years) very difficult and despairing. With all the changes to life and the trials we’ve been put through during COVID, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we the church were struggling to maintain the community and keep lifting those around us up to Christ; and yet still I found myself shocked and heartbroken knowing that there were so many others like myself who have been falling away from the Lord and His church. I thought a change of pace would help, perhaps moving to a different state, trying different churches, surrounding myself with the different communities would cure me of my stagnancy, but I can say after some months that "change of pace" does little to quell the spiritual burdens of the heart. Going into this mission trip, I wasn’t sure how the Lord was going to use me or what He would reveal, but I came into it with such desperation for a new perspective and for the Lord to soothe my hardened heart. Praise the Lord for providing me with this and so much more during my few days on the Chanku Wastè Ranch. Who knew somewhere so barren and desolate like the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation could provide me with so much encouragement and hope.
The experiences and conversations we had while serving at Pine Ridge were so rich and encouraging. It’s crazy to think how much the Lord touched my heart through my brief time here. I could write on and on about my hourly experience on the Reservation, but I’ll keep it concise and highlight my key takeaways from the week:
South Dakota is brutally beautiful. The landscape and weather aren’t kind here: every day was marked by strong cold winds and endless empty fields devoid of greenery, yet the serenity of the flat plains and distant mesas invoked an odd sense of peace and calm. No number of pictures or words could do justice to the view here.
The community and culture of the Oglala Lakota people group have an even more tragic history than is commonly known if at all. The people living on this reservation are living in conditions reminiscent of that of a third world country: poverty and unemployment is the norm, economic and educational opportunities don’t exist or aren’t fostered, average life expectancy is the lowest in the country, abuse, and alcoholism run rampant, etc. Every issue the community is facing comes from a cruel generational cycle. There’s little to no resources or foundation for the current generation to improve aspects of their lives, so they follow in the footsteps of those before them and end up passing it on to the next generation. The wheel is too difficult to break, so giving up and accepting a fate where one can’t change the outlook of their life is a common mentality among the natives.
Through it all, the work being done on this reservation and witnessing some of those who have been changed by the servants here, mostly elderly women and youth, has reminded me of God’s power and ability. I can’t stress enough how hopeless of a situation the Lakota people are in here at Pine Ridge - they aren’t enabled to escape the circumstances they are in and live a daily life defined by substance abuse and poverty. In a community that has literally and figuratively nothing around them, the Lord’s work is even more prominent and noticeable than anywhere else I’ve personally experienced.
From hanging out with the kids here, I’m reminded of how important it is to have encouraging and influential godly figures actively participating in the youths’ lives. Even just hanging out with them at camp or sitting with them for dinner enables opportunities to leave a Godly impression. These early impressions are crucial to their growth and walk in Christ- they will go on to redefine how they think and interact with those around them. A big issue amongst the Lakota families on the reservation is a lack of positive, male figures within the home. It’s common for men to have multiple kids with different women, even more, common for those kids to not have a father in their lives due to this. This has left a void and guiding figure in a lot of boys’ lives, which is a big focus for some of the staff serving on the ranch.
Pastor Matt Hadden told us that last year alone, he attended some 100+ funerals for the locals alone. Death here is so common and COVID did not help with the sense of isolation and hopelessness, let alone the lack of health care resources. I was shaken by the thought of being in a small community and living in a circumstance that made funerals a common and routine occurrence.
Staying amongst the servants of the ranch, I quickly learned that many had moved here with little to no training or formal background in mission. They felt the Lord’s call and they answered, trusting that He would provide for them transitioning here and whilst living here. Praise the Lord.
It’s important to foster a safe environment and supply basic needs of life before sharing the good news to the people you are trying to minister to. It makes little sense for one to enter into a community that is struggling in the ways that the Lakota people are and jumping straight into "saving them" when due to the lifestyle they live most of the natives can’t even think past the end of today. We must help those in need get on their feet first, as the Lord promises to us by supplying all that we NEED.
This is a no brainer, but strong, unified, faithful family’s cultivate loyal and willing servants for Christ. I think being in the Vietnamese church for so long, I haven’t seen many examples of families in the church fostering an environment and relationship with their kids to grow the future servants of the church. It feels like our community is on a clock with the current generation reaching young adult age but many struggling with maintaining the faith and taking on the ‘pouring into’ roles. Getting to know some of the young adults at the ranch, it was apparent how influential this aspect of their adolescence was integral to where they stood today as a servant of Christ.
I’m still pondering the experiences that the Lord showed me during this mission trip. I honestly believe that no amount of sharing from me or the others can give you even an ounce of the experience that being in the Lord’s hands-on mission has had on our spirit. I’ve spent many months with a hardened heart towards everything and wondered if my perspective and stubbornness would ever change. The Lord has changed many of the thoughts and views that have festered within me these last 2 years within 5 days, and I encourage anyone who gets the opportunity to go on a mission and see what the Lord will shed on your life. I’ll go ahead and also put in my two cents and say that you should head out to South Dakota and serve on the Chanku Wastè Ranch. You wouldn’t regret it.
Information about Chanku Waste Ranch: https://www.chankuwaste.com/
Information about Send Relief: https://www.sendrelief.org/
CVCF 2021 In Review and more pictures on this trip: https://www.cvcfministry.org/2021
Perry Dang
CVCF Staff