This article appeared in the Newsletter of Tim and Elaine Harris Nationally Appointed Home Missionaries. It is reprinted with permission.
Volume 13/Issue 1
Spring 2007
Wonderful News From Indian country!
Trail of Hope Report
From Leon Schwartz – Oglala ReCreation Center:
I am very excited to report the Lord is moving in Oglala, SD. I know many people have poured of themselves through prayers, money, sweat, tears, sleepless nights and many untold sacrifices that only God knows of. So as I write this, I cannot begin to express the joy that is in my soul at this time. The team here has been earnestly expecting God to begin moving upon this community and the weekend of March 15-17 was the beginning.
Do not misunderstand me because God has been moving on this land from the start of this work but nothing will compare to what I saw this weekend.
March 15-17 is the weekend that Trinity Bible College (Assemblies Of God) presents the Trail of Hope. The Trail of Hope is a student sponsored native youth conference hosted by the bible college. A friend, Vern Donnell called and got the ball rolling. After his phone call we decided that God was leading us to attend the conference. We took the time to select youth we believed God was going to touch during the conference. When
we left Thursday morning we had 4 boys, 6 girls, Emma Janis and my-self. It was an uneventful 7 hour trip to the college. We arrived around 5 p.m. ate, unpacked and freshened up to attend Thursday night chapel.
Chapel was good but nothing special happened that would have hinted towards what was to come. That night the girls watched a movie about Esther in the movie room and the guys played a few games of dodge ball in the gym. Friday morning was chilly but just like any other Friday morning. We ate breakfast and the students took a tour of the college and attended class while I went to a leader’s seminar. At 11 a.m. we had afternoon chapel. It was good. At the end of the service there was time for God to move.
None of my youth had any great experience with God but I was praying as well as Emma. Vern came over and prayed with me and a few of the youth. After the service I spent some extra time in prayer. Before we had left for the conference I believed God had spoke to me and that the youth were going to be touched of God. There was a particular verse in 1 Corinthians 2:9 that says “That eye has not seen nor ear heard… the things which God has prepared for them that Love him.” I was standing on this verse and praying it before God.
The rest of the day was fun. There was a 3 on 3 tournament and a volleyball tournament in the afternoon. Most of the youth participated in the competition. Afterwards we ate dinner and prepared ourselves for Friday night chapel. I was trusting this was the time for God to move, considering it was the last night of the conference. But when we entered into the chapel I was discouraged by the attitudes of the youth. Everyone was acting out. I wondered if maybe this was just another failed venture. I wondered if there was ever going to be a time when they would understand the Love God has for each of them. I just began to worship. The evening service was hosted by a friend, Evan Lee. As worship progressed the Spirit began to pour into the chapel. Evan came up front and called the leaders to come up and opened the altars for the youth to be prayed with. Emma and two of her daughters made their way to the front to be prayed with. I saw that the Spirit was moving on them and I was happy. I figured if this was why we came it was well worth
the time and energy. I sat down and continued worshiping in my seat. I looked back over the rest of my youth and just kept wondering, when Lord when. Then I noticed out of the corner of my eye Rebecca Ten Fingers, a young girl in the 8th grade with tears in her eyes slowly making her way down the aisle. Right behind her was Adam the young man that is living with me. I was shocked. They went to the front and God began to move on them in the most powerful way. Then another young man, Ezra got out of his seat and went up front for about thirty to forty minutes being prayed over. Then a young girl who was only in the 6th grade but I felt that she should go went up with Christian Janis. This same young girl was semi mocking those who were being prayed for. But at the altar God got a hold of her and she began to cry. As she came back to her seat I looked up at her and said “It’s good to know Jesus, huh?” and she smiled and nodded in agreement. Rebecca was back in her seat crying and I was just in full amazement. No one had even preached it was all the power of God. I got up and was walking and praying and Adam come up to me and asked me then to pray that he would receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. I prayed with him but had to walk away because I was crying. Nothing could compare to that night and seeing what I saw. Years of toiling in the field and waiting to
see some kind of fruit from our labors, times when I felt like giving up, times when I felt depressed all seemed foolish at the foot of his throne. All in all 8 of ten kids were prayed with and got touched of God.
God really moved that night. Sunday morning here in Oglala we were preparing for church. Rebecca came in at the beginning of the service by herself. She sat in the back besides Emma. During the worship time her hands were lifted in prayer and when we prayed her hands went higher into the air. That is the most amazing thing. God is all powerful and in control of everything. This is only the beginning of what is in store for them that Love him.
AMEN LEON