Browning, Day 1, De La Salle, March 9, 2026

Currently, it is 7:10 pm on the first legitimate day of the De La Salle Immersion Trip. The team woke up at 6 am to ready for time at the school with the children. By 6:15 am, brother Jim walked through the trailer door and informed the team that the school had a snow day, and there was no class in session. I thought that Jim was joking initially, and I hoped that he was but he was not. I was devastated that we were not spending time with the students. I was eager to interact with the kids, to give and serve as well as receive and learn from them. I went back to my bed and slept for a few more hours. The lord bestowed that grace of rest upon me. After reflecting on the day, it was much needed. Chris coordinated with Jon to change the gameplan for the day. Chris made an influential midgame adjustment for the squad. We left at 11 am to East Glacier to hike and learn from the park rangers. The hike in the national park was planned for Friday before departing home. I was enthused to partake in the hike. I am leaving Thursday morning to visit my family, so I should have missed out on the hike; instead, I gladly laced up the snowshoes and hiked in the forest. We came to understand some of the culture behind the Blackfeet’s relationship with the federal government from 1850 to 1910. We were educated about wildlife and vegetation in the area; moreover, how to scout and track the animals. We competed in an activity called run and scream–a tradition the Blackfeet Indians utilized to see who would lead the bison off the jumps. The name of the game is self explanatory, simply we ran from a start line with one breath screaming to see who could make it the furthest. I was in the lead until my left snowshoe fell off and tripped me. I did a somersault and lied in the snow for a minute or so.

The drive to East Glacier and back to the mission campus were filled with fruitful conversations governed by the Lord. The roads were mildly poor conditions. The rest of the evening was chill. There was conversation, stories, puzzles, naps, silence, reflection, and prayer. There was chicken alfredo and broccoli for dinner–it was delicious. Many of the peers on this team I have never conversated or hung out with. These strangers have became good friends. I hope to continue friendship with these fellow servants. I respect these people and their personalities. We have broke bread together, enjoyed meals and talked endlessly. We have inside jokes about: “the buffalo guy,” “the buffalo runner,” “the wolf guy,” and “immersion.” I pray the lord conforms my heart to his, so I can treat these individuals with graciousness and love. Although today did not entail servitude at De La Salle, it was not a fluke because the lord planned a day to recharge and prepare for what is to come. I yearn to encourage the kids throughout this week. Tomorrow will be fulfilling and our assembly entrance will be exhilarating. We need prayer to share the Lord’s light and we need silence to be able to touch souls. I am extremely appreciative of this opportunity thus far. May peace be with you, god bless.

Maki McArthur, Junior, Chemistry Major on Pre-Med Pathway studying at Carroll College

When I woke up at 6:00AM, all I could think about was all of the uncertainty of the day. I was scared that I wouldn’t be prepared to spend a whole day in a grade school classroom and I had some genuine anxiety about it. I was worried that the kids wouldn’t like me, a fear that would be similar to a grade schooler’s on the first day of school. Then just minutes after I got out of bed, Brother Jim informed us that the De La Salle Blackfeet School was having a snow day. I felt feelings of relief, but also disappointment. In that moment I realized that I really wanted to go and make some sort of difference no matter how small and that now I would have one less day to do that.

Despite the disappointment, we made the most of the day. I became just a little more connected in the complex Blackfeet culture and I also built better connections with the people on the trip with me as well. My day was really highlighted by rest, the outdoors, and getting educated myself. In the morning I really felt grateful for the people on the trip and we had some fun conversation on the drive up to Glacier National Park. When we got there we went on an educational snowshoeing hike. This was great and I feel like I got to learn a lot about the Blackfeet culture both literally from our guides and physically from just recognizing how important the area is to them. Now I have a renewed motivation to do the best I can the rest of the week.

Tanner Joyce, Freshman, Civil Engineering Major at Carroll College