A mission team from the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association made a return visit to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation July 30-August 4. This team of 103 members representing 19 RVBA churches served in the communities of Cannon Ball, Ft. Yates, McLaughlin and Little Eagle in North and South Dakota. Team members were organized into four teams that served in four communities on the reservation and did the same ministry at each community.
Ministries offered included Bible study, Book-Net and recreation and crafts for preschoolers and children. A Bible study and sports clinic was provided for youth and a craft exchange for ladies. Healthy meals were served to participants every day. Construction teams also served by repairing storm damage to a pastor's house and work on the church buildings and grounds and church signs. While there the team distributed health kits, first aid kits, books, kites, bikes, scooters, jump ropes, clothes, shoes and other items which had been donated by Roanoke Valley Association churches.
At the close of one day as team members were leaving the building where ministries were conducted they saw a most interesting sight. Above a housing area about a half mile away was spotted a canopy of kites covering the entire housing area.
Ministry to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation is an on-going mission of the RVBA. In addition to the 19 churches participating, other Roanoke Valley churches provided supplies, clothes, books, kites and health kits for the mission trip. A team from the association served in Cannon Ball and Ft. Yates last August. During the past year the RVBA has maintained contact with the pastor of Tipi Wakan Baptist Mission (Cannon Ball) and the director of missions of the local association. Last fall the RVBA sent a large trailer load of coats. It will continue its relationship with the people at Standing Rock during the coming year and will send another mission team next summer.