http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org Naomi Damschen - en-us Sat, 5 Jul 2008 14:00:57 GMT 30 http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=the-latest-news http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=the-latest-news I confessed to a friend (and faithful blog reader) today that I haven't done a very good job of keeping up with my blog...she agreed with me quickly and I figured that it was time to get to the computer and give you a quick update!   Last week, one of the girls from the Tokio Youth Group was here helping in the kitchen.  She spent a week here earlier this summer as a camper, so working as kitchen help was Week #2 for her.  The kitchen ladies loved having her here...she Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=school-kids-at-camp http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=school-kids-at-camp Another crazy week here at camp...this week we have lots of kids from the Oberon school!  It's interesting to know them from school and then watch them here at camp...it seems that the Lord is working in their hearts!  Tonight, one of them expressed a desire to witness to his dad when he gets home.  Thank the Lord with me and ask Him to preserve the work that He has begun!   One more thing...the three Tuesday Bible Study girls are here this week, too! Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=teen-camp http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=teen-camp We just finished another busy week here at camp...63 teenagers just left!  A couple of the Native girls who I've spent time with this past year were here for the week (I met them both at camp several years ago).  It's absolutely amazing to see how they have grown over the years and to see how the Lord is working in their lives.  Please pray that they would continue to hunger for Him and follow close behind Him!         &nbsp Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=sweet-christina http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=sweet-christina Christina is the beautiful girl with me in the picture above.  I've had the pleasure of getting to know her over the past few years at FaHoCha and she is an amazing young lady.  She loves the Lord and has a burden for her people, desiring to see them living in truth and freedom in Christ.  Christina has been an all-summer counselor at FaHoCha for the past several summers.  Again this year, we are blessed to have her serving all-summer at camp.  Please ask the Sat, 7 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=beginnings http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=beginnings It's the first official day of camp here at FaHoCha!  We have 42 Junior High campers here for our first camp of the summer and we're busy getting back into the camp groove... I am especially encouraged already by a group of Native girls who are here this week.  They've been here for less than 24 hours, but they already seem to feel comfortable and to be enjoying their time here.  Last night was the first evening service and several of them came forward to give their lives to the Mon, 2 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=worth-a-thousand-words http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=worth-a-thousand-words Check out more new pictures by clicking on Browse My Photos on the left! Greetings from FaHoCha!  I'm officially here and we're busy getting ready for camp life to begin, starting on Monday morning with a week of counselor training.  This past week has literally been a flurry of activity, so I thought pictures would do a better job of telling the story this time... The kids from the school came out to camp for a Field Day earlier this week.  We played games (egg drop above Sat, 24 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=gearing-up http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=gearing-up The school year activities are winding down...this is the last week of school for most of the kids in the area, so there are all kinds of field trips, ice cream parties, and end-of-the-year festivities (which makes for a busy/crazy week!).  Tomorrow is our last Wednesday-night youth group before summer break, so we're planning to have a bonfire, s'mores, and some sharing time.  Please keep the youth in your prayers, especially over the summer months when they don't have the struct Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=future-plans http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=future-plans I'll be sending out my monthly newsletter soon and will include this information there, too.  You blog readers will just get to hear it twice...:) As my year is coming to an end, I've spent some time thinking about what's ahead... The last day of school is one week from this Friday, but my schedule won't slow down at all.  I'll spend my summer working again as the Head Counselor at FaHoCha Bible Camp.  I'm hoping to see many of the school kids and my youth group kids a Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=special-guest http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=special-guest We were encouraged earlier this week by the visit of a dear friend and sister in Christ!  Carly has spent numerous summers working with us at FaHoCha and she shares a deep love and burden for the Native American youth.  She spent this past weekend with us, catching up with some of her former camp girls who all live on the reservation, playing tag with the kids at recess, and joining me for my weekly radio program on KABU!  (What a joy to have you living daily Wed, 7 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=special-meetings http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=special-meetings I got an email about a week ago from Pastor Paul at Dakota Baptist Church in Fort Totten, ND.  He wrote to tell me about the Spring Revival meetings coming up at their church and to invite me to lead worship for one of the evenings.  This past Monday was the first night of special meetings and my night to lead worship.  I was blessed and so thankful to have Paula's help with that...she does a great job and we have been leading worship together for 8 years (!) during summers a Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=inside-radio http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=inside-radio I did my radio program again yesterday and thought you might enjoy seeing some pictures: I use the sound board (left), the CD players (right), and the microphone!                                                  My playlist    & Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=april-showers http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=april-showers You can probably tell by looking at my list of "Recent Posts" that April has been a little different than other months.  One major factor in that was my trip to Venezuela with a medical missions team from a church in Devils Lake.  The other factor was a sudden death in the family . . . my sister-in-law's dad had a heart attack and passed away on April 11, 2008.  Art was a quiet and gentle man who loved nature, loved his family, and loved the Lord.  My parents Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=while-i-was-gone http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=while-i-was-gone While I was on my way to Venezuela, some of my youth group kids were with Paula at a Native American Youth Conference at Trinity Bible College . . . I mentioned that in an earlier post and wanted to give you an update about that trip.  I got great reports from both Paula and from the kids.  Last Sunday when I picked up one of the girls for church, she spent about 30 minutes talking non-stop about the events of that weekend!  I am so thankful that th Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=home-sweet-home http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=home-sweet-home Hola! I'm back in the USA (as of 3:06am this morning) and wanted to write a quick note to thank you all for your prayers and let you know that we arrived safely home.  In spite of several cancelled flights (both going and coming) and a lot of airport time in Miami, we had a wonderful trip and witnessed the Lord's hand of provision in numerous circumstances.  The fact that we got to Venezuela at all was an act of God and a powerful reminder that He is worthy of our trust and that Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=ill-be-back http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=ill-be-back I'm leaving for Venezuela with the team from Bethel later tonight (2:00am), so I'm busy preparing for that.  Lots of people at church, youth group, school, basketball games, and even the radio station have heard about my trip and have been asking questions . . . the Lord is sparking an interest!  Thanks for your prayers!  Please continue to pray that the Lord would develop an interest in service and giving and that this trip would be used for His glory on the reservation Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=another-calling http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=another-calling I've really been enjoying the radio thing.  I haven't written a lot of updates about it, but I have been going into the station weekly to record about an hour of Christian music that is aired the following Sunday.  Today was radio show #4 and it seems to go better each time I'm there . . . I'm slowly getting familiar with which buttons to push and when to push them and I'm getting more comfortable with talking through the microphone to people that I can't see Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=easter-celebration http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=easter-celebration I couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate Easter . . . I picked up two of my youth group girls on Sunday morning and we headed for the church out by Tokio.  I was especially glad to have the girls with me since they usually only come on Wednesday evenings.  It was definitely special to see them in the bright morning sunlight!  As we walked into the church, we were greeted by the smell of pancakes and bacon . . . the young men were busy making break Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=good-wednesday-and-really-good-friday http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=good-wednesday-and-really-good-friday We had big plans for Wednesday night.  So did the Lord . . . We've been studying the gospel of John with the Tokio youth group this year and just finished chapter 14 . . . a perfect lead into the Easter season.  Our plan was to show The Passion of the Christ on Wednesday night since it follows with our study of John and with the events leading up to Easter morning.  Pastor Larry and I thought that it would be a good idea to include the whole church (instead of just the youth), s Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=catching-up http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=catching-up Wow . . . I haven't had internet access for a few days and I feel like I'm way behind!  Here's a quick update:  I just got back from the State Basketball Tournament in Fargo.  It was great to be there and cheer for the Four Winds boys.  I was also blessed to have more relationship-building time with some of the youth and parents, sitting together, cheering, visiting, and making runs to the concessions stands together. ;)  We were all busy celebrating the win Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=state-again-in-2008 http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=state-again-in-2008 . . . someone at Thursday night's Region Championship game had a sign that read something like that.  Four Winds played in that championship game and WON, earning them a trip to the State Boys Basketball Tournament next week in Fargo! Regional basketball tournaments took place on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday in Devils Lake.  Four Winds and Warwick were both playing, so, like last week, I made a  point to get to their games.  I've been amazed this past week a Fri, 7 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=too-much-fun http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=too-much-fun I really enjoyed my radio time on Thursday . . . I think this might become a weekly project!  Pastor Jeff met me at the station and I sat in with him while he recorded his message (also to be broadcast on Sunday morning).  When he was finished, I got a crash-course on how to run the sound board and the CD players and took over to do my part geared towards the youth.  "My part" involved introducing myself, playing about 45 minutes of Christian music (again, geared towards Sat, 1 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=tournament-time http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=tournament-time I feel like I've been living in my car and at basketball games these past few days . . . both Warwick and Four Winds were playing at the District Tournament in Devils Lake, so I've been to 5 basketball games in 3 days!  Basketball is always a big deal around here, but especially now when it's tournament time.  It really becomes a community event, even for people who don't have a connection to any certain team.  I grew up going to the Class B basketball games and&nbs Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=spiritual-rumblings http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=spiritual-rumblings It is evident that the Lord is moving . . . it's almost like a spiritual electricity in the air, a sense that something big is on the way, a movement or shifting in the spiritual realm.  Recently, as I have visited with others who know the Lord and have a heart for the people of Spirit Lake Nation, I have heard a common theme:  The Lord is doing something.  Something big.  And this is only the beginning.  Here are some of the opportunities that have just come up:  Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=highs-and-lows http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=highs-and-lows We've had some record lows this week . . . low temperatures, that is.  Yesterday morning when I woke up, it was almost 30 below, so I didn't have high hopes of my car starting.  No car means no youth group and I was afraid that we'd have to cancel again.  It "warmed up" to 10 below by afternoon and I decided to try my car.  As I put the key in the ignition, I said to the Lord, If You want me to get there tonight, You're going to have to make my car start!  It groaned whe Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=true-love http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=true-love Another storm yesterday has caused more shifting of plans...which I don't mind... I headed to Four Winds on Tuesday night for the last home basketball game, only to get there and find out that the game had been rescheduled to Wednesday afternoon.  I turned around, headed back to Oberon, and spent the evening with the Stenslands and some of their friends from Bible study.  We had a great evening of music, sharing, and prayer.  Due to the storm yesterday, most afternoo Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=birthday-anniversary-and-ash-wednesday http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=birthday-anniversary-and-ash-wednesday We celebrated a birthday last night at Bible study...one of the girls turned 16 years old, so I made a cake, Paula sent some candles with me, and we had a little birthday party!  It was just me and two of the girls last night, but we had quite the adventures... On my way to Tokio, Pastor Larry called to let me know that they were having an Ash Wednesday service at the Boys and Girls Club and that we should come over there after Bible study.  I picked up the girls and we heade Thu, 7 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=below-zero-and-basketball http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=below-zero-and-basketball It's been a different week here due to way-below-zero temperatures (-30 degree temperatures and -50 degree wind chills) which resulted in no school for 2 days, no car (it wouldn't start), and no Wednesday night youth group at Tokio.  The two days of freezing cold and no school were spent inside drinking coffee, preparing Bible study on John 11, writing notes to loved ones, and enjoying some down-time with my "family" here in Oberon. Things have started to warm up and get back to Fri, 1 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=my-family http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=my-family I have been so blessed by those of you who take an interest in this blog and read it faithfully, by those of you who have been so generous with prayers and finances, by the encouragement and support from AIM, by those of you who send notes or call to check in to see how I am doing...thank you so much.  You are such an essential part of what the Lord is doing here and I am humbled to serve with you. Another essential part of what the Lord is doing here is my Oberon "family".& Fri, 1 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=the-beauty-of-asking http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=the-beauty-of-asking I hadn't seen any of the youth group boys since before Christmas and began to wonder when (or if?) they'd come back to youth group.  My questions (and prayers) were answered last night when two of them showed up at the church.  Only one of the girls was able to come last night, so we had a small group again.  Of course I love to have all of the kids there, but I really don't mind the smaller group...sometimes that creates an atmosphere where they feel more comfortable and free to Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=venezuela http://naomidamschen.myadventures.org/?filename=venezuela I'm posting this in the "Tokio Youth Group" category, kind of as an act of faith and vision for what's to come... During my week in Chicago, I had an especially interesting conversation with Jason and Justine about some of the needs here on the reservation.  It was filled with thought-provoking questions, new ideas, and a shared interest and burden for Christ to be known (what a blessing!).  That conversation led to ideas about getting the youth here invo Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT