Four years ago, on July 1st, 2020, I became the director of the Pineridgereconciliationcenter.org I arrived in South Dakota on July 7th. The tribe had declared a 72 hour lock down while I was traveling west from St Louis. I spent a night in Hot Springs. The next morning on July 8th I picked up South Dakota license plates and traveled to the reservation.  I arrived unloaded what little I had brought with me in my truck.

I settled into a two week quarantine. Fortunately, I had support to pick up food as needed and even take away the trash.

The hardest part was the isolation. I want to get to work with people right away. I Kept busy.

A plus I had was my location. I could go outside but I had to stay on my property.  I live at a parsonage on church property.  I had room to walk. There is a driveway loop that is about a 1/5 of mile. I enjoyed my walks.

Each time I would walk, I heard a dog barking at me when I approached a building. I thought a homeless person was living there with a dog. Nope, it was momma dog and her babies.

Eventually, the puppies came out. I was not gonna have another dog. But they were so cute. I brought the water. And scraps of food for momma.

Momma dog moved in with Star. A few weeks later, Boomer came back. We had 3. The Star and Boomer are now 4 years old. Momma dog died a couple of years ago.

Later, Kehni came out from St Louis, Pepe arrived in a storm, May showed up 1 day, and adopted us.

We have 5 dogs now. They follow me everywhere. I mean everywhere.  I love it.

Today, I was reminded that God spelled backward is dog. My dogs love me. GOD loves us all.

The next post will focus on the ministry we have done since I have been here.