Day 2, Browning, March 11, 2024

Today was our first day in class, and I didn’t know at all what to expect, especially after volunteering to help out in the sixth-grade class. Having once been a sixth-grade girl myself, I know how dangerous they are, and I was almost certain that they would eat me alive today.

However, I’ve come to understand that what the Lord might be trying to teach me is an attitude of surrender, a readiness to accept the day as it comes. Yesterday and today were full of opportunities to do exactly that. Like Natalie might have mentioned yesterday, we didn’t make to Mass as a semi-truck had been blown over across the road going into town. Instead, we celebrated a Communion service in the old mission chapel with a few of the De La Salle brothers, and they let me ring the big bell!! Afterwards, a couple of the guys decided to walk back to the bunkhouse, and I acted all macho about it and wanted to walk too, not realizing that reservation darkness is NOWHERE close to streetlamp-lit Helena darkness. We found out the hard way where the barbed wire fences were, and that duct tape makes for a really good bandage. Today entailed a lot of sitting and observing in the classrooms, with a little bit of one-on-one student help. I realize now how blessed I have been all my life to have access to good education. The De La Salle brothers are doing a beautiful thing here in Browning, and I would advise that if you ever get the chance, you should check out the De La Salle Blackfeet School for yourself, even if only through Google. As for the kids, I had a blast hanging out with them today. They didn’t necessarily eat me alive, like I thought, but they did absolutely school me in four-square and chess. Hanging out with them reminds me that there is no group of people, no nation, and no culture out of reach of the love of Christ. I am excited to get right back into it tomorrow and see what other opportunities this week brings!

Hailey