send youth to Cheyenne reservation

Hi everyone! We are the Wapping Community Church Youth Group and this summer we are going on a week long service trip to La Plant, South Dakota. We will be working on the Cheyenne River Reservation to help the Lakota tribespeople. All our work will be done through Simply Smiles, a non profit organization that works towards providing bright futures for children, families and communities living in poverty. Some of us who are seniors had the privilege to go on this trip three years ago, when our youth group went for the first time. When we got there we realized La Plant was in such need of our help. In a place where alcoholism and abuse are common, and death is a part of everyday conversation, it was so important for us to be there to help in anyway we could. Each day started bright and early with work projects. Some groups worked on building a greenhouse to grow crops, others built a cement sidewalk for a future playground and a fence to make sure none of the children ran into the busy street. Some youth even got to create and paint buffalo cut outs to put around the community center since buffalo are the sacred animal of the Lakota people. In the afternoon, we held summer camp for all the kids on the reservation. Camp consisted of face painting, drawing, games, jump rope, basketball, reading, cooking and lots and lots of smiles. We were able to form relationships with all the kids that are so special, and these bonds will last forever. This year, we are so excited to be able to go back to this incredible place to do similar work. However, when you add the costs of the flight and the program fees the trip comes out to be quite costly. This trip is truly life changing and it will give all of us a new perspective on the things in our lives we often take for granted. Please consider donating to this meaningful experience. Every cent will be greatly appreciated and we are so thankful in advance for your support. Blessings to all of you, thank you!!

Love,
Wapping Community Church SPF